preamp to pair with pass xa30.5

We make two different tube preamps that have direct-coupled balanced outputs and can drive several Pass amps in parallel no worries.

My issue with TVCs is loading- which is a bit of a trick when a transformer is used as a volume control. The problem is that when a transformer is not loaded correctly, it can ring and/or the inter-winding capacitance acts as a coupling capacitor- causing ringing and non-linear frequency response.

If you have a fixed load like a power amp, and a fixed source like a CD player, its a bit of a trick to get the transformer to be loaded correctly at all volume control positions!

@almarg I assumed we are talking about balanced here since both the ARC and Pass products are balanced. In the case of the LS17 is unclear about whether balanced or single ended is specified for a minimum load impedance.

Good to know. ARC recommends no less than 30K at the input of the amp and that is what the Pass labs is.

I recommend something balanced.

The ARC is at its limit driving the Pass, on account of the input impedance of the Pass.