Pass X1 and Rowland Capri Preamps

I agree--you just have to try them both. I tried both a Capri and an X1 in my system and settled on the x1 based only on sound quality in my system. The Capri's low end was lacking in my setup. With respect to features and usability, the Capri is super, with great volume control. The X1 has very steep db attenuation with each click and a narrower range of attenuation than the Capri. I now have a Pass XP10 which replaced the X1. I would hardly characterize it as "lean" as an earlier post suggested, but again, it all depends on system interaction. I really like the XP 10's depth, width, height and solidity of soundstage, overall detail but with great smoothness, and new volume control setup. They advertise it as sounding great at low listening levels, and that claim is 100% spot on. Very easy to find a good level with almost any recording. Is this worth twice what you'd pay for an X1 or Capri? Hard to say. I think so.

I agree with Swanny in some respects -- trying them both is best, as both Swanny and I did. I didn't think the XP20 was lean sounding -- it just sounded leaner and less musical to me, in my system, than the Capri did. I also agree with Swanny's characterization of the Capri's bottom end -- perhaps not lacking (in my system), but a little loose. Which is why I ultimately paid a lot more more for the Nagra. One other note on the Capri -- I found it superb at low volume levels (as was the Pass).

Now, back to Tvad's points -- these are jut Swanny's and my experience with these components in our systems. With both of these components there are risk free ways to try them both out in *your* system. A pain, yes, but worth it.

thanks for all the inputs, all. i do agree with the necessity of trying the component in my own environment and evaluating based on my personal predilections. in this case, i've decided to start with the X1 and see how it sounds, if for no other reason than i appreciated the communications from mark at reno and it's from the same company as my power amp.

If you are in touch with Mark @ Reno, you may also want to audition a used XP-10 to compare to the X-1. They do sound different. I had the X-1 and now own the XP-20. It's a different price point, but the sonic differences are interesting to compare. The Pass pre amps work extremely well with Pass amps if that is what you have and that MAY offer some compatibility that you won't find with the Capri, though I have not heard it.