Short List of Amps I prefer over the Pass Labs XA25 or INT 25

I had the opportunity to audition 7 different high end integrated amps at Suncoast Audio. They included: Naim Supernait 3, Gryphon Diablo 300, Moon/Simaudio 340i, VAC 170i (all tube), Luxman 509x, Hegel H390, and Pass INT 60. Every one of those amps were outstanding and I would have been perfectly satisfied with any of them. However, my ears really liked the Pass INT 60. And, liking the Pass signature sound I went with the INT 250. I was a little afraid at the time that the INT 60 would not have quite enough horsepower. Turns out I was wrong, but I went with the INT 250 anyway. I LOVE it!! I won't take the time to go into all the technical reasons I like Pass Labs products so much. But after almost 2 years with my INT 250 I've become a HUGE Pass Labs fan. The amp has opened up beautifully. Great synergy with my Harbeth Super HL 5+ 40th Anniversary (XD) speakers. I know there are amps out there that may sound as good as Pass amps but I just really like the Pass Labs flavor of sound. And their customer service is second to none. Nothin' not to like and gobs to like.

I’ll start right up front with saying I’m a huge Pass Labs fan. I chose to purchase a Pass INT 250 after auditioning 6 other integrated amps. The first Pass amp I auditioned was an INT 60. I wasn’t even planning on auditioning any Pass Labs amps at all. But the INT 60 really shocked me with it’s accuracy, fine detail, deep and wide sound stage, clean, clear, and strong bass, crystal mids and top end, and how well balanced it was. Some call it a "chocolate" sounding amp. But at the risk of sounding cliche’-ish, it has such a smoothness yet clarity about it. Very difficult to explain in words. Anyway, I obviously really, really, like both amps. Another reason I like the INT 60 and INT 250 so well I’m sure has to do with it’s synergy with my Harbeth Super HL 5+ 40th Anniversary speakers. They’re perfect for my small-ish (27’ x 16’) listening room. Those speakers and those amps like each other a lot. When I auditioned all 7 amps mentioned above I made sure to use the same speakers I had at home. Another selling point with me was the build quality of Pass Labs components. And, Pass Labs has a rep for some of the best customer service you’ll find anywhere. So, there ya go. That’s why I’m a major league Pass Labs fan. Do I think they’re "better" than anything else out there? Not necessarily. But I think they’re just as good as anything in their price range. There are just so many amps on the market that I’ve never heard. That’s another reason I can’t claim to have "the best" amp. And neither can anyone else, unless they’ve listened to them all. Since we’re talking thousands of amps extremely few, if any, people have done that. Anyway, from a sonic standpoint, it’s not about whether my amp (or any other component) is "better." As usual, it all comes down to preference and the flavor of sound you want, based on YOUR ears. Sorry for the rambling post.

Different strokes...it's all about preferences. I'm a "Passaholic." I love the Pass sound. It's so rich sounding to my ears. Most people feel the same way about their gear. That's OK! It's alright. It really is. Nothing wrong with differing opinions. I happen to also really like Luxman products. But there have been some posts on this forum where the OP didn't care for Luxman. We seem to have difficulty with the concepts of opinion vs fact. I occasionally have had that same problem.

Two years ago I booked a flight and made the trip to my favorite audio dealer and auditioned 7 different integrated amps. They were ALL outstanding and I would have been happy with any of them. However, as you might expect my ears liked some more than others. The audition included products from Pass Labs, NAIM, Moon/Simaudio, VAC (tube amp), Hegel, Luxman, and Gryphon. I ended up purchasing a Pass Labs INT 250. I love it and my ears love it. All the other amps sounded superb. But I can virtually guarantee you there are people that prefer something other than the amps I tried.

Are all people going to like the INT 250 as much as I do? Of course not. Pass Labs has a pretty lengthy list of very happy owners and fans, so they must be doing something right.

You all know all this stuff. We see it daily on the forums. The differing opinions are one of the things that make the forums so much fun. But some people take the differing opinions personally and are actually threatened by opinions different from theirs.

Anyway, nothing new here. I've seen it on music forums too. I guess it's part of the nature of forums. It would make a great study...the psychology of forums. Anyone care to take that one on?