Welcome to the AudioShark Forums.
Results 1 to 13 of 13
  1. #1
    Audioshark
    Join Date
    Apr 2013
    Location
    Sarasota, FL
    Posts
    30,027

    Pass XP22 Preamp Review

    https://www.stereophile.com/content/...e-preamplifier

    “In concert with the rest of my system, Pass Laboratories' XP-22 sounded great: full-bodied, rich-toned, robust, resolving, spacious, essentially neutral. But it was the whole experience of using the XP-22—its rugged, understated look; the subtle texture of its faceplate; the feel of the volume knob's action—that won me over. It just clicked for me, in a way that's entirely reasonable and yet transcends reason.”


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
    My Systems: http://www.audioshark.org/showthread...481#post158481

    "We can hear everything we measure, but we can't measure everything we hear. Let your ears be your guide."

    Dealer for: Aqua Hi-Fi, Aurender, AudioQuest Cables & Power Products, Berkeley Audio, Block Audio (distributor), Boulder Amplifiers, Bowers & Wilkins (B&W), Bryston, Clarisys Audio Loudspeakers (distributor), Classe’ Audio, Degritter Record Cleaning Machines, Esoteric, Finite Elemente, FirstWatt, Focal Loudspeakers and Headphones, GigaFoil, Harbeth Loudspeakers, Hegel, HiFi Man, Innuos, ISO Acoustics, Keces Power Supplies, Kharma Loudspeakers and Electronics, Kuzma Turntables, Lumin, Luxman, Magico Loudspeakers, MBL Speakers & Electronics, MSB Technologies, MySonicLabs Phono Cartridges, Nordost Cables, Ortofon, Pass Labs, Quadraspire, Rega Turntables and Electronics, Shunyata Research, STAX, Stein Music Products, Stillpoints, Soulution, VAC, Vicoustics, Viva Audio, VPI Industries, WireWorld Cables.

    https://suncoastaudio.com/
    Phone: 941-932-0282
    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Suncoast-Au...1105178279194/

  2. #2
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Sep 2014
    Location
    USA
    Posts
    3,381

    Re: Pass XP22 Preamp Review

    Quote Originally Posted by Mike View Post
    https://www.stereophile.com/content/...e-preamplifier

    “In concert with the rest of my system, Pass Laboratories' XP-22 sounded great: full-bodied, rich-toned, robust, resolving, spacious, essentially neutral. But it was the whole experience of using the XP-22—its rugged, understated look; the subtle texture of its faceplate; the feel of the volume knob's action—that won me over. It just clicked for me, in a way that's entirely reasonable and yet transcends reason.”


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
    I owned the Pass XP-25 preamp and it successfully bridged the gap between solid state and tubes, it was very natural sounding. The only negative was three chassis. The XP-22 seems to do the same but takes up less rack space.

    Ken
    "No summit worth climbing is easily attained."
    --------------------------------------------
    Source: MSB Select II DAC with Two Mono Powerbases and Femto 33 Clock; Renderer V2 Digital Input Module and Roon Nucleus Plus; MSB UMT V Signature Transport
    Amps: Vandersteen M7-HPA Mono Amps; MSB M204 Mono Amps
    Speakers: Vandersteen Model 7 Mk2
    Power: Two AudioQuest Niagara 5000’s with AudioQuest Dragon and Hurricane Power Cords

  3. #3
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Apr 2013
    Location
    Valrico, FL
    Posts
    407

    Re: Pass XP22 Preamp Review

    Pass Labs gear is so good it even makes my crummy speakers sound good.
    Howard

    Pass Labs XS 300's, XS Pre | Berkeley Audio Design Alpha DAC Reference Series 3, Alpha USB | Aurender W20SE, ACS10 | Magico S7's with MPOD's, QSub 15 x 2 | Shunyata Denali 2000T x 2 with Sigma HC | Audience aR6-TS Incoming... Shunyata Everest 8000 w/ Omega XC | MIT Heritage and Oracle Interconnects and speaker cables | Critical Mass Maxxum rack | Resolution Acoustics custom room treatments

