XA25 vs F7

[jelt2359]

Has anyone heard these two? Similar low wattages, so it would seem to me like they are natural amps to compare.

Any feedback will be appreciated- can't find anything on the web!

 

[Dennis Hui]

I've heard both, but alas not with the same speakers and front end equipment.
I would be happy with either setup. The XA25 definitely ran hotter.

 

[Zen Mod]

according to available info, X25 emanating twice heat of F7

 

[jelt2359]

I've heard both, but alas not with the same speakers and front end equipment.
I would be happy with either setup. The XA25 definitely ran hotter.

I realise that this might be near impossible to answer, but did the XA25 seem like it had more heft and grunt?

BTW, I own an F7. Getting close to being my favourite amp now, which is amazing because it's nowhere near to my priciest amp. There's something magical about how pure the F7 sounds.

 

[Nelson Pass]

I think you can safely say the XA25 has more heft and grunt,
but that's not its raison d'etre.

 

[vdi_nenna]

What's the reason for the XA25?

 

[Zen Mod]

Demonstration of Force , what else ?

(besides money , of course )

 

[Dennis Hui]

What's the reason for the XA25?

For those who find even an XA30.8 too heavy/large to move?

 

[moe29]

What's the reason for the XA25?

It's the outcome of countless Focus Groups.

Combing through gigabytes of Social Media data for best selling amplifier Keywords.

Scouring Youtube comments under anything to do with Hot New Amps.

Exhaustive study of Hi Fi Audio Forum Posts.

Facebook Fundamentals.

Season 1 through 4 of the X-Files watched in chronological order.

microdosing.


All of the above research - and rumors of audible test bench hallucinations - something to the effect of:
"Build it and they will buy it" led to the birth of the XA25!

How do i know all this? I stayed in a Holiday Inn Express last night.

 

[generg]

raison d'être:

"Je fait chaud, donc je suis!" Descartes (1596-1650)


It could be the beginning of new stars in the Pass Labs offer.
But when using more pucks in parallel the source resistors come again back, don't they?

But instead of 20, 40 pairs there might be only 4 or 8 pucks.

But what does Pa with his gallons of IRFs?

 

[Zen Mod]

counting on Papa's spirit - he could just going to use bigger pucks , instead of paralleling them

 

[Project16]

raison d'être:
"Je fait chaud, donc je suis!" Descartes (1596-1650)

"Je pense donc je suis"

 

[jelt2359]

Thanks Nelson. Another one I'd be interested to throw into the equation is XA30.8, in case anyone has more to chime in. Reading the previous thread on the XA25 I understand it's probably closer to the XA30.8, and I understand the raison d'être here, but still curious, how does it sound?

 

[RobLK]

I found this on on Pass Labs Facebook. Pass labs answered a comment on the XA25's sound.

Pass Laboratories: The XA 25 has a different sound from the 30.8, the 30.8 would be more tube like, yet the XA 25 is very dynamic, and has a wide sound stage.

 

[Zen Mod]

oh,no

now I gonna need to visit facebook , too

 

[generg]

oh no, no Facebook please....

Mr. Pass I prefer personal email.......

 

[scottjoplin]

Need, Facebook, Yes

 

[Nelson Pass]

After a while the reviewers will let you know what to think about the sound.

 

[jelt2359]

Thanks, I am actually thinking of swapping my F7 for an XA25, doubt I will since I'm sure the F7 is destined to be a classic, and also I've heard the XA.8 series (a 100.8, actually) and it's a bit too tubey for me.

But still, I like innovation, and the XA25 looks interesting.

 

[lae2]

Unfortunately, I can not make comparisons to the First Watt hardware. I have modernized my, not chopped liver, hardware to BCD-3/HPA-1/XA25 hardware. Then, I invested more in tweaks than in electronic hardware. My jaw is still dropped. Now I am determined to retire and reverse engineer the XA25. Knowing that I can't.