Pass XA25 or Pass XA 30.8

@bobheinatz I arrived at Pass after owning a Decware Torii Mk IV (fun amp, and great conversation piece!) I figured I’d give the Pass line a quick try, and started with the XA30.5. I loved it!

When I think back on the XA30.5, I remember it eclipsed the Torii in every way, but the mids and highs were sweet like the Torii never was.

I didn’t own the XA30.5 for very long, because everything I read about the XA30.8 said it was better; especially in the bass region. It was, with one caveat; the mids and highs, while warm and detailed, didn’t have that same sweetness of the XA30.5. 

Overall I’d describe the XA30.8 being smooth, slightly warm, detailed, and as having decent bass. The mids and highs can have a very magical sound that seems to hang in the air, especially on acoustic music.

If there is just one thing I could change with the XA30.8, it would be the bass. While the bass is good, it just doesn’t have the last bit of slam and drive that larger amps have (though it is arguably unmatched on almost every other part of the spectrum).

That said, the XA30.8 doesn’t sound like tubes, it is it’s own animal. But, what tubes do well, the XA30.8 seems to do better; and the things that tubes don’t do very well (bass for instance), the XA30.8 does A LOT better. It would be difficult for me to imagine a scenario where someone going from a tube amp to the XA30.8 is disappointed.

I haven’t heard the XA25, but according to some members on the forum, it surpasses the XA30.8 in a lot of ways.

One factor that did go into my calculus was the differentially balanced inputs and circuit in the XA30.8 compared to the XA25.  While a non-factor for many I did want to combine my fully balanced VAC pre with a fully balanced amp.  

I have owned both the XA-25 and the 30.8.  I much preferred the 30.8.  The XA-25 was much too lean in my system even when combined with a tube preamp.  It was perhaps too transparent making some music rather unpleasant.

I haven’t heard the XA30.8, but my (very positive) thoughts about the XA25 I own were stated in the thread three_easy_payments linked to in his first post above. Note, though, that as I indicated in that thread my speakers are very easy to drive, and present the amp with an unusually benign load.

Also, if you haven’t already seen it you’ll find the following thread to be of interest:

https://forum.audiogon.com/discussions/pass-labs-amp-s-what-is-the-best-pass-amp-sound-for-you-from-past-10-y

Regards,
-- Al

Thanks for the replies and links to threads.