XP-22 review

[PeterA]

I have had the XP22 in my system now for three weeks. In the past I have owned the Aleph P, the X-1, and the XP20. I also auditioned the XP30 and XS Pre in my system. I directly compared the XP20 to the XP22 during this three week period. I subjected two friends to blind A/B/X tests and did numerous sighted A/B tests on myself as well as longer term listening evaluations. To directly compare the two preamps I used Burley Wire cables and for longer term listening I used a re-calibrated Transparent Ref XL cable on the XP22.

At first, I thought the differences were fairly subtle. I don't know if it was the slightly lower resolution Burley Wire IC or that the XP22 needed a long break in period, but for whatever reason, I thought the differences were minor. I was able to consistently identify differences at the beginning but over time, these seemed to become more pronounced. At about the ten day mark, I began to really appreciate the lower noise floor, higher resolution and better bass articulation of the XP22. I also began to notice that there is a greater degree of palpability and sense of space and expansion with the XP22. Finally, dynamics and low level detail are better and the overall impression is one of a more natural presentation and completeness.

I have decided to trade in the XP20 for the new XP22. The volume control now goes from 1-99. The umbilical cord is much more robust. The casework is slightly different on the side and bottom edges of the front face plate. If one already owns the XP20, it will depend on how highly one values these differences relative to the cost to upgrade. If one does not already own the XP20, I would say that the XP22 is an incredible value and an extremely high performing preamp. For under $10K, it is a relative bargain. It is much better than all previous Pass preamps that I have owned and I actually prefer it to the XP30, which had an overall warmer voicing. The XP22 has a neutral tonal balance like the XP20 and XS Pre. There is clear evidence of trickle down technology from the XS Pre.

Here are some photos of the XP20 and XP22 on my rack with the rear panels facing outward for easy/rapid cable swapping. The XP25 phono is on the floor.

 

[Mike]

Congrats! Time to update your signature.

Will we see an XP-27 next?

Mike

 

[PeterA]

Thank you Mike. Yes, the XP-27 is on the list next. Perhaps late Spring. One thing at a time. Signature update to follow.

Congrats! Time to update your signature.

Will we see an XP-27 next?

Mike

 

[BlueFox]

Peter, great review. You are much better with words than me, and I agree with your conclusion. The XP-22 is a keeper.

Mine has been on for three days, but I am loving it. I don’t do the extensive testing that you do. Rather, I have a very simple test. Does it make me smile? Am I hearing better/more detail than before?

So far, the answer is yes. I am now playing my Patricia Barber playlist. She seems to have some of the best sounding CDs I own. There just seems to be more texture to her songs with this preamp. One song just finished yet the decay of a cymbal stayed in the air. I couldn’t believe I was hearing something so faint. This is during the noisey daytime versus late at night during quiet time.

Anyway, I guess I need to keep testing this preamp. Happy New Year.

 

[BlueFox]

One point to add is I just cannot conceive how much better the XS pre at $40K must be to justify another $30K in the price. Hope I win the lottery so I can find out.

 

[PeterA]

Here is a longer and more detailed review of my XP-22:

I have had the Pass Labs XP-22 preamplifier in my system now for three weeks. In the past I have owned the Pass Aleph P, the X-1, and the XP-20. I also auditioned the XP-30 and XS Pre in my system. I directly compared the XP-20 to the XP-22 during this three week period. I subjected two friends to blind A/B/X tests and did numerous sighted A/B tests on myself as well as longer term listening evaluations. To directly compare the two preamps I used Burley Wire cables and for longer term listening I used my Transparent Audio REF XL interconnects which I sent back to Transparent for re-calibration to match the lower output impedance of the XP22.


At first, I thought the differences between the the XP20 and XP22 were fairly subtle. I don't know if it was the slightly lower resolution Burley Wire IC or that the XP22 needed a long break in period, but for whatever reason, I thought the differences were minor. I was able to consistently identify differences at the beginning but over time, these differences seemed to become more pronounced or at least once identified, they became easier to hear. At about the ten day mark, I began to really appreciate the improvements I heard with the XP-22.


I suspect that Pass Labs trickled down some of what they learned when they developed their statement preamplifier, the XS Pre. I have read about better shielding, a quieter volume control, higher Class A bias, a quieter transformer and one less gain stage. Compared to the XP-20, the XP-22 has a lower noise floor, higher resolution and better bass articulation. I also began to notice that there is a greater degree of palpability and sense of space with the XP22. Images are more dimensional and solid, and there is a richer, more full tonal palette. Finally, dynamics and low level detail are better. The overall impression is one of a more natural presentation which sounds more complete and correct.


