Note that this is a discontinued product. You may want to visit the brand's page here to browse their newer products.
What reviewers think
Bloggers and YouTubers have tried this product—so we've summarized their strongest opinions below. Links to full reviews follow.
What are hifi reviews useful for? (1) Identifying products you should demo in person at a dealer. (2) Learning which products reviewers unanimously praise as the best they've heard (this means they probably are legitimately great). (3) Identifying a product's attributes that satisfy your idiosyncratic needs and tastes. Beyond that, we often discount what reviewers say because they heap praise on most products—and are often apprehensive about publishing strong criticism or comparisons between products. Further, they seldom have more than a few products on-hand, often relying on their memories to compare past products. Always listen for yourself.
All
Compactron Adjustable Phono Stage
reviews
Video Review
Manufacturer details
Features
Specifications
- MM gain: 52dB
- MC gain: 70, 76 or 80dB
- Output impedance: 1kOhm
- Chassis dimensions: 434x434x100mm (plus feet)
Description
The Compactron series is designed in a more compact manner than my usual electronics. This is achieved by integrating the power supply into each unit and the use of Compactron tubes. Yet each component is designed to a high sound quality standard using state of the art industrial quality components. Each unit of the Compactron series shares these attributes: All tubes are mounted horizontally inside the chassis which is 434*434mm and 100mm high (plus feet). Each unit has tube rectified and choke filtered high voltage. Like all of my electronics each Compactron unit is point to point hand wired.
Release Timeline
Manufacturer Site
Brand highlights
Taking a step back to look at reviewers' thoughts of the brand's entire lineup—not just this product—what stands out most is the following:
- VinylSavor specializes in creating fully customized, hand-wired audio amplifiers and preamplifiers, built to order according to individual customer specs.
- The brand is known for its use of directly heated triodes and silver-wound transformers in the signal path, aiming for a capacitor-less design and optimized signal transfer.
- They offer extensive tube rolling options within their designs, often supporting a wide range of tube types and offering a generous warranty on tubes supplied by them.
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300B Integrated Stereo Power Amplifier
- Positioning: The entry-level integrated amplifier offering basic stereo power in a compact design.
- Description: Comes with 5W per channel, headphone and speaker outputs, and multiple inputs, making it ideal for small rooms and those on a budget. Compared with higher models that feature interstage transformer coupling or dual chassis designs, it provides straightforward functionality without additional circuitry complexity.
300B Single Ended Stereo Power Amplifier
- Positioning: A mid-tier stereo amplifier designed to deliver slightly higher power and improved sonic clarity.
- Description: Offers 8W per channel with interstage transformer coupling and a 6SN7 driver tube, making it better suited for users needing more performance than the integrated version. Compared to the entry-level model's simplicity, its design brings enhanced power handling and sound reproduction without resorting to separate mono chassis modules.
300B Single Ended Mono Power Amplifiers (2 chassis)
- Positioning: A pair of mono amplifiers in a dual chassis setup aimed at providing focused, balanced sound.
- Description: Delivers 8W per channel using interstage transformer coupling and the 801A directly heated driver tube. Relative to the stereo units, their dual chassis design offers improved channel separation while keeping costs lower than more complex assemblies.
300B Single Ended Mono Power Amplifiers (4 chassis)
- Positioning: A refined pair of mono amplifiers featuring a four chassis design with external power supplies for enhanced stability.
- Description: Provides 8W per channel with the same high-quality tube and transformer coupling but adds improved thermal management for greater reliability in larger or critical listening settings. When compared with the 2 chassis model, the extra chassis and external supplies deliver better performance consistency.
300B Single Ended Mono Power Amplifiers - Silver
- Positioning: The flagship mono amplifier pair engineered with silver wound transformers for premium performance.
- Description: Uses silver wound transformer technology to reduce distortion and achieve tighter sound control. Compared to all other models in the lineup, its enhanced build quality and precise transformer design set it apart as the top choice.
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Avg. Product Price
$10,001-$20,000
Used For Sale
0
Available (Scroll Down)
Brand Popularity
551
of 900+
Badges
Top 50 Brand
Top 250 Brand
Products Listed
38
Founding Year
2008
Our take on the brand
VinylSavor stands out for its unique use of transformer coupling and transformer volume control in preamps, along with vacuum tube rectified high voltage supplies and low impedance circuits. The brand's equipment, personally built and tested by Thomas Mayer, is engineered with custom-made transformers and multiple chokes for excellent power supply performance, eliminating the need for expensive power conditioners or exotic cables.
