Nelson Pass to put it lightly, is a f&*king superhero of HiFi! The legacy of amazing gear, his annual "amp camp" , and of course First Watt! Not only does the man sincerely encourage DIY cloning of his designs, he will personally assist you in doing so via his message board. Ive had my eye on a DIY kit for the "Aleph" amp im hoping to put together soon. Wonderful human being!
@PearlAcoustics2 жыл бұрын
Thanks for the comment. Nelson Pass is indeed an exceptional human being.
@jonathansturm41632 жыл бұрын
@@PearlAcoustics As are you Harley. There’s a distinct subset of audiophiles to which you, Nelson and myself belong. We contradict the all too common view of audiophiles who appear to be engaged in the Quixotic belief that the next best thing will bring nirvana. The important aspect of audiophilia is the quality of transmitting what’s in the mind of the musicians into the mind of the listener. Noticeably, the very best equipment for doing that seems to me to exemplify a very great dose of simplicity, both in the engineering of the recording and the reproduction.
@PearlAcoustics2 жыл бұрын
@@jonathansturm4163 very interesting comment Jonathan. Not sure I am worthy of your recommendation but, I would like to challenge you by going one step further, if I may? Behind the musicians are the composers. The musicians deliver / interpret the composers vision and deliver it to us, in HiFi case, via a microphone. 😉 best wishes
@jonathansturm41632 жыл бұрын
@@PearlAcoustics It wasn’t my intention to leave out the composers. My gratitude to JS Bach for example is immeasurable. Blame my 71 year old brain...
@PearlAcoustics2 жыл бұрын
@@jonathansturm4163 hi Jonathan, I Sm sure it wasn’t! No need to blame your brain, it’s only a question of editing. And I have been thinking recently that (simplistically) perhaps ‘mono’ is better for listening to music and ‘stereo’ for listening to the musicians - assuming they have been recorded well. Enjoy your Sunday!
@audiorick8412 жыл бұрын
I really like your approach with emphasis on simplicity and good quality design.
@PearlAcoustics2 жыл бұрын
Thank you. Much appreciated
@mikem46332 жыл бұрын
I owned the XA25 for almost 2 years and thought it was fabulous! The only reason I let it go was for the SIT3 Amp which is slightly richer with more bloom.. The XA25 is transparent without sounding sterile or edgy. It has weight and great bass control with a realistic midrange. Plenty of power for most speakers and renders piano better than any other amp I have heard to date.. Simple design with less being more pays off big in SQ.. Another masterpiece by Nelson and company..
@PearlAcoustics2 жыл бұрын
Thanks Mike!
@mikem46332 жыл бұрын
@champer slimmerthannone Not in production anymore, only enough for around 300 or so units in total. The used market will have one appear from time to time.. they go fast when available.
@GavinHodgson2 жыл бұрын
I did the reverse had the SIT3, but then switched to XA25. SIT3 had a touch too much bloom for me. I love the Aleph sound.
@kimchee4112 жыл бұрын
I also had the XA25 and SIT-3 at the same time. Similar but yes, SIT-3 had more bloom and sense of recording space, XA25 a little more leading edge, power, and control. Two of the BEST amps I've ever had, and I've had a lot at higher price points. Can't go wrong either way if you like the Pass sound. Now I'm going full circle back to an INT-25 in my secondary system.
@asplmn Жыл бұрын
@@kimchee411 sounds like owning both would be an endgame scenario? Being able to switch between the SIT-3 and XA25 based on mood/genres...
@artsound86382 жыл бұрын
Another great video, Harley! It was a pleasure having you visit my showroom in West London :) I like your philosophy on simplicity and getting the power amplifier right - this approach is also very useful as source components (especially digital front ends and DACs) are changing so fast one may want to upgrade those after a few years - and a good power amp (or an integrated with no digital inputs) will remain a constant.
@PearlAcoustics2 жыл бұрын
Thanks Ajay. We think alike 😉
@danielgeiger77392 жыл бұрын
I liked your review of the XA25, which helped convince me to order it without having heard it. Thanks!
@gryphongryph2 жыл бұрын
@@danielgeiger7739 am very interested in this amp too, can you tell me what system you have ? I am running Supratek Cabernet pre into Belles SA 30 amp with Graham Audio LS 5/9.
