Pass Labs XA30.5 Stereo Power Amplifier

Dick Olsher has posted a review of the Pass Labs XA30.5 stereo power amplifier ($5500) at Superior Audio. His conclusions:

For me, in addition to tonal weight, major realism triggers are timbre accuracy, textural purity, low distortion and unbridled musical drama. The Pass amp scored high in each of these categories. Distortion products were kept in check even when it was driven hard. There was no grit, grain, or electronic glaze to interfere with the ebb and flow of harmonic textures. Microdynamics together with pitch and rhythmic inflections constitute the music's emotional foundation. J Gordon Holt's famous goose bump test was about being startled by nuances, dramatic tension bubbling beneath the surface. It was not about mindless audiophile delights such as being able to reproduce the 1812 Overture's cannon shots at gut shaking volume levels. With the Pass amp the magic was in the whispers…

I'm basically a tube guy but try to stay amplification agnostic, keeping an open mind about what sounds best in a particular application. The Pass Labs XA30.5 won me over in several system contexts and I plan to continue enjoying it for years to come. It's one of only a handful of solid-state amps with musical heart and soul. A mandatory audition for anyone shopping around for an amplifier under $10,000.

ThePass Labs XA30.5 stereo power amplifier won a Superior Audio 2010 Product of the Year Award.

You can read the full review here.

You can read my review of the Pass Labs INT-30A and INT-150 integrated amplifiers here.