Pass Labs XA-100.8 Review
 

Thanks for this, Ken. I like that reviewer. Will take a close look.

I think I'll drive over to the coast and look that author up. Maybe even help him haul an amp or two around. :D

Fun review to read!

Here is an interesting quote from the review:

I wonder if my sample 100.8s were going through this break-in process and thus I was never able to integrate them with my system. After a week, I gave up and put them in their boxes waiting for the UPS guy to pick them up.

Maybe I should have waited longer or maybe I should get a used pair with a lot of hours on them... :scratch2:

Ultimately, Scott gave them a resounding thumbs up. I wish I had achieved his sonic results more quickly before I had to return my pair.

raidho, Sweet set-up! :music:
Which Ayon cdp is that and how are you liking them? Must be making music with your Pass.
Looks like most are new 'fresh out-a box', even Sashas still on casters..:D Enjoy!

Hi bvdiman,

the Ayon cd player sound amazing. as cd player as preampli!

is the CD3s...now is the CD3sx -> for the dsd file but is the same...Ayon is very very good!:thumbsup:

Pass is the top power ampli with the Wilson! maybe a Xp30???

we go see...


Greets

Good to know thanks! :thumbsup:
Yep, XP30 or XS pre should be a nice upgrade.. :stirthepot: :naughty: :D

awesome set up!!

Very nice.....what is the Equipment Support ? I have been looking for a new Rack this one looks good.

Hi,

the Solid Tech Rack is too nice -> Hybrid.


New pre? a great Audio Research REF5se!!!

You dont agree?

Heard a pair of the XA160.8's in a friend's system and was very impressed.

He's driving Revel Ultima Salons and front end is a Bricasti M1 with a Gryphon Pandora pre.

The system sounded positively glorious and the step up from the XA100.5's was very substantial, particularly at frequency extremes. Bass is definitely on the warm side of neutral but there's better control and transient impact compared with the old model.

I don't think you need a tube pre with these amps because they're so inherently tube-like as it is.

[QUOTE =
I don't think you need a tube pre with these amps because they're so inherently tube-like as it is.[/QUOTE]


Hi,

I had a ARC REF5se for 2 months.....sell and back with a Great XP20 Pass!!!


What I like? a tube cd player. Ayon -> cd player CD3SX or DAC Strastos with transport.

Hi Raidho
I like your rig.
I too have Sasha and Pass Labs Xa 30.5. Upgrading to Xa 100.8.
No preamp though. I am running MSB analog DAC direct to amp.

Hi Alfa,


Pass XA100.8 are great.

I have too a Ayon Stratos Dac/pre now (too direct too the amp).
I love the hot sound from ayon gears!


The pre i think go out in the next time.....

I'm glad you confirm DAC to power amp is better than preamp.
and i like your rack

I use Transparent ref cable throughout.
Symposium Roller Blocks for isolation.
regards

well the preampli have a sense in a chain but the evolution from the Dac today is a very important point.

the dac with a VERY preampli part inside dont are soo much!

You have a Msb analog Dac with volume control, extra power base and what for "door"? (usb/spdif/coax...)

I use cd player or only with "computer"? -> you need a extra soft (Audirvana, Amarra,...) and a PC/Mac always at work.....this is a reason for dont buy a MSB (my side)


Sasha is the version 2 too?

I have a pre/dac Ayon Stratos with a NW-T. (a great combo) ihmo

cabling: Transparent Audio is good (well inside the Wilson too) but I have a brand called Esprit and work very very good with the Wilson. (Esprit Lumina)

for the power cord I use shunyata and another "big" cabel -> for the pre/dac and the source the power cord is very important . more as the power ampli... -> EX.: for pre/dac & source $ 1000, for the ampil $ 600

your are in Usa?

thank you

I had a different experience.

For me the XA100.8 were a big step back from the performance offered by the XA100.5s. :scratch2:

Hi Carlos
Please elaborate as i have just put in my order for Xa100.8
and i could still change the order to the Xa100.5

You should try them in your system to see what you think. For me the higher frequencies sounded dull.

You can read the thread I posted under the Pass Labs section. I think the title was "New Pass Labs XA100.8 amps incoming"

Hi Carlos
i could not find your posting. please send me a link

Here you go

New Pass Labs XA100.8 Amplifiers Incoming

thank you Carlos.
Re:New Pass Labs XA100.8 Amplifiers Incoming
i read all the posts in thread.
Luckily you have the Xa100.5 to depend on.
i hope the Xa100.8 works in my system. I have committed to the purchase after much research.
Delivery in about 6 weeks then 2 weeks of burn time and i will post my experience.
keep your fingers crossed for me as I do not have the option to swop for the Xa 100.5 later.

