Pass Labs X150.5 Audition.......Almost

[frenchmon]

Well I read the test and they tested a X350.5 against the Audionet. I am surprised that they did not choose something form Passes XA or XS series. The X350.5 is a $11,500 dollar amplifier not a $85,000 XS series from which you mentioned. I will say that I would have liked to see a XA, or XS go against the Audionet and see how the outcome would be and I would bet it would be different. The X.5 series are now Passes lowest line of amps and even though they are some of the best in their price category the XA and XS represent a even higher end sound that is a true reference. Even thought I doubt I will ever get past the x.5 series if a person is going to spend this kind of money on gear and wants a true reference comparison at least they can get the best from these companies and compare them. In fact it looks like the other brands represented were the top or near top models from these companies but not the Pass. I just don't think this is a real reference comparison. iTs kind of like of Ferrari took there top car and did performance comparisons against the Porsche Boxster, well yeah the Ferrari will come out on top. Now if Ferrari tested their top car against a Porsche 918 then that would be a true reference test.

On a different note I just heard from another member from another forum that Pass Labs is introducing another series to their amps lines called the X.8 series. It would seem that this series is going to take some of the technology and sound from the XA, and XS series but have the power output of the X.5 series. It will bridge the gap between the X.5 and XA/XS series price wise as well. I do not know yet how much difference there will be between the X.8 and X.5 but they will start selling them sometime in 2014

Hi Harley...I got the wrong amp.

The xs-300 is $85k...not the Xs-350.5...my bad

Reno Hi-Fi

But with all that, you focused on the review rather than my point which is All those amps are in the same league as far as hifi is concerned. All those amps are great! All those amps have the highest and best engineers, all those amps are built like tanks. All those amps have the highest performance. None of the amps are perfect. It becomes a matter of system matching and preference at that level. Sure you are biased towards Pass Labs, thats understandable but there are trade offs with each and every one of those amps. I would be happy with any one of those amps. And yes....Just because an amp cost $100k and another amp cost $75k they can be considered in the same league.