Couple Pass Xs reviews

Uh oh....wait until Joe reads these:

"For my specific taste and biases, in my specific listening room, and with these specific components, the Pass Labs Xs Preamp and Xs 300 Monoblock Amplifiers have provided the finest reproduction of music that I have experienced to date."

I absolutely love mine and since buying them a little over a month ago, not one, but two of my friends have ordered the XS amps and one ordered the XS preamp too.

How do they sound? Sweet, musical, effortless, dynamic and very SET like - but even better. Perfect.

Thanks for sharing Jock.

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Interesting, Ian. What differences did you hear that made you prefer the XP-30?
 
madfloyd said:
I just sent back the XS preamp because I prefer my XP-30.
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I loved my XP-30 while I had it. It is a tremendously smooth, detailed and quiet preamp, not to mention short interconnects to the monoblocks. Also curious why you preferred it to the XS-Pre.

Ken
 
Well it wasn't because the XS wasn't 'better'. It was because there was a tonal difference between the two units where the XP-30 is much fuller in the midrange than any other Pass preamp including the XS. I'm guessing that the XP-30 is the anomaly here but it just works better in my system. The XS made voices sound a little thin and wispy, emphasizing sibilence where the XP-30 had them sound 'full'.

But man I tell you, the build quality, aesthetics and ergnomics (big display!) of the XS was perfect. I hated have to send it back and go back to the 3 piece, flimsy XP-30 where I have to squint to read the volume.
 
madfloyd said:
Well it wasn't because the XS wasn't 'better'. It was because there was a tonal difference between the two units where the XP-30 is much fuller in the midrange than any other Pass preamp including the XS. I'm guessing that the XP-30 is the anomaly here but it just works better in my system. The XS made voices sound a little thin and wispy, emphasizing sibilence where the XP-30 had them sound 'full'.

But man I tell you, the build quality, aesthetics and ergnomics (big display!) of the XS was perfect. I hated have to send it back and go back to the 3 piece, flimsy XP-30 where I have to squint to read the volume.
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Thanks Madfloyd for that explanation. I also found the XP-30 to have a very full and liquid midrange. I personally felt the XP-30 is built like a tank but I haven't seen the XS-Pre close up to compare build quality or sound quality.

Best,
Ken
 
I hope Michael Kim can weight in here. He had the XP30 and XS longer than anyone. He told me the XS was quite a bit better.


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Mike said:
I hope Michael Kim can weight in here. He had the XP30 and XS longer than anyone. He told me the XS was quite a bit better.


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Christian/Rockitman has had both I believe also.
 
I wonder how many hours were on the XS pre that Ian was demoing?
 
I liked and respected the XP-30 when I had it but craved more "warmth" and sweetness.
 
joeinid said:
I liked and respected the XP-30 when I had it but craved more "warmth" and sweetness.
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My thoughts exactly Joe , I had the same perception when the XP-30 was in my system. I also had an extended time with the XP-25 phono stage and noted many of the same characteristics - not neutral but almost coldly clinical - to the extent that I really questioned whether Pass was really just an amp company with slightly above-average preamps.

Shodhan
 
Thanks Shodhan,

I had two XP-30's. My first was probably 3 years ago and my memory of it was better than reality. I had to have another one. After living with if for a while, I missed the slight sweetness, layering and utterly grainless CJ GAT. So the GAT went back in and I could not be happier. I was looking for an all solid state solution that I could be happy with and not worry tube-wise. I guess I am a tube fan at heart.

Bobolaclune said:
My thoughts exactly Joe , I had the same perception when the XP-30 was in my system. I also had an extended time with the XP-25 phono stage and noted many of the same characteristics - not neutral but almost coldly clinical - to the extent that I really questioned whether Pass was really just an amp company with slightly above-average preamps.

Shodhan
Click to expand...
 
Although I've never owned the XP30, I have heard it in systems. I wouldn't say the XS is warm either, but it is very clean sounding, with dead quiet backgrounds and a hint of sweetness (compared to my other preamps). Its a perfect compliment to the XS amps. If you read the reviews above, you will know that if you're shopping in this price range, the XS combo is a must audition.

With the XS150's and the XS preamp, I don't crave for any change in sonic characteristics.


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