Pass labs x260.8 versus xa160.8

Karmapolice,

I echo you inquiry! I have noticed far more Xa160.8 listed rather than the X260.8. Even historic sales/listings of X260.8 are extremely rare. I am in the market and considering both of these amps in addition to one of the Luxman integrateds. 

From my research, the X260.8 is stellar and a step above the venerable X250.8. I do not have a local dealer so an audition would be quite a challenge for me. 

What we don't know, and what Pass is unlikely to share with anyone, is just how many of each model has been sold in the marketplace. How many units are sold new often dictates how many are available on the used market more than buyers being satisfied or not.   

Also note that the Xa160.8 is a pure class A amp while the X260.8 is an AB unit. It could well be that, if one buys fully into the Pass philosphy, that a class A unit is the greater preference of buyers.   

So, there is a lot we don't know which means that our speculations are little more than naval gazing.

well sure not important to speculate about number of xa160.8 listings but can anyone chime in as to why they sold there 160.8 and what they are enjoying nowadays.

the xa160.8 cost a lot more than the 260.8 so my curiosity will not get me to buy it (used) unless I get a sense its easily worth the effort

Your original posted centered about the question of why there were so many more used listings of one model versus the other.  

The thing to keep in mind is that while one person's individual experience will tell you about their personal experience (which can be informative on its own), it indicates very little one way or the other about the overall pattern of why there are more used models for sale of one model versus the other.  Pass could provide some insight on the issue, but that's unlikely as those type of sales figures are often considered confidential business info by the company, especially by businesses that are privately held.  That was my only point. 

I have noticed that the XA amps (full Class A) have a thicker and softer sound that the "X" amps.  That's not to say that the X amps are thin (they are not thin sounding at all), but the XA does have a very slightly different sound.  XA being more tonally rich, but in a way more colored as well.  Full Class A is harder to do because of demanding power supply requirements.  That's why they usually aren't high power (160 watts is an extremely high amount of Class A power).