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


So I'm genuinely curious about this, and I'd like your thoughts.

You: Are a current pass owner who has tried a number of other amps and stuck with Pass.

Please discuss your speakers, your pass and what other amps you feel your current set up bested.

I won't opine, but may ask questions to those who are not specific enough.
One thing I've heard a lot is the terms "refined." I don't know what this means, so if you can compare to other amps with more detail, would appreciate that.
Thanks!

Erik
erik_squires
Don't know about the other models in their line up but I've auditioned a Pass int 60 and I thought it was superb in every aspect. Then we hooked an MSB ADC V DAC to it. Purt neer had an organism.
@richdirector, ill be powering my new Ardens with the Pass xa30.5 and will let you know how it goes once they're broken in.
Eric, The 30.5 got me off the amp merry go round. How it pairs with the Tannoy Arden remains to be seen. I lean towards efficient speakers (Spatial Audio M3, Gemme Tanto 2, KEF 107) and prefer higher quality watts over quantity.
 Amps I've owned that I could have lived with forever include the McCormmick DNA 0.5, and Jeff Rowland Model 2. All three of these amps brought excellent synergy and sonic joy in my system at different points in my journey. If im playing this game right, that should be the only thing that matters.
Demo if you can. You'll find synergy eventually.
@erik_squires I had a Pass XA30.8 and it sounded better then every amp I have own including Halo JC1’s, Mola kalugas, Coda no.8, Anthem STR, lyngdorf 3400 to name a few, except for my current amps, the Theta Citadel 1.5’s. They are the best sounding amps I ever owned.
They are the best sounding amps I ever owned.


Hey @ron1264
I don't doubt you, but can you be specific as to the speakers you have used, and what in your mind makes the Pass XA30.8 better than all the other models?


What is it you gained or lost going from other models, and were there any speakers you think others did as well or better with?

Fishing for dirt again Eric, sooooooooo predicable.

Why do you have it in for Nelson Pass’s amps so much, did one do damage to you financially or in return service work, or do you blame them for the bad sound you may have had at the time.