Look inside the brand
Brand Page
Our interview with the brand
What are two key technological innovations or strong opinions that differ you from other brands?
Fully transformer coupled designs. The use of directly heated triodes not only as output tube but also as drive rand preamp tube. 600 Ohm LCR RIAA EQ in phono stages. Custom triodes for the Intrepid series (Thomas Mayer ONE, TWO and THREE). Possibility to customise each product to specific needs.
What's your approach to customer support?
I sell directly to end customers. I used to have very few resellers but due to the steep increase of production and material costs I exclusive do direct sales now to avoid price increases of the products which would otherwise be necessary. My goal is that every customer is happy and I am always available for any questions even years after the sale. When necessary I do repairs or assist in set up at the customer site.
What are your favorite tracks for showcasing the strength of your products?
I don’t have any favourite tracks, but use whatever I am in the mood for. Equipment should not be designed to work with specific music. People should use music they like for testing
What other products pair best with yours?
Admire Audio speakers.
From our interview with
Thomas Mayer
.
Brand Page
Used
VinylSavor
All of the Brand's Used Products
What if you spend more?
Weiss
Helios
21995
21995
/
5
Reviews
Weiss Engineering is a Swiss hifi brand known for its DACs that incorporate advanced DSP features like room correction and vinyl emulation, which are uncommon in other high-end DACs. Their products are praised for their precision and clarity in sound reproduction, with users noting their ability to make every track sound natural and balanced.
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Product Strengths
- Exceptional clarity, resolution, transparency, and natural sound, allowing the recording itself to provide resolution, depth, warmth, and dynamics
- High level of detail retrieval with excellent depth and layering of the soundstage
- Versatile, functioning as a top-class D/A converter, preamplifier, headphone amplifier, and streamer with Roon Ready and JPLAY certification
- Offers extensive digital signal processing (DSP) capabilities with algorithms used in professional audio products for mixing and mastering
- Impeccable build quality with a robust double chassis design featuring a stainless-steel frame and thick aluminum paneling
Product Considerations
- Lacks a conventional front-mounted headphone jack, requiring an adapter cable connected to the rear outputs for headphone use
- The many DSP features carry a learning curve and may not be straightforward for audiophiles without a recording studio background
- Some reviewers found the initial sonic presentation slightly aggressive or studio-like out of the box
- A larger display screen would be beneficial
- Some audiophiles seeking a particularly flavorful or additive listening experience might find it too neutral
Comparisons (according to reviewers)
- Weiss Helios excels in retrieval of detail, excellent bass management, and highly specific placement of images on the soundstage, while the Bricasti M21 Platinum Edition DAC had wider linear image presentation
- Helios offers an upgraded digital-to-analog stage and analog output section for enhanced clarity and involvement with the music, compared to the Weiss DAC502
- Helios is claimed to have many of the same qualities as the Berkeley Audio Design Alpha DAC Reference Series 3–great timbral awareness, high levels of clarity, excellent retrieval of detail, superb bass, and highly specific image placement
- Helios has superior detail retrieval and sense of depth, whereas the Weiss MEDUS Reference DAC is a bit more forgiving and a bit more generous in the bass
Takeaway: The Weiss Helios is a top-tier DAC that delivers exceptional sound quality with a high level of detail and clarity, while also offering a wide range of customizable features for both speaker and headphone setups. It is a great choice for audiophiles seeking a versatile and high-performing digital audio solution.
Video review
Our take on the brand
Weiss Engineering is a Swiss hifi brand known for its DACs that incorporate advanced DSP features like room correction and vinyl emulation, which are uncommon in other high-end DACs. Their products are praised for their precision and clarity in sound reproduction, with users noting their ability to make every track sound natural and balanced.
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Dan D'Agostino
Progression
25950
25950
/
4
Reviews
Dan D'Agostino is an ultra-premium hifi brand distinguished by its unique copper heat sinks with holes and distinctive circular green-lit VU meters that give their amplifiers a steampunk aesthetic. Their amplifiers feature proprietary "Super Rail" technology that maintains high voltage for front-end transistors, while their three-chassis Relentless Preamplifier uses 30-pin interlocking connectors to eliminate wiring anomalies.
