Pass Labs XP-20 Volume Output Level


I recently purchased a XP-20 preamp. I have a question to other owner of this preamp about how loud your system is with the XP-20. My system is a Bryston 14b sst amp, Esoteric X-05 cd player, B & W 801 matrix II speakers and the XP-20 preamp. Preamp is connected to the amp via XLR connection. The Bryston amp has switches for a 6db boost with the XLR connection which is being used. My system does not play that loud. I am listening at full volume to my music and it is not that loud. We can have a normal conversation at full volume. I sent the preamp back to Pass Labs thinking that there must be something wrong with it. They checked it out and told me everything is normal. They really had no answer for my low volume output. With my old preamp which is the Bryston bp-25 I could not turn the volume past 65%. It would just be too loud to listen to beyoud that. It would not be possible to listen at full volume, the 14b is pushing 600 watts per channel. With the XP-20 at full volume output is about equal to 50% of the Bryston bp-25 output. Are any other owners having this problem? Any help would be appreciated.
benjie

Showing 1 response by timlub

Lower gain typically means lower noise floor, lower distortion. My Coda Preamp has adjustable gain, I leave it low unless absolutely necessary.