Product Line 2012

Engaging

Natural

Hypnotic

Detailed

Balanced

PASS

A very young Nelson Pass and Dr. Heil joined ESS at roughly the same time. Nelson fresh from University and Oskar a fellow at Cambridges prestigious Cavendish Laboratory. Nelson was in charge of crossover design, speaker testing and quality control. Dr Heil, loudspeakers, oil extraction and high explosives. Nelson soon co-founded Threshold Corporation serving as its President from 1975 to 1991. In 1991 he left Threshold to start Pass Laboratories. When Nelson departed Threshold, he brought with him several key production and administrative personnel, who remain and integral part of Pass Laboratories to this day. Mr. Pass specializes in power-amplifiers and loudspeakers; and he holds seven audio patents. He developed the first dynamically biased Class A circuit in 1974, a fully cascoded audio power amplifier in 1976, and the Stasis amplifier topology in 1977. Stasis became a profitable foundation for both Threshold and Nakamichi products. Pass Labs helped popularize solid state single-ended Class A power amplifiers. These

were eventually replaced by the Super-Symmetric circuit, which exploits the low distortion proper ties of symmetric balanced circuits and symmetric feedback. Those designs have been supplanted by an elegant hybrid design that combines the best of both topologies and that design is known as the XA.5 series In 1994 Nelson was joined by his pre-amp and digital circuit Co-Designer Wayne Colburn. Wayne is known as one of the better analog designers in the industry, with many successful products to his credit; starting with the Quadrature DSP corrected loudspeaker in 1992. In 1995 Joseph Sammut, formerly of Threshold, left his position as Krell Digitals chief operations officer and Joined Nelson at Pass Laboratories. In 1996 Mr. Sammut, wisely hired designer Desmond Harrington, away from Krell Digital. Desmonds industrial design background, love of the Art Deco and Bauhaus Movement has been evident in all subsequent Pass Labs product. Nelson has been involved in the do-it-yourself audio community since 1973; to date he and Wayne have published over 30 designs for construction by hobbyists.

Power & Control

Pass Labs Timeline

AMPLIFIERS
X.5 XA.5

Nelson Pass was born in Massachusetts in 1951 and grew up on the northern California coast. He received a degree in Physics from UC Davis with a minor in Oenology (the art and science of wine making).

Super-Symmetry:
Rendering distortion irrelevant.
The Supersymmetry circuit topology was granted a U.S. patent in 1994, and is the result of 19 years of effort by legendary analog designer and Pass Laboratories company founder Nelson Pass. Almost uniquely the Supersymmetry design demands matched components in a classically simple single ended Class A circuit topology. The amplifier contains only two simple stages: the first a balanced Class A gain stage. Its output driving a bank of high power followers. These are inherently low distortion types of circuits, but their performance is significantly improved when operated as balanced devices. Noise identical to both halves of a balanced circuit can be made to disappear at the output, in a well-matched symmetric circuit, most of the distortion and noise is truly identical. Pass Laboratories Supersymmetry enhances this effect; providing a connection between the two halves of the balanced circuit which further perfects the match of any common mode artifacts. The result of this perfected match is greatly improved noise cancellation at the output of the amplifier. From a listeners standpoint this results in a more accurate presentation of the soundstage and better resolution of low-level details. Unlike feedback techniques where the goal is to correct for the distortion by feeding a gain stage an inversely distorted signal, Supersymmetry seeks merely to create perfect matching between the two halves of an otherwise well matched circuit. Matched balanced power circuitry typically sees a distortion and noise reduction of about 90% (20 dB) through a balanced connection without any additional effort. The Supersymmetry circuit delivers another 90% reduction, so that the X series has about 1/100 of the distortion of a conventionally simple and otherwise identical amplifier. This dramatic reduction of noise and distortion provides excellent measured performance, and also sounds good, as one would naturally expect from an inherently simple circuit.

AMPLIFIER
X.5 XA.5

Phono Stages

XP-15 and XP-25

Since 1997 Pass Laboratories has been respected for building some the finest phone stages in the audio industry. The transition from Aleph Ono, through X-0no and now to the XP-15 and XP-25 represents a sophistication and maturation of both thinking and component evolution. Each new design of that evolution has brought a steady improvement in measured metrics such as diminished background noise and has contributed to a sonic image presented with improved resolution and additional sonic ease. The popular advent of the moving coil cartridge demanded all this as well as higher available gain. Each successive generation of Pass Laboratories phono-stage has addressed the special needs of these cartridges, while maintaining the ability to bring out the best in more conventional high output moving magnet cartridges as well. The single chassis XP-15 easily bests the sonic performance of its predecessor the X-ono. Like some great musicianswe get requests! You spoke, we listened so you can listen better. Now, a design at the intersection of excellence and convenience, the Pass Laboratories XP-25. The twin chassis XP-25 eclipses the already exceptional performance of the XP-15. The XP-25 boasts adjustable gain, two separate inputs, a low cut filter, mute feature, resistive and capacitive loading all on the front panel for easy access. With the XP-25 you will discover a whole new dimension of dynamics, inner detail and spectral richness.

