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Upgrade from Pass Labs XP15 Phono

   I really like Pass Labs equipment, and have had my Pass Labs XP 15 for 8 years. I am thinking of an upgrade. My system consists of Rega P10 turn table, rotating a Hana Umami Blue and Soundsmith Zephyr. XP15, Decware Sarah and Audio Note ANJ speakers. I would like the ability to tweak my gain and impedance settings without pulling the preamp out of the cabinet. I listen to mostly old school jazz, and have a budget of under $10k. A Pass XP17 doesn’t seem like a huge upgrade, but maybe a used Pass Labs XP27. Manley Steelhead RC seems like an obvious choice, maybe bringing down the cost with a trade in. Allnic H5500 is another consideration. Also, maybe matching the Rega P10 with a Rega Aura for more symmetry. The other question would be Tubes vs SS with this system, and how they may effect the sound. Thoughts or recommendations ? Thanks, Mark. 

 

 

marktheshark
marktheshark's avatar
marktheshark OP
66 posts
 

jbuhl

I saw that, The PMG Signature Phono Preamplifier. It may be worth the wait. I have the PS Power Plant 12, and the BHK Pre. Both very nice pieces of kit. They offer good trade deals, maybe trade in the BHK. I am using my Decware amp a s pre now. 

marktheshark's avatar
marktheshark OP
66 posts
 
ghdprentice

 

I'm reading about the Zesto Andros right now

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ghdprentice
9,472 posts
 

👍

iamsportsdoc
5 posts
 

Hi Mark,

What were your impression about the Grimm pw1-phono?

I have a Zephyr MIMC.

THANKS

audphile1's avatar
audphile1
7,988 posts
 

@marktheshark Thought you were looking for a phono stage with adjustments on the front panel. Lab12 doesn’t seem to have that feature. 

Zesto looks cool. And the higher end models have XLR outputs. I was looking into it but it was more than I wanted to spend. Ended up with Whest Two.2. 
 

I wanted to chime in on the perception of Pass preamps. 
I have owned XP-12 and the dual chassis XP-22. Tremendous performance with XP-22. Compared it to ARC Ref 6 and the Ref was different but not better. If anything the XP-22 was more accurate. The Ref presented a bigger but a less realistic picture. Amps were X260.8 mono blocks.  
I never owned a Pass phono stage so I can’t provide any feedback. I feel most of the folks commenting negatively on Pass preamps had experience with their older series. But…Pass electronics do impart their own sound signature and that is they homogenize a presentation making everything sound equally good. It’s both an advantage and a downside. That’s been my experience. 

Back to phono stages…Audio Research PH9 looks to have front panel buttons for load and impedance changes. 

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