Which preamp for a pass labs?


I bought a Pass Labs xa 30.5 and now I have to choose between a Pass Labs XP 10 preamp or an Audio Research ls 25 MK2. Which one would you choose? Which balanced cables do you recommend to connect pre and final?
Thank you
128x128mizioa
I am in the 'Tubes Somewhere in the system" camp.  Pass SS power amp and a tube pre is a sonic match made in heaven.  (I run an Ayon Eris into an X150.8).  ARC, Cary, Ayon and I am sure quite a few others.  Uber-tip:  A Pre with 6H30 tubes is liquid gold.
Cables:  Go for something cheap and cheerful. 
My OPINION....  Even if electronics are fully balanced from end-to-end, it doesn't matter.  The "balanced" effect is all myth and hype.  Noise is NOT appreciably reduced since it is in the system REGARDLESS of the design of the interconnects.  It is just there.  Shielding is the only way to help reduce noice, but it will not STOP noise.  So the bottom line is balanced is a complete myth and waste of money.  Better to spend money on good single-ended components with top performance rather than wasting it on balanced components.


My OPINION....  Even if electronics are fully balanced from end-to-end,
it doesn't matter.
Is this your scientific OPINION or from PERSONAL experience?
Because EVERY time I moved from single ended to balanced connection on equipment that has both, the sound improved in a number of ways.
My OPINION.... Even if electronics are fully balanced from end-to-end, it doesn't matter. The "balanced" effect is all myth and hype. Noise is NOT appreciably reduced since it is in the system REGARDLESS of the design of the interconnects. It is just there. Shielding is the only way to help reduce noice, but it will not STOP noise. So the bottom line is balanced is a complete myth and waste of money. Better to spend money on good single-ended components with top performance rather than wasting it on balanced components.
Opinion yes, fact- no.
Fact: a differential gain stage has up to 6db less noise than its single-ended counterpart. If you have more than one stage of gain, how many db less noise is possible then?
Fact: a differential gain stage has a spec called Common Mode Rejection Ratio (CMRR); if there is a noise common to both the inverted and non-inverted inputs, a differential amplifier with a high CMRR value will be shown to have far less of the noise signal (down by the value of the CMRR) while a single ended circuit will not. Our input circuits tend to be in the high 90s to low 100s in this regard.

Historically, the balanced line system is what made long distance telephone possible. It also ushered in the era of high fidelity, as for the first time the recording gear could be remote (not within 10 feet) from the performance being recording, without degradation. All of music is recorded with balanced line; its not hype.
In the end I bought an Audio Research Ls 26. I've been listening to it for some days but it seems to me that the result is a music that is too soft and with little dynamics. In your opinion, with a solid-stage preamplifier, is it more suitable for greater liveliness and dynamics?
Thank you