@danielgeiger77392 жыл бұрын
@@gryphongryph I have a PrimaLuna EVO300 Pre and Sibelius SG speakers with a REL T9/I sub (don't use it much though). CD with Marantz transport and digital from a Mac Roon server to a HoloAudio May DAC L2. Tape TEAC 7000. Vinyl with VPI super prime scout with ADS, Soundsmith Zephyr MIMC* cartridge, EAT eglo petite phono stage. Did a rather thorough pandemic upgrade going from Rotel 1572 integrated with B&W CM6 S2, to the above. Speakers are more detailed and less mid bass heavy, the new pre/power amp gives much better soundstage and clean bass. DAC (Rotel built in vs. Holoaudio) is much more detailed, better soundstage, cleaner bass, but not analytical. Hope that helps. If you want to know more, let me know. I don't know any of your gear, so cannot compare directly. Sorry! Room is about 18x18' (yes square!), set up diagonally with about 8' distance from speakers to listening position. Did a bit of room treatment with DIY absorbers (plus carpet, book shelves).
@gryphongryph2 жыл бұрын
@@danielgeiger7739 thanks for the reply, beautiful system you got there, interesting that you are in a square room, I will be moving my system to a square room too and I am kind of worried about that, I still have my older system, so that would probably be used in the larger living room for tv watching and casually listening. Only thing I worry about buying the PassLabs is if it is powerful enough for my Graham Audio LS 5/9 speakers. Are you happy with the match between the PrimaLuna and the Pass Labs ? Do you have a lot of usable volume adjustment ?
@raphaelmeillat85272 жыл бұрын
Very nice review. Simple and straightforward as usual. Lots of wisdom. Thanks for sharing. Really want to try your speakers one of these days.
@PearlAcoustics2 жыл бұрын
Thanks Raphael!
@davidstein91296 ай бұрын
Thanks Harley for another insightful review of this Pass XA-25 Power Amplifier I really enjoyed it.
@PearlAcoustics6 ай бұрын
You’re very welcome. Thanks for taking the time to share your appreciation
@johnmarchington31462 жыл бұрын
Thanks for another great review, Harley. I live in New Zealand and own a PureAudio pre-amplifier and, perhaps amazingly, I had no idea that Gary Morrison had passed away, so I was obviously immensely sorry to hear about that. It will be a great loss to the local hi-end audio industry. The pre-amplifier is outstandingly good. You might also be interested in hearing that I've built my own class A amplifiers, based on the John Linsley Hood design from the 1960s that has been updated by Geoff Moss who has provided a more up-to-date method for accurately adjusting the quiescent current and output offset voltage as well as increasing the power output to around 50 watts into 8 ohms by doubling the number of output transistors. It's a really lovely sounding amplifier and I built two for a monoblock configuration. Furthermore, they are as silent as the grave when idling.
@PearlAcoustics2 жыл бұрын
Dear John, So sorry the news of Gary came as a shock. Some if class amplifier designs from the sixties were very good, but there is no doubt in my mind that modern components are generally so much better quality - and I can only imagine just how good your amplifier must sound. Thanks for your comment! (By the way. On the 2nd. Of November I have a new review coming out on the tiniest class A amplifier, one could imagine!
@johnmarchington31462 жыл бұрын
@@PearlAcoustics Geoff Moss and I corresponded over quite a lengthy period of time and he advised me about many features involved in making the amps, such as the wattage rating of the toroidal transformers, the source of high quality and substantial heat sinks (six per amplifier) and he even laid out the amplifier components to produce a printed circuit board for me (using Spice, I think), while I designed the PC board for the power supply (which is really substantial). I wonder if Geoff is still with us? I had, by the way, built the JLH amplifier before but lack of knowledge about the heat dissipation always caused premature failures. The two I am currently using have been the first to have been properly designed and constructed.
