FS or Swap: Pass Labs X150 power amp

[jandl100]

I fancy a change :) so this totally yummy power amp has come available.

1 minor issue - one of the rear grab handles has taken a bit of a knock and is at a slant. The handle wobbles slightly but still solid for hoiking the beast around. The amp's chassis remains straight and true and the amp has behaved flawlessly during its time with me.
Other than that, VGC as a minimum. It looks awesome!

150wpc into 8 ohms. The first 30wpc is in class A, and the beast does get quite warm. The 'handles' at the front are in fact heatsinks!
300wpc into 4 ohms.

Effortless refined power.

UK voltage.

£1500 or px (money either way) or swap.
- for swaps, I am particularly interested in power or integrated amps, and DAC/preamps.

I do not have original packing, which I guess is why it took a knock with the courier, so I will not post. Happy for collection (GL17, Glos) or meet up / deliver within a range that I consider sensible. :)

https://i.imgur.com/R5otY5h.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/WODTjt9.jpg
Note: slipper not included in sale. :eyebrows:

The next image is stock showing rear connectivity ...

https://img.canuckaudiomart.com/uploads/large/913045-pass-labs-x25-preamp-and-x150-amp-in-excellent-condition.jpg

[Lawrence001]

A thing of beauty, I imagine it can rival a good high power valve amp? Maybe beat most with presumably a better damping factor.

[jandl100]

Thanks Lawrence, yes, it's a beaut.
And it does indeed have an open spaciousness to the sound that really is quite like a good valve amp!

[jandl100]

Some interest, but still available.

Here's another pic to whet your appetite :stalks:

https://i.imgur.com/rvUfWkV.jpg

[jandl100]

Hmm, a fair bit of interest, but no deal yet.

I might have decided to keep it.

I've had it checked out by an audio engineer.
I was concerned that the caps might be in need of a service, the amp being somewhere between 14 and 17 years old, the mk1 X150 was made from 2000 to 2003.
The tech contacted Pass Labs by phone and was told they are currently replacing caps in their amps from 1991, and he was confident they had a good decade left of sterling service.

The guy looked at me and said "it's a very good amp".
He'd checked the caps himself and found them to be OK.
He'd also done some measurements and had a printed graph to give me.
A 1KHz square wave as output by the X150.
Pretty much perfect! ...

https://i.imgur.com/OHtOxQJ.jpg

I don't think he'd ever come across an amp able to do that before.

I might have decided to keep it.

[sq225917]

That's bloody lovely Jerry, one of the few brands I'd give space up for.

[montesquieu]

Still hoping for a loan/temporary swapsies :)

[jandl100]

Still hoping for a loan/temporary swapsies :)

Yeah, we'll do it.

I'll be hanging on to the Pass for now.

[Bksabath]

Bad timing for me. I am certainly interested in 3/ 4 months
PM if you decide to sell later

[jandl100]

Oops - cash offer has come in on pfm.

Sold stp.

[hornucopia]

Looked like old 'Gramaphone' reviews! I recall my Hafler DH200 amp did the squares pretty well too.
still have it; with upgraded caps etc..
Sometimes you can't beat the old valve guys for design-often by ear!