Does anyone here run the XP-30 with XA-100.5?

[Frank750]

Originally Posted by raidho

Hi Frank, wow amazing system the playback designs is a very very great source. I like the mps3 too (the "little" of the family...) the choice between the playback D. MPS3 and a Estoteric K03 is hard....expecialy why the Mps3 is ca. 1/3 minus expensive from the K03!!! @Ken: I have a Xp20. Yes, is a great preampli. sure the xp30 will be better but the more money necessary to have the Xp30 is really The right choice? I think that the Arc REF5se can make a great sound for much minus $$$. Omar

Omar, my comments below regarding the XP20 and XP30 are in no way a slam on the XP20. Sorry if it came off that way. Just my opinion when comparing the two. I actually have an XP20 sitting on a table in my room right now.

As far as the REF5SE with the XA100.5 goes, I preferred the XP30 with the XA100.5 over the REF Anniversary. My preference, others might have liked the ARC more. I did end up replacing the XP30 in my system with the ARC REF 10 though to pair with the XS300s. Again, my preference.

[PlanarSpeakerFan]

Originally Posted by Frank750

Sure Ken. You absolutely can't go wrong putting the XP 30 together with the XA100.5. I owned the ARC Ref Anniversary when I took the XP30 home to try. I was parting with ARC REF610s at the time and brought home the XA100.5 to sample along with the XP30. I actually sold the Ref Anniversary so I could pair up the XP30 with the XA100.5.

The XP30 controls bass as well as any preamp I've owned. Better in fact than the Ref Anniversary. The XP30 also has great bass definition and I think helps in the bass area with the XA100.5 as I don't think bass is the XA100s strongest suit. Certainly not bad though, don't misunderstand. The XP30 and XA100.5 together produce an extremely smooth, liquid and transparent sound that you can listen to for hours on end. There is no hardness or edginess that makes you want to stop listening. Soundstage is very good both in terms of height, width and depth. Image placement and definition are very good as well although not quite to the degree of excellence provided by the Ref Anniversary. No real slight there considering the difference in cost.

I've been through a few big Krells, Jeff Rowland Model 9s and a lot of ARC tubes. I really like Pass amps and I like the XP30, especially at its price. Between the XP20 and 30 I would pay the extra money all day long to take the XP30.

Great information Frank, thanks so much! I agree with you that the bass definition of the XA100.5, while good, is probably its weakest point. However, the warmth and tube-like sound of the midrange is probably its strongest feature. So it sounds like there is some excellent synergy with the strong bass control of the XP-30, while its transparency would probably not result in too much of a good thing, coupled with the tube-like warmth of the amp.

Wow, you've had some tremendously great components grace your listening room!

Ken

[raidho]

Omar, my comments below regarding the XP20 and XP30 are in no way a slam on the XP20. Sorry if it came off that way. Just my opinion when comparing the two. I actually have an XP20 sitting on a table in my room right now.

As far as the REF5SE with the XA100.5 goes, I preferred the XP30 with the XA100.5 over the REF Anniversary. My preference, others might have liked the ARC more. I did end up replacing the XP30 in my system with the ARC REF 10 though to pair with the XS300s. Again, my preference.

Hallo Frank750,
sorry I dont have any experience with te Xs150/300 amplifier.....
generally the pre and powerampli of the same brand are optimized to work together at the top....
but the synergies can give too "good surprise"...
I have a Xp20 with te x250.5 -> upgrade to xa100.5 in the next week. before I try the great Xp20 than I go see if make sense change the preampli....
maybe a Ref5se but is too possible go the the Xp30 as too try a Nagra!

Omar

[Bruce_B]

Running the XP30 and XA-100.5 in my mastering room. Don't have any desire to upgrade.

[PlanarSpeakerFan]

Well I finally decided to go for it and purchased the Pass XP-30 preamp last week. I'll give a full report once it's had some time to break in. A big thank you to Frank, Howard and Bruce for their valuable feedback on the XP-30 that helped make my purchasing decision easier. On a side note, I'm really glad that I bought a Salamander six shelf cabinet last year that can hold all these boxes!

Cheers,
Ken

[The Sandman]

Originally Posted by PlanarSpeakerFan

Well I finally decided to go for it and purchased the Pass XP-30 preamp last week. I'll give a full report once it's had some time to break in. A big thank you to Frank, Howard and Bruce for their valuable feedback on the XP-30 that helped make my purchasing decision easier. On a side note, I'm really glad that I bought a Salamander six shelf cabinet last year that can hold all these boxes!

Cheers,
Ken

Congratulations and enjoy your new arrival! There are lots of rave reviews of the XP-30, but I keep going back to John Atkinson's, who simply couldn't keep his mind on reviewing and kept talking about the music.

I know I love mine.

[PlanarSpeakerFan]

Originally Posted by The Sandman

Congratulations and enjoy your new arrival! There are lots of rave reviews of the XP-30, but I keep going back to John Atkinson's, who simply couldn't keep his mind on reviewing and kept talking about the music.

I know I love mine.

Thanks Howard! I also enjoyed the John Atkinson review. He really took a shine to the XP-30. When I was a kid, I always wanted a time machine, so I guess I've finally got one.

Best,
Ken

[cma29]

Originally Posted by PlanarSpeakerFan

Well I finally decided to go for it and purchased the Pass XP-30 preamp last week. I'll give a full report once it's had some time to break in. A big thank you to Frank, Howard and Bruce for their valuable feedback on the XP-30 that helped make my purchasing decision easier. On a side note, I'm really glad that I bought a Salamander six shelf cabinet last year that can hold all these boxes!

Cheers,
Ken

What a great system you've put together, Ken. First class all the way. I think you can change your profile from "aspiring audiophile" to "full-fledged audiophile."

[hkval]

Originally Posted by PlanarSpeakerFan

Thanks Howard! I also enjoyed the John Atkinson review. He really took a shine to the XP-30. When I was a kid, I always wanted a time machine, so I guess I've finally got one.

Best,
Ken

My XP-30 arrives on Thursday.

Best,
HK (the other Howard)

[jdandy]

Howard.......Good news. Your fabulous sound system deserves a top shelf preamplifier. You have assembled a real world class system.