@TheOritek2 жыл бұрын
The local audio society is holding an audio meet in October and the Sibelius is the guest of honor... In preparation I auditioned a demo pair and I have to say that these speakers are just what I expected them to be (in a positive sense): accurate tone, very fast transient response, pinpoint soundstage and just enough of quality low bass to not need a sub for most music. They sounded really clean driven by the LTA Z10 integrated amplifier with 12wpc from a push-pull EL84. This amp features the Berning ZOTL switchmode impedance matching circuit but it sounded just like any other EL84 amp I've heard: clean and musical with excellent bass control. The Z10 has a tube preamp section and linear power supply and it's internally shielded to minimize noise. The attention to detail in its construction is very obvious. We did try the bigger EL34 ZOTL power amp with 40wpc and it did not impress us during the short listen. Perhaps the setup wasn't perfect to judge that amp, but what we heard from the smaller Z10 was really good so we finished the audition with it. The Sibelius speakers did not need more power in the small (maybe 20x20 ft) room with extensive acoustic treatment. I hope to try another Nelson Pass amp with the Sibelius. It's the single-ended Zen with the current source load, minimized to 3wpc (while burning 65 watts, not very efficient...) into 8 ohms and tweaked heavily (for example, bare electrolytics with Blu-Tak for vibration control). That amp works great with my DIY single-driver speakers (vintage drivers, not MarkAudio) and I expect it to sound just as good - or better - with the Sibelius.
@PearlAcoustics2 жыл бұрын
That’s great to hear! We’d love to see some photos, if any are taken! Good luck with your audio meet!
@philbarone46032 жыл бұрын
In my HiFi journey I had for a few months a Pass X350.8 and I’m sorry to say that I came to the conclusion that it started sounding, for lack of a better word, generic. I’m on Conrad Johnson Premiere 12 mono blocks with a CJ Premiere 17LS preamp and I’m almost there but still doing setup. I think I’m really a tube guy although sometimes the Pass sounded phenomenal but I couldn’t live with it. It wasn’t for classical music.
@keithdevito8092 жыл бұрын
Excellent review. I run my Sibelius speakers with the same amplifier. Your review is spot on!
@PearlAcoustics2 жыл бұрын
Thanks Keith, it was you and a few other of our customers who inspired the video! So thanks for that!
@jearley222 жыл бұрын
what is your preamp?
@kartickgrover2 жыл бұрын
Another simple, to the point, lack of hyperbole video from you. Great work. Wish to sample this amp sometime.
@PearlAcoustics2 жыл бұрын
Thank you. Glad you appreciate them.
@fredmclaughlan75742 жыл бұрын
Great review Harley, certainly a stereo system to lust for, thanks!
@PearlAcoustics2 жыл бұрын
Thanks!
@AdiMaco7 ай бұрын
I hope I don't come across as a troll and bother you here too much! I just want to make a technical comment about the XA25. The website says it's Push-Pul Class A. So it's not pure Class A. In fact, it is difficult to make an amplifier with transistors, be they FET or Mos-Fet, in pure class A. Push-Pull Class A is not actually Class A, that is, it is and it is not. The amplifier has a splitter that divides the signal into positive and negative alternating which is distributed to two amplifier branches, but these branches are already biased to class A, that is, the transistors on these branches are already open all the time and just waiting for the signal. In class AB or B, these two branches after the splitter are biased with a very small current that does not fully open them, and practically the transistors open and are fully biased only when the audio signal appears. So we are dealing here with a trick, which is welcome here, which reduces the noise and associated distortions that Class B biased transistors produce when they switch on and off when the audio signal is applied to them.
@PearlAcoustics7 ай бұрын
Hi, no problem at all. You raise an interesting point here. So much so that I thought it useful to contribute a link to a Nelson Pass white paper on the subject (I will also put it in the description of the video itself, incase it does not work fully here in the comments): www.firstwatt.com/pdf/art_leave_classa.pdf
@harrisedgar2 жыл бұрын
What a wonderful video...!!! (as usual) Thank you....
@PearlAcoustics2 жыл бұрын
Thank you Edgar!
@spvlinn90092 жыл бұрын
Another great review Harley. I jumped into the Song from Tidal right after and can duplicate everything you said except I couldn’t pin point the locations of male and female singers behind and it seems really close together. Also drum, harmony and back singers are close behind not way behind in my system which consists of a Linn Klimax DS/ Lavardin p62/mono blocks driving a pair vintage JBL 4343. Very wide front baffle of JBL are not great for pin point image but Lavardin helps bringing some of them back. Thanks again!
@PearlAcoustics2 жыл бұрын
Thank you for your very kind words. There are so many dependencies in stereo imaging, not least the room itself. If you have a lot of wall, floor and ceiling reflections, that can make a very big difference too. Your system sounds great, but you could try (for fun) borrowing a pair of narrow loudspeakers (can even be small stand mounted bookshelves / monitors) just to see how the image varies. The idea is not to replace your JBL’s but to see how much of an influence they are having in your room. Another thing to try is repositioning your loudspeakers. Sometimes, a slight toe in or out or a move of as little as 8-16 inches can make a massive difference! But most of all, don’t worry and enjoy what you have!
