Congratulations to Pass Labs Pass Laboratories XP-22: $9975 The two-box, solid state, line-level Pass XP-22 provides both balanced (XLR) and single-ended (RCA) inputs and outputs, plus a vestigial tape loop. The XP-22's volume controlan Avago-sourced encoder that JCA describes as having "good bearings and a nice feel"is the same one used in Pass's upmarket XP-30, and balance is adjustable via a chunky metal handset that "duplicates all front-panel controls, and then some." JCA heard "impressive" bass impact, "pinpoint" imaging within a large soundstage (albeit one that shrank a little at lower volumes), and sound that "seemed a tad more open" than with his reference preamp. In measuring the XP-22, JA found "superb" channel separation, "extremely low noise," an "excellent" (85.35dB) audio band S/N ratio, and "extremely low" THD+N: "superb, measured performance." (Vol.42 No.6 WWW) Pass Labs XP-32: $18,375 Replacing the well-regarded XP-30, the three-box XP-32 looks almost identical. To minimize noise, each channel's audio circuitry is housed in a separate chassis with the "dirty" control and power-supply circuitry in a third. Internal improvements include new transformers and DC-coupling of the balanced and single-ended inputs. The output stage runs a higher class-A bias with lower output impedance than the XP-30, and the volume control now operates in 0.5dB steps rather than the earlier preamp's 1dB steps. JA was enthralled by the XP-32's transparency, hearing small details in his own recordings that he had not been fully aware of before. "A great preamplifier will allow through so much information, so much of the music, that the shortcomings of lesser speakers and amplifiers can be forgotten. The Pass Labs XP-32 satisfies that definition," he concluded. In a follow-up, JCA compared the XP-32 with the two-chassis XP-22. He was impressed with what he heard: "The XP-32 was slightly more explicit than the XP-22. It was immediately noticeable on any music I played," he wrote, concluding that he "thought the XP-22 preamplifier let through all the music or all that mattered, but I guess it didn't, because the XP-32 lets through just a little bit more." (Vol.44 No.3, Vol.45 Nos.4 6 WWW)Pass Labs is on demo available at Absolute Phase, Bangalore (Exclusive India DIstributor)
