Pass Labs XP-15 arrived today

[Jerome W]

Originally Posted by Masterlu

I believe that is why AA is such a trusted source for info & reviews. We have no hidden agenda, no manufacturers to impress, no quotas to fill, no politics whatsoever.

We just call it like we hear it, ever so rare in todays day & time.

Exactly Ivan !
I personnaly favor AA's reviews much more than the press.

[f1 fan]

Originally Posted by Masterlu

I believe that is why AA is such a trusted source for info & reviews. We have no hidden agenda, no manufacturers to impress, no quotas to fill, no politics whatsoever.

We just call it like we hear it, ever so rare in todays day & time.

+1...

Dave

[jdandy]

I heard from Mark at Reno Hi Fi today. He offered a contact telephone number at Pass Labs, and said Pass Labs would try to help me find a solution to the noise issue I have been experiencing. My response back to him was the XP-15 is no longer in my sound system, and is boxed, sealed and ready to ship. His reply gave me instructions on returning the XP-15 for a prompt refund, and thanking me for giving them an opportunity to try and fill my need. This is how a good audio dealer should treat customers. Reno Hi Fi is honoring their 10 day in home trial period without any hidden issues. I will make final comments once my refund has been completed.

[Jerome W]

Originally Posted by jdandy

I heard from Mark at Reno Hi Fi today. He offered a contact telephone number at Pass Labs, and said Pass Labs would try to help me find a solution to the noise issue I have been experiencing. My response back to him was the XP-15 is no longer in my sound system, and is boxed, sealed and ready to ship. His reply gave me instructions on returning the XP-15 for a prompt refund, and thanking me for giving them an opportunity to try and fill my need. This is how a good audio dealer should treat customers. Reno Hi Fi is honoring their 10 day in home trial period without any hidden issues. I will make final comments once my refund has been completed.

That's good to know Dan ! to Reno HiFi. They don't look like "gamblers" !

[rockitman]

Reno Hi-Fi is a great dealer, although I haven't had a need to return anything I have purchased from them...XP-25, XA 100.5's.

[vintage_tube]

That 's a shame Dan -- I read this with interest as I too have been in the past on the phono pre roller coaster with no satisfaction & was hoping to read of a favorable report.

At this writing, I have reservations of a stand-a-lone phono pre out performing my C500T/C. I do have interest in an EAR -- but, I can't accept a silver face plate regardless of it's merits.

Reno Hi-Fi is a standup dealership & applaud their customer service.

Bob

[slowGEEZR]

Dan, I was sorry to read of the noise problem with the Pass phono amp. I bet it was a defective unit, as the specs show that it is 10db quieter than the Mcintosh. In any case, you were right to send it back since it was noisy. I'd be interested in reading if anyone else on AA has had that issue with their XP-15.

[jdandy]

Steve.......I am glad to see this thread get some light again. I have since moved my C2300 into my living room system where I am using the Ortofon 2M Black moving magnet phono cartridge. The C2300's moving magnet phono stage with the Telefunken 12AX7's installed is even quieter than the moving coil phono section with the same tubes, obviously because the gain stages don't have to work with the incredibly low moving coil voltage. Even the moving magnet phono section in the C2300 is exceptional to hear.

I now use a McIntosh C1000C/P solid state preamplifier in the studio system, operating the Ortofon Cadenza Black moving coil cartridge through that preamp's moving coil phono stage. This phono stage is truly outstanding. The noise floor is far lower than even the C2300 with the Telefunken tubes. With no signal I can raise the C1000C/P volume control to 65 without a hint of noise. This makes listening to music so much more enjoyable as sounds come from a far blacker background. Diminishing notes, like a piano key fading to silence, or a tap on a cymbal the rings into silence, the background remains velvet black. Since installing the C1000C/P preamplifier in the studio system I have had zero interest in any outboard phono stage preamplifier.

Finally, I should have updated this thread back in October of 2011 to let everyone know that Reno HiFi was quick to refund my money after they received the Pass Labs XP-15 back in their possession. There was no shenanigans what so ever. Their 10 day in-home audition was honored without any unpleasant issues. I was pleased with my experience with Reno HiFi and would not hesitate to do business with them in the future should I need their service. They are top notch.

[turntable]

I have an xp-15 at home to compare it against the xp-25.

It is not noisy in my system, it is very quiet.
It is quieter than my quiet tube phono stage and from memory also the c2300 ( with telefunken tubes) phono stage when I owned the c2300.

One thing it does share with its big brother xp-25 is being very sensitive to placement and hum from other components, especially ones with large transformers ( my cj GAT ), so careful placement is a must, otherwise you may get hum.

Cheers

[analog brother]

how far away does it ideally have to be from your transformers?
also, in the case of the 25, do you have to distance the power supply or the control unit?
or both?