  4. #4

    Re: Pass XP22 Preamp Review

    Quote Originally Posted by The Sandman View Post
    Pass Labs gear is so good it even makes my crummy speakers sound good.
    Hehe.
    Simaudio Moon Neo 260 DT CD Transport / MIT SL-Matrix Plus AES/EBU digital cable / Schiit Yggdrasil Analog 2 DAC / Octave HP 700 preamp / Octave RE 320 stereo amp with Super Black Box / Reference 3A Reflector monitors on Sound Anchors Signature Stands / dual JL Audio Fathom 112 v2 subwoofers on ASC SubTraps / ZenWave Audio D4 and SMSG cables / Acoustic treatment: tube traps, Tri-panels, window plugs, ceiling diffusers (all ASC), large absorbing panels (Acoustics First), diverse carpets chosen for acoustic properties: wool, polypropylene basket-weave

  5. #5
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Sep 2014
    Location
    USA
    Posts
    3,381

    Re: Pass XP22 Preamp Review

    Quote Originally Posted by The Sandman View Post
    Pass Labs gear is so good it even makes my crummy speakers sound good.
    LOL, your S7 speakers sound amazing, Howard. Complete speakers from top to bottom.

    Ken
    "No summit worth climbing is easily attained."
    --------------------------------------------
    Source: MSB Select II DAC with Two Mono Powerbases and Femto 33 Clock; Renderer V2 Digital Input Module and Roon Nucleus Plus; MSB UMT V Signature Transport
    Amps: Vandersteen M7-HPA Mono Amps; MSB M204 Mono Amps
    Speakers: Vandersteen Model 7 Mk2
    Power: Two AudioQuest Niagara 5000’s with AudioQuest Dragon and Hurricane Power Cords

  6. #6
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    May 2013
    Location
    Silicon Valley
    Posts
    2,838

    Re: Pass XP22 Preamp Review

    I found out two years ago that the XP-22 was excellent. They learned from the XP-20 that the interconnect cable between the power supply and the preamp is critical, and they used an aircraft grade cable/connectors on the XP-22.

    Anyway, I have been very pleased with my XP-22. I even had to recently send it back for repair, and I swear it sounded even better when I got it back.
    Bud

    Lumin X1 file player, Westminster Labs interconnect cable
    Sony XA-5400ES SACD
    Pass XP-22 pre, X600.5 amps
    Magico S5 MKII Mcast Rose speakers, SPOD spikes

    Shunyata Triton v3/Typhon QR for source, Denali 2000 (2) for amps
    Shunyata Sigma XLR analog ICs, Sigma speaker cables
    Shunyata Sigma HC (2), Sigma Analog, Sigma Digital, Z Anaconda (3) power cables

    Mapleshade Samson four shelf maple rack, Micropoint brass footers
    Three 20 amp circuits.

  7. #7
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    May 2013
    Location
    Sydney
    Posts
    1,781

    Re: Pass XP22 Preamp Review

    Quote Originally Posted by Alpinist View Post
    I owned the Pass XP-25 preamp and it successfully bridged the gap between solid state and tubes, it was very natural sounding. The only negative was three chassis. The XP-22 seems to do the same but takes up less rack space.

    Ken
    Ken. the XP-25 is the phono stage. I owned it and it did not bridge the gap between SS and tubes.
    Source: Technics SP10mk3 - Thales Simplicity II, TW Raven AC-3 - Graham Phantom, SME 3012-R, Exclusive P3,,Linn LP12 - Naim ARO
    Cartridges: Lyra Atlas Lambda SL, Lyra Etna SL, Lyra Delos, Dynavector XV-1s,Technics EPC100mk4, Ortofon A90, GM Royal, GM Classic, Denon ESC'd 103R, DL-S1, Audio Technica AT25, OC9II, Linn ESC'd Troika
    Phono Stage: Phasemation EA-1200, Accuphase C-37,TW Acustik phono
    EQ: ​DEQX HDP-4
    Preamp: D'Agostino HD, conrad johnson GAT,
    Amps: conrad johnson teflon premier 8a's, D'Agostino Momentum S250
    Speakers: Wilson Maxx3

  8. #8
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Apr 2013
    Location
    Valrico, FL
    Posts
    407

