Product Description
The new design of the Pass Labs XP-22 preamplifier uses double-shielded low noise toroidal transformers in external supply.
The new design uses double-shielded low noise toroidal transformers in an external supply connected via aviation-grade circular connectors using silver over oxygen-free copper. The power supply is dual mono with two transformers with lower radiated and mechanical noise. Noise is the most prominent part of THD+N at low levels, so by lowering noise we get better resolution and dynamics.
The gain circuitry continues to use our favorite transistors from Toshiba but has a larger, higher biased, output stage like the Xs Preamp, and includes auto bias.
The larger output stage makes longer, and multiple cable runs easier to drive and gives us the advantage of simplifying our single-ended output circuitry while increasing performance.
The volume control is a single stage instead of two stages and has more range; it is quieter and more accurate. This is the same volume control as used in the XP-30.
Overall this makes for a quieter, more neutral, musical, and versatile control center for your system.
The Pass Labs XP-22 preamplifier measures spectacularly well — but it really stands out sonically.
Pass Labs XP-22 Preamplifier and XP-27 Phono Preamplifier | REVIEW
By Marc Phillips
They’ve been here for a long time, this Pass Labs XP-22 preamplifier and matching XP-27 phono stage combo. Months, maybe even a year. They’ve watched other amps and preamps and integrated amps and phono stages come in and out of the system all summer long, and they waited quietly to do their job—recalibrating my ears back to a more neutral sound so I could figure out what to scribble down about the other review gear. We’re not talking about sherbet between the courses of a meal. We’re talking about returning home to where everything is right with the world before you venture back out into the great unknown for another adventure.
When I reviewed the Pass Labs XP-12 and XP-17 for The Occasional a couple of years ago, the next step down in the line from the XP-22 and XP-27, I really had to examine my thoughts about neutrality, of having components that simply got out of the way of everything. As I mentioned, it’s hard to write a review about nothing. As an audiophile who has always gravitated toward a colored sound—lush, warm and romantic is usually my goal—I started wondering if the secret to audio happiness was to go for a neutral sound in your amplification and allow your sources to supply the personality. Phono cartridges, I’m looking in your direction.
That’s what this Pass Labs gear does to me. It makes me reconsider the concept of sonic neutrality and how important and useful it is to me as a reviewer.
I did enjoy the XP-12 and XP-17 and recommended them highly, and I wound up holding onto that pair for a while, too. Then Bryan Stanton of Pass Labs had an idea. I’m paraphrasing here, but he said something like, “Since you enjoyed the XP-12 and XP-17 so much, I thought you should go up to the next step, the Pass Labs XP-22 preamplifier and the XP-27 phono stage. Maybe you could compare them and talk about the differences.” He mentioned that I would be the first person to compare the two sets, at least outside of Pass Labs personnel and maybe a few hardcore Pass Labs fans who buy one of everything they make.
The Pass Labs XP-22 preamplifier looks almost identical to the XP-12, but the front panel controls on the XP-27 phono preamplifier are far more elaborate and sophisticated than XP-17, which has no front panel controls at all. Another important and somewhat obvious difference is that the XP-22 and XP-27 are two-chassis preamps. All six boxes, however, are identical in size and finish. Having them all together on one equipment rack looks very serious, and I dig it.
Those extra two boxes on the XP-22 and XP-27, of course, are external power supplies. I’ve been reviewing so many products lately that have external power supplies, and in a few isolated cases I’ve been able to hear clear improvements in the lowering of the noise floor—specifically with the Merason Frerot DAC and the Innuos Zen Mini Mk. 3 music server. But the Pass Labs XP-12 and XP-17 were already remarkably quiet and neutral and invisible. Are the Pass XP-22 and XP-27 going to be more invisible?
Do I even know what that sounds like? Let’s find out.
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