Pass XS Phono....it's here!!!

Mike

Mike

Audioshark
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Holy smoke! What an incredible looking component. Your Pass Labs gear is world class, Mike. I can't wait to hear your impressions once it breaks in. This must be one of the best phono pre's available. Did you win the lottery over there? :lol:

Best,
Ken
 
Alpinist said:
Holy smoke! What an incredible looking component. Your Pass Labs gear is world class, Mike. I can't wait to hear your impressions once it breaks in. This must be one of the best phono pre's available. Did you win the lottery over there? :lol:

Best,
Ken
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Haha....not quite....but thanks Ken. To be 100% honest, I socked away the money for the XS phono last year. No joke, I had a XS Phono savings account! The minute I heard about it last year, I knew I wanted it. Once I got the word - I was ready to go. I believe this is the first one off the production line.
 
Mike said:
Haha....not quite....but thanks Ken. To be 100% honest, I socked away the money for the XS phono last year. No joke, I had a XS Phono savings account! The minute I heard about it last year, I knew I wanted it. Once I got the word - I was ready to go. I believe this is the first one off the production line.
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Mike,

By the look of it, your patience totally paid off. I know a few folks gave up on it due to the extensive delay.

Ken
 
Alpinist said:
Mike,

By the look of it, your patience totally paid off. I know a few folks gave up on it due to the extensive delay.

Ken
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If they only knew. I was in constant contact with the guys at Pass and kept asking "is it done?", they kept saying "not until it's perfect". This was a team effort and I know that there were many people working hard to ensure the XS phono was truly the Statement product it was always meant to be.
 
Mike said:
If they only knew. I was in constant contact with the guys at Pass and kept asking "is it done?", they kept saying "not until it's perfect". This was a team effort and I know that there were many people working hard to ensure the XS phono was truly the Statement product it was always meant to be.
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You can't rush perfection! :)
 
Gadzooks, that is nice. Fortunately, there doesn't appear to be vocal members here who will tell you that it only sounds good because it looks nice. :)

Is it silver or champagne?
 
BlueFox said:
Gadzooks, that is nice. Fortunately, there doesn't appear to be vocal members here who will tell you that it only sounds good because it looks nice. :)

Is it silver or champagne?
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Silver.
 
:exciting::exciting:

Congrats Mike, it's gorgeous! Please report back w initial impressions!
 
Hi Mike

Can you list some of the specs?

No of inputs

Gain for mm and mc

Loading both resistive And capacitance

Mono switch?

Etc
 
Yes, though there are a few phono stage designers that use the balanced basis of the cartridge and run with it through a true balanced phono stage design. The Trinity phono that i use is one example. Ayre has also championed this fully differential design. Typically true balanced ss design are dead silent and offer an extra 6db of gain. Of course, it makes little sense if you're not running the rest of the system balanced as well. Love the fact that pass has 3 inputs. Can't wait to hear your impressions! Wow, air tight and pass xs phono in the same week!
 
Zesto and rega iOS reference offer balanced inputs but only single ended outputs. No need to ground the cables when using the balanced inputs.
 
tunes said:
Yes, though there are a few phono stage designers that use the balanced basis of the cartridge and run with it through a true balanced phono stage design. The Trinity phono that i use is one example. Ayre has also championed this fully differential design. Typically true balanced ss design are dead silent and offer an extra 6db of gain. Of course, it makes little sense if you're not running the rest of the system balanced as well. Love the fact that pass has 3 inputs. Can't wait to hear your impressions! Wow, air tight and pass xs phono in the same week!
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That's great in theory, but not in practice. If your turntable outputs SE, then you are best to stay SE and I can't even remember seeing a turntable with balanced outputs, although, there might be some?? Until we see turntables with balanced outputs as a regular practice, then balanced inputs on the phono make no sense IMO.

Getting ready to fire it up soon. Resistance and Capacitance options are right on the front with the ability to save settings for each input - nice! The XS phono also has selectable gain - 56, 66 and 76 - all adjustable for each input (and ability to save). Again, nice!
 
Mike said:
That's great in theory, but not in practice. If your turntable outputs SE, then you are best to stay SE and I can't even remember seeing a turntable with balanced outputs, although, there might be some?? Until we see turntables with balanced outputs as a regular practice, then balanced inputs on the phono make no sense IMO.

Getting ready to fire it up soon. Resistance and Capacitance options are right on the front with the ability to save settings for each input - nice! The XS phono also has selectable gain - 56, 66 and 76 - all adjustable for each input (and ability to save). Again, nice!
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I'm running in balanced now as cartridges are inherently balanced. VPI offers an optional balanced tonearm block too.
 
Then with this theory, why go balanced at all through the phono out/preamp/poweramp with using a phono source? Somewhere you are converting to balanced - why not ASAP? The lower the voltage the better the balanced advantage. This coming from a phono first grader.



Mike said:
That's great in theory, but not in practice. If your turntable outputs SE, then you are best to stay SE and I can't even remember seeing a turntable with balanced outputs, although, there might be some?? Until we see turntables with balanced outputs as a regular practice, then balanced inputs on the phono make no sense IMO.

Getting ready to fire it up soon. Resistance and Capacitance options are right on the front with the ability to save settings for each input - nice! The XS phono also has selectable gain - 56, 66 and 76 - all adjustable for each input (and ability to save). Again, nice!
Click to expand...
 
I use balanced phono interconnects from DIN connection of tonearm to phono stage, phono stage to balanced in and out of preamp, pre to amp. If you break the balanced chain, it makes far less sense, less "gain" so to speak, LOL.
Agree with Mike though, majority of tables are SE out and same goes for majority of phono stages in.
Now, back to the OP. Sorry for the distraction. The pass clearly has seriously convenient features, especially the triple input, easy loading and selectable gain.
 
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