    Re: Pass XP22 Preamp Review

    The XP-30 is their 3 chassis preamp.
    Howard

    Pass Labs XS 300's, XS Pre | Berkeley Audio Design Alpha DAC Reference Series 3, Alpha USB | Aurender W20SE, ACS10 | Magico S7's with MPOD's, QSub 15 x 2 | Shunyata Denali 2000T x 2 with Sigma HC | Audience aR6-TS Incoming... Shunyata Everest 8000 w/ Omega XC | MIT Heritage and Oracle Interconnects and speaker cables | Critical Mass Maxxum rack | Resolution Acoustics custom room treatments

  9. #9
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Nov 2015
    Location
    Kansas
    Posts
    5,948

    Re: Pass XP22 Preamp Review

    The review in Stereophile was very good, but it was also a bit strange. He keep saying how he loved it, but then stated how another pre did something better. It does sound like a great preamp though!

    One point he made that I 100% agree with is how much of a musical improvement a good preamp makes in a system!
    McIntosh C49, MC152, MR85, R778 | T+A DAC 8 DSD | KEF LS50 Meta w/S2, KC62 (x2) | Rega RP8, Ania Pro, NEO PSU | Technics SL-1500C | Audio Technica VM750ML | Hexmat Eclipse, Yellow Bird, Molekula, Molekula Mini | Pro-Ject VC-E | Falcon NW PC Server (Roon Core & HQPlayer) | Microsoft Surface Pro 6 (Roon Controller) | Abyss Diana Phi | Schiit Jotunheim 2 | Astell&Kern SE200 | Oppo BDP105

    “One of the great challenges in life is knowing enough to think you're right but not enough to know you're wrong”
    "You can't use reason to convince anyone out of an argument that they didn't use reason to get into"
    ― Neil deGrasse Tyson

  10. #10
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Sep 2014
    Location
    USA
    Posts
    3,381

    Re: Pass XP22 Preamp Review

    Quote Originally Posted by The Sandman View Post
    The XP-30 is their 3 chassis preamp.
    Correct Howard. I meant to write XP-30 in my post, not XP-25.

    Ken
    "No summit worth climbing is easily attained."
    --------------------------------------------
    Source: MSB Select II DAC with Two Mono Powerbases and Femto 33 Clock; Renderer V2 Digital Input Module and Roon Nucleus Plus; MSB UMT V Signature Transport
    Amps: Vandersteen M7-HPA Mono Amps; MSB M204 Mono Amps
    Speakers: Vandersteen Model 7 Mk2
    Power: Two AudioQuest Niagara 5000’s with AudioQuest Dragon and Hurricane Power Cords

  11. #11

    Re: Pass XP22 Preamp Review

    Quote Originally Posted by Randy Myers View Post
    The review in Stereophile was very good, but it was also a bit strange. He keep saying how he loved it, but then stated how another pre did something better. It does sound like a great preamp though!
    Why would that be strange? Do you expect a given component to always be better than another one in ALL respects? What I do find strange is the reason:

    "But when I listened to the Pass Labs and PS Audio preamps in direct, volume-matched comparisons, I was surprised how close they were in sound. The Pass seemed a tad more open, and perhaps more extended at the extremes. The soundstage was a touch more precise. Yet, through the PS Audio, music sounded more visceral, more embodied, to a small but meaningful degree. That quality is important to me—a big success for the much cheaper PS Audio preamp."

    As an experienced audiophile he should know that when the treble output is higher (Pass: "more extended at the extremes"), the body and viscerality of sound may appear somewhat less (and he says, it is better on the PS Audio "to a small degree"). When I dampen the treble in my room by, for example, putting a more absorbing carpet between listening seat and speakers, then mid-bass on rock, which affects viscerality, may seem more pronounced. But of course, the carpet does not alter mid-bass output at all (it only works for absorbing treble), but the ear/brain interface interprets the sum of frequency output, and in this case assigns relatively more mid-bass prominence when treble is attenuated.

    Similarly, when treble is less, lower midrange body may also appear relatively more pronounced.

