The XA25 is a stereo power amplifier by Pass Labs that delivers 25 watts x 2 channels into 8 ohms, in pure Class A. It was released in 2017. It is a 2-channel design using a Class A output stage. Speakers connect via binding posts. The Pass Labs XA25 has an MSRP of $5,665.
Performance Specs
One of the most important factors when deciding on an integrated amplifier is its power ratings and compatibility with your speaker's impedance requirements. The Pass Labs XA25 is rated at 25 watts RMS into 8-ohms.
Here are the main highlights of its performance specs:
How loud will 25 watts actually play in your room? →
Which speakers suit the Pass Labs XA25?
25 W into 8 ohms.
We rank every passive speaker we cover against it on power, impedance safety and current
delivery.
Need more power?
Pass Labs XA25 is rated at 25 watts into 8 ohms, which puts it in our Up to 60 watts band. The next band up is 61 to 90 watts, which is worth about 3.9dB more output. That is a real difference in headroom on peaks, and a modest one in how loud the system plays - power and loudness are not the same thing.
Before buying watts, check what your speakers actually need: the amp and speaker matcher works it out from their sensitivity, impedance and your room.
When pairing the Pass Labs XA25 with a passive Bookshelf (Stand mount) or Passive Floor Standing (Tower) speaker, you have to check if their Max Power Range is below the max wattage of the amp for the given impedance levels.
Operating your amp outside of this max range may damage the speakers.
What size of room is the Pass Labs XA25 Amplifier good for?
An essential deciding factor is the size of the room in which you intend to employ the Pass Labs XA25 amplifier. Here, taking into account its maximum power parameters, we analyzed its applicability to various size environments:
| Listening Environment |
Suitability |
| Near-field | Good |
| Small Room | Good |
| Mid-size Room | Average |
| Large Room | Poor |
| Very Large Room | No way |
Inputs and Outputs
Besides the performance specs of the Pass Labs XA25, the next important feature set that you have to evaluate is the input and output selections that it offers.
Pass Labs XA25 has total of 2 Analog inputs .
Inputs
- Total Number of Analog Inputs: 2
Outputs
Bluetooth Connectivity
Pass Labs XA25 doesn't have bluetooth connectivity feature. In order to stream your music via bluetooth, the easiest way is to connect an external bluetooth receiver to your Pass Labs XA25. Two bluetooth receivers that we recommend are the
iFi Zen Blue V2 and the
Audioengine B1.
Among the amps in the same price range, these are the 5 amps that have Bluetooth Connectivity:
Phono Input
Pass Labs XA25 doesn't have a phono input so in order to play your vinyl albums, Pass Labs XA25 has to be paired with a Phono Preamp that is MM (Moving Magnet) or/and MC (Moving COil) depending on your cartridge type.
Balanced connections
Pass Labs XA25 has a balanced XLR input. A balanced cable carries the signal twice, on two conductors of opposite polarity. Interference picked up along the way lands on both equally and cancels when the two are recombined at the far end, so the longer the cable run and the noisier the surroundings, the more the connection is worth. Whether a balanced connection also yields more power depends on how the amplifier is built inside - some are balanced end to end, others convert to single-ended internally and deliver the same power either way, so it is worth reading the maker's own wording rather than assuming.
Pass Labs XA25 Pros and Cons
Drawn from the published figures on this page, not from listening.
- ✓Class A operation, the topology most often chosen where distortion at low levels matters more than efficiency.
- ✓Balanced XLR inputs, worth having on a long cable run.
- ✓Made in USA.
- ✗At 25 watts per channel it wants sensitive speakers; below about 87dB sensitivity you may run out of headroom in a large room.
- ✗Class A runs hot and draws mains power whether or not it is playing; it needs room to breathe.
- ✗A power amplifier has no volume control and no input selection - it needs a preamplifier, or a source with a variable output, in front of it.
Pass Labs XA25 External Dimensions and Weight
Pass Labs XA25 has external dimensions of (H x W x D) 6 x 17 x 17-1/4 inch (152.4 x 431.8 x 438.2 mm ). The unit weighs
22 kg (48.5 lbs).
Base Surface Area
Base surface area of an integrated amplifier may become an important decision factor when the space in your room or desk is limited.
The base area of the Pass Labs XA25 is approximately 1892.1cm2 / 293.3inch2.
- Width: 431.8mm (17")
- Height: 152.4mm (6")
- Depth: 438.2mm (17-1/4")
- Weight: 22 kg (48.5 lbs)
- Base Surface Area: ~1892.1cm2 / 293.3inch2
- Volume: ~28.8 liter / 7.6 gallon
Available colors
Pass Labs XA25 is available in Silver color options.
| General |
| Brand |
Pass Labs |
| Full Model Name |
Pass Labs XA25 |
| Release Date |
2017 |
| Amplifier Type |
Power Amplifier |
| Number of Channels |
2 |
| Amp Class |
Class A |
| Amplifier Technology |
Solid State |
| Performance |
| Watts RMS per Channel into 8-ohms |
25 watts |
| Watts RMS per Channel into 6-ohms |
N/A |
| Watts RMS per Channel into 4-ohms |
N/A |
| Frequency Bandwidth |
|
| THD |
|
| Minimum Impedance |
|
| Signal to Noise Ratio |
N/A |
| Digital Music |
| Built-in DAC |
No |
| Bluetooth |
No |
| WiFi |
No |
| CONNECTIONS |
| Total Analog Inputs |
2 |
| Phono Input |
No |
| Headphone Output |
No |
| Removable Power Cord |
|
| Speaker Connectors |
Binding posts |
| PHYSICAL SPECS |
| Height |
152.4mm (6") |
| Width |
431.8mm (17") |
| Depth |
438.2mm (17-1/4") |
| Weight |
22 kg (48.5 lbs) |
| Available Colors |
Silver |
| OTHER |
| Parts Warranty |
|
| Labor Warranty |
|
How much power does the Pass Labs XA25 have?
The Pass Labs XA25 delivers 25 watts x 2 channels into 8 ohms, in pure Class A.
Does the Pass Labs XA25 use vacuum tubes?
No. The Pass Labs XA25 is a solid-state amplifier - there are no vacuum tubes in it.
What amplifier class is the Pass Labs XA25?
The Pass Labs XA25 uses a Class A amplifier design. Class A keeps its output devices conducting at all times for the lowest possible distortion, at the cost of considerable heat and low efficiency.
Does the Pass Labs XA25 have a built-in DAC?
No. The Pass Labs XA25 has no built-in DAC, so a digital source such as a streamer or CD transport needs its own converter, or you connect it over analogue.
Can I connect a turntable to the Pass Labs XA25?
No. The Pass Labs XA25 has no phono input, so a turntable needs an external phono preamp (or a deck with one built in) before it can be connected.
Does the Pass Labs XA25 have Bluetooth?
No. The Pass Labs XA25 does not have Bluetooth built in; you would need an external Bluetooth receiver connected to one of its inputs.
Does the Pass Labs XA25 have a headphone output?
No. The Pass Labs XA25 does not have a headphone output, so headphone listening needs a separate headphone amplifier.
How much does the Pass Labs XA25 cost?
The Pass Labs XA25 has a manufacturer's list price (MSRP) of $5,665.
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