A DAC that crushes price vs. performance ratio

Hey Celander,

The way you shared your opinion, "should clearly state their conflict of interests" is setting up a false/invalid assumption.  I have no "conflict of interests, I'm not censored by the man I write for, I do not have to protect any companies, and there is no alternative motive (s), just sharing my opinions about gear I listen to/review to readers here.

Yes, reviewers to get a "industrial accommodation" regarding price if we purchase the review demo.  If it's a small boutique company that has a very small profit ratio the discount is much less then a much larger well known/established company.  The pricing follows just about what an importer or retailer would pay for a piece of gear.  However, I don't agree that anyone, including a reviewer, "should/must" disclose what they payed for what they purchased.  

@Charles1dad
Thanks, Charles. I suspect that I’ll eventually sell the VAC, but I won’t decide until sometime after I receive it back. The XA25 is definitely a keeper, though, for the long term. It comes amazingly close to the VAC with respect to dimensionality, imaging, liquidity, and other traditional fortes of high quality tube amps. It’s a bit less rich sounding than the VAC, but I interpret that as an increase in accuracy, which is fine as far as I am concerned.

There are also some non-sonic factors favoring the XA25, including the likelihood of greater reliability in the years ahead considering the age of the VAC; the fact that even though both amps operate in class A the XA25 puts only 240 watts of heat into the room compared to what I believe is upwards of 700 watts for the VAC; and the cost that would be involved in re-tubing eight 300Bs if and when that were to become necessary.

This is the first time I’ve had a high quality solid state amp in my system in about 25 years, and I believe I’ve picked the right time and the right model with which to do so again.  Thanks in part to Terry's review.

Best regards,
-- Al

Al,
 Your rationale is easily understood.  The only reason to keep a tube amplifier is if it's clearly superior sonically to the solid state component.  In your assessment of the Pass XA 25 it is the sonic equal of the VAC.  That is an obvious compliment for the XA 25.
Charles 

If you leave the Pass on 24/7 it will most likely need a complete recap in about 10 years that would approach the cost of new tubes.

Also my dealer is offering me an audition for the lab12 dac1, but no refund if I don’t like it, only credit. Sigh.

So teajay is enthusiastic about a product and everyone has a fit about it?