Anyone use Pass Labs...
 

Anyone use Pass Labs with their Wilsons? I'm thinking specifically the Pass Labs xa100.5 amp and xp20 pre. I'm thinking the 92db sensitivity of my WP8s might work well with these amps.

Hi Steve,

I use Sasha with XA100.5. I have tested the xp20, which is a great preamp, but ARC Ref5, it's another league. You will have no problems with XA100.5 to drive your WP8 and it will sound great.

jp

I use Pass XA-100.5's and an XP-30 pre. They are a marriage made in heaven for my W/P 8's

Thanks!

Thanks, but I have decided on the xp-20. In the future, I may go with AR, but for now, I'm going with an xp-20 and an xa-100.5, as sadly, money has recently become an issue. However, I don't think I will be suffering and this will be a huge upgrade for me. :banana:

I use with sasha the 100.5 and xp 20 and i m waiting the xp 30 wonderfull

Have you Up grade from xp20
 

If you have bafore the xp20 with the same set Up

How you describe the diferences ?

Im waiting the xp30

Regards

Marcelo

I've had the Pass Labs gear for six days now and all I can say is, hot dam! For now, I don't care if there is anything better, because I'm hearing so much better sound than I ever have, tubes included, in my system. It's so good, I'm even considering getting the Pass Labs phono pre, but then, what would I do with the BAT phono pre? Also, I noticed that these amps don't seem to run all that hot, at least, not as hot as what I was expecting.

Steve,

I had an XP-10 with the XA30.5 and that was a sweet little combo. I don't think I appreciated it as much as I should have. I am glad you are enjoying the XP-20 with the XA100.5's. Pass makes solid, reliable, sweet sounding gear.

Congrats on your "new" sound. It's like falling in love all over again, but for the first time. At the NY Audio show at the Waldorf, there was a sonically mesmerizing set up using Wilson Sashas, MIT cabling, a Da Vinci Dac, and Pass Labs Pre/Amp combo. In a word, incredible. Enjoy.

I came very close to pulling the trigger and swapping my gear for a PASS set-up about a year and a half ago. I like their gear a lot. I am sure you are very happy.

Jim

Sorry for all the gushing, but hey, if I can't do it here then where? I'll try to keep a lid on it now.

Let it out, you are among friends :thumbsup:. We all go through the same thing. :banana: I'm glad you are happy, that makes us happy :yes:

Thanks Joe, I feel better now. I guess the next step is to get some SRA stands from Ivan, within the next few months. Right now, the amps are just sitting on some 3/4 inch platforms I cut from some plywood/pressed wood sheet.

I need to concentrate on a really nice rack and better cables next year. All in due time, enjoy the music :music:

Steve, I guaranty that getting the amps on isolation stands will make another big jump in performance.

Hi Steve,

congrats for your new acquisition. I use XA100.5 and Sasha since 2 years and always the same pleasure. Now, if you have the possibility, try a ARC REF5, and really you will get another universe. But I agree, XP20 is a great matching with XA100.5.:guitar:
Another way to improve your system is to change the power cord:tresbon:

I am not using a Pass power amplifier, but I am using a Pass crossover, and I have to say it is terrific.

I had a couple of issues/quirks specific to my system and got excellent help from Kent English when I called. He knows the stuff inside and out.

Pass' telephone customer service and technical help is FANTASTIC.

I would not hesitate to buy their products again.

+1 on Pass Labs support. While i don't run Wilson's, (use Wilson Benesch and Sonus Faber), the Pass amps are really Musical and run not nearly as warm as the previous Pass amps. Wish there was a way to dim the blue meter lights off but aside from that aesthetic quibble, they are awesome! I've used mine on HRS M3 stands rather than directly on my wood floors.

+1

:thumbsup: :yes:

Thanks everyone. Thanks Ivan, for such a great site!

Pass Labs + Wilson is always a good combo. heard it a few times & it shines very well.

My friend drives his Sashas with XA200.5 monos and it's a wonderful combo.

Sasha"s with Pass Xa200.5,it must be magic:banana::banana:. Did your friend compare them with other great amp? Which preamp does he used???

+1 on the XA.5 series and wilsons... prior to going all tubed (VAC) that was the best sound i'd attained.

Down Under
 

I have been using the X260.5 monoblocks to drive the Sashas with ease.The much feared low impedance in the bass region is a doddle.The James Blake track Limit to Your Love which has fearsome bass pedal on Lp shakes the house without troubling the amps at all.
Is the treble sweet? I have found it to be free of harshness and the midrange quite spellbinding.
Worth a try or at least an audition.Like everything else make sure they have at least a weeks worth of use before dismissing them.

Interesting... Too bad that VAC brand is so rare here in Europe. I think it can be found in Belgium, possibly. Jean-Paul, try it :banana:

if you're not averse to tubes, VAC amps and wilson's are the best my rig has ever sounded!

As I see XP-20 & XA-100.5 is considered as a good match for Sasha which is not the easiest thing to drive.

Going step down to Sophia-2, would XP-20 & XA 60.5 make it as matched as XA100.5 for Sasha? In other words is there a point in spending extra $ on XA100.5 if its advantage of XA60.5 would not be noticed by the Sophia 2?

Just got a pair of Sashas to replace my B&W 801s and am driving them with Pass X0.2 preamp + X600.5 mono blocks. The sound is amazingly dynamic, transparent and detailed. Great combination.

Down Under
 

:D
Others may disagree,but having owned both the Sophia 2 and the Sasha the latter is much more efficient than the Sophia 2 and would get by with the XA 60.5.My preamplifier volume control is set much lower on the Sasha than on the Sophia 2 for similar listening levels.I would be more tempted to use the XA 100.5 on the Sophia 2.My long standing dealer suggested that the XA 60.5 may not have sufficient headroom for the Sophia 2.
If cost is a factor try the 260.5 monoblocks,they were great with the Sophia
2's particularly with Nordost power cords.
Prior to the Pass Labs I had Gryphon M100 monoblocks for a long time and the X260.5 was a significant improvement over them.

After yesterdays very impressive demo, I'm considering the xa160.5's with the Strads (I'm still keeping my mc2301's though). My Pre is the Mcintosh c1000c/t/p. Good combo with my speakers and Pre?

The xa160.5 would deliver 320 watts of pure class A into my 4ohm Strads. Strads are rated at 300 watts/channel max - so I figured it didn't make sense to go all the way to the 200.5's (400 watts into 4 ohms). Agreed?

I'm still wondering about the combo with the c1000c/t/p Pre. I think it will be great since I have both Tube and SS options....but I'm not sure.

Thoughts?