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I have always been an integrated kind of guy. A huge step up from the 15 of the 250 and the 25 of the 25. Even so, with the 250 I get more transparency, air, detail and expansion of the stage but I lose some depth, texture and a little of that Class A fullness.Īfter hearing what a good lower power Class A amp can do in the INT-25 I then wondered what something like a set of Pass Labs XA60.8’s would bring to the table as they pump out up to 120 WPC in Class A (into 4 ohms, which my speakers are). While the INT-250 gives me that power to drive my Heritage Specials with ease, there is still a bit of that Class A magic missing as at its heart, the 250 is a Class A/B amplifier. There are limits to that INT-25 though, as it is really meant for speakers that are not a hard drive. It’s an amazing match to Klipsch Heritage BTW ) For what it is, if you have efficient speakers one needs to look no further as that 25 is a special piece and it is the lowest price integrated that Pass offers. I had a taste of it with the INT-25 and that amp will always be within my memory as one of my favorites of all time. While Class D amps may make more sense today (much more efficient and the good ones sound fantastic) there is something special about an amplifier running in all Class A. (Smooth, silky, slightly sweet).įor me, an amplifier running in Class A sounds pure, slightly warm with some weight and a juicy kind of vibe that fills my space with and a pure tone. It’s rich, it has depth, it has oomph, and sounds like butter melting on a slice of bread at times. Call me old school or old fashioned but I find the sound of pure Class A has a sound that speaks to your soul. They all have a sound signature, and while none of them are bad by any stretch of the imagination I have discovered I have an affinity for the sound of a great Class A design. It had more of that Class A flavor than the 250 and yes, I have found there is a difference between Class A, Class A/B and Class D amps when it comes to sound (also heat and energy costs!) You can read that review HERE.Some have called it the greatest integrated amp ever made.Įven with the INT-250 running the show I was still having thoughts of the small INT-25 in my system. I have that INT-250 in my system now and truly feel it is a special piece. While it only puts out 15 WPC in Class A (and 250 in class A/B) it had the power as well as the delicacy to drive my Dynaudio Heritage Specials with authority and finesse. Getting that taste of what a Pass Labs amp can bring I immediately knew I had to give the head honcho integrated, the INT-250 a try.
#Gpower mono block.amp full#
You can read my full review of that piece HERE. Even with such a low 25 WPC rating it brought the goods. I LOVED IT (and still do) and was wowed by the power it seemingly fed my speakers with.
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Since I was assembling a new system this year I decided to buy the INT-25, the entry level integrated from Pass Labs. I spent 35 years in a pass labs drought and now that drought has lifted! Soon I hope to be able to try out the XP17 Phono Pre and a dedicated Pre Amp from Pass. I have now (this year) been able to listen to the INT-25, the INT-250 and now the XA 60.8 Monoblocks. All of these things are true without question and it has taken me a lifetime to finally be able to try out a Pass Labs product. It could also be that Nelson Pass is considered a genius in the audio world…a magic man who really knows his stuff. It could be that they always get rave reviews, or it could be the simplistic yet handsome design. For me they have always had this certain attraction.
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I also have to take my time to spread out the costs as we all know how expensive this hobby (I call it a passion) can be!įor many years one of my goals was to own (or at least audition) a Pass Labs product. In fact, my new “reference” system in my dedicated room has been worked on since November 2020. In years past I would walk into an audio shop and drool over something new and just want it immediately. I have been taking my time (with patience) as I have learned in life that patience can bring great rewards. Since I moved from Arizona to my new home 2300 miles away, in the middle of nowhere, I have spent months building my newest (and hopefully last) audio system. This is Part 1, Part 2 coming soon (will be linked here when completed) The Pass Labs XA 60.8 Monoblock Amplifier Review Part 1.