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pass labs xa30.5 vs aleph 3

Stereophile reveiwer Erick Lichte has done a head to head review of these pass amps in August 2009 issue. Erick uses the aleph 3 as his main amp feeding a pair or Revel f30 speakers, he also uses Benchmark Dac1 to feed the alpeh as I do as well. He was asked to do a comparison between the pass amps as a follow up to the great reveiw of the xa30.5 which was reviewed by Brian Damkroger in which,I quote "absolutely, positively,and enthusiasticallly recommended" the xa30.5 and, Brian sounds like he perfers high powered amps in the review. In the review Erick thought the Xa30.5 sounded more resolving and a little bit better bass control and can sound louder than the 30 watts. It was leaner in the midbass than the aleph 3 but, had a slightly more presents in the top three octave. he still is in love with is aleph 3 and sound like he is not planning on replacing the aleph 3 with the xa30.5. Anyways I have been waiting for a head to head review of these pass amps since the xa30.5 was released. If anyone would like to see the head to head review send me an email and I will take a high res pictures of the artical and send it to anyone. Also Erick Lichte did a head to head review of the Musical Fidelity's 550k supercharger amp and the Aleph 3 in a December 2008 issue. He concluded the aleph sounded better than the 550's by itself. He then supercharged his aleph 3 but did not like the sound. Very interesting articals about my beloved aleph 3, and a great read for aleph 3 owners. In my opinion the aleph 3 is still a giant killer and is a legend when it comes to amps.
tiverson2000
tvad
9,467 posts
 
Look, I am not debating the existence of sonic differences produced by the
two brands on 5A loudspeakers. The point I am making is that comparing a
30wpc Class A amp to a 140wpc Class A amp is not apples to apples, and a
reader should give the comparison appropriate perspective so as not to make
a blanket judgment regarding the sound produced by a Pass Labs amp versus
an Atma-Sphere amp on the 5A speakers. Undoubtedly, the two brands
sound different, but how they differ in comparably spec'd models is unknown.

10-11-09: Madfloyd
Hmm. While I'm not an expert on what the Vandy's need, I would think that
the fact they have powered subs would mean they wouldn't require that much
power.
Read the threads, and you'll see that many owners have commented on the
benefits of more power when driving the 5A. Zybar's experience changing
from the 60wpc Atma-Sphere M-60 to the 140wpc MA-1 is one example.

10-11-09: Madfloyd
The XA series is known for having a lot more power than the rated value (I
think the rated value is for class A, after which it goes into
A/B).
The XA-30.5 leaves Class A at 60wpc peak.

Still not comparable to the 140wpc of the MA-1.

We all know from experience that any loudspeakers' sound changes as more
watts are added to drive it.
madfloyd
411 posts
 
I'm trying to say that I think the 'house' sound of the XA .5 series came through in the audition of the 30.5's.

George and I were curious to hear my XA 100.5s on his Vandys but having heard the XA 30.5s on them - and having it be *very* reminicent of the sound of my system (even with different speakers and preamp), we felt that we no longer needed to lug my 100.5's over to his house (I live close by).
tvad
9,467 posts
 
Well, when you're read to sell those XA-100.5, please send me an email. I'll take first dibs.
earflappin
87 posts
 
Tvad's points are well taken. FWIW, Pubul57 came to the same conclusion after comaring the XA30.5 and the Amta-Sphere M-60 on his Merlins. I have been very impressed with the XA30.5 on my Geddes Abbey speakers. It smoked my hybrid amp. My speakers are 95db efficient, 8 ohm nominal impedance and have a reasonably flat impedance curve. Ralph Karsten of A-S reviewed the impedance curve and said these speakers are very well suited for his amp and recommended either the S-30 or the M-60. I bought a M-60 and will post my impressions after I have a chance to make a comparison. Having either of these amplifiers in your system is a problem of riches IMO.
zybar's avatar
zybar
104 posts
 
I think Madfloyd already summed up a lot of my thoughts on the sound differences between the XA30.5 and MA-1's, so there really isn't much more for me to add on that front. Simply put, the system lost a good deal of its "magic" when the MA-1's were taken out and replaced by the XA30.5. For the majority of my listening, I didn't see the meter move on the XA30.5, so I don't think it was running out of gas or being pushed out of Class A mode. As such, I don't think it was an "unfair" comparison with the MA-1's.

While Tvad is certainly entitled to his opinion (and I do respect his opinion) I am in full agreement with Madfloyd in
that we both heard so much of the Pass sound of his XA100.5's when the XA30.5 was put into my system. While Madfloyd would have no issue with bringing his amps over to my place, I did indeed tell him that I didn't think it was necessary. Maybe one day I will take him up on the offer, but for now my curiosity has been satisfied.

Getting back the to the Atma-Sphere amps...I don't think the improvement of the MA-1's over the M-60's is so much about the extra watts, as it is about the ability to work better with a 4 ohm load. With the M-60's, I felt that I had to use the Speltz Autoformers with the 5A's to sound their best, while the MA-1's didn't require them.

I plan on talking to Ralph next week about upgrading my MA-1's to Mk 3.1 status (from Mk 3) and will ask him his thoughts on this subject.

George
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