Sample Test - ASR Emitter 1 versus Pass Labs XP12 / X150.8

We have a serious battle this time! The Pass Labs XP12 / X150.8 combination versus the ASR Emitter 1 with PSU and battery power supply. So, the full stack! Let us know which one you like most!
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[@billarmstrong5568]

Very tough to pick up significant differences here, but the ASR seems to have just a touch more of the old musical magic dust😉 TAD speakers are great but they can be just a little bit on the polite side, and although the Pass combo has more bass the ASR seems to energise and open up the whole spectrum a bit better. Not a brand seen often here in the UK but I'm duly impressed🎶

[@MrGfunk215]

They both sound great. In my opinion the pass is clearer and tighter where it needs to be without giving up tonality.

[@B144T]

I personally like the Pass more, but that is a matter of taste. Both excellent amps. Could only dream of such a set in my home :D. The last track of the demo is beautifull btw. Thanks again Jaap, now I have another great track to enjoy :)

[@jmtennapel]

I love the sound colour (the tonality) of the ASR in voices and instruments. Combined with the way Audirvana presents the colour, it is magical. It is a much leaner sound than the Pass, which is exuberant and lush in its presentation. Both are great, it is a preference in the end. I think if you would try both with different loudspeakers, the combination will be the winner, not so much the components. Pass + TAD = harmony.

[@benvanbaaren7483]

Lastig om de verschillen te beschrijven zelfs met hoofdtelefoon wat op zich al een compliment is voor de ASR Emitter 1 gezien het prijsverschil t.o.v. de Pass Labs. Volgens mij zit het grootste verschil in de basweergave. Op zich niet vreemd gezien de gigantische voeding van deze versterker. De ASR geeft m.i. nog meer druk in het laag en klinkt daardoor wat voller en warmer. Eerlijk gezegd geloof ik dat mijn voorkeur ligt bij ASR. Maar het blijft uiteraard een subjectieve indruk want luisteren via KZbin en een hoofdtelefoon is niet de meest accurate manier om verschillen in geluidskwaliteit vast te stellen.

[@TheAlphaAudio]

Prijzen liggen niet zo ver uit elkaar hoor

[@benvanbaaren7483]

@@TheAlphaAudio de Pass Labs combinatie ligt volgens mij rond de € 15.000,00 terwijl de ASR Emitter 1 als ik mij niet vergis onder de € 10.000,00 kost. Of is dit niet de Basis uitvoering ?

[@TheAlphaAudio]

@@benvanbaaren7483 Deze is bijna full option. Met de accu voeding.

[@benvanbaaren7483]

@@TheAlphaAudio Ok, dat verandert de zaak. Dank voor de feedback.

[@yippie6862]

Oh, this is a close one. Like them both. The tone is very similar. Soundstage width seems better with the Pass but perhaps the ASR has more soundstage depth? Would have to listen in person to know for sure. I'd probably choose the Pass overall.

[@SamsonSlayer]

I preferred the Pass Labs. Even over KZbin it seems to have more air, slightly more musical. The true test would be to hear them in-person of course.

[@mujimuller]

The Emitter is more fluid, dense, material and also with a more romantic touch, more refined. Pass seems flat in comparison. Nevertheless, this is only the image of an image.

[@michalryszawy]

Pass is overall more "mechanical" sound better in technical aspects, more precision, resolution. ASR is more engaging, more "natural", more flow to the music. I liked both but personally i would get ASR. Pass can be tiring/fatiging after long listening sesions. But i understand why somebody will choose Pass - its more "modern" sound. As ASR is lets say more like "vintage" sound

[@gioponti6359]

I agree on relative differences, ASR seeming more mellow, Pass being less mid-centric.. but I‘d have a face 2 face listening session first before I‘d know which one I‘d prefer in absolute terms

[@michalryszawy]

@@gioponti6359 yes. Only real life experience need to be done 👌

[@glenschneider5978]

I agree with you too. Pass seems to have a laid back smoothness with more resolution while ASR seemed more natural. Both nice ; matter of taste.

[@kim-andremoen2137]

In this case I prefer Pass Labs, more body and attack, specially in the upper bass(kick drum)150-250hz and the bass general is more real

[@arnaudfoulon5844]

Pass lab for my ears! Larger scene and reverb sound beautiful!

[@colanitower]

Voor de prijzen van deze apparatuur heb je wel een inboedelverzekering nodig. Het voordeel van ASR t.o.v. Pass Labs is dat ASR het ook kan verzekeren 😉

[@rwmschei]

Over smaak valt gelukkig niet te twisten en beide zijn top, maar ik vind de combinatie van de Pass Labs met deze luidsprekers niet prettig. Ik houd wel van detail en hoge tonen, maar ik vind deze combi echt veel te vermoeiend om te luisteren. De ASR doet net een stapje terug, maakt het voor mijn smaak een tikje minder analytisch detaillistisch, maar daardoor wel een stuk ronder en subtieler. Een kwestie van smaak, wil je voor korte tijd “kill and attack” zou ik voor de Pass Labs kiezen, maar voor het lang luisteren zou ik de ASR kiezen (stiekem zou ik beide wel willen hebben 😂)

[@REX4340]

Quite close via youtube, Pass slightly more polite so I choose ASR😁

[@elderinmoi1571]

ASR is Hard to beat.

[@MichaelBruunCph]

ASR sounds natural, Pass Labs sounds colored

[@elderinmoi1571]

I like the bass more on the asr. Other than that I am surprised that they do sound so similar. I would have expected a noticible difference but with my ear phones (momentum 3) I can’t pick them up. Maybe the pass is more open and detailed.

[@TheAlphaAudio]

It is very close indeed. And yes... The pass is more open.

[@jackfalco5351]

ASR All the way

[@realitytunnel]

This told me more about the resolution of KZbin audio and possibly my Bluetooth headphones than anything, as there was zero difference. Will have to listen to the hi res downloaded file with my system at home before I would comment on the actual sound of the equipment!

[@daniel93ss]

W my NAD 3100 and JBL LX44 i hear all differences on YT records audio equipments and room acustics :)

[@sc0or]

For my ears ASR Emitter sounds like a really good hi-fi (there are too much distortions and a sound is not "professional"), when Pass XP12 sounds like a beginning of a hi-end.

[@TheAlphaAudio]

Hmm... both are excellent in my opinion. Just a different signature.

[@masudkabir9214]

Is it much better than Int-250

[@Ricardo-mp8kc]

Dit is wel heel erg goed 😮. Pass labs all the way… in de ruimte moet dit wel erg gaaf zijn… leuke snoepjes 🍭

[@alphaniner3770]

that power supply looks like a Christmas tree - these designers must have had a lot of fun (or huge balls) ;o)

[@JuanJose-wt5yj]

Thanks for the videos. Do you have the microphone at your usual listening point when recording? I would say not. Do you have room acoustic measurements made with REW? Can you put the REW .mdat file to see the acoustics of the room? written with translator Greetings

[@dirkschiel1072]

Wirklich eine schwere Entscheidung! Tolles Video gut umgesetzt. Ich würde den Emitter nehmen. Rein aus dem Bauch raus.

[@sarahX..]

One thing i noticed ASR has a beautiful top end

[@TheAlphaAudio]

@@sarahX.. definitely!

[@sarahX..]

@@TheAlphaAudio I`ve been told by someone the Valet E3 can produce similar `highs` as the ASR. Is this true?

[@TheAlphaAudio]

@@sarahX.. i don't know.

[@umitbey4852]

I prefer asr for short critical listenings and pass labs for long listenings.

[@theflyingdutchman7127]

Voor zo ver je voor vergelijk een iPad serieus kunt nemen, zit de asr de Pass Labs dicht op de hielen, en slaat de asr geen slecht figuur.

[@TheAlphaAudio]

Het is close. Wel andere signatuur.

[@theflyingdutchman7127]

@@TheAlphaAudio ieder merk en apparatuur heeft dat.( gelukkig ) 😇❤️

[@kurthill7030]

Asr for me and my taste 👍👍

[@melchior-chr.v.brincken8006]

Voice is smother with the Ermitter

[@daviddarmanin2188]

Prefer the ASR Emitter, I have heard it with Tannoy Westminster’s and they are a match made in heaven, as for this demo I still prefer the sound over the Pass Labs.

[@ILLUMINATISPB]

ASR is not bad. but Pass is the soul, the power. And much more musical playback. The bass is much more powerful and full-bodied.

[@rewind9536]

ASR is dryer?

[@TheAlphaAudio]

A bit, yes...

[@altchavez]

Hi!!! I want those loudspeakers!!!

[@wtp6128]

asr

[@Nmbg66]

Wer singt diesen Song ? Super

[@mohanthakur519]

ASR Definitely sounds much better cleaner n musical

[@TA-qn4ew]

Pass

[@anuragaggarwal9888]

Can anyone help me regarding yg Carmel 2 speaker pairing with ASR vs Dan. D agostino amplifier.I never auditioned ASR brand

[@stipeilic2611]

Asr seems veiled comparing to Pass

[@jimsregaturntableshifijukebox]

Oh great, more stuff I can't afford 👍😉😂

[@TheAlphaAudio]

Hahaha....sorry.

[@jimsregaturntableshifijukebox]

@@TheAlphaAudio Thank you😉. I'm awaiting an appointment for Hi-fi addiction therapy, hopefully it will arrive before your next video. 😉🤣 Happy listening. Jim 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 ☺

[@TheAlphaAudio]

@@jimsregaturntableshifijukebox good luck! ;-)

[@AdiMaco]

Pass is better in every way.

[@JG-gg9wk]

What speakers are you using ??

[@TheAlphaAudio]

TAD Evolution Two... It is literally written in the video.

[@TheOhamd]

00:20 READ

[@ericstefko4852]

@@TheAlphaAudio you might want to consider adding the info into comment section

[@bohdan3239]

Pass Labs superior refined sound. Problem is your system still sounds like a HI FI. More attention to set up and room treatment necessary before the system begins to mimic natural music.

[@mariorobertopavanati8095]

Pass più aperto e chiaro ma c’è tutto, estremi banda compresi

[@martymcfly3837]

The cheaper wins

[@TheAlphaAudio]

;-)

[@gamerpaddy]

Wtf? the leds in the psu are not even straight in 10k euro device, this is such a esotheric bullshit