Pass Labs XA30.5 amplifier. Introduced in 2008, it was considered by many to be the sweetheart in the .5 line and one of the finer solid state amps made. It was replaced in 2016 by the XA30.8 which I haven’t heard but is said to be a step up in transparency. Nevertheless some are still partial to the .5 for its rich, organic sound. It’s my first Pass amp and will be a fascinating comparison to another Class A amp in my system, the fabulous Valvet A4 Mk.II monoblocks. One thing’s for sure… the Pass totally dwarfs the Valvets which are barely bigger than its heat sinks, American muscle vs. German efficiency. I told my wife, who frowned upon the Pass like some sort of monstrosity, that it must make her appreciate how compact the Valvets are, to which she immediately retorted “that’s not how this works.” 😂 #hifi #audiophile #audio #passlabs #valvet #amplifiers https://www.instagram.com/p/CAEhvzrJxCM/?igshid=9d90g37kwkxr
