You've tried other amps and ended with Pass, please discuss

No sense in arguing, Pass Labs has set a benchmark on build quality and sound quality for solid state amps. Short signal path, high quality parts and excellent engineering makes for a superb listening experience. Properly set up they will be tough to beat. However there other designs that can compete and if you are a tube guy it's possible they will not serve your needs. However some of the Conrad Johnson solid state amps, not all will easily give them a run for the money.

Hi phd
While I appreciate the fandom, Pass has plenty of positive threads here.

What I want to encourage are direct comparisons with other amps I might have heard recently.


If you've had the change to compare them to other similar amps I'd love to hear your thoughts and any specific differences.


Best,

Erik

@phd I would respectfully disagree about CJ solid state vs Pass. I presume you are referring to the old Premier 350.
It is a different sound. CJ solid state is less ballsy than the higher wattage X 0.8 or XA 0.8 Pass. It is a good balance between the CJ tube amp sound and solid state grip

On the other hand depending on your music preference and tastes, CJ tube amps do beat Pass in terms of musicality and dimensionality. With well matched components and more sensitive speakers, even the LPS 60 is a good contender. They do not have the bass slam, speed or visceral sound of Pass though. Again, as you have observed, this is probably more a tube vs solid state thing.

I am curious if anyone is using Pass / first class with large tannoys... I have the reissue ardens which I love. 
Currently tron seven line pre.... And Robson class a high current mono Power amps. 

Had a few amps. Cyrus / linn Majik dsm / croft25r into ATC P1 and would say only the linn left me cold... Detailed but no toe tapping..... 

Have a leben cs300xs and small full range horns in small lounge... Lacks bass but equipment disappears and sound stage just appears in front... Lovely for more folky / instrumental acoustic choices. 

PASS loves MOSFETS. They suck. You will hear a MOSFET hiss in the highs on every single amp with them. Just not his designs. Trying to make a solid state amp sound like a tube one. Ridiculous. Again, lets please all the 70 year old audiophiles with money who cant hear anyways and build them 20k dollar amps that a 20 year old KRELL will smash.