@Bigirondoug2 жыл бұрын
Nelson is to Amplifiers as Einstein is to physics.
@PearlAcoustics2 жыл бұрын
😉
@scottchegg12092 жыл бұрын
He was a fraud. Proven.
@Bigirondoug2 жыл бұрын
@@scottchegg1209 So show your proof
@AdiMaco7 ай бұрын
Nelson Pass is a legend.
@PearlAcoustics7 ай бұрын
Indeed he is!
@Mrhifitunes2 жыл бұрын
Great video. Wish i could own one, but it is a lot of money. I have sugden A21 SE now and i feel it has the magic for less then half (considering you have to buy a pre amp as well)the money.
@PearlAcoustics2 жыл бұрын
Hi m, thank you for your kind words. Indeed Sugden make great amplifiers too. Not sure it would be an upgrade, as such.
@JingoLoBa572 жыл бұрын
I put it against my First Watt M2 and it’s a different profile altogether. Oddly I have preferred to listen to the M2. The INT25 is worth a listen I understand. Good for an integrated based system…
@PearlAcoustics2 жыл бұрын
Thank you for your input. There is no doubt that Nelson Pass has made a great deal of designs, some with uniquely sounding soundstages. The problem for me to review First Watt Designs is that I could never end up recommending them because, generally they are not available to our customers world wide.
@stimpy1226 Жыл бұрын
Nelson Pass designs amplifiers to be as musical 10 years later from the day of release. It usually works something like that. I believe that an x-30.8 was just released and that's not quite 10 years. But it's around 8+.
@ML-rm3vk2 жыл бұрын
Wonderful video brilliant.thank you sir music on.
@PearlAcoustics2 жыл бұрын
Thank you! Very kind.
@philbarone46032 жыл бұрын
Ya know, I’ve been so burned by guys doing reviews like the Tekton speakers I bought but Harley is different because he speaks like a musician and because of him my next rig is going to be a Pass with Sibelius speakers. I’ll just add that when I wrote Pass Labs, Nelson wrote me back himself.
@PearlAcoustics2 жыл бұрын
Dear Phil, thank you for your trust in me / us. So pleased we think on the same wavelength
@mariodrv2 жыл бұрын
Measurments show that Nelson is very conservative with the power rating and that it realistically putting out around 80 Watts continously with music and ca. 70 with a sinewave, and thats not even what it is able to dynamically swing in short bursts. In short - more than you will ever need for almost all speakers out there.
@PearlAcoustics2 жыл бұрын
Thanks for the additional information
@beagle76222 жыл бұрын
Yes I have learnt that with my Prima LunaValve Amp 47 watts into 8ohms ( Martin Logan’s) . I never get that amps near maximum volume & it never struggles . I have a new understanding now how amplifiers work.
@AdiMaco7 ай бұрын
PassLabs XA25. Yeah, but it is really important to tell us what preamplifier and what front-end, Turntable-cartridge-phono pre-interconnect cables you have used. Most of the sound signature of any audio system comes from the front end and pre.
@PearlAcoustics7 ай бұрын
Hi. Thanks for your comment. Indeed, you make a good point. The pre was a QUAD Artera and a Lyngdorf TDAI 1120. I did not use a turntable in this review. Only CD and streaming.
@tigsmartpt2 жыл бұрын
I love this Amp
@PearlAcoustics2 жыл бұрын
It’s great, isn’t it. Everything about it says ‘quality’
@markfischer36262 жыл бұрын
Nelson Pass has a different amplifier for every day of the week and no two sound exactly alike.
@proustie2 жыл бұрын
Pass makes beautiful amplifiers. If you have the opportunity, I'd suggest having a listen to Riviera Labs -- newish Italian brand making some incredible Class A amplifiers.
@PearlAcoustics2 жыл бұрын
Thanks. I'll check it out!
@JR___2 жыл бұрын
Nice review! Have you tried the XA25 without a preamp and directly from a variable level soruce? This way usualy sounds cleaner but sometimes, and with very clean sounding amps, may sound a bit lean or sterile...I love to know if this amp keeps sounding clean but not lean or sterile used that way. Thanks!
@PearlAcoustics2 жыл бұрын
Thank you for your kind words. Yes indeed I have. Infact that'ts how I use it most of the time. Works fine. You just need a good impedance match and as Thomas says 'Synergy'. Enjoy your music.
