4 ohm (or 6) Bookshelf speakers. Pass Labs 30.8

Thanks everyone!  

Wow, this amp was underrated that much?  

Yogiboy - I read in forums from individuals (who may have been uneducated or misinformed) that to get some volume/power get a 4 ohm speaker, that this would bring the output to 60w/ch.  To be honest, researching this amp has been really confusing. I don't know much about ohm's at all.  And now I'm understanding that the amp really makes 100w/ch at 8 ohms fully class A.  SMH, guys like me can't read between the lines with this high tech stuff!

Jackd - Yes, I read that too!  But I just didn't understand it.  I mean, the underrating is so much, that i almost didn't consider it because I was feeling it wouldn't work well with many speakers.   Their power specs are frustratingly misleading and seems weird.  So it stays class A all the way to 100w/ch?  That's plenty for me, but what gives?  Why such the variance?  

So I think the question I need to be asking, just so I am clear, is: are there types of speakers I need to avoid?  (This whole underrated concept and 4 ohm preference talk is making this confusing!  ha)

Also, to be clear, in 4/8 ohm, it stays class A  to 100w/ch?

What about efficiency?  I read that it prefers speakers above 85 for sensitivity?  

It sounds like I should have no issue driving any book shelf speaker, at all, or floor for that matter.  

Any catches, things I might not be seeing?  

Thanks again everyone!

It stays in class A at it's published rating.  Somewhere above those ratings it goes into A/B and continues to 130 and 195 wpc at 1% distortion.  Best thing you can do short of actually testing the amp with speakers is to read all the reviews of the 30.5 and 30.8 and see what speakers that used with them.  Unless your listening room is cavernous and you intend on playing to concert levels then the 30.8 will push most any bookshelf speaker you find to "reasonable" levels.  

@mplstereo: i have the xa30.8 and it sounds good driving 8 ohm loads. However, when driving difficult 4 ohm loads it becomes a whole new amplifier. I much prefer 4 ohm speakers with mine. I have had amazing success with the elac uni fi or adante range. For the money those uni fi speakers amd this amp are amazing.  

I have TAD ME-1 and technically they are bookshelf size although I think they come with the stands. The sound is incredible.

Jackd,
    Found a hometheaterhifi review that compared the 30.8 and the x150.8, and it really secured my interest in the xa30.8 over the x150.8.  Also I did follow up with reviews comparing 30.5 to the 30.8.  This also explained the class A and AB for both and bumps with what your saying.  This has been very helpful.  My listening levels are low.  I enjoy long hours of listening after work, while relaxing, and reading online.  Rocking out for me would be volume loud enough just to the point where I wouldn't hear a person speaking from 5 feet away or so, rarely.  I was able to get enough volume out of my Bose mini when I had that, those little rechargeable ones.  :)  

    Plowed through reviews, did see a lot of identical speakers among listeners, most were panel or floor, and few bookshelf (which partly worried me) but now that I have learned I have more freedom then I thought I did with bookshelf's, I'm not as concerned.    Maybe most folks that have these amps have more room in their home for larger setups so bookshelf's just are not as popular for that reason?  No matter.  

   Thank you for helping clarify this stuff.  Now I feel like this amp is way to good for me!  Kidding.