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Pass Labs Xono vs Audio Research Ref 2

I have Pass and ARC gear in my system. Xono phonostage with my VPI reference scoutmaster/Dynavector XV1S cart and X600.5 monoblocks to drive my Magnepan 20.1 speakers. I have an ARC Ref 8 CD player and Ref 3 preamp. Should I trade in my Xono to get the ARC Ref 2 phonostage or keep what I have? I like the clean presentation of the Xono but sometimes feel I miss out on the ARC bloom. Will I lose the bass tightness? Will it be noisier since it is tube (my guess is not really given how quiet the Ref 3 and Ref 8 are)? Any thoughts?
powerdoctor
blue_starfish
16 posts
 
I had an Xono as my phono feeding an ARC Ref 3 pre. When the time came to upgrade, I evaluated the Ref 2 phono. And yes it is superior to the Xono in every area except for the gain. The Ref 2 could not support very low output carts.

Subsequently, I went to an ASR Basis Exclusive, and it too beat the Xono in every department and was dead quiet with a refined sound and healthy gain.

After the ASR, I am now on a Whest Ref MC V. Listen to the Whest range. Especially MC V and RDT SE. Way better than ASR, with superior resolution, dynamics and speed.

If your heart is set on ARC, go for it! You wont go wrong. But look at ASR and Whest too as worthy contenders too.
jtimothya
551 posts
 
Blue_starfish - with gain for the Xono topping out at 76db (balanced) and 74dB (balanced) for the Ref Phono 2, which low output cartridges did you find the Xono could drive that the RP2 could not?
 
dctom
82 posts
 
Hi
I was thinking about the ARC ref2 phono and the whest RDTse, heard the whest RDT and it was very good. have not listened to the ARC wondered if you had the chance to compare. Interested as whest costs quite a bit less. I have been using BAT VKP10se.
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