Pass Labs


$85.000 & 65.000 Amps  The extreme high gone nuts
128x128jj77
Its cheap compared to other high end amp because everyone is pushing the envelope of what they can get away with..... The problem is that they can't sell many amps today.  There has to be a point of staying in existence....If every manufacturer could sell amps like the mass builders do, they could afford lower prices.  Manufactures will tell you that an entry level amp that sells for say $2000 may cost them $300 in their cost to produce,  but a couple of models up that may sells for say $10,000 may cost the manufacturer $1000 or less....Not the case of course with Pass, the manufacturing of their case alone is several hundred dollars. Even though these numbers may be out of line,  the essential idea expressed here is correct.  We pay for their knowledge and level of performance that they can get a product to produce.... Manufacturers charge what the market will bare.




jj77,
And so what? They're statement products for the wealthy few. As usual, if you are interested in their house sound, you will eventually benefit from trickle-down of the advanced design technology. No one is forcing you to buy, and there are many great values in new and used gear. 
I'm not sure what point you are trying to make, unless it is just a passing observation of how expensive some gear can get.  

Pass Labs is the best solid-state gear at this juncture.

The ultra-high end will trickle down to the rest of us.

Note that Nelson Pass has been working away in his own little Class A world for years on his First Watt amps that sell for relatively peanuts…3 grand or something? They’re so popular now that he recently decided to have the Pass Labs dudes build ’em. Dennis Had (retired from Cary audio) hand makes an Inspire "Fire Bottle" or "Hot Rod" single ended little gem about once a week, people seem to like those, and they’re around $1500 or so although maybe 12 single ended watts aren’t for you. My beautiful sounding "factory upgraded" Jolida 502p tube gem was under $1500 new and is a seriously good amp. I like Boulder amps and the D’Agostino gems, but the big secret in audio is that LOTS of stuff can get some sweet hifi tone into your ear balls for small money…when you win the lottery, get your Ferrari needs out of your system, dump your beautiful wife so 20 year old Ashley (who likes to try new things) can move into your 20,000 square foot McMansion with you, get the Boulder and the Magicos and think to yourself, "is this it?"