Between XA30.5 and F4 sonic impressions

[Joshua_G]

It may be an unfair question and unfair comparison, yet I ask.
I planned building F4 amp and started to purchase the necessary parts for it (so far, not much).

Today the local Pass Labs dealer came to my humble abode and demonstrated the XA30.5 on my system. My jaw dropped, I just loved it. Alas, it is very expansive for me, being retired with no monetary reserves, only a monthly income. I can somehow manage to purchase it, but it will be a big burden on me.

This is why I ask this (maybe unfair) question: did anyone compare the F4 with XA30.5 and can comment on the sound quality difference between the two?

[Zen Mod]

Papa , who else .

btw. - as I'm always writing - you can't evaluate F4 without muscular preamp ; and - in that case , combo will have preamp's character

[Joshua_G]

All power amps require a pre amp. Always the overall sound of the system is a combo, yet not all power amps sound the same…

[Zen Mod]

F4 have voltage unity gain ;
preamp is predominant in that combo

[weskoki]

I guess it depends on the speakers you use.

[Joshua_G]

Originally Posted by Zen Mod

F4 have voltage unity gain ;
preamp is predominant in that combo

My present pre amp is a tube one, with enough gain.
On any combo of pre amp and power amp, each one of the two influences the total sound.

[Joshua_G]

Originally Posted by weskoki

I guess it depends on the speakers you use.

Do you mean the power needed, or the sound quality?
In my experience, the sound quality of any given combination of pre amp and power amp is what it is, while the sound quality of the speakers is what it is.
A hint, I have excellent speakers, Brodmann VC2. They reflect accurately the sound quality of whatever is there before them.

[a.wayne]

What no Magico ........

[Nelson Pass]

The context between and F3 and an XA30.5 is so different that I frankly
have never considered the comparison.

I like to think of the F4 as a fine output stage for SETs or an interesting
alternative to other low-power amplifiers, assuming a high output preamp.

The XA30.5 has greater control, more power and lower distortion.

And voltage gain.



Not to say that the F4 isn't sweet...

[Joshua_G]

Thanks, Papa.
How about between F4 mono-bridged fed from a balanced tube pre-amp (which was my original plan) and XA30.5?
When you say that XA30.5 has lower distortion, I believe that F4 is clean enough, Isn't it?