PASS HPA-1 continues to perform at BEAST levels. Despite my affection for tube based amplifiers I absolutely love the fact that I almost never have to worry about powering this brute down, it just sits nice and warm ready for an input signal and snaps to attention w/ never a complaint.
The grip and control along w/ sheer grunt of the bottom end always pleases me. I believe the reason I don’t find any of my HP’s lacking in bottom end is because of the quality of this amplifier. If a HP has any ability at all for bass the HPA-1 will bring it forth.
Midrange texture is exactly where my own personal preferences lie, and I seem to always compare the midrange quality of my tube based amplifiers to what the PASS does. This one simple fact alone negates all the $$$$ I have spent on every tube ever 
If I simply used those funds alone on my front end I think I could have found my personal HP nirvana a long while ago…
Lastly the most critical feature, the air and texture of the top end. My ears are older, abused and untrained. I think the DAC and cables play a critical role in what the top end comes off as on good quality amplifiers. I may be wrong and happy to take better educated correction to this statement. I again have NO complaints and have been fully satiated by the quality of the top end.
For those of you who have the experience and knowledge, when it comes to solid state HP amplifiers, what is the next level beyond this piece? Who makes a solid state beast that blows the PASS HPA-1 out of the water and will bring tears of joy to my eyes? How much DAC and streamer will this better piece require?
I’m genuinely curious, I just don’t have experience beyond what I know. 
and nothing I have read up until now has caught my attention.