Here are some of the LPs I listened to for the evaluation:


Vivaldi, The Four Seasons, Academy of St. Martin-in-the-Fields, Argo
Johnny Hartman, Once in Every Life, Beehive
Bach, Parita Nr. 2 Chaconne, Gidon Kremer, Philips
Cantate Domino, Proprius
Acoustic Research Demonstration Record, Ensayo
Ella and Louis, Verve, 45RPM
Ray Brown & Laurindo Almeida, Moonlight Serenade, Direct to Disk Jeton, original
Muddy Waters, Folk Singer, Chess, 45 RPM
Beethoven “Appassionata” Kamiya, Direct to Disk, 45 RPM, RCA
Janaki String Trio, Debut, Yarlung, 45 RPM
Sonny Rollins, Way out West, Analogue Productions
The Sheffield Drum Record, Jim Keltner, Direct to Disk
Art Pepper + Eleven, Modern Jazz Classics, Contemporary


I identified four specific areas of improvement: Noise floor, Bass, Tone, Dynamics.


Noise. The XP-22 is definitely quieter. I hear more details and more information. Everything sounds cleaner. There is better contrast between notes, more sense of space. The performers are more palpable and present. The recording venue is more defined and apparent. Musical lines are better separated and distinguishable in complex music. This was particularly evident in the Vivaldi, the Cantate Domino, and Stravinsky “March Royale” on the AR demo LP.


Bass. Ray Brown’s bass was both more articulate and extended. It was more full and had better body. Keltner’s kick drums were more taught, deeper, more impactful, and had loner resonating trails. Kamiya’s left hand was less garbled, and individual notes were more solid and clean. They served as a better foundation for what her right hand was playing. Bach’s organ on the AR demo disk was deeper, airier, bigger. It was less constrained and swelled better into the listening room.


Tone. Vocals had more meaning. On “April in Paris”, Elle and Louis sounded more emotional. There was more subtle inflection in their voices, more “breathiness”, and sibilance was cleaner. Hartman’s baritone had more shading. Kremer’s violin had a richer tonal palette. The shifts with the bow were cleaner, quicker and more colorful. The distinction and balance between string tone and the wooden violin body was both more clear and more natural. Rollin’s saxophone was just richer sounding, from the quiet air leaving the throat to colorful and nuanced brass tone.


Dynamics. On dynamic music like Art Pepper and the Sheffield Drum LP, the horns and drum strikes were more startling, more explosive, and better focused. Sounds burst out of stillness more convincingly. Surprisingly, there was more ‘jump factor’, even on music I know well. Peaks were less bold or blunt, but more piercing and precise. The entire envelope between loud and soft seemed expanded.


The three recordings which seemed to benefit the most from all of these qualities were the Janaki String Trio, Beethoven’s Appassionata, and the Sheffield Drum solo. With the XP-20, these sounded wonderful for years in my system, but I was simply not fully aware of the range of sounds and energy captured in these three recordings. The XP-22’s low noise floor brought out such a range of dynamics, tonal color and musical expression, that these familiar pieces became more convincing and believable and introduced a new sense of beauty and meaning. The XP-22 seems to reveal more of what is on the recording, and with the best recordings, that increased information conveys a better, more complete musical message. My system is refreshed and more emotionally involving now.


I have decided to trade in the XP-20 for the new XP-22. The volume control now goes from 1-99. The umbilical cord is much more robust and apparently better shielded. The casework is slightly different on the side and bottom edges of the front face plate. If one already owns the XP20, deciding whether or not to upgrade will depend on how highly one values these differences relative to the cost to upgrade. If one does not already own the XP-20, I would say that the XP-22 is an incredible value and an extremely high performing preamp. For under $10K, it is a relative bargain, especially considering that it is so much less expensive than the flagship XS Preamp. It is much better than all previous Pass preamps that I have owned and I actually prefer it to the XP30, which had an overall warmer voicing, though it too has a very low noise floor and great resolution. The XP-22 has a neutral tonal balance like the XP-20 and XS Pre. There is clear evidence of trickle down technology from the XS Pre.


I have spent the last year or two working diligently to make steady, but often subtle, improvements to my system without spending any money. Most of these involved minor speaker placement shifts, better cleaning of cable connections, removing reflective materials from the listening room, and better fine tuning my cartridge and arm. Upgrading to the XP-22 will be the first major equipment change that I have made in about four years. In current high end audio terms, the upgrade is fairly inexpensive. However, the sonic improvement is significant. It is a good start to the new year.

 

[BlueFox]

Peter, excellent review. Nothing for me to add since you nailed it. I was a little apprehensive that the XP-22 would just be the equal of an XP-20 using the Revelation Audio umbilical, but it far surpasses it. I too am amazed at the improved bass definition, and the lower noise floor. I must have spent between $20K to $30K on power conditioners, power cables, and component cables to eliminate as much noise as possible, and give me the best signal possible. The XP-22 is now letting me hear the results of that expenditure.

One point I especially like is the new, improved, longer, umbilical. This allowed me to put the power supply on the floor under the rack. I think this also helped reduce noise in the overall system.


Happy New Year everyone.