Pass Labs Int 25 vs Int 60

Been considering the INT-60 to replace my Vinnie Rossi L2i SE once my Devore O96 arrive. This quote from markuzz3000 really grabbed my attention...

The mighty INT60... is also able to take an “ordinary” recording and make it listenable.

As much as I love my high res digital and audiophile vinyl, I still listen to a lot of not so well recorded music that a really revealing system can make unlistenable. In the search for audio nirvana, we often loose sight that the music is half the equation and some great albums aren't recorded as well as we would like. 

A couple of questions. I currently run the BHK preamp thru a Firtwatt J2.
I have been considering going to an integrated amp. I have Zu Omen refs ( 96-101db)

1. would I miss the tubes going to the INT 25/60?

2. how would the pass 25 compare to the first watt J2 sound wise?

@aberyclark #1 should be easy enough to test.  Find (or make) a quiet track  and just plug your source straight into the J2.  Then compare with it through the BHK.  Or borrow a DAC with variable output and try the same.

As for #2, I haven't heard the J2, but I suspect it would sound quite different from the 25. The J2 and XA25 use different output devices, and a different amplification typology.  The J2 has a SET-like distortion profile with 2nd harmonic dominance and the XA25 has a 3rd harmonic dominant profile (I believe this is true of the 60.8 as well). They likely have different damping factors too, so may interact with your speakers differently.  Only one way to know which you'd prefer.

@shazam Yes, it is my opinion Pass aims at music-first-audiophiles. Those DeVORE Orangutan's will sing on both the INT25 and the INT60. I believe @stevehuff has owned Vinnie Rossi amps in the past, not sure which one(s). Maybe he can comment on this.

@cal3713 one would think if the Pass Labs amps sound great thru Steve’s Klipsch speakers, probably similar with the ZU’s. Thanks for the suggestion. I will run direct dac and see what I hear different.