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Product Strengths
- The D'Agostino Progression Preamplifier delivers warmth like tubes without the headaches
- The Progression Preamplifier has a lower audible noise floor
- The Progression Stereo amplifier provides a sense of authority, dynamism, energy, and slam
- The Progression offers exceptional life, dynamic detail, and apparent power
- The Progression Stereo Amplifier runs surprisingly cool due to its innovative heatsink design
- The Progression Preamplifier has a limited number of inputs, especially single-ended, which may be problematic for larger systems
Product Considerations
- The Progression Preamplifier has a limited number of inputs, especially single-ended, which may be problematic for larger systems
- The Progression Preamplifier's DAC set-up instructions are basic and may require expert help
- The progression preamplifier has a slight bit more midrange liveliness and detail than usual, and just a touch of added energy in the upper midrange
Comparisons (according to reviewers)
- Vs Ayre Acoustics KX-R Twenty: The Ayre is a highly regarded solid-state preamplifier with a fully balanced, no feedback topology, but unlike the Progression, it does not have a DAC option
- Vs Mark Levinson N° 526: The Mark Levinson is also a fully balanced, solid-state preamplifier, but adds a phono stage in addition to the built-in DAC
- Vs Pass Labs XP-30 preamplifier: Like the Progression, it is a fully balanced, solid-state, multiple-chassis design, but it is scalable up to six channels
- Vs D'Agostino Momentum: The Progression Stereo delivers more power than its more upmarket Momentum Stereo counterpart
- Vs D'Agostino Momentum: The Progression looks like the more flexible option, rather than a 'discount design'
- Vs D'Agostino Momentum: The Progression is a more uncompromising design—balanced operation only, without a built-in optional DAC or Bluetooth operation for the remote
Takeaway: The Progression is a set of very well-engineered audio components offering great sound and power. They are a good option for people who appreciate high-quality audio.
Video review
Our take on the brand
Dan D'Agostino is an ultra-premium hifi brand distinguished by its unique copper heat sinks with holes and distinctive circular green-lit VU meters that give their amplifiers a steampunk aesthetic. Their amplifiers feature proprietary "Super Rail" technology that maintains high voltage for front-end transistors, while their three-chassis Relentless Preamplifier uses 30-pin interlocking connectors to eliminate wiring anomalies.
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Meitner
PRE
25000
25000
/
4
Reviews
Ed Meitner recognizes that the analog preamplifier is at the heart of every music system and warrants the utmost care and precision. This recognition motivates him to consistently push the boundaries of performance in his designs. Starting with the Meitner PA6i and progressing to the multi-award winning EMM Labs PRE2, he has never failed to push the state-of-the-art in the industry.
Ed Meitner's latest design, the reference PRE, embodies this drive for perfection and culminates in his most significant statement in the preamplifier category to date. Stunning transparency is achieved via fully discrete dual-balanced signal paths, sophisticated contactless switching solutions and precision software-driven analog volume control.
Using custom, aerospace-grade, composite laminate circuit boards in the PRE provides several advantages over conventional boards: Microscopically smooth copper traces resulting in a reduction in skin effect issues Superior strength and vibration resistance Lower dielectric losses and superior heat conduction ensuring uniform temperature distribution, increasing stability and longevity
With six sets of stereo analog inputs and three sets of stereo analog outputs, the PRE allows the option of bi-amplification and tri-amplification setups. Three sets of user programmable volume presets per input allows the user to easily recall their favourite volume settings for different types of music.
Result… the most sophisticated and musically accurate preamplifier from EMM Labs. Capable of controlling everything, except your enthusiasm.
Meitner Audio's MA3 DAC uses a unique one-bit circuit that upconverts all audio to 16xDSD, with proprietary MFAST and MDAT2 technologies for jitter removal and upsampling. The MA3 features a VControl digital volume system that maintains signal integrity without requantization, while offering network streaming and Roon Ready capability.
Expand Details
Our summary
Product Strengths
- Noted for its neutrality, accuracy, and uncolored sound, providing a truthful representation of recordings
- Remarkably quiet in operation, with no pops or noise when switching inputs or muting
- Beautifully crafted chassis and a large, easy-to-read display
- Offers useful features like volume presets for each input and a balance control
- Detailed and relaxed sound
- Offers two RCA inputs, one XLR input, one RCA output, and one XLR output
Product Considerations
- Minimalist design results in a limited number of inputs and outputs
- Volume knob doesn't have a silky smooth feel
- Dynamic range could be wider on challenging recordings
- Sound might be too smooth at times, which slightly dulled the thrilling edge of some works
Comparisons (according to reviewers)
- The Meitner PRE exhibited better edge definition, speed, transients, and treble airiness, as well as improved bass definition and clarity, than the Linear Tube Audio preamplifier
- The Pass Labs XP30 had more fullness in the bottom end and more dynamic kick than the Meitner PRE
- The Meitner PRE was considered more detailed and more relaxed than the EMM Labs PRE2
- The EMM Labs DV2 DAC offered a broader image and a greater ease of presentation than the Meitner PRE
Takeaway: The Meitner PRE preamplifier is a beautifully built and easy-to-use piece of equipment with a neutral and accurate sound signature that lets the music pass through with clarity. It is an exceptional preamp that is worth considering for those seeking high-quality analog sound reproduction.
