Phono preamp Pass Labs XP-17 or XP-27

the sound is already fantastic but yes would imagine better still with the xp27 albeit over double the price so would be a down the road thing probably not until they upgrade the xp27 or someone with cash to burn moves up to the xs line and sells xp27 at great deal

I thought my XP15 was awesome and was very pleased with the sound, then I picked up the XP25. The 25 was much better right out of the box, how good? Running a Dynavector XV1s through the 25 and my Ayre KXR Twenty and Krell 402E it sounds more dynamic, the sound stage is huge and the whole thing is dead neutral, natural and exciting but easy on the ears. I would say the XP25 easily beats my DCS Vivaldi stack with that cartridge. This is probably the best sound I've ever heard and I've been into this since I was 12. I just ordered the XP27. 

XP 27 uses circuitry from the XS Phono. I have not listened to one personally but a friend says it sounds like a John Curl design which is a very high compliment. It is only money:) The John Curl Constellation Orion is (gulp) 80 K. 

Although I have absolutely nothing to complain about with the XP 25 I did get and set up the XP27. At the same time, I also upgraded to the XV1t. I'd say the XP27 does have a bigger soundstage and is slightly more dynamics. With the XV1t things at first, took a different turn than I expected, I was picking up far more noise where the XV1s is virtually silent, this got better as I got some hours into the XV1t but I was also picking up a lot of 60 to 80 hz noise from the cable between my speed controller and motor for the turntable. I tried 3 different controllers to discover I could easily tell which one was digital lol. I custom built a cable for the motor and fixed the issue, the XV1t is so incredibly sensitive it acts as an antenna to led lights or any leaking power cord.
As the XV1t settled in the record noise died down a bit and yes the fricken gobs of detail started pouring out. A huge soundstage with impeccable voice and instrument isolation, not only do you hear the orchestra you hear them individually, every player, the room, the wood or metal from the instruments and it sounds effortless. I still think the XP25 and XV1s is the most musical combo I have ever heard with no distractions from the music, nothing! The XP27/XV1t combo does bring me even closer into the performance but there is a tad of vinyl noise and everything must be just right, that's mainly from this crazy wicked cartridge. The XV1t is so good I had to upgrade the rest of my system to handle it. Now I have a VPI HRX with the brass counterweight, the delrin, stainless platter, and the 12"3d tonearm. I'm not sure the 3d arm is a complete upgrade over the 12.6? Better in some way but not all. I think the damping fluid the 12.6 uses made an improvement over the 3D without it.