@JR___2 жыл бұрын
@@PearlAcoustics Thanks!! 🙂
@frankgeeraerts62432 жыл бұрын
When an amplifier sounds right ..................few are...............modern loudspeakers need amplifiers that kick them in the but. For pure high end sound ..........NOT for natural sounding speakers who play MUSIC ! That's why they like class AB .............class A will flower and develop their flavour with speakers like yours. High took another road..............speakers and amplifiers should be build like instruments ........
@JamesH19732 жыл бұрын
Hi Harley. How would you compare the Pass labs XA25 with say the Sugden A21SE Signature Integrated Amplifier?
@PearlAcoustics2 жыл бұрын
That's a very good question. I have heard very good things about the Sugden but never had one on my studio - would love to try it but I think the waiting list is very long....?
@scottchegg12092 жыл бұрын
Hi Harley its Paul t.
@rw39152 жыл бұрын
If you think an X-25 is good, try a XA-100.8 along with a Pass Labs XP-22 front end. When you play this combo, broken in, you’ll wonder why you didn’t do it sooner. As the saying goes, time lost is never found again. Why subject yourself to anything less than superlative?
@johnsweda29992 жыл бұрын
Are you willing to try an experiment...? should work on full range drivers like that I've done it on tweeters soft dome and works very well. Plus you could pull the driver Down half an octave without losing any top end I think the Nelson pass amplifier would work well with KR audio preamplifier p135 opinions! should be a good match that's a good preamplifier How does a chord amplifiers work with your speakers and a ACT amplifiers. UNISON research integrated amplifier unico might work quite well have you tried it?
@PearlAcoustics2 жыл бұрын
Hi thanks for your comments. With regards the amplifiers you mentioned, I have not tried them yet. Thanks for the suggestions. During development, back in the 90’s we did use soft dome tweeters but the driver that Mark designed for us makes them superfluous. Our clients all over the work are testifying for that. But I do see your point. Enjoy the music.
@gryphongryph2 жыл бұрын
Harley, really love this channel, thanks for taken the time to make it. Have a question for you, if you don’t mind. I am running Supratek Cabernet pre into Belles SA30 class A power amp into my Graham Audio LS 5/9 speakers, unfortunately the gain on the pre and the power amp is a mismatch, the pre is from the designer info “Output z is less than 100 ohms, voltage on 300b is about 6v” now the Belles only need 0,7v for full output, so you can see that I don’t have mush volume adjustment before it gets too loud. The Belles has no problem driving my speakers, do you think the Pass Labs would match better with my pre amp ? Thanks! Ps. Love the videos you did discussing albums and the way they are produced and sound, would like more of those if possible, the last years I been listening more and more to jazz and classical, probably something to do with passing the big fifty 🤔
@PearlAcoustics2 жыл бұрын
Hi, thank you so much for your kind words, they are very much appreciated. I will be making more videos on ‘great recordings - from all kinds of genres. The next one comes out in a few weeks time. I will also be making another video on a very special amplifier / pre amplifier ( coming out early December) so you might want to wait for that. As it is quite a radical approach to pre-amplifiaction?! And will very likely solve your current problem. Forgive me for not replying specifically on your matching issue, it’s complex and I am weary about getting involved to too many very specific issues. If in doubt, I suggest to write to the PassLabs guys - they are very helpful, or wait until early December… 😉
@gryphongryph2 жыл бұрын
@@PearlAcoustics thanks for the reply, looking forward to that video, although I have no plan to change my pre as I really like the sound it has. I fully understand that you would not get involved in pre/amp matching, it can be a bit difficult, I guess. I have written to PassLabs and they needed a bit more info from me, so I am waiting to hear back, asking for the First Watt amps also and got a email from the designer himself, what an honor 😊
@PearlAcoustics2 жыл бұрын
@@gryphongryph 👍
@gryphongryph2 жыл бұрын
@@PearlAcoustics I don’t know if you have heard any of the various bbc 5/9 speakers that are made under license? But if you have, how would you describe the difference between the bbc design and the Sibelius?
@PearlAcoustics2 жыл бұрын
@@gryphongryph high, I made a video comparing the BBC design- LS3/5a and the Sibelius. But apart from that, you might like to write to my colleague Ajay at Pearl Acoustics.com because he’s also. Graham Audio expert and can give you a better answer than I. Enjoy!!
