2. amps-preamps
  3. 159538-150309

What tube pre-amps pair well with Pass amps?

Does anyone have experience with this?  I'm running Focal Sopra No. 2s and I understand the Focal's pair nicely with Pass amps.  Any tube pre-amps you'd recommend for consideration? I like the classical rock, but am gravitating more to jazz, classical and vocals. I just want to try something new.  Thanks.
billtro
cal3713's avatar
cal3713
1,421 posts
 
@keithr Pass labs most certainly does build active pres: https://www.passlabs.com/product_tags/line-preamps/

The xp20 is capable of 10db of gain.

And technically Kent English is primarily in charge of designing the company's award winning preamps.
mesch
3,394 posts
 
+1 dgarretson I would use a balanced pre with one of Pass Labs balanced amps. The XA25 is single ended. 
1markr
592 posts
 
@mesch

I got these details from Aric: the upgraded "Special" has: "Miflex PIO capacitors, all film cap power supply, heavy choke filtering, damper plates for the 6SN7s and features the Vishay resistors as well, but it has the standard iron-core transformers and ALPS remote volume control."
mesch
3,394 posts
 
@billtro please excuse my short sidestep to your thread. Wish you the best in your search. 
Thanks 1markr! One day I may talk to Aric regarding upgrade. Love my Special as designed. 
One needs to know what one wants to achieve prior to throwing resources into upgrades. 
gavman's avatar
gavman
133 posts
 
Boulder power amps and Focal speakers are a match made in heaven.
I use a Wavac pre amp with my 2060 but also looked closely at VAC pre amps.
Sonically the Wavac - Boulder combo is spectacular, but on paper there are better matched preamps for the Boulder
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