Anyone auditioned Pass Labs XP-30 preamp?

Mdowns, I also went from the X1 to the XP10 and got it from Mark too, and yes, what a great upgrade! So much better bottom end, better volume flexibility, better remote, better gain structure, and great at low levels. Warmer sound too and more musical. I bet Mark said the XP30 was great, for 16K it better be! To Rockitman, my read on the owners manual for the XP30 (now posted on the Pass Labs site)is that they really did make some big advances on the circuitry and power supplies that would lead me to believe that it does offer significant advances in SQ, but I would think you'd need a very high level system to enjoy those differences. And a bunch more cash. I'd sure love to hear it.

I'd like to hear from someone who has taken RENO HiFi's offer for a favorable trade-in exchanging the XP-20 for the XP-30. But I think it's still a bit early as this new pre was just released.

I have read that the old X0.2 sounded better than the old X1. I think this is simply the completed XP line replacing the X line of pre amps.

It does take up a lot of rack space, especially if one adds the two box XP-25 phono.

Wait until the new line of amps hits the market.

My understanding from Pass is that the margin of improvement from XP -20 to XP-30 is about the same as XP-10 to XP-20. I have not compared the xp10 to the xp20 so I don't have any reference.

I did compare the Ayre kxr and the Pass xp10 in my system and found the kxr to be much better and it should at x3.5 cost of the xp10. The kxr sounded very natural and easy to listen in my system.

According to people that have compared the xp20 to the kxr, the xp20 comes close but the kxr is still better. Can the xp30 match or exceed the kxr?
I am looking to get either a kxr or an xp30 in few months.

So is anyone using an XP-30 now ? Impressions ? I'm getting the itch to upgrade my ML 380S.

I just ran across this thread and thought my past and recent experiences with Pass Labs gear might be of some help.

My experience is deep, rather than broad, as I have not had the opportunity to compare Pass products to other gear. However, over the past 7 years I’ve rolled a number of Pass Labs components through my system (mainly used and factory refurbished): X250, X250.5, X350.5, XA160.5, X-1, XP-20, Xono, and XP15. My speakers throughout the past 10 years have been the Martin Logan Odysseys.

As luck would have it, last summer I had the occasion to make a business trip to Nevada. I took advantage of the situation and spent an afternoon with Mark Sammut of Reno Hi-Fi, who graciously treated me to a comparison of various combinations of the X350.5, XA100.5, XA160.5, XA200.5, XP20, XP30, and XP25. Mark was running the Pass SR-2 speakers.

To my ears, anyway, Nelson and Wayne have been on a pretty consistent development trajectory. As you advance from the X-1 to the XP30, I would characterize the improvements as providing greater resolution (I think the same is also more or less true of the move from the X to X.5 class AB amps). By “resolution,” what I hear in moving up the Pass preamp food chain is a consistent increase in the “black quietness” from which the music emerges, an increasing ability to discern separate instruments and voices, better control of bass, and a wider and deeper soundstage. BUT, the magnitude of the differences I heard between these preamps depended on the power amp. The differences are more obvious (and breathtaking) as you move into the larger XA class A amps. IMHO, if you are running one of their class AB X.5 amps (or equivalent) the XP20 will be plenty of preamp. Yes, you will be able to hear improvements in the XP30, but put the extra $$ towards one of the XA power amp monoblock designs, instead.

I would characterize the improvements I hear in moving from the X350.5, to the XA100.5 and up the food chain to the XA200.5 amps as providing increasing amounts of body and 3 dimensionality to the instruments. To use a visual analogy, I would describe the X350.5 amp as providing a crystal-clear, “hi-definition” image. Using better and better preamps in the Pass lineup brings higher and higher definition, but turning up the volume simply makes that hi-def image brighter and brighter, and it remains, in essence, a 2 dimensional image. The XA amps take that hi-def image and turn the pinpoint voices and instruments into individual 3-D holograms of the real thing. The bigger the XA amp, the more palpable the holograms. With these amps, turning up the volume is like moving your seat in a concert hall closer to the stage. The soundstage reaches out and envelops you.

In my case, I felt that my system was better served by keeping my XP20, busting my budget, and trading in my X350.5 for a pair of used XA160.5's. (The combination of the XP25, XP30, and XA200.5 I heard at Marks' was outrageous - both in sound and $$, unfortunately).

If you want to read more, I have found two really good sources. The first is Nelson Pass, himself. Read his article “Audio, Distortion, and Feedback” on the Pass Labs website. In it, he discusses the various types of circuit design, distortion and the use of negative feedback. I found his observations to translate to what I heard in their X.5 and XA.5 amps. There are also interesting reviews of the XP20 and XP phono preamps on the hometheaterhifi.com website (the link can be found on the Pass website under “Reviews.”

Hope this helps.