Anyone auditioned Pass Labs XP-30 preamp?

I just listened to the "priceless" Pass Labs 40th Anniversary Sony Vfet amplifiers(only six in the world!) at the NY Audio Show. They were being driven by the XP20 which surprised me so I asked the Sony rep why they didn't opt for the XP30 in this cost no limit configuration? He said simply that they had initially used the 30 but found that the XP20 just sounded better and allowed the Vfet amps to really produce the magic that Nelson Pass knew that their output devices were capable of... If that's not a testimonial for the XP20, I don't know what is!?

That is a very interesting comment. Love it! I've got the XP-20 and can't yet afford to buy the XP-30. What was in the rest of that system in NY?

The system consisted of the Sony flagship AR1 speakers, a Sony hi res streaming audio player, a top of the line VPI turntable , the Pass Labs vfet mono blocks and XP20 pre strung together with Kimber Kable. Simple yet delicious sounding. Definitely one of the top three systems at the show hands down! I wouldn't be so quick to rush into an XP30 based on what I heard the XP20 doing...

Hi all,

I am using bi-amping configuration. Do you think the "gain-control" of XP-30 will degrade the sound quality of "slave" amp.? Why or Why not?

Is the "gain-control" of XP-30 only to decrease the amp's gain , not to increase?

thank you!

The folks at Pass are great and very responsive to questions. They would be your best source for that info, I would think.

BTW, I did not like the volume being set to zero when returning from theatre bypass so they made a special NXP controller for me so it now sets the volume at 50. How is that for customer service!