@stappi632 жыл бұрын
Hey Harley. Great video as always. How are you liking Accuphase amplifiers?
@PearlAcoustics2 жыл бұрын
Thank you very much for your kind words! I have only heard one Accuphase amplifier with our loudspeakers, and that was an old one. It sounded fine but I really want to get hold of a E-280 integrated, especially after Zero fidelity’s review!
@stappi632 жыл бұрын
@@PearlAcoustics I will bring mine once I make a trip to Belgium to audition your speakers :) curious what you think of it
@PearlAcoustics2 жыл бұрын
@@stappi63 that will be great. Our new dedicated listening room will be open in April 2022. You’ll be very welcome
@Rickzolla2 жыл бұрын
I have an XA25 arriving in a couple of days. Now, how do I get a pair of your speakers in Southern California???
@PearlAcoustics2 жыл бұрын
Hi Richard, good to hear from you. If I may, I suggest you reach out to Ajay at enquiries@pearlacoustics.com he will help
@rotaks12 жыл бұрын
Thanks!
@dandevvers2 жыл бұрын
Hello. I’ve only just made aware of your speakers and your channel (thank you algorithm) and I find them both very interesting. You mentioned the cone types of your speakers in this video and just wondered if you still made the Sibelius “P” with the paper cones? When I click on the corresponding page on your site, it just comes up with a 404 error. Thanks 👍🙂
@PearlAcoustics2 жыл бұрын
Dear Daniel. Thank you very much for your kind words. We stopped with the ‘p’ a while ago but we can still make them to special order. If you write to us at info@pearlacoustics.com, we would be happy to discuss your requirements with you further. Best wishes
@dandevvers2 жыл бұрын
@@PearlAcoustics Thank you for the reply. I’m afraid I’m not in the position to buy some new speakers at the moment but when I am, yours will definitely be on my short list.
@PearlAcoustics2 жыл бұрын
@@dandevvers no worries at all. We’re here if you ever need us. We’ll keep a few pairs of ‘P’ drivers, just in case!
@seanmangan27692 жыл бұрын
🙂 listen to his model F8!
@PearlAcoustics2 жыл бұрын
Will do!
@blejzerosamigos61152 жыл бұрын
Great video thank you, what is the preamp that you are using.
@PearlAcoustics2 жыл бұрын
Thank you for your kind words. I am using a Quad Artera Play +.
@blejzerosamigos61152 жыл бұрын
@@PearlAcoustics Thank you so very much for your reply, in the future would you consider making a video on importance of having good preamp, I have First Watt F7 also Mr. Pass creation but it's input impedance is 10k Ohm's any suggestions on good match.? Any word of advice would be greatly appreciated, thank you again for your excellent work.
@PearlAcoustics2 жыл бұрын
@@blejzerosamigos6115 thank you for your suggestion re pre-amp video. I will give that some careful consideration. I s add m sure I will one day. Re advice for your personal situation, there are so many options that I find it difficult to reply. It’s largely about your personal needs. I suggest you speak with a trusted local dealer, or go back to Pass labs fir advice. The 10k is pretty standard, so no issues there.
@allanlee8275 Жыл бұрын
May I know what kind of preamp using with XA25?
@PearlAcoustics Жыл бұрын
Hi, in that set up I was using a QUAD Artera.
@allanlee8275 Жыл бұрын
@@PearlAcoustics As I am using Audion tube preamp, what do you think about it ?
@PearlAcoustics Жыл бұрын
@@allanlee8275 I have never tried that combination but I think it should work just fine. The XA25 is a very fine amplifier.
@danielgeiger77392 жыл бұрын
Very timely video. Just heard from my local distributor that my XA-25 is about to ship! Looking forward to hooking it up to the Sibelius with the PrimaLuna EVO 300 as the preamp. In the US the XA-25 is a bit cheaper, at "only" US$4,900. There is also a saying of "Buy once, cry once". I remember form past videos that you commented about heat output and summer vs. winter amps. The class A design indicates lots of excess heat, but at relatively low power rating of 25W it may not be that much. Would you consider it only a winter amp, or an all season amp?
@PearlAcoustics2 жыл бұрын
Dear Daniel. That’s a very good question! I should have covered that more. To be honest the amplifier gets quite warm. The heat sinks have to do their work. Obviously it is not as hot as two large monoblocks! So if your room does not get too hot in the summer and it can take a little extra warmth - then bo problem at all. It’s probably giving off about 200 watts in heat. Hope that helps? Enjoy.