Video review
Our take on the brand
Meitner Audio's MA3 DAC uses a unique one-bit circuit that upconverts all audio to 16xDSD, with proprietary MFAST and MDAT2 technologies for jitter removal and upsampling. The MA3 features a VControl digital volume system that maintains signal integrity without requantization, while offering network streaming and Roon Ready capability.
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Product Page
Expand Details
Product Strengths
- Wide-ranging gain and impedance adjustments
- Superb build quality, with rigid and immaculately crafted casework and beautifully finished panels
- Ultra low noise, massive weight, and lightning-quick dynamics
- A tonal richness that is usually associated with vacuum tubes, yet has an equal helping of dynamic contrast and weight that normally can only be achieved with the best solid-state gear
- An auto-balance feature to equalize the two channels to compensate for imbalanced cartridges
Product Considerations
- For those with lots of very old records, the lack of choice in equalization may be an issue
- The cable was perhaps a bit too revealing for one reviewer's taste
- The instructions for the ADC module are fairly cryptic
- It sounded slightly flat out of the box, but opens up dramatically after a few days of constant play
- The guitars lost some of their top-end resolution and sounded more edgy, and Ann Wilson's voice sounded squeaky and got lost in the mix, throwing off the delicate balance of the track
Comparisons (according to reviewers)
- Vs Audio Research REF Phono 2: The Burmester was definitely an order of magnitude quieter, but the Audio Research offered a bit larger musical image
- Vs Boulder 1008: The Boulder offered slightly more bass grunt
- Vs Cyrus Phono Signature/PSX-R2: Compared to the Burmester, the Cyrus sounds quite flat, cluttered, and mechanical
- Vs EAR Yoshino 324: The EAR Yoshino 324 provides a better-balanced sound
Takeaway: The Burmester 100 Phono is a high-quality phono stage that offers flexibility and excellent build quality. It is a great option for audiophiles looking for a long-term investment in their vinyl setup.
Video review
Our take on the brand
Burmester, a high-end audio brand renowned for its German craftsmanship, designs and handcrafts its components in Berlin. Known for its distinctive industrial aesthetic with chrome finishes, the brand supplies premium sound systems for Porsche and Mercedes-Benz.
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What competes at this price?
VinylSavor
10Y Line
13118
/
Released
VinylSavor stands out for its unique use of transformer coupling and transformer volume control in preamps, along with vacuum tube rectified high voltage supplies and low impedance circuits. The brand's equipment, personally built and tested by Thomas Mayer, is engineered with custom-made transformers and multiple chokes for excellent power supply performance, eliminating the need for expensive power conditioners or exotic cables.
Expand Details
Our Summary
Product Strengths
- Provides clarity, separation between notes, and individually renders guitar strings with their own attack/sustain/decay
- Brings a more detailed, higher resolution picture
- Plays with more delicacy, consideration, and tenderness
- Offers a slight calmness with more variation in the notes that makes things a little more dimensional and less flat
Product Considerations
- Inverts phase
Comparisons (according to reviewers)
- Plays with a little more delicacy and consideration, articulating things better than the Placette Active Linestage
- Has more delicacy than Neurochrome Universal Buffer
Takeaway: The 10Y preamp provides better clarity and more realistic sound compared to other preamps. It is neutral and transparent and can compare to modern engineering.
Video review
Our take on the brand
VinylSavor stands out for its unique use of transformer coupling and transformer volume control in preamps, along with vacuum tube rectified high voltage supplies and low impedance circuits. The brand's equipment, personally built and tested by Thomas Mayer, is engineered with custom-made transformers and multiple chokes for excellent power supply performance, eliminating the need for expensive power conditioners or exotic cables.
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Gold Note
PH-1000
11999
/
Released
2021
The PH-1000 is simply the best phono stage ever created by Gold Note: a unique piece of audio engineering, innovative in every aspect and completely made in Italy. It features exclusive Class A components such as a headphone output, infinite EQ curves including 4 customisable presets, plus 36 EQ curves and a Class A line preamplifier (optional).
