Does anyone own the Pass Labs X1 preamp?

Hi Ken,

Nonetheless, he started the thread inquiring about the Pass Labs X1. "Does Anyone Own the Pass Labs X1 preamp?"

Since you apparently do not, then plugging Spectral(twice) seems quite deviant from the initial inquiry. :-)

Having some experience with Pass Labs products, I would politely suggest that the X1, utilizing the Supersymmetric gain topology that Pass uses in their X power amps, offers a dynamic, transparent, and musical presentation. It has plenty of gain (sometimes too much for sensitive speakers), excellent instrument placement in the soundstage, and a lively characteristic that is quite faithful to the source information presented to it. Combining the Pass with the Krell would enhance the bottom end slam that K is known for, allowing also for excellent control of the lower registers. Plus, the X1 is airy enough and somewhat less analytical than the Krell preamps, so it might ease the Krell as would a tube without compromising dynamics, and certainly without any of the maintenance issues.
The Supersymmetric circuit topology that Pass uses effectively reduces noise and distortion by an order of magnitude compared to other such gain circuits. This allows for very fast transients and explosive peaks.

Cheers!

Quin

How expensive is the Spectral DMC30S?

The DMC-30S lists for $6500. It is just slightly more expensive than the X1, which lists for $5990.

This is just my opinion so please bear with me. But I have heard several all spectral set-ups in an ultra-high end store and yes they are very transparent and offer high resolution, but I found them very dry, analytical and non-musical. It might have been the associated components, but I did not like them at all-I prefered Pass and Rowland. Again, JMHO

I had never considered Spectral myself because of hearing other opinions similar to yours Platsolos. What changed my mind was hearing a Spectral system at Overture in DE. That system was anything by dry and non-musical. As a result I couldn't help but to purchase a system for myself. I can say for sure that my system is more musical now than ever.

The Spectral stuff is very revealing of what is going on upstream. Bad sounding CDs and LPs sound a bit worse than they did with my previous system. Use of compression on recordings, for example, is much more noticable (and more annoying).

On the plus side though, recordings that previously sounded just average have taken on new life. Removing the layer of noise that was present in my other components has allowed me to better appreciate the sound of average recordings.

I would imagine that Spectral might not be everyone's cup of tea. I do think though that their stuff is worthy of an audition. JMHO

Ken