@danielgeiger77392 жыл бұрын
@@PearlAcoustics Thanks for that. I should have thought of looking up the power consumption (240 W). At
@PearlAcoustics2 жыл бұрын
@@danielgeiger7739 👍
@mikem46332 жыл бұрын
Here is the Carolina’s, the summers are quite toasty.. The XA25 gets quite warm at the heat sinks, but doesn’t heat up the room.. it’s really not an issue.
@danielgeiger77392 жыл бұрын
@@mikem4633 Finally got it in. You are spot on. Gets warm but does not warm up the room. And sound da bomb!
@Drackleyrva2 жыл бұрын
Great review! How warm does the amp get after several hours? Thank you.
@PearlAcoustics2 жыл бұрын
Thank you very much for your comment. The official power consumption of the XA25 is 250W, and bearing in mind that it consumes this, even when there is no audible input, means that it is probably producing around 200-250W of heat into the room, so yes, with its big heat sinks, left and right, the heat is evened out nicely across the unit but it does still get quite hot to the touch. You won’t burn your hand but you wouldn’t want to keep it there for any length of time. Hope this helps?
@user-ex9zm7bg3x11 ай бұрын
I have one and it is a hotplate
@TheElverma2 жыл бұрын
Audi A6 is a nice(r) VW :-)
@tomwebb70912 жыл бұрын
Yikes if its like an Audi A6 its going to bore the socks off me. Best stick to my valve amps!
@PearlAcoustics2 жыл бұрын
:-)
@jeromemeyers70792 жыл бұрын
My Pass Labs INT-25 pairs perfectly with my Sibelius loudspeakers. As I understand it, the INT-25 is the simple-philosophy version of the XA-25 but as an integrated amp. Sound is liquid perfect and yeah, 25 Pass Labs watts feels more than enough. Volume meter goes up to 63 and I've never pushed it past 50. 30-42 is a good listening range. I forgot ear fatigue was a thing.
@PearlAcoustics2 жыл бұрын
Indeed Jerome, the Int / and power are fundamentally the same. You are indeed, one of our many clients that have gone for the XA25 / Sibelius combination. Thanks for the inspiration!
@jeromemeyers70792 жыл бұрын
@@dwmb484 Hello David! I mentioned 30-42 range for my active listening sessions, where yes, I like it loud. But I also listen at night when I turn off all the lights and anywhere btw 16-22 is very nice even when I'm in the next room over.
@BlueCliff72 Жыл бұрын
I'm looking to buy the exact same system one day! An INT-25 with a Sibelius. I've heard both Herb Reichert at Stereophile and Steve Huff on his channel give rave reviews of the INT-25, even preferring it to the XA25. Do you mind if I ask if your setup still holds up a year later? Oh! And what kind of genres do you listen to?
@jeromemeyers7079 Жыл бұрын
@@BlueCliff72 I've been loving it - sounds amazing still. The heat and continuous power draw of the Class A-ness of the INT-25 is the only drawback. I listen to many genres, but mostly classic rock, classical, jazz but also select electronic music.
@PeteratJplus7 ай бұрын
I am uprading from XA-25 to INT-25. The pre-amp design by Wayne Colburn provides the perfect source matching for the power amplifier, and to my ears adds to the dimensions of the sound stage and air around instruments and voices compared to feeding the XA-25 from my Manahattan's variable output.
@henriksrensen32202 жыл бұрын
Gryphon audio is another great company
@auggysimcity2 жыл бұрын
Correct. Though a completely different price range. Pass labs is not obtainable to all. Let alone Gryphon.
@morespinach98322 жыл бұрын
How would this compare to Lyngdorf 3400?
@PearlAcoustics2 жыл бұрын
The 3400 is much more powerful. But in essance it is the same design principle, so I guess it is at least very similar.
@klausnielsen7102 Жыл бұрын
I have both the Lyngdorf 3400 and the Pass XA200. They are very different designs! The Lyngdorf is so much easier to live with… but the Pass sounds so much better.
@JohnLee-db9zt2 жыл бұрын
Problem with Audi A6 analogy is it’s not reliable, like all German cars.
@PearlAcoustics2 жыл бұрын
Interesting. I have owned many Audi's, as have many of my colleagues - never heard of unreliability issues with them.