Bryston 14B-SST or Pass Labs X 350.5

Hi Rydenfan, I have a hunch that you are Ted B's good friend. I have listened/auditioned both Bryston and Pass Labs over the years, and still believe that the Pass X.5, XA and XA.5 series are some the most musical and natural sounding SS amps I have ever heard. Take a look at my reviews of the 350.5 and XA-100's here on the GON for the details. I actually left a message for Ted last friday that there was a pair of 600.5 monoblocks here on the GON that was in your budget, which would make your Kef 205/2's sing like a very musical bird, indeed!

I owned a 14B SST, and presently own Pass Labs XA-60.5. Not apples to apples with a X-350.5, but I'd put my money on the Pass Labs over the 14B SST (which is an excellent amp in its own right).

Pass Labs has a naturalness to its sound that I have yet to hear matched by any other solid state amplifier. At the same time, the Pass Labs has bass control and definition equal to Bryston.

IMO.

You should also consider Ayre amps...I think its the best of them..

I had owned a Pass Labs X350.5 previously and definitely a good amp. But do yourself a favor and just buy a McIntosh MC402 power amp. Once you hear the big McIntosh MC402 you will forget about the Bryston 14B-SST & Pass Labs X350.5. The McIntosh MC402 is a great power amp and I have absolutely no regrets trading in the Pass Labs X350.5 for it.

Thanks for the comments guys. Tvad what you are saying about the bass control is very interesting to me because my concern is that the Pass would not have the woofer control that the Bryston does. In the past I have heard that the Pass' have incredible midrange but they do not have good woofer and thus bass control.