XA30.5 to the XA30.8

[RichW]

I know there has been a ton written on this amp. For good reason! I just want to share some of my thoughts about the differences between the Pass Labs XA30.5 and the XA30.8.

The XA30.5 was a great amplifier. It replaced my Decware Torii Mk IV, which I was sure, was going to be my ‘terminal amp.’ When I got the XA30.5, I thought I was taking a huge chance on it. I didn’t expect it to perform well against my valve amp and figured there was a 50/50 chance I would be disappointed and sell it. I was surprised to find that the Pass Labs XA30.5 eclipsed my Torii in almost every way.

A couple of differences I noticed was that the Pass lacked a mid-bass fatness, and was not quite as warm as the Torii MkIV. What it gained over the Torii Mk IV was a clarity that I had not heard before, better bass extension, and a sound I can only describe as a ‘sweetness’ on the upper registers. I liked my Torii and tubes in general, but as soon as I heard the Pass Labs XA30.5, I knew that I could live happily with a transistor amplifier.

I started to read a little about the Pass Labs XA30.8 and the enthusiastic reviews it was getting. I thought that it was interesting that even though the XA30.8 was described as being less lush and warm when compared to the XA30.5, it was preferred by almost everyone who heard the two next to each other. I talked to Mark at RenoHifi and worked a deal for a trade-in on my XA30.5 towards an XA30.8.

The XA30.8 sounded different in a couple of ways. For starters, it sounded great cold! Maybe better than the XA30.5 warmed up. I was surprised since the XA30.5 sounds terrible when started and run cold.

There are plenty of other differences between the two amps. For example, the 30.8 is darker, much smoother, clearer, images better, and voices may be pulled back just a hair. It's got more mid-bass, which I like a lot (reminds me of my tube amp). Its bass is overall much punchier, tighter, and clearer. I've been using it sans sub with satisfying results.

I disagree with the reviews regarding warmth. I think this amp is still quite warm (again, which I like). The XA30.5 sounded very similar warmth-wise to my tubes, and the XA30.8 doesn't seem that far off from the XA30.5. The main difference between the XA30.5 and XA30.8 on top is that the XA30.5 has a 'sweetness' on the very highest frequencies. I don't hear it with the XA30.8. I liked the sweetness on the XA30.5, but there are bound to be a couple of gives and takes.

Next up is power. I am noticing a lot more power in the XA30.8. My informal benchmark is from Star Wars: The Force Awakens. There is a scene where the StarKiller base fires its hyperspace laser, blasting Republic planets to dust. When I watch this with my XA30.5 at reference volume, the scene always nearly buries the needle. When I reviewed the scene with the 30.8, the needle still moved, but just a little.

I asked Kent at Pass Labs a little about the power; he had this to say:

“In a traditional Class A circuit where there is A/B headroom you frequently observe a rather dramatic change of slope in the THD+noise curve as the amp slides from A to A/B on the peaks. I don't see that with the point 8's.* That transition is very gentle and pretty innocuous and higher up the wattage scale than Nelsons figures … Empirically when I look at the curves of Wattage vs. THD+noise on the Xa-30.8...... the curve starts transitioning gently upward at about 0.3% THD: At that point 80W into 8 ohms and 120W into 4.*The actual rated 1% distortion not occurring till the amp is at a higher wattage output still in both cases.”

All-in-all I am happy with my transition from the XA30.5 to the XA30.8. Between the smooth transition through RenoHifi and the sound of the XA30.8 itself, I am sure I made a good deal. Hopefully, this helps those of you considering the switch.

[paul1]

A more polished review of what I was trying to express.
It will just get better

[Still-One]

Thanks for your thoughts on the differences in the two PASS amps.

[mav52]

I heard the both when I was looking to purchase. And ended up with the xa30.5. I just liked the way it sounded. The 30.5, in my opinion just transmitted a nicer mid and high range. So i own the XA30.5

[RichW]

Can't fault you for that! The 30.5 does some things very well.

[paul1]

Originally Posted by RichW

Can't fault you for that! The 30.5 does some things very well.

Great to hear enjoy and when you get tied of it step up to a more powerful and controlled.8 series
Either way great amps