Int 30-A and Int-150

Audiophiles, serious Audiophiles, have not considered an integrated amplifer as worthy product for 30+ years. This paradyme is about to change, forever! Integrated amplifers typically have between 6 and 9 gain stages. The Pass Laboratories Integrated amplifers are two gain stage devices based on our X.5 series power amps. The unique topolgy proved the cleanest, most direct signal path possible. This approach provides superlative audiophile performance in an otherwise modest package. INT-30A; This amplifer is the jewell in the crown. It provides 30 watts into 8 ohms, 60 watts into 4 ohms and is stable into any concievable load. It provides wattage with all the finess and delicacy that Class A operation has long been famous for. Best with speakers of 87 dB efficieniency or greater, spectacular with difficult speaker loads such as electrostatics or planars in small systems. Wonderful, you are there soundstage. INT-150; This is the 150 watt into 8 ohm, 300 watt into 4 ohm companion product to the INT-30A; The INT-150 is built from identical hardware with operational points optimized for higer wattage requirements. Generally this integrated amplifier will provide greater versitility with speaker loads of 86 dB efficiency or less. The INT-30A or the INT-150 are a very seductive and addictive product in a small reference system. Equally seductively and attractive for a second system with either music or movies.

XP-15 XP-25

Integrateds
INT 30-A 150

Phono Stages

Integrateds

XP-10, XP-20, and the all new XP-30

The Pass Laboratories XP-10, XP-20 and XP-30 preamplifiers are the natural descendants to the long lived, highly acclaimed and successful X series of Pass Laboratories line-stages. The X series pre-amplifiers received many highly respected and well-deserved accolades over the years. justifiably so. They provide a solid foundation for development of the XP series line-stage preamplifiers. The XP preamplifiers sound more dynamic, bass lines are more clearly, cleanly and accurately delineated; instruments and voice are presented in a greatly refined spatial envelope and with better spectral balance. Fine nuances and detail, now become apparent even in loud and highly complex musical passages. These are simply the best pre-amplifiers Pass Laboratories has ever built! Audition the new Pass Labs preamplifiers and rekindle your love affair with music!

The XP-30 is the best line stage ever made by Pass Labs. By extension it is possibly the best line stage ever made. The XP-30 generates less noise, less crosstalk, less distortion. It delivers greater dynamic range, gain, output voltage and output current. This is not why it is a breakthrough product. We value tech cellence, but it is always the sound that is paramount. Many audio products have measured spectacularly well but have not gone down as classics because they have not delivered beyond the initial excitement. With this in mind we set out to create a new preamplifier that simply invites you to listen. We want you to anticipate listening to your entire record collection, again and again. In the end everyone agreed - music flows through the XP-30 with greater ease, spatial development and dynamic contrast than anything else we have heard. Wayne Colburn even managed to fit in a couple requested features enhancements for bi-amping, six channel capability and enough gain and voltage swing that the XP-30 can drive power amplifier output stages all by itself. Desmond Harrington turned it into eye candy as well.

Line Stages
XP 10 20 30

Line-Stage Preamps

Introducing the XP-30

Where other makers are concentrating on eye-candy, the XP-30 offers better sound.

Listen to the Music: SR-1 and SR-2

The SR-1 and SR-2 loudspeakers are Pass Laboratories answer to the often-confusing world of loudspeakers, a world fraught with claims of new technology, new physics and brilliant technological breakthroughs. Pass Laboratories claims no inclusion of special technology in our loudspeakers, only Nelson Passs meticulous attention to detail, a strong commitment to using the finest available parts and the love of experiencing the finest in recorded music in your own environment. Like all of our previous commercial speaker systems, the Pass Laboratories three-way SR-1 and four-way SR-2 started with premiere examples of the loudspeaker driver makers art; the highly regarded Nextel series of drivers from Seas of Norway, known for their low distortion, smooth and extended frequency response and exemplary dynamic ability. The crossover elements are carefully selected premium domestic a nd Europea n units, chosen both for their pleasing sonic characteristics and exceptional technical merit.

SR-1 SR-2

Each loudspeaker element and crossover in these 3 way and 4 way systems are hand wired, inspected and tested in the Foresthill California factory of Pass Laboratories, assuring our meticulous personal attention to quality control. We at Pass Laboratories want you the listener to enjoy this hobby in all its aspects. If you want to do nothing but listen to the music then we say sit back and enjoy our loudspeakers for what they do. If you want to enjoy the equipment we say sit back and enjoy our loudspeakers for all the things they let you do.

Transducers

Loudspeakers:

PASS
Pass Laboratories PO 219, Foresthill, CA 95631 Voice: 530.367.3690 -Fax: 530.367.2193 www.passlabs.com