What should I upgrade first amp or preamp?
I agree with the first couple of posts that changing the XA30.5 to either of the Pass monoblock models is not the path to follow. For one thing, given your relatively low listening volumes you are undoubtedly almost never driving the XA30.5 out of its class A operating region, much less approaching its class AB power limits. Although perhaps the most significant improvement that would be realized by going to one of the monoblock models would be that they would allow you to use shorter speaker cables. But chances are that could be addressed more cost effectively by upgrading the cables themselves, or by paralleling a second run of the cables you are presently using. The relatively low impedance of your speakers (4 ohms nominal, 2.3 ohms minimum) makes speaker cabling a more significant consideration than would otherwise be the case, and even more so if your run lengths are longer than average. Regarding the source component, Zd's recommendations are always extremely knowledgeable, but fwiw I would point out that according to the description of the BDP-105 at the Oppo website "the balanced output features a true differential signal path all the way from the DAC to the 3-pin XLR connector." Regarding power cord upgrades, fwiw I recall several posts that have been made in the past by members I consider to be credible to the effect that Pass class A amps seem to be less sensitive to power cord differences than most other amps of comparable quality. Given the low impedance of your speakers, my instinct would be to focus on speaker cables before power cords, to a greater or lesser extent depending on their length. Regards, -- Al |
While the XA30.5 probably has all the power you need, my Pass dealer had told me that in the XA series, more so than the X series, the overall sound quality improves more each step up the line.I would speculate that a major reason for that would be that the higher powered XA amps continue to operate class A up to considerably higher power levels than the XA30.5. But considering the OP's listening levels and speaker sensitivity, it seems likely that his XA30.5 goes into AB mode rarely if ever. Regards, -- Al |
JL, as the average volume level is reduced, the volume of dynamic peaks will be reduced by the same number of db. Per the calculation methodology I described in the thread you are probably referring to, with the OP's speakers listened to at a 3 meter distance the XA30.5 wouldn't leave class A until levels of around 97 db were exceeded. (It's coincidental that the 97 db figure in this case is the same as in the situation in the other thread). I doubt that 97 db would be exceeded on dynamic peaks more than rarely (if ever) in the circumstances the OP describes. Best regards, -- Al |
Max average volume (never got louder yet, but may try this weekend) is 80-85 dB with 95-101 dB in peaks. Most of the time the meter stays around 12 or moves for a second to 1 pm during peaks. Never stays over 12 for more than two sec.Those numbers are somewhat higher than I was anticipating for relatively low level listening in apartment circumstances. I believe that movement of the meter signifies that the amp is switching from class A bias to class AB, which would occur less often or not at all with one of the higher powered XA amps. So if you sense that the main need for improvement is the ability of the system to handle those peaks as cleanly as possible, going to one of the higher powered XA amps may help. On the other hand, if you want to try to improve sonics at times other than when those peaks occur (which I suspect is likely to be more beneficial), based on the comments by JL35 and others I would consider upgrading to the XP-20. Regards, -- Al |
