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Pass Labs 20 Years and Counting

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  #21  
Old 02-16-2013, 11:00 PM
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jazzhead jazzhead is offline
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Originally Posted by mbovaird View Post
Do you own the XS amps or have you heard them? I'm curious. Yeah, at $85k there is some stiff competition. You are pretty much into the best of the best category. Even a used pair of DartZeel 458's start to come into vision. My issue (besides the $85k) would be the heat!
Never seen a used 458 up for grabs yet , to early in the piece I would think .
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  #22  
Old 02-16-2013, 11:05 PM
Frank750 Frank750 is offline
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Originally Posted by mbovaird View Post

Do you own the XS amps or have you heard them? I'm curious. Yeah, at $85k there is some stiff competition. You are pretty much into the best of the best category. Even a used pair of DartZeel 458's start to come into vision. My issue (besides the $85k) would be the heat!
Yes Mike. I got them in August. Initially played them with the ARC Ref 40 and Ref 2 but preferred the XP 30 and XP25 with them. I had ARC Ref 610s and the XA100.5 that I swapped back and forth prior to the XS300. I think they're worth every penny but I was never that smart anyway. Don't know about the best of best but the XS300 is the best I've heard in my house and I've been doing this a while.

The heat doesn't bother me at all. In fact, I called Pass to ask if these things threw less heat than the XA because they didn't appear to be getting very hot. They told me they were about the same heat wise.

I'm playing with cables now and then I believe I'm done. At least for this lifetime.
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  #23  
Old 02-16-2013, 11:10 PM
mdkim mdkim is offline
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I don't know if you could quantify the XS as 3-4 times better (probably not) but, as we know, once you've heard the finer detail and nuances of an "über" amp - and that is clearly the territory the XS occupies - its hard to forget it.

The real question, as Frank states, is do you want to spend $XX,XXX to get there. I'm struggling with it...I would love to join Adam in the Maldives or finish my outside patio kitchen. Just when I think I'm fine standing pat something will remind me of how tremendously REAL and detailed a brush drumstick can and does sound with high dollar amplifiers in my system...and this is in comparison to the excellent XAs!

Frank, if you have the XSs, please share your thoughts. I'm close...just need a good push .
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  #24  
Old 02-16-2013, 11:10 PM
mdkim mdkim is offline
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Ha! See your response above...
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  #25  
Old 02-16-2013, 11:18 PM
mbovaird mbovaird is offline
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Originally Posted by Frank750 View Post

Yes Mike. I got them in August. Initially played them with the ARC Ref 40 and Ref 2 but preferred the XP 30 and XP25 with them. I had ARC Ref 610s and the XA100.5 that I swapped back and forth prior to the XS300. I think they're worth every penny but I was never that smart anyway. Don't know about the best of best but the XS300 is the best I've heard in my house and I've been doing this a while.

The heat doesn't bother me at all. In fact, I called Pass to ask if these things threw less heat than the XA because they didn't appear to be getting very hot. They told me they were about the same heat wise.

I'm playing with cables now and then I believe I'm done. At least for this lifetime.
Very cool Frank! Can you describe some of the differences vs the XA100.5'?
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  #26  
Old 02-16-2013, 11:38 PM
Frank750 Frank750 is offline
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Originally Posted by mbovaird View Post

Very cool Frank! Can you describe some of the differences vs the XA100.5'?
Timbre, texture, image separation, image specificity, depth, width, layering of soundstage, all substantially better. There really is no comparing them. As it should be for the difference in price.
I don't like describing sound because its all up to the ear of the beholder. And certainly, as you know, dependent on the rest of your system being up to what the XS 300s are putting out.
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  #27  
Old 02-16-2013, 11:46 PM
mdkim mdkim is offline
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I recall your system now from another forum. VERY nice and thanks for throwing in your brief thoughts.
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  #28  
Old 02-16-2013, 11:54 PM
mbovaird mbovaird is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Frank750 View Post

Timbre, texture, image separation, image specificity, depth, width, layering of soundstage, all substantially better. There really is no comparing them. As it should be for the difference in price.
I don't like describing sound because its all up to the ear of the beholder. And certainly, as you know, dependent on the rest of your system being up to what the XS 300s are putting out.
Thanks for sharing Frank. Very nice. I bet Jeff will love it too.
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  #29  
Old 02-17-2013, 09:34 AM
Ritmo Ritmo is offline
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Very impressive Frank. Enjoy your XS300s...
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  #30  
Old 02-25-2013, 03:22 PM
Tonepub Tonepub is offline
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Just got mine today, unpacking tonight.

The reason I wouldn't buy the Dartzeel amps (or Vitus for that matter) is that if they ever break, there is no service in the US. When I had to send my Vitus phono back to Denmark for repairs, the shipping was $1200 and I had to eat it. I will never buy a European product again that weighs over 100 pounds with no US service.

Pass stuff almost never breaks and if it ever did, it's an easy trip to California from here. A big concern with high dollar stuff, because sooner or later it all breaks.

If I lived in Europe, Dartzeel or Vitus would be a no brainer.
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