2. amps-preamps
  3. 136350-108317

Mcintosh 452 vs Pass Labs XA 30.5

Hello everyone, I'm at the Mcintosh house and so maybe part of the answers will be taken for granted, thanks to the desire to try new devices I'm evaluating a transition from my current Final Pass Xa 30.5 to a MC452. Even the pre should be replaced by switching from an Xp10 Pass to the Mcintosh C48.
I use the Totem Mani 2, Audio Physic Scorpio 2 and Tannoy Eaton speakers in a listening environment of around 20 sqm at low and medium volumes.
I would like some advice from those who have had the opportunity to try, comparing these brands and the good interface between the coupled MC 48 and 452 and my speakers.
Thank you.
128x128mizioa
kalali's avatar
kalali
1,977 posts
 
Apples and oranges...but for the Totems the MC452 will be a night and day improvement.  Others, not so much.
tlong1958
158 posts
 
@missioncoonery so you had a 452 and a XA30.5 and the Pass “blew the Mac out of the water”?
kinda hard to believe, but if you say so then ok. It’s all pretty subjective if you ask me, but whatever 
tlong1958
158 posts
 
Why do my posts all have a little snowflake-like icon on them? Is it because I don’t have many posts? Am I on probation or something?
missioncoonery
1,206 posts
 
I have owned the Mac 402 ,452,Pass labs x150,x150,5,x250,5,x250.8..all driven into various speakers including the Dynaudio confidence line (which if not mistaken the Totems use their drivers,not positive).Both the mac amps imo are slow with less dynamics,very tubby which has been a long criticism of them..Plus Pass has a better, much better customer service which is a big deal to me.So much i would never buy McIntosh again as i had big issues with them and warranty.
bo1972's avatar
bo1972
2,789 posts
 
At the end it depends which properties your loudspeakers and other stuff of your system you own. But...when you would compare Pass Labs and Mcintosh together in a shootout with a system what can reveal all the different properties of sound. The Pass will be superior.

This is very easy to explain. The Pass can create in a perfect set-up a wider and deeper stage. This is alsway a possitive benefit to create a stunning 3D holographic stage.

And it is also better in timing compared to the Mcintosh. It is more controlled in the lowest frequencies. And you will be able to hear more layers in the lowest frequencies as well.

The other benefit you will hear is that the Pass creates more layers in sound. So it reveals a higher level in diversity of sound. This property is the most important one compared to all the other properties of sound.

Based on the fact that this one has the biggest influence on the human emotion. When you understand music and sound I can garnatee you that you will choose for Pass Labs. But people who have less experience and knowledge could easliy choose for Mcintosh
More to discover