Pass Labs XP32 or XP22?

I run a Rogue RH-5 pre with a Pass Labs XA-25. I am extremely impressed with this match. For me there is something magical happening here. I used to own a Rogue RP-7 and paired that with a multitude of tube and SS amps. I was never disappointed with the performance. With that said, if I was to obtain a pair of 60.8s (which I am looking into) I likely would opt for a Rogue RP-9.

re-lar-kvothe

I won't own another Rogue Audio, it isn't that the products are bad, but the owner was a jerk to me.

I have direct experience of both preamps paired with 60.8s. Unsurprisingly, the 32 is better than the 22. It's more refined tonally, and more organic sounding. But at this level, the differences are relatively finely graded, not night and day. The 32 is better, but both are excellent.

One thing that can throw people with these preamps is that they are designed to use the full range of the volume control which operates in fine increments. So unless they are played at a setting on the numerical display that seems to be "loud" (visually, but actually isn't sonically) then they can seem a bit underwhelming.

I'm another vote for the Backert Rhythm 1.3. My amps are AGD, not Pass, so I can't speak to the interaction with Pass amps, but the Backert is superb. I replaced an ARC 6SE with the Backert and that was a big improvement.