[1] Pass received his Bachelor of Science in Physics and with an ESS associate René Besne they together began development of a new amplifier in 1974.
When they were confident the amplifier was ready to market, Pass and Besne incorporated Threshold as co-founders in Sacramento, California on December 5, 1974.
This was a Class A 200 watt per channel five-stage amplifier with triple series/triple parallel/triple Darlington output stage with a dynamic bias circuit.
Pass was quoted as saying, “The Stasis 1 was the statement product for what became the popular Stasis product line, which served Threshold for the life of the company.”[5] In another interview, he stated: “The Stasis amplifier certainly stands out as probably the premier example of a simple, creative topology that’s done a very good job and stood the test of time.”[6] Virtually all Threshold amplifiers and pre-amplifiers displayed a luxurious look of "sculptured" brushed aluminum faceplates that were Besne's hallmarks of the entire line in keeping with the components’ substantial price.
In subsequent interviews he stated he left Threshold at the end of 1991 to establish Pass Labs and have more autonomy in his amplifier design.
With the advent of Home Theater in the late 1990s, high-end audio companies in general and Threshold in particular struggled to retain its audiophile base of customers.
An upgraded range of amplifiers based on the proven Stasis technology were brought to market and successfully reestablished the company, known today as Threshold Audio.