Has anybody heard the new pass XA's-100.5's or 160.5's can you describe how the sound and compare to either the XA's 100's or 160 and either 600.5's or the 350.5.
Thanks
Thanks
They tend to sound like a cross between the earlier XA and X.5
amplifiers.
Comparing the XA.5 to the XA's, our subjective listeners
consistently report:
The soundstage is larger and deeper.
Placement is more accurate.
The bottom end is tighter.
The midrange has greater definition.
There is strong similarity in the upper mid and top end.
Our measurements show:
Greater power, current, speed, and damping.
Lower distortion and noise.
Comparing the XA.5 to the X.5's, we see simiilar results
subjectively, except that the mid and top is smoother.
Objectively, the distortion is lower.
😎
amplifiers.
Comparing the XA.5 to the XA's, our subjective listeners
consistently report:
The soundstage is larger and deeper.
Placement is more accurate.
The bottom end is tighter.
The midrange has greater definition.
There is strong similarity in the upper mid and top end.
Our measurements show:
Greater power, current, speed, and damping.
Lower distortion and noise.
Comparing the XA.5 to the X.5's, we see simiilar results
subjectively, except that the mid and top is smoother.
Objectively, the distortion is lower.
😎
Nelson,
Thanks for your quick response.
How are the xa.5 when it comes to PRAT. I found the xa's lacking in that and I found the x.5 decent w/Prat but lacking a little in resolution.
My favorite amps of yours are the SA/12E's. Melt inyour mouth music but transparency or it might of been the halographic presentation of instruments/voices seems lacking. Either way they are still great amps.
The new xa.5's sounds like you've moved closer that quality.
It all sounds very exciting.
Will there be a stereo version in the XA.5 series with more then th 60 watts, maybe?
Thanks.
jfr
Thanks for your quick response.
How are the xa.5 when it comes to PRAT. I found the xa's lacking in that and I found the x.5 decent w/Prat but lacking a little in resolution.
My favorite amps of yours are the SA/12E's. Melt inyour mouth music but transparency or it might of been the halographic presentation of instruments/voices seems lacking. Either way they are still great amps.
The new xa.5's sounds like you've moved closer that quality.
It all sounds very exciting.
Will there be a stereo version in the XA.5 series with more then th 60 watts, maybe?
Thanks.
jfr
Availabitly of XA160.5
Hello,
on the Pass Labs site, the biggest XA.5 amp that seems to be available is the XA100.5. The XA160.5 page doesn't exist.
So, does it mean that the XA160.5 will be available later ?
Last question :
I only use efficient speakers like big Tannoy (GRF...) or JBL (4430...) or TAD (TSM1 : 2401).
In this case, what would be the best match : XA100.5 ou XA160.5 ?
In general : what are the sonic differences between those amps (except power) ?
Thanks for help.
Hello,
on the Pass Labs site, the biggest XA.5 amp that seems to be available is the XA100.5. The XA160.5 page doesn't exist.
So, does it mean that the XA160.5 will be available later ?
Last question :
I only use efficient speakers like big Tannoy (GRF...) or JBL (4430...) or TAD (TSM1 : 2401).
In this case, what would be the best match : XA100.5 ou XA160.5 ?
In general : what are the sonic differences between those amps (except power) ?
Thanks for help.
Re: Availabitly of XA160.5
The XA160.5 and X200.5 will be drifting out soon, as I have
a prototype pasing through production at this time.
In general with this circuit, the higher the bias the better the
measured and subjective performance. Besides the raw output
power, it is that factor which largely distinguishes the X.5 amps
from the XA.5, and the ranking within those two categories.
😎
nico_g said:
The XA160.5 and X200.5 will be drifting out soon, as I have
a prototype pasing through production at this time.
In general with this circuit, the higher the bias the better the
measured and subjective performance. Besides the raw output
power, it is that factor which largely distinguishes the X.5 amps
from the XA.5, and the ranking within those two categories.
😎
Thanks for the answer
Hello Mr Pass,
thanks for your answer.
