Cool guys Stephaen (6Moons) and Pete (Pete Riggle Audio) stopped by this morning for a little coffee and music listening. Stephaen brought along the Pass Labs' solid-state INT-30A integrated amplifier that he is writing an article about for 6Moons. The INT-30A is a 30-watt integrated based on the Pass Labs' XA30.5 stereo amplifier, and like all Pass products it is built to a very high level of quality.

After we listened to my Review System #1 to establish a baseline, we replaced my normal Leben RS100U preamplifier and CS660P power amplifier with the Pass (the rest of the gear was the Clearaudio Virtuoso Wood cartridge, VPI Classic Turntable, Leben RS30EQ phono stage, and Tannoy Westminster Royal SE loudspeakers. All accessories, cables, and power cords were by Acoustic Revive, with the exception of the interconnect between phono stage and the Pass, which was a Tom Evans Audio Design (TEAD) interconnect that normally resides there).

Initial impressions with the Pass INT-30A in the system were mixed: it sounded pleasant enough, but a little uninspired compared to the Leben gear, and a little dry (as opposed to the usual tube liquidity of the Leben gear).

I decided to swap out the stock Pass power cord for one of the Acoustic Revive Power Reference power cords ($750 for a 2-meter cord) that I normally use in my system to see if that would help things along. In the photo below the Power Reference cord is plugged into the Pass, and you can see the stock cord off to the right disconnected.

I don't think I've ever heard a more dramatic transformation of a component due to changing a power cord than I did with the Pass. The three of us were stunned. It was as if the heavens opened, the music was filled with life and color, and the sense of space and sound-staging opened up dramatically. Everything got better to such a large extent that if I were a Pass owner I would consider the Acoustic Revive Power Reference power cord a mandatory addition, and I'd toss the stock Pass power cord in the trash. The look on Pete's face in the photo below says it all: the sound and musical experience with the combination of the Pass plus the Acoustic Revive Power Reference power cord was truly something to behold.

Stephaen's review of the Pass for 6Moons is still a month or two out, so you'll have to be a bit patient to get the full story on the INT-30A.

I can say this even after a brief listen: if you want a solid-state amp that has a lot of the magic of superb tube gear like the Leben, the Pass INT-30A is an easy recommendation (but you must buy an AR Power Ref power cord for it if you really want to hear the magic the Pass is capable of).