Pass Labs x-1 high gain

Dpac996,
The steps in volume don't really bother me all that much.Steps to 2 or 3 would have been perfect though.I was mainly seeing if this is a norm with this preamp.

As for the sound.It is very little change from the tube preamp as used prior.In most ways it's 'Better.I now can listen at much lower volumes and hear twice as much.The inner detail this unit gives is incredible.I hear more at lower volumes because it is so quiet.The ONLY thing the tube preamp was better at was the mids.And this is by a slight margin.My main fear of making the switch was I thought I would give up alot of my Imaging.I was very wrong in my prior assessment.Also,changing power cords was a huge upgrade.

Im using the preamp in the lower gain setting..

yes. the inner detail, even on the x2.5 is the best i've heard yet in my system. That was one of my 1st remarks about the x2.5; the noise floor seems to be so far down, which leads to excellent forward projection of whatever comes into the unit upstream. Spatially/imagaing wise I lost nothing when I moved from tube preamp to this. The only thing i think about from time to time is can i have it all? Can I have the mids that only a tube seems to offer plus the absolute silence and stunning dynamics of the ss...and afford it....!

What kind of power cord are you running?
What tube preamp did you have prior to the Pass X1?

I also have the X-1 pre. If I turn the volume knob quickly with no source it make a little static noise. Does not seem to be a problem though. I only use the low gain (4 db)setting- unless I really want to crank it up.

I have an X2.5 and that "pop" has been worrying, driving me crazy too. http://www.rothwellaudioproducts.co.uk/html/attenuators.htm
For late nite lower levels.