ALFA - I hope the XA100.8s work for you. The only factors that matter are how well they integrate into your system / room and how they sound to your ears. Good luck :thumbsup:

will post my experience

I noticed there the xa100.8 outputs 40 amps compared to the xa160.8 of 50 amps, any idea if this will make a huge difference?

https://passlabs.com/images/uploads/...int8_specs.pdf

hi audiohippo,

the new .8 pass serie with the 100.8, 160.8 and i think with the 60.8 too have "more" ampere... vs. the .5 serie.

A huge difference? for me not so much. If you use the Sasha2, like me, the XA100.8 is enough.

I can listen to 120db. with a little oscillation into AB "class"....but I dont listen so hard....only to make some test...


the xa160.8 is the perfect ampli with big speaker with "low" db (85db...) but the room and if you like listen your tracks in a "listening hygienic Hearing"
too with speaker hard to drive the 100.8 are a good choice.

(go see 100.5 vs 100.8 ampere and others info)

Thanks. I listened to the xa160.8 driving a pair of Sasha2 on the weekend it was bliss. Just wondering if I needed the 160 to make them shine or 100 would be OK. I normally listen between 60-75dB.

hi audiohippo,

as wrote for me & my personal taste the XA100.8 are more as enough.

the XA160.8 is a killer ampli but with the Sasha is not necessary.




(OT: your Sasha are black not Obsibian black correct?)

thx

Is that your current system? Are those the XA100's? Sweet setup!

Hi audiohippo,


yep, my set...but rack is bigger now...and in place from the Ayon cd3s player I have the Ayon Stratos DAC plus NWT music streamer....

For the cd player: pending from a Puccini (& clock) or a Esoteric (K07x-K05x or a "old" X5 new demo for a very agressiv price....)

Thank you for friendship.

Cool. I am trying to decide between the XA100.8 and XA160.8

I have only heard the Sasha's on the XA160.8 and it was amazing, but I am wondering if I would actually be able to tell the difference in a blind A/B between the two.

Thoughts?

Yes, the XA160.8 is sure a killer amplifier. (for me Pass have a very great portfolio of amplifier with a price/performance liek no others)


the Sasha2 with 91Db. in a room "normal" (40-50m2) play top with the XA100.8.

more $$$ for purchase the XA160.8 (in place XA100.8) can you invest in other gear!!!

Like you write in a blind test you dont can say if is the XA100 or the XA160 the ampli, sure.

I have around 55m2 room and I can go to 120db. with the XA100.8 and Sasha!!!

you dont think?

My Xa 100.8 is here and still settling in with the rest of my gear.
i replaced my Sasha tweeters , which are still a little bright. awful when not burnt in.
i was initially disappointed as my XA 30.5 sounded better.
After repositioning my Sasha,allowing for a little more amplifier burn in and keeping the amps on for at least 2 hours to warm up and all remorse vanished.

The Xa 100.8 is great.
goes about its business unassumingly. Sound just right.

The warmth of the Xa 30.5 is nice but very often muddies things up. the Xa 100.8 is accurate;natural and revealing of the source/recording. i do not miss the additional warmth . i prefer accuracy over warmth .

The Sasha has come alive. Dynamic !!!.

i now have more texture, better soundstage, terrific mids and tops and deep low textured bass, with impact. no boom no muddiness.

i can distinctly hear instruments clearly with better separation and air around.

the Xa 100.8 are a worthy upgrade. i am expecting more as the tweeters settle and the amplifier is fully burnt in.

This is great news, Alfa! :thumbsup:

Enjoy,
Ken

What's the thoughts on warm up times with the .8 series? I have read it needs about an hour before it sounds great, is this true?

Yes, I have found this to be generally true for the .8 Series. Most improvement is gained in the first hour. However, I've found there is continued gradual but material improvement up to about four hours. I found the warm-up to be much slower on the .5 Series. About two hours to sound really good and four hours to sound great. Could be due to the .8 Series being more deeply biased into Class A than the .5 Series.

Ken

My experience is the same as Ken's; 1 to 4 hours warm up.

My tweeters have passed 300 hours burn in . The Sasha now sounds great.
My Xa 100.8 is still improving.
i can safely confess that the Xa100.8/ Sasha combination is quite special.

Why quite special?