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Which amps with B&W 800D's... Pass Labs or Classe?

I am finally down to the wire... I am considering either the Pass Labs X350.5, a pair of the X600's, or a pair of the Classe CA-M400's to power my B&W 800D's. I am having the hardest time making this decision. I love my music loud, and I listen to alot of large-scale symphonic music, choral music, jazz, and various recordings that are very grand in nature. I am planning on incorporating a center channel and surrounds eventually in a theater and multi-channel setup and I would like to use the same brand of amp for those speakers once I decide to add them. I have heard great things about all of the amps above, but I cannot make that final leap of faith. Are the Pass Labs amps and the CA-M400's from Classe in the same league? I would love to get the Omega Omicron monos, but the budget does not exist for those right now. If I get the Pass Labs X600's, I am considering upgrading to the X600.5's when the budget allows. I have heard great things about the class-a capability of the Pass Labs amps. I am not keen on bi-amping and I really need some help in making this decision. I look forward to your advice! Thanks.

-Dave
mad14
putty's avatar
putty
38 posts
 
I am running the Omega Omicrons with my D800s, a great combo. A pair just showed up for sale for less then $10k. Worth streching for IMO. CA-M400's are really good too though. I haven't heard the Pass stuff though.
tboooe's avatar
tboooe
1,009 posts
 
Dave, like you I really wanted to go with monoblocks so I originally decided on the x600.5. But then I changed my mind and got the xa160 instead. BUT I do not listen to really high volumes. For you, I would get the 600 though the 350.5 will be plenty. I hope this helps. Please let me know if you have any questions.
domus1
3 posts
 

i've got pass aleph one with b&w 804, and i've heard classe too, but for me classe is too smooth , i think you will be deseapointed after few weeks, because they played always the same thing , you can heard different music, and time after time it's always the same bass or treeble , but if you like tube amplifier with deep bass and thrue voice , buy pass lab
sorry fo my poor english
let me know what choice you will get
berjar
4 posts
 
I have CAM-400 on 800Ds with CDP-202 and CP-700. I am switching the CP-700 out for an Audio research reference 3 because it is a little too polite. But I cannot say enough about the CAM-400 and the 800D combo. The Bass is very accurate and powerful, and the treble is as refined as I have ever heard. They must be putting out around 800 watts (3-4ohms while playing?) because they will drive the 800D to near the limits in the bass range.
tboooe's avatar
tboooe
1,009 posts
 
berjar, like you I am thinking about switching my CP-700 for a tube preamp. What other pres did you consider before deciding on the ARC?
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