2. amps-preamps
  3. 180557-4104

Pass labs upgrade path

Hi there. I’m Currently running a X350.5 and XP20 with a Bricasti M1SE and PBN KAS speakers. 
 

I have budget to upgrade amp or preamp and am considering either a X350.8 or XP22 or XP30 as my next logical upgrade. 
 

I’m more inclined for a XP22 than anything else as I heard a XP12 in my system and it did sound much more like a live show but without the advantages of separate power supply. 
 

I have not heard a XP30 or a .8 amplifier so I figured I’d ask around and see if anyone had been in a similar spot. 
 

Thanks y’all. 

128x128systembuilder
yogiboy's avatar
yogiboy
5,677 posts
 

@jc4659

An easy and inexpensive solution!!

 

laaudionut
263 posts
 

Just to make certain that I was not out of my head prior to ditching the Pass preamp, I inserted a borrowed McIntosh C2300 into my system to see how it would behave. Even with the "homogenized" sound profile of the Mac Preamp, the Pass amps came to life.

Consider this...I(personally) have never heard(or read) of anyone using a Pass preamp with amps other than that of Pass. If they were truly any good, one would think that you would learn of more people using them in non Pass amp applications...

ghdprentice
6,980 posts
 

@laaudionut 

I will admit that I have not heard of Pass preamps being the preferred preamp of other amps. While, I owned a Pass preamp… it was eclipsed by the Audio Research preamp I bought. I have a huge respect for Pass amps, and Audio Research Preamps and Phonostages. 
 

 

jc4659
551 posts
 

@laaudionut Were you running single ended into your Pass amps from the Motherlode or did you have Aric provide you with balanced inputs and outputs?

marco1's avatar
marco1
519 posts
 

I think you'll get the biggest overall improvement going to the .8 series amps.  If you want to change preamps and want to consider tubes that's a totally different approach.  Some like it better.  I didn't.  In the case of Pass, their amps and preamps really have great synergy.

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