Nelson Pass Interview from TAS and review

heiney9
heiney9 Posts: 25,165
edited June 2009 in 2 Channel Audio
For those that are interested this an interview with Nelson Pass by Robert Harley as contained in the latest issue of TAS.

A very interesting article about where amplifier design has been and where it's gone. Sort of a history lesson.

Plus a review of the Pass XP20 pre-amp and Pass XA160.5 class A mono block amps.

A facsinating read for an audiophile.

http://passlabs.com/pdf/reviews/TAS_xa160.5_xp20_eprint.pdf

Enjoy!

H9
"Appreciation of audio is a completely subjective human experience. Measurements can provide a measure of insight, but are no substitute for human judgment. Why are we looking to reduce a subjective experience to objective criteria anyway? The subtleties of music and audio reproduction are for those who appreciate it. Differentiation by numbers is for those who do not".--Nelson Pass Pass Labs XA25 | EE Avant Pre | EE Mini Max Supreme DAC | MIT Shotgun S1 | Pangea AC14SE MKII | Legend L600 | BlueSound Node 3 - Tubes add soul!
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Comments

  • tom t
    tom t Posts: 543
    edited April 2009
    thats great because im saving now for a pass amp. just a few more months and ill have enough to lug one of those big boys home.
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  • megasat16
    megasat16 Posts: 3,521
    edited June 2009
    Thanks H9! It's a Great Read!
    Trying out Different Audio Cables is a Religious Affair. You don't discuss it with anyone. :redface::biggrin:
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  • pearsall001
    pearsall001 Posts: 5,068
    edited June 2009
    Great article. Thanks for passing that along H9.
    "2 Channel & 11.2 HT "Two Channel:Magnepan LRSSchiit Audio Freya S - SS preConsonance Ref 50 - Tube preParasound HALO A21+ 2 channel ampBluesound NODE 2i streameriFi NEO iDSD DAC Oppo BDP-93KEF KC62 sub Home Theater:Full blown 11.2 set up.
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  • Ricardo
    Ricardo Posts: 10,636
    edited June 2009
    Good read. This probably has a lot to do with his success:

    "We pay close attention to measurements, but they take a back seat to listening, and there are quite a few examples of amplifier variations that measured well but didn't get past the listeners"

    I am thankful that those "listeners" like what they like.
    _________________________________________________
    ***\\\\\........................... My Audio Journey ............................./////***

    2008 & 2010 Football Pool WINNER
    SOPA
    Thank God for different opinions. Imagine the world if we all wanted the same woman
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  • thsmith
    thsmith Posts: 6,082
    edited June 2009
    Lasareath wrote: »
    H9,

    I bought a GFP-750 tonight :)

    Las

    Me too, I hope we were not competing with each other on ebay
    Speakers: SDA-1C (most all the goodies)
    Preamp: Joule Electra LA-150 MKII SE
    Amp: Wright WPA 50-50 EAT KT88s
    Analog: Marantz TT-15S1 MBS Glider SL| Wright WPP100C Amperex BB 6er5 and 7316 & WPM-100 SUT
    Digital: Mac mini 2.3GHz dual-core i5 8g RAM 1.5 TB HDD Music Server Amarra (memory play) - USB - W4S DAC 2
    Cables: Mits S3 IC and Spk cables| PS Audio PCs
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  • heiney9
    heiney9 Posts: 25,165
    edited June 2009
    Ricardo wrote: »
    Good read. This probably has a lot to do with his success:

    "We pay close attention to measurements, but they take a back seat to listening, and there are quite a few examples of amplifier variations that measured well but didn't get past the listeners"

    I am thankful that those "listeners" like what they like.

    I agree 100%!!!!
    "Appreciation of audio is a completely subjective human experience. Measurements can provide a measure of insight, but are no substitute for human judgment. Why are we looking to reduce a subjective experience to objective criteria anyway? The subtleties of music and audio reproduction are for those who appreciate it. Differentiation by numbers is for those who do not".--Nelson Pass Pass Labs XA25 | EE Avant Pre | EE Mini Max Supreme DAC | MIT Shotgun S1 | Pangea AC14SE MKII | Legend L600 | BlueSound Node 3 - Tubes add soul!
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  • Systems
    Systems Posts: 14,873
    edited June 2009
    Thanks H9.;)
    Testing
    Testing
    Testing
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  • comfortablycurt
    comfortablycurt Posts: 6,745
    edited June 2009
    I read this a while back...very interesting read. I fully intend on buying a Pass Labs amp someday.:) You gonna sell me that Aleph 30 Brock?:p;)
    The nirvana inducer-
    APC H10 Power Conditioner
    Marantz UD5005 universal player
    Parasound Halo P5 preamp
    Parasound HCA-1200II power amp
    PolkAudio LSi9's/PolkAudio SDA 2A's/PolkAudio Monitor 7A's
    Audioquest Speaker Cables and IC's
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  • reeltrouble1
    reeltrouble1 Posts: 9,312
    edited June 2009
    Too bad the Good Lord only gave him a gift for sand.

    Anyway, read the artical as I do get TAS, yea, good stuff from someone who actually knows alot about circuit design. TAS already has the next issue with Schram from Parasound, they also had the Spectral folks recently, great stuff on audio.

    RT1
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