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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
pubul57
3,712 posts
 
Earflappin, have you, or has anyone else done the upgrade from 3.0 to 3.1. It does not seem expensive. I do wonder what the changes are internally and how the perfomance changes, improves? with the upgrade. Hmmm, maybe this should be a new thread?
earflappin
87 posts
 
Pubul57, yes, I just had my M-60's upgraded from 3.0 to 3.1. My understanding is that the upgrade involves an evolution of the voltage amplification circuit which reduces distortion by 95% at full power. The improvement was not subtle to my ears. More transparency, detail and fluidity in the presentation. Easily the best bang for buck upgrade I've ever made to my system. I highly recommend it.
pubul57
3,712 posts
 
I'm sending my amps in for the upgrade this week:) Thanks for your input.
pubul57
3,712 posts
 
Ok, so I got the 3.1 upgrade a year ago, and I am never (did I say that) selling my M60s. But, I still want to have an SS that approaches the quality of my tube gear. So in a way it comes full circle since I feel that Pass or First Watt is the answer. The J2 and M have come out since the last post. Any further thoughts on XA.5/J2/M..... I currently leaning to the J2, but only because of what others have said, I have never heard either of the new First Watt amps. Will any of them come close to the magic of the M60s with my OTL friendly speakers (89db).
tvad
9,467 posts
 
Will any of them come close to the magic of the M60s with my OTL friendly speakers (89db).
Pubul57 (System | Threads | Answers | This Thread)
Based on having the M-60, J2 and M2 in my system, I will say the First Watt amps sounded appreciably different than the Atma-Sphere amps...neither better not worse...just different. There was a difference between the J2 and M2 as well, but less so than with the Atma-Sphere amps. The J2 has more bass control and clarity. The M2 has a bit softer, more forgiving presentation (but not mushy or with lack of extension). The J2 has more in common with the XA-30.5 than does the M2, IMO. You really owe it to yourself to hear both amps on your speakers if possible.

Whether you will find the same magic, or a different magic, is only something you can answer.

I used these amps on Audio Note AN-e/SPe HE loudspeakers (98dB, 8 ohm nominal...but a not-so-flat impedance curve). Preamp was an SMc Audio VRE-1.
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