Mac and Pass
 

Glad to see Pass Labs on the forum I have just ordered a Pass Labs XP-20 to try with my Mac MC601's, will let everyone know how this turns out. Hopefully this will give me a reference ss pre as I have a C220 this will allow me to switch out as I feel the need. I had a Pass INT 150 and it was a very good product. One thing about Pass Labs at least with the 150 it does require at least a week before it comes into song.

http://www.moremusic.nl/pass_labs/XP-20_front.jpg

Keep us posted!

Hi Jim

I think the xp-20 will go well with the Mac 601's. The Pass amps are a little warm and dark like the Mac's.:thumbsup:

I have can xp-20 in my system ATM with the x350.5

shane,
are you liking solid-state?
or are you gonna back to valves?

james

If UPS shows up should have the xp-20 tomorrow, will post the results within a week or so. I think the MC601 and the pass is a good match, the Pass INT150 I had was very netural or light sounding, the 601's seem to be warmer more organic so hope the combination will give good results.

Seems like pass interest is really heating up.

Congrats Jim! So happy for you! It should be a winning combination for sure!! Keep us posted.

It's always been there - just not a lot of chit chat about it here. Over at the other forums, their gear is quite popular. In Europe, Pass is very popular. I've heard their European sales are so hot, their sales numbers are flying.

Just google Nelson Pass. Have a look at his picture. Who doesn't love a hippy? :)

Jim,

The XP20 plus the MC601's will be an excellent match. I am happy for you. Please let us know as soon as the combo comes together. Remember the XP20 need 3-4 days at a minimum and up to a week to sound it best. Enjoy :music:

Jim, I had a similar setup, XP 10 with MC 501's, they paired well together.
I think you will love the sound,congrats !!!!

Mark

Good question. Pass ss is v good. Tubes have not gone anywhere.

Still working through what is best for my room and tastes.

Ok time for my comments on the Pass XP-20 preamp used with the following equipment
McIntosh MC601 amplifiers (pair), Benchmark DAC, OPPO 95 DVD, and Magnepan 1.7 speakers. Analysis plus speaker cables, Kimber Hero IC to MC601, Burley wire IC from OPPO to pre, home built interconnect Benchmark to pre, all balanced cables. Previous pre amp McIntosh C220 with GL tubes. So when it comes to comparisons it will be with respect to the Mac C220, which is a little unfair $4k vs $8k. First the XP has better extension from low end to high, but does not sound light weight in the midrange and has improved soundstage and depth. The main difference between the Pass and the Mac is the Pass has a lot more detail without being harsh which is important to my advanced age ears (dialog on movies are clearer). The XP-20 and the MC601 is good match for the Magnepan 1.7 which can be a little aggressive in what I would call mid to upper mid range (700hz to 3khz) the overall sound I would call organic if that makes sense. Now having said all this, the Mac C220 has the ability to make you do a double take say on acoustic guitar or cello. All in all I am very pleased with the Pass and highly recommend it, a very good match for my system.
Now I wonder what the McIntosh C2300 would sound like, or Wireworld cables ? Does this madness ever end.

So Jim,

Is the XP-20 staying? Were you trying it to get a feel for it? I see it's not in your sig. You need to give the XP-20 a good week or two of running in to break it in. Thank you for the update.

Glad you're liking the Pass Jim! Are you using the stock Power Cords? Nice setup you have there!

Yes the Pass is staying, using stock power cables.

I've had great luck with the Wireworld cables on my new Pass amps - for what it's worth.

:banana:

C2300 and pass amp is a good combo also.

Just recieved 1.5m Wire World silver eclipse purchased from Ivan the xlr connectors are of very good quailty and the wire itself is heaver than I would have expected (weight wise) very nicely finished. I really like the way they are marked, one cable connector has red logo while the other one has a blue logo, makes it nice for right/left Id when your head is buried in the cabinet. will replace the Kimber hero from Pass XP20 to
Mc601's first to break in and get a sonic signature. Then will try on Benchmark to xp20.
Will post results later. Any suggestions as to which connection will give biggest bang for the buck, i.e. pre to amp or dac to pre.

I think most will say that the biggest bang will be between source and pre-amp. Great to see another XP-20 owner on the forum:thumbsup:

Wire World silver Eclipse 6 vs. Kimber hero xlr interconnect cables. I let the equipment play for 1.5 hours before starting the listening session which includes the following:
Joni Mitchell – Both sides now, Greg Brown - Just by myself, Karen Carpenter - Raining days and Mondays, Don Williams – Good old boys like me, Mozart concertos for violin no. 3, Alison Krauss – the boy who wouldn’t hoe corn, Jeff Buckley – Hallelujah, Mary Chapin Carpenter – Not too much to ask.
Changed cables from Kimber to WW silver both cables are 1.5m in length. Replayed above songs with the following general comments: For some reason everything was louder (not sure I understand this) but it may have to do with the increase in frequency extension from bass to treble. The one area I was really surprised at was the bass, more of it and better definition and everything was clearer, and at the same time smoother sounding. The WW will not make a poor recoding sound good it presents it warts and all. I do believe cables make a difference and this was made clear to me a long time ago in the 1970’s when I replaced some zip cord with Kimber speaker cable and my wife walked by and said what did you do to the speakers. Now I will let them cook for a couple hundred hours and see if the signature changes. Overall very pleased at this time, this may be the most cost effective change in system resolution that I have every paid for.