Krell Evolution or Pass XA.5 series

I would love to see more comments on this post. I am considering an Evolution 302 or 402 (not the "e" version $$). I own a Pass amp and have owned others in the past. I think the Pass amps do best when in Class A mode and suffer when they move out of A and into A/B. So it is my belief that if going with a Pass amp that is not pure class A, one must keep in mind how much power they really need for their primary listening habits and then buy the Pass amp that delivers in Class A to the power range they need. Under this scenario, Pass amps are great. Forcing them into A/B mode for much of ones listening may likely result in a lower level of satisfaction. I am sure there will be Pass fans who disagree with this assessment, but it is based on what I have experienced.

Ckoffend,
Do you own an XA.5 series amp or one of the older series? I agree with you about Pass Class A. I've owned many but never any of the X series.

Well, Since I had Pass labs x.250.5 and experience with xa series,plus, I have been living with Krell EVO 402 for more than 2 years. I think I have the right to tell a word:
I don't like statements such as A is better than B.
I can't say Krell is better than Pass. Simply because both are different. I can not compare. The important thing is what kind of presentation that you are looking for? What type of speakers you have? 4 ohm or less? or you have tube preamp and you need a descent solid state power in order to recompensate some tube related undesired outcomes, or you think that your cables have a house sound of lean or weak bass, than, answer is Krell for cure. If not Pass will be just fine.

This is a very old thread of mine. Not as relevant as it was. I happen to find the Pass XA series to be excellent but the Krell EVO line very life like in speed and transparency. I never heard the Pass XA on medium efficiency speakers that go down to 3 ohms. But the XA30.5 I heard on some monitors was something of a special seductive sound. The best I heard Krell EVO was on their Modulari speakers. Something special but leaning away from organic towards the transparent/neutral side of things. Maybe a touch cold in comparison. But these are short listening opportunities that came up under unfamiliar conditions. Speakers at the time were Maxx 2s.

Pete, I do not own the XA.5 series. I owned the 150.5 (and prior to that a straight 150 for a short time) and an Aleph 5 (which I bought specifically for my Gemme speakers but also have listened to it with W/Ps). I have heard the XA.5 series and I do think they are excellent amps. I like Pass amps, but I like them best in class A and find that when they go from class A to A/B they do not perform in the same manner as when they are operating in class A. I can highly recommend Pass amps and my suggestion or caveat is that one buys them on the basis of how much power they need and will be better off knowing that that power can be delivered in class A as much as possible (with the Pass amps). Since I am currently in the market for another amp, the Pass XA series has been on my list, but in the end I doubt I will go that route.