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Has anybody heard the Pass X150.8 amp?

173.70.97.80
Posted on September 29, 2020 at 10:01:47
Rick W
 I wish I could get the XA25 but have my doubts that it has enough power for my spkrs. They're an easy load in some ways - never go below 6.5 ohms - but Atkinson measured them and said they're mostly 12 ohm in treble.

Hence, I'm pondering more power in a stereo amp and thinking about the 150.8

 

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RE: Has anybody heard the Pass X150.8 amp?, posted on September 30, 2020 at 10:05:28
louie3
 FWIW: I use an XA 30.5 on my Kent McCollum-rebuilt Quad ESLs. While the rebuilt versions can easily handle more power, the 30.5 more than handles the job with no sign of strain, and the needle never showing movement out of class A.

As you may be aware the ESLs' load makes the amp see high impedance in the treble...as high as 32 ohms.

I know several ESL owners who are very happy with the XA 25. And Pass Labs has told me the XA 25 is their amp of choice for the ESL.

My rebuilt ESLs are about 86db efficiency.

Hope this gives you some idea of an answer to your question.



 

Wow, thanks! That is a very helpful response. Think I'm gonna buy/try the XA25. nt, posted on September 30, 2020 at 10:56:15
Rick W
 nt

 

RE: Wow, thanks! That is a very helpful response. Think I'm gonna buy/try the XA25. nt, posted on September 30, 2020 at 11:29:01
louie3
 Not really a plug for them, but Reno Hi Fi has been very helpful when I was exploring the Pass line up. And still helpful with questions.

 

Yep - Reno. Gonna discuss XA25, 150.8 and even 30.8 with them. Thanks. nt, posted on September 30, 2020 at 13:53:44
Rick W
 nt

 

RE: Has anybody heard the Pass X150.8 amp?, posted on September 30, 2020 at 20:31:46
AbeCollins
Audiophile

Posts: 46280
Location: USA
Joined: June 22, 2001
Contributor
  Since: February 2, 2002
I had the X150.5 with the Cary SLP-05 tube preamp driving it. What a wonderful sounding setup! It was sufficiently powerful for my Thiel CS2.4 speakers.

If you go another route with the lower power Class-A setup you might inquire about trading it back for a more powerful amp like the X150.8 if necessary. As mentioned below, Reno has been great to deal with but I've never asked them about trading something back if it didn't quite work out.



 

RE: Has anybody heard the Pass X150.8 amp?, posted on October 6, 2020 at 13:06:06
mikem
Audiophile

Posts: 170
Joined: September 23, 1999



I'm using the XA25 to drive a pair of Daedalus Athena V2's which are rated at 95dB sensitive .. while it's supposedly an easy load, they still require a good amount of current to make them come alive..
The XA25 is capable to handle most reasonable speaker loads and some difficult loads too as mentioned.. and it's an amazing sounding amp !!
Here's the crossover my amp must overcome..

 

RE: Has anybody heard the Pass X150.8 amp?, posted on October 6, 2020 at 16:32:52
guitardave
Audiophile

Posts: 235
Joined: December 18, 2004
 I hav had both the xa25 and 150.8. For my speakers, Devore o/93's, the 150.8 was better. The xa felt anemic and weak, even on the devores. Nothing against pass products, I have owned a ton of pass and first watt, but the Luxman m700u I own now is really much better. I just found I would try the other amps trying to find something equal to my ref75se in solid state, not finding it, and selling it. The Luxman is the first that equals it.

 

Thanks for that info. nt, posted on October 7, 2020 at 07:20:25
Rick W
 nt

 

RE: Has anybody heard the Pass X150.8 amp?, posted on October 7, 2020 at 13:59:30
fantja
Audiophile

Posts: 15518
Location: Alabama
Joined: September 11, 2010
 Consult Reno HiFi.

 

Been trying. They never answer phone. I left message w/my phone # about a week ago to no avail. nt, posted on October 8, 2020 at 09:20:33
Rick W
 nt

 

That's odd. I recall Reno being very responsive - nt, posted on October 9, 2020 at 12:21:17
AbeCollins
Audiophile

Posts: 46280
Location: USA
Joined: June 22, 2001
Contributor
  Since: February 2, 2002
 .

 

Similar results here with my Class A vs Class AB Pass Labs...., posted on October 9, 2020 at 12:34:31
AbeCollins
Audiophile

Posts: 46280
Location: USA
Joined: June 22, 2001
Contributor
  Since: February 2, 2002
 The Class A Pass Aleph 3 [30wpc @8Ohms / 60wpc @4Ohms] was under powered and anemic for my relatively easy to drive Tannoy Definition D500 tower speakers (91dB 6Ohm nom.).

The setup sounded overly polite as in lacking dynamics and it was often congested and compressed sounding at normal listening levels - another indication of insufficient power. I stepped up to the Pass X150 then the X150.5. Both Class AB amps were soooo much better.

Class A amplification is not the panacea for every audio system.

I regularly see "low power" Pass amps up for sale and I attribute this to buyers thinking that they're powerful enough for their needs - but often they are not. And the revolving door continues to turn with many of those previously owned "low power" Pass amps being recycled several times on the used market.

My caveat to anyone considering Class A "because it's the best" better be damned sure that the amp delivers sufficient power for this speakers. That often means that lower priced entry level Class A amps ain't going to cut it.





 

Finally spoke with Reno. Re: XA25 vs. 150.8 w/my spkrs. they agreed with what you said below, Abe., posted on October 20, 2020 at 13:09:05
Rick W
 Reno rec'd that I get a 150.8 rather than XA25 for my old Sonus Faber spkrs. A bit disappointing since he said the XA25 was Pass's warmest amp - which is what I want. He thought it'd run outta steam with my SF's though.

The 150.8 is so damn big and heavy and would barely fit on my rack. Actually, that's assuming the feet are recessed enough to sit on my rack's shelf. The amp is 1.75" deeper than the shelf and weighs 88 lbs!

 

RE: Has anybody heard the Pass X150.8 amp?, posted on October 20, 2020 at 17:56:11
pictureguy
Audiophile

Posts: 22597
Location: SoCal
Joined: October 19, 2008
 2 things occur to me.

1. Above maybe 7khz or so, power needs drop dramatically

2. What is the REAL power output of this amp. The XA30.5 had nearly 6db dynamic headroom, by than fully in A/B

If the meter, which is a BIAS meter doesnt' 'flicker', chances are you are not dinging the power out\put capability of this the XA25.......
Too much is never enough

 

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