speakers to audition with pass labs / PAD cabling

Fsyme, I also have owned the XA30.5 and Pass preamps. These are a fantastic pair to begin with. You didn't define what qualities you like best in the sound but your mention of Wilson said a lot right there. I agree with Zd542 that set up is very important and I add that speaker toe in and tilt must be spot on to get pinpoint imaging. My cabling is good but far from the best (Gabriel Gold Rapture). I have found the Harbeth Super HL5's to be exceptional in rendering a very accurate soundstage, with huge depth, detail, holographic imaging and accurate tone. They've got just enough sweetness and warmth and are not fatiguing at all. Their sensitivity would compliment your 30.5 very nicely and they sound fantastic at any volume too.

would never have thought xa30.5 vs x250.5.. as many have said Wilson's need power. That said.. will give them a try. I'll see whats around Harbeth in Minneapolis.

Tks both for suggestions.

The XA30.5 is not the best option for Wilson Audio. Because they have a fast response. They work better with more amperes. I have owned the XA30.5, XA60.5, XA100.5, X250.5 and now the X350.5.

When you use a Purist Audio limited powercable the X250.5 will have a totally different sound compared during using another cable.

I always prefered the XA series, after I bought the Purist Audio Limited Edition it changed my thoughts. Because this powercable brings the mid fre. to a whole new level. Like your X series amp is sounding in the mid freq. like a XA series amp.

MIT is fully useless with Pass Labs. This is very easy to explain. The stage properties of Pass Labs is that the stage is wide and deep. But withing the big stage the individual focus of instruments is not sharp and realistic as it should be. So you need cables to adjust this. MIT have similar properties according to the stage.

In all the years that I visited a show often Pass Labs demos with MIT has nothing to do with realistic music. During a show I asked the person ( F. mongol) if Jacintha has a head of over 3 metres. So I asked him if she has a water head.

Audio is all about understanding music and each different property a tool owns. Because when you are not aware of these properties you never will understand what each tool does in your set!

The .8 series have a more intimate sound like the .5 series. So they created a more realistic stage like before.