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

[Jack in Wilmington]

I emailed Pass Labs for a local distributor and a guy named Kent got back to me and put me in touch with the local Pass Labs guy named Louis. As it turns out he was going to be in my neighborhood tomorrow doing a setup and wanted to bring an X150.5 with him and give me a home audition. Unfortunately I'll be out of town until Sunday, but we will reschedule. I was really curious to see how he was going to hook it up. Usually things don't happen so quickly.

[harley .guy07]

thats unfortunate that you won't be there to hear it. I will say that you would probably love it knowing that I love mine. I think if you end up with a Pass amp to then we might have to start a Pass Labs anonymous and have a 12 step program for our addiction to Pass stuff. But its hard not to be addicted to this kind of sound.

[Jack in Wilmington]

Just for curiosity sake. What other amps would you put in the Pass Labs league? Maybe that's a question with too many variables. I would put Bryston, Ayre and Krell on a ladder a couple steps lower. They are the only brands I've listened to so far.

[blackraven]

Just for curiosity sake. What other amps would you put in the Pass Labs league? Maybe that's a question with too many variables. I would put Bryston, Ayre and Krell on a ladder a couple steps lower. They are the only brands I've listened to so far.

Classe, Plinius, CJ, Parasound JC1's to name a few.

[harley .guy07]

I would also say Plinius and they are very cool to look at. They take the whole industrial theme and run with it even further than Pass. But I have not heard one so I will only speculate on how good they are but owners of them seem to love them.

[Jack in Wilmington]

I would also say Plinius and they are very cool to look at. They take the whole industrial theme and run with it even further than Pass. But I have not heard one so I will only speculate on how good they are but owners of them seem to love them.

My friend has the Plinius S102 and he's hinted about maybe parting ways with it as he's switched to an ARC setup, but I've heard they double as a room heater, so I haven't pursued it. I liked that Parasound was mentioned in with Pass and Classe and CJ. The A23 that I heard was very warm and detailed at the same time, I was quite surprised.

[frenchmon]

Just for curiosity sake. What other amps would you put in the Pass Labs league? Maybe that's a question with too many variables. I would put Bryston, Ayre and Krell on a ladder a couple steps lower. They are the only brands I've listened to so far.

You would first have to define what you mean by league? Because Bryston, Avre and Krell certainly make amps in that same league...whatever it may be.

[harley .guy07]

You would first have to define what you mean by league? Because Bryston, Avre and Krell certainly make amps in that same league...whatever it may be.

I think you meant Ayre, I would love to try one of their preamps. In fact when I get ready to upgrade preamps in a while I will probably look at Ayre as one of the options along with a Pass Preamp of coarse. But upgrade in speakers will come first.

[Mr Peabody]

Thanks Jack, that's about the size I would want. I could possibly make do with 100.5's. I'll just run over and order those , I wish. I've been fortunate enough to run across good deals which allowed me to have some of the gear I do. I never imagined I'd ever have anything like the #512. I am also fortunate to have a wife that has pretty much accepted my hobby/addiction.

I ordered this: Ultimate Demonstration Disc: Chesky Records' Guide to Critical Listening. Blackraven said he has one. What's cool about this is it has a narrative to explain what we should be hearing. I'm anxious to see how my system measures up.


$13

[frenchmon]

I think you meant Ayre, I would love to try one of their preamps. In fact when I get ready to upgrade preamps in a while I will probably look at Ayre as one of the options along with a Pass Preamp of coarse. But upgrade in speakers will come first.

Yes I meant Ayre....thanks. But as far as preamps, you will no doubt get better synergy from a Pass preamp seeing you have the amp. The same designer created both, so im of the opinion that a certain magic happens when they are both on the same page as far as design. But thats not to say a different brand name pre wont sound good, but that little something extra comes with a matching pair. I believe Peabody has benefited greatly from a matching Pass pre and amp, and I too am hearing magic with my matching Vincent pre and amp.

[Jack in Wilmington]

You would first have to define what you mean by league? Because Bryston, Avre and Krell certainly make amps in that same league...whatever it may be.

I guess what I mean by a league is a level of enjoyment. Like minor league baseball compared to major league baseball. The parts that make up the whole are better and the enjoyment increases. Like I said also, there are way too many variables to come up with a set up measurements to rate such things. That's why I asked for opinions as many of the guys have had different makes of amps.

[frenchmon]

I guess what I mean by a league is a level of enjoyment. Like minor league baseball compared to major league baseball. The parts that make up the whole are better and the enjoyment increases. Like I said also, there are way too many variables to come up with a set up measurements to rate such things. That's why I asked for opinions as many of the guys have had different makes of amps.

Most hi end manufacturers make several amps...preamps... and so on, in different audio classes. You have entry level all the way up to the highest you can go. So when you talk about the very highest you can go, take Pass Labs Xs300 which retails at $85,000 a pair. And take the Audionet Max mono block amps which retails for $26k a pair. You would think the Pass Labs was in a different league, but not so. The price does not always dictate what class or league a component is in. And there are always trade offs on what different gear in the same calss can do....its always a trade off....no one component is perfect at what it can do. Here is a review of a few amps including the Pass and Audionet among a few others....mind you, its about a few years old, but you get the idea of what I am getting at. All the amps perform in the same league and class. Scroll down to where it says AMP II MAX monoblocks vs. other mighty power amps


and you can see what the finding were in a shoot out....Pass Labs included.

Innerworld Audio - Audionet Amp Max Monoblocks

[Feanor]

Just for curiosity sake. What other amps would you put in the Pass Labs league? Maybe that's a question with too many variables. I would put Bryston, Ayre and Krell on a ladder a couple steps lower. They are the only brands I've listened to so far.

Bryston, Krell, maybe Parasound JC's, and various other less well-know marques such as MBL would be in the same league of s/s amps as Pass Labs. However the one in particular that I would like to hear is Ayre.

I would speculate that the Ayre X-5xe vs. the X150.5 would be slighty warmer, less bright on the top end, but maybe a tad less transparent and dynamic. I'd for sure like to confirm that though.