I receive my new speakers in a few weeks time, the T+A Criterion TCD 110's, and I've recently realized that the entire time I was auditioning them, 6 or 7 sessions, I was primarily using a Pass XA100.5 to drive them. I currently just have a Simaudio 340i integrated at home, and was looking to find something that synergized better with the speakers--Sim imho is slightly cold and the speakers are ever so slightly warm.
I gave the speakers a shot yesterday with the 30.5's and it wasn't a pretty sight; soundstage & clarity in parts was amazing, but the amp has zero control over the prodigious bass those speakers can pump out. I had not realized what a monumental difference there was between the 30.5 & 100.5. Sadly, I can't afford the 100.5s at this time, but I have the opportunity to purchase the 60.5's at a reasonable price. The problem is, I have no dealer in my area that actually has the 60.5s, so i have to somewhat go on advice & reviews. Am I going to find that the 60.5's are more similar to the 30.5s or 100.5s? What I realize now is that 100.5's are an absolutely intoxicating amplifier. For a long time I thought it was my speakers that were intoxicating, but in fact it was the synergy between the two. Somehow Mr. Pass was able to craft an amp that was intoxicating while having levels of clarity & realism like i had never heard before. I guess this is a very long way of asking "do the 60.5s share more qualities with the 100.5s or 30.5s?"
A few other notes, the meter was always above the middle point on the 30.5s when I auditioned it. It was generally moving around somewhere in the middle of the 2nd half of the meter. I listen primarily to electronic music. My music comes out of a mac mini & into a classe cp-800. While at the dealer the speakers run full range, at home i will cross them over at around 80hz with my dual JL F113's. I'm attaching a link to the specifications of the speakers.
INFORMATION
I gave the speakers a shot yesterday with the 30.5's and it wasn't a pretty sight; soundstage & clarity in parts was amazing, but the amp has zero control over the prodigious bass those speakers can pump out. I had not realized what a monumental difference there was between the 30.5 & 100.5. Sadly, I can't afford the 100.5s at this time, but I have the opportunity to purchase the 60.5's at a reasonable price. The problem is, I have no dealer in my area that actually has the 60.5s, so i have to somewhat go on advice & reviews. Am I going to find that the 60.5's are more similar to the 30.5s or 100.5s? What I realize now is that 100.5's are an absolutely intoxicating amplifier. For a long time I thought it was my speakers that were intoxicating, but in fact it was the synergy between the two. Somehow Mr. Pass was able to craft an amp that was intoxicating while having levels of clarity & realism like i had never heard before. I guess this is a very long way of asking "do the 60.5s share more qualities with the 100.5s or 30.5s?"
A few other notes, the meter was always above the middle point on the 30.5s when I auditioned it. It was generally moving around somewhere in the middle of the 2nd half of the meter. I listen primarily to electronic music. My music comes out of a mac mini & into a classe cp-800. While at the dealer the speakers run full range, at home i will cross them over at around 80hz with my dual JL F113's. I'm attaching a link to the specifications of the speakers.
INFORMATION
XA30.5 is stereo in one case
both XA60.5 and XA100.5 are monoblocks
conclusion - 60.5 and 100.5 are different only in PSU voltage , while 30.5 is having half outputs and lesser PSU voltage , comparing to previous two
both XA60.5 and XA100.5 are monoblocks
conclusion - 60.5 and 100.5 are different only in PSU voltage , while 30.5 is having half outputs and lesser PSU voltage , comparing to previous two
both are X'ed
just say that (both XA100.5 and ) XA60.5 is double everything , compared to XA30.5
so , conclusion , XA60.5 is double everything , but not double X'ed 😉
just say that (both XA100.5 and ) XA60.5 is double everything , compared to XA30.5
so , conclusion , XA60.5 is double everything , but not double X'ed 😉
Last edited:
something in my head tells me that XA30.5 and XA60.5 runs on same voltage.
however. this voices in my head, can be white noise
however. this voices in my head, can be white noise

As the TCD 110 is a lower efficiency speaker why not considering the X150.5 or the new XY-150?
https://passlabs.com/products/amplifiers/x.5/x150.5
https://passlabs.com/products/amplifiers/xs/xs-150
https://passlabs.com/products/amplifiers/x.5/x150.5
https://passlabs.com/products/amplifiers/xs/xs-150
Just read the Sterophile review of the XA60.5 and notice that the maximum output power into 8 ohms is measured as 130W. This is exactely the same as they measured for the XA30.5. According to the XA.5 series comparison sheet the maximum output voltage for the XA30.5 should be 23V which would give 23*23/8~66W. For the XA60.5 the max voltage is specified as 32V which gives 32*32/8=128W and is in line with what stereophile measured. Is it a typo in the specs? Does the XA30.5 and XA60.5 actually have the sam PSU voltage? Or is my thinking wrong (could be so, I am really tired right now 🙂)?
xa.5_specs.pdf
Power consumption figure of a mono XA60.5 equals a stereo XA30.5, both 200W. Aka, power consumption of an XA60.5 channel is twice as high.
sqrt (120/60) times 32/23 ~ 2 x
Power consumption figure of a mono XA60.5 equals a stereo XA30.5, both 200W. Aka, power consumption of an XA60.5 channel is twice as high.
sqrt (120/60) times 32/23 ~ 2 x
That's true. But how can they have the same measured maximum power when the max voltages are different?
The products are actually carefully specified - for Class A operation. What they
might do as AB amplifiers is somewhat different.
😎
might do as AB amplifiers is somewhat different.
😎
XA30.5 is underspecified
but - be sure that 60.5 is having more oohmps with heavy load
I do not at all doubt that 60.5 can handle heavier loads than the 30.5. Was just curious about the voltage and power figures.
The products are actually carefully specified - for Class A operation. What they
might do as AB amplifiers is somewhat different.
😎
Thank you mr Pass I did not realize the max voltage was also for class A operation, thought it was only the max power.
I would also want to take the opportunity to congratulate you on the excellent XA60.5 Stereophile review.
Last edited:
- Status
- Not open for further replies.
- Home
- Amplifiers
- Pass Labs
- Is the XA60.5 more similar to the 100.5 or 30.5?