If i understand well, the XA160.5 would be really better for me, even if my speakers are efficient and easy to drive ?
Hello Mr Pass,
thanks for your answer.
If i understand well, the XA160.5 would be really better for me, even if my speakers are efficient and easy to drive ?
Re: Thanks for the answer
Considering the high cost, you have to decide whether the
incremental improvement is worth that much more money.
Personally, I get along with less power.
😎
nico_g said:
Considering the high cost, you have to decide whether the
incremental improvement is worth that much more money.
Personally, I get along with less power.
😎
Thans again for your help.
I think too that the XA100.5 is enough for my system.
The price difference between the XA160.5 and XA100.5 will be the same as between the XA160 ans XA100 ?
I think too that the XA100.5 is enough for my system.
The price difference between the XA160.5 and XA100.5 will be the same as between the XA160 ans XA100 ?
Nelson,
I have a question about distorsion. It seems that xa-100.5 has .01 at 1 watt at 1 khz.
What's the distortionof the 350.5 at 1 watt at 1 khz?
Is distortion a product of circuit desig or choice of parts or both?
If it is circuit design can using better parts in say the power supply and or output stage help a great deal?
Or is it important to redesign of the output stage that matters most?
Thanks
jfr
I have a question about distorsion. It seems that xa-100.5 has .01 at 1 watt at 1 khz.
What's the distortionof the 350.5 at 1 watt at 1 khz?
Is distortion a product of circuit desig or choice of parts or both?
If it is circuit design can using better parts in say the power supply and or output stage help a great deal?
Or is it important to redesign of the output stage that matters most?
Thanks
jfr
Everything contributes to the overall distortion of a circuit, but the amount of distortion contributed by the gain devices dwarfs all the rest combined. Circuit topologies are chosen with an eye towards minimizing distortion. To the extent that real world topologies fail to cancel the nonlinearities created by real world parts, the answer as to which is at fault is, "Both." You choose a set of compromises and go from there.
Unless you intend to use a grossly mis-designed power supply, you will not see a measurable difference in the performance of a circuit. Parts quality in the power supply will not make a measurable difference.
You can influence measured distortion by choice of gain devices, but the effect is is not of the make-or-break variety. Matching devices is quite useful, though.
THD measurements correlate only poorly to the perceived sound quality of an amplifier. That, however, is another topic for another day.
Grey
Unless you intend to use a grossly mis-designed power supply, you will not see a measurable difference in the performance of a circuit. Parts quality in the power supply will not make a measurable difference.
You can influence measured distortion by choice of gain devices, but the effect is is not of the make-or-break variety. Matching devices is quite useful, though.
THD measurements correlate only poorly to the perceived sound quality of an amplifier. That, however, is another topic for another day.
Grey
Grey,
Thanks for your terric concise and informative reply.
So, it's the gain devices in the circuit, like opamps would you say which are in the output stage?
jfr
Thanks for your terric concise and informative reply.
So, it's the gain devices in the circuit, like opamps would you say which are in the output stage?
jfr
Gary,
I didn't make myself clear. It's not a pass amp I am talking about. It's another amp that I am talking about.
Anyways so it's the output devices themsevles - either bipolar or mosfet that can generate distortion?
So could it be because they are not matched?
jfr
I didn't make myself clear. It's not a pass amp I am talking about. It's another amp that I am talking about.
Anyways so it's the output devices themsevles - either bipolar or mosfet that can generate distortion?
So could it be because they are not matched?
jfr
AVALON WITH PASS
To Mr. Nelson Pass :
I own a pair of AVALON EIDOLON.
I doubt to associate the AVALONS with : XA 100.5 ; XA 160.5 or X 600.5.
In your opinion , wich is the best amplifier option for my speakers ?.
Thanks and is a privilege to contact with you.
Best regards.
To Mr. Nelson Pass :
I own a pair of AVALON EIDOLON.
I doubt to associate the AVALONS with : XA 100.5 ; XA 160.5 or X 600.5.
In your opinion , wich is the best amplifier option for my speakers ?.
Thanks and is a privilege to contact with you.
Best regards.
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