    One point he made that I 100% agree with is how much of a musical improvement a good preamp makes in a system!
    Absolutely, I just recently experienced this with my new Octave HP 700 preamp. Stunning.
    Simaudio Moon Neo 260 DT CD Transport / MIT SL-Matrix Plus AES/EBU digital cable / Schiit Yggdrasil Analog 2 DAC / Octave HP 700 preamp / Octave RE 320 stereo amp with Super Black Box / Reference 3A Reflector monitors on Sound Anchors Signature Stands / dual JL Audio Fathom 112 v2 subwoofers on ASC SubTraps / ZenWave Audio D4 and SMSG cables / Acoustic treatment: tube traps, Tri-panels, window plugs, ceiling diffusers (all ASC), large absorbing panels (Acoustics First), diverse carpets chosen for acoustic properties: wool, polypropylene basket-weave

  12. #12
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Nov 2015
    Location
    Kansas
    Posts
    5,948

    Re: Pass XP22 Preamp Review

    Quote Originally Posted by Al M. View Post
    Absolutely, I just recently experienced this with my new Octave HP 700 preamp. Stunning.
    I got the exact same experience when I recently got the Stage 2... wow did it solidify the system!

    I just felt that the whole review was a bit off, or wishy washy... it seemed to me that he really liked the preamp but was very hesitant to say it was better then the others. I guess with the bold statement on the cover of the issue I expected more from the review. The cover basically states that the preamplifier is "the state of the preamplifier art", but the review did not even come close to making a similar statement.
    McIntosh C49, MC152, MR85, R778 | T+A DAC 8 DSD | KEF LS50 Meta w/S2, KC62 (x2) | Rega RP8, Ania Pro, NEO PSU | Technics SL-1500C | Audio Technica VM750ML | Hexmat Eclipse, Yellow Bird, Molekula, Molekula Mini | Pro-Ject VC-E | Falcon NW PC Server (Roon Core & HQPlayer) | Microsoft Surface Pro 6 (Roon Controller) | Abyss Diana Phi | Schiit Jotunheim 2 | Astell&Kern SE200 | Oppo BDP105

    “One of the great challenges in life is knowing enough to think you're right but not enough to know you're wrong”
    "You can't use reason to convince anyone out of an argument that they didn't use reason to get into"
    ― Neil deGrasse Tyson

  13. #13
    Banned
    Join Date
    Dec 2019
    Location
    USA
    Posts
    786

    Re: Pass XP22 Preamp Review

    Excellent read and well written, but it seems he was trying to qualify his opinion too much. But I normally learn as much by the positives an author comments upon as well as what they don't comment upon - or tend to qualify (sometimes to a fault).

    It did earn the S
    tereophile Amplification Component of the Year Award - https://www.stereophile.com/content/...component-2019

AudioShark - The Best High End Audio Discussion forum.

AudioShark forum is a leading forum site for High End Audio Discussion, Stereo System Discussion, Home Theater System Discussion, Best Home Stereo System Discussion, Home Theater Installation Discussion etc.

The AudioShark forum was created for sharing the passion of high-end Audio. We have Audiophiles from all over the world participating and sharing their knowledge. From novice to experts, you will find a friendly environment for discussing about High End Audio, Stereo System, Home Theater System, Home Stereo System, Home Theater Installation, Amplifiers, Speakers, Subwoofers, Integrated System, Acoustic treatments & Digital Room Corrections and many more.

At AudioShark, we also have incorporated an exciting Marketplace where members can peruse terrific buys on used gear, as well as meet dealers and discuss the purchase of new gear.

We are as crazy about this hobby as you are! So come on in and join us! Audioshark.org the Friendliest Audio Forum!

Industry Participation Disclosure : The owner and administrator of Audioshark is the owner of Suncoast Audio LLC in Sarasota Florida. Suncoast Audio has a full brick and mortar presence in Sarasota with several great show rooms with many world class brands. More information can be found at http://www.suncoastaudio.com

Audioshark is a community of like minded individuals. Audioshark welcomes participation from all manufacturers and owners of all brands and products. It is our belief that online forums provide a community of like minded audiophiles and music lovers to encourage the growth of this wonderful hobby.

Sincerely,
The Audioshark.org Team

Pass XP22 Preamp Review

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •