![]() As you’ll see in the next section, I had no need at any time for a subwoofer. Though I have an excellent sub in my theater, an SVS PB-12 Plus, I wanted to use the INT-30A the way it was intended – as a high-end two-channel component. I decided up front to make this strictly a two-channel review. Otherwise, it worked perfectly and its style and feel befit this product’s level of quality. I found I had to point directly at the box to get a response. The remote’s off axis range is a bit narrow. Included are a power toggle, mute key, discreet input buttons, volume and balance controls, and a button to dim (or defeat) the front panel display. Since this remote is common to other Pass Labs products, there are a few keys that don’t apply to the INT-30A. The buttons are small and made of plastic. The batteries are changed by removing the four screws securing the back panel. It’s an all-metal box that feels like it was milled from billet. The remote can only be described as sexy. You can also see the output devices bolted directly to the side-mounted heat sinks. The capacitors are unfortunately hidden below the input jack board. The toroidal transformer at the front (left in the photo) is a large part of the component’s weight. You can see in the picture below, the interior of the INT-30A is all business. I can’t imagine any aftermarket feet absorbing more vibration than the ones provided here. The solid rubber feet are about half the size of hockey pucks and nearly as dense. ![]() Rounding out the back panel is a power cord connector, a power switch, a fuse holder and a signal ground terminal. As this was a somewhat difficult procedure, I recommend having your dealer do this for you if you plan to use bananas. Since I didn’t want to cut up my already terminated cables, I removed the inserts. In order to comply with regulations in some countries, Pass Labs has prevented the use of banana plugs by filling the centers with a plastic insert. Speaker terminals are beefy binding posts that can accept bare wire or spade lugs. Also included are preamp outputs, again offering both single-ended RCA, or balanced XLR connections. Inputs 1 and 2 can be driven as single-ended or balanced with either RCA or XLR connectors. The rear panel has a full compliment of analog jacks. They are connected to the amp’s output devices and get quite hot after a long listening session. The sides are large cooling fins extending from front to rear. The rest of the chassis is painted black. Adjusting the balance control on the remote biases the level to either side. The volume is shown in absolute values and always starts at zero when the amp is powered on. The luminescent blue display in the center shows the active input and volume level for each channel. On the far right is a large metal volume knob. This channel houses buttons for power, mute, the four input selectors and an IR sensor. The monolithic faceplate is a solid, half-inch thick aluminum plate with its only feature a milled channel running from side to side. It’s far from the average box that graces most equipment racks. Physically, the INT-30A is an imposing component. ![]() High expectations at the ready! Let’s move forward. ![]() While I have experienced many two-channel rigs in the past, I had not lived with one in my current environment before. Besides attenuation and balance, there is nothing to alter the signal from source to loudspeaker. There is no room correction, no tone control, no processing of any kind. The INT-30A is a simple, almost elemental product. So with my senses influenced by digitally produced music and speakers all around me, I couldn’t wait to see what the high-end two-channel world had to offer. Eventually, you have to cast your preconceptions aside and just sit down for a listen. I’m also experienced enough to know that great specs don’t necessarily mean a better sounding product. With that kind of history, it’s inevitable that products would have reached some sort of zenith. The designers of products like this have had a tremendously long time to try different approaches to sound reproduction. That being said, I am very aware of the decades of refinement offered by a traditional two-channel analog setup. I like music to surround me and I like the clean accurate presentation offered by an all-digital signal path. I’ll admit it right up front – I’m a digital multi-channel guy. Volume control: 63 dB Range, 1 dB Steps.Inputs: Two RCA Unbalanced, Two XLR Balanced.Power Outut: 2 x 30 Watts RMS into 8 Ohms. ![]()
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