Pass Labs XA200 - Manual (Page 3)

3 XA200 Owner’s Manual
The XA200 has a massive toroidal transformer coupled to a high
current DC reservoir. Recognizing that the XA200’s ability to resolve
microdynamics is best experienced with clean power, the extreme low-
level resolution of the XA-series benefits from a specially designed
power supply that significantly reduces and rejects power line borne
noise.
The XA amps open the sonic soundstage to the very limits of the re-
cording format. Through the XA200 complex musical passages reveal
themselves in the most dramatic manner. With the XA200 you will
hear everything within the upper octaves, which includes any record-
ing, source or loudspeaker issues. Keep this in mind when choosing
complementary equipment, remembering that recordings and the
other components in the signal chain will strongly dictate soundstage
width and imaging and likely be the limiting factors in your listening
environment. The room itself will also add its acoustic signature, and
should be considered an audio component.
Speaker selection should be strictly a matter of personal taste. The
XA200 is unconditionally stable into any load presented by a loud-
speaker, but will provide less power into other than 8 ohms. The
XA200 accommodates both single ended (RCA) and balanced inputs
(XLR). Input impedance’s are 11 kohm unbalanced and 22 kohm
balanced to permit integration with the widest possible range of up-
stream components.
You can position this amplifier anywhere you wish, but it must have
ventilation. We do not recommend placing it in enclosed cabinets or
small closets without means for air to circulate freely. Stacking these
power amplifiers directly upon each other is not recommended for
the same reason. This amplifier idles at approximately 650 watts, the
equivalent of a small hand held hair dryer. At idle most of that en-
ergy is dissipated across the heat sinks, so the heat generated by each
XA200 is equivalent to a small hair dryer. To dissipate this heat the
product should have about 6 inches clearance to the top and sides for
adequate air circulation.
Let’s talk about power requirements. The amplifier draws about 5-1/2
amps (continuous rms) at 120 volts out of the wall during operation,
and this reflects mostly the idle current that we run through the output
stage. When not actually intending to play music the XA200 should be
left in standby mode. In standby mode it draws only a few watts of
power, that necessary to keep the capacitors charged.
We have provided a standard IEC power cord that fits into the stan-
Requirements