Gold Note is an Italian hifi brand that manufactures all components in-house, with their DS-10 DAC offering 192 setup options to adapt to different music genres and listener preferences. Their products, including the IS-10 and IS-1000 integrated amplifiers, combine multiple functions like streaming, DAC, and phono stages in single units, delivering a rich, tube-like sound signature.
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Our Summary
Product Strengths
- Unparalleled cartridge matching capabilities with adjustable gain levels and load options
- Features a multitude of equalization options, including preset EQ options alongside the option to set up custom curves
- Exceptional build quality with a chassis precision-machined from solid aluminum, offering superior electromagnetic shielding and aesthetic elegance
- Intuitive operation is ensured by the clear display and the Single Knob Control (SKC) system, despite the unit's complexity
- Class A circuitry throughout delivers a warmth and naturalness that brings vinyl playback to life, while maintaining exceptional detail and clarity
Product Considerations
- Premium price point makes it a high-end investment
- Complex feature set may require a learning curve for full usage
- Large form factor requires adequate rack space
- The remote control has a mute function that requires two clicks to unmute, which can be slightly annoying
- The Owners' Manual could be improved and is not very informative
Comparisons (according to reviewers)
- Vs Gold Note PH-10: PH-1000 has more cartridge loading possibilities
- Vs Gold Note PSU-1250 & TUBE-1012: PH-1000 lacks a warm tube sound, but if you add the PSU-1250 & TUBE-1012, details are brought out with added sharpness and the music becomes more cohesive—reaching a new level of harmonic wholeness
Takeaway: The Gold Note PH-1000 is a sophisticated phono preamplifier with a wide range of features and exceptional sound quality, perfect for vinyl enthusiasts seeking to get the best out of their collections. Its flexibility and upgradeability make it a worthwhile investment for those serious about analog audio.
Video review
Our take on the brand
Gold Note is an Italian hifi brand that manufactures all components in-house, with their DS-10 DAC offering 192 setup options to adapt to different music genres and listener preferences. Their products, including the IS-10 and IS-1000 integrated amplifiers, combine multiple functions like streaming, DAC, and phono stages in single units, delivering a rich, tube-like sound signature.
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Pass Labs
XP-27
12075
/
Released
2021
The twin chassis XP-27 eclipses the already exceptional performance of the well-reviewed and well-received XP-15, XP-25 & XP-17: delivering enhanced RIAA performance at a fraction of the previous distortion. The new design uses double shielded low noise toroidal transformers in external supply connected via aviation grade circular connectors using silver over oxygen free copper.
Pass Labs Class A amplifiers are celebrated for their distinctive sonic character, delivering a rich, full-bodied sound with a notably lush midrange. They imbue a unique sense of "plumpness" and warmth to the music, an intentional coloration that many enthusiasts find highly engaging. The pure Class A design ensures smooth, beautiful sound but comes with the trade-off of generating significant heat, which can warm up a room.
Expand Details
Our Summary
Product Strengths
- Separate chassis for the power supply and signal circuitry minimizes noise, improving low-level detail retrieval
- Front panel controls for gain, resistive loading, and capacitive loading, provide flexibility for cartridge matching
- Two RCA inputs accommodate two turntables or tonearms, simplifying analog setups
- Superb detail, clarity, and a clean sound, leads to a musically involving experience
- A high-pass filter reduces low-frequency noise, helpful for systems with subwoofers
Product Considerations
- The two-chassis design may be problematic for audiophiles with limited space, as the power supply is ideally placed separate from the main unit
- No remote control is included, requiring manual adjustments at the unit itself
- Settings are not automatically remembered when switching between tonearm inputs, requiring manual readjustment
- Some reviewers would have liked to see larger LED indicators and labels for easier visibility
Comparisons (according to reviewers)
- The XP-27 offers a host of useful features and operates with a great deal of attention paid to lower distortion, even RIAA performance is accomplished at much lower distortion levels than previous versions in the same price class
- Vs Pass Labs XP-25, the XP-27 offers incremental improvements including lower noise and better bass performance due to dual transformers—vs single in the XP-25—lower noise resistors, upgraded rectifiers and improved power filtering and regulation
- Vs Pass Labs XP-17, the XP-27 offers superior dynamics, clarity, imaging and musicality
- Vs Pass Labs XP-22, the XP-27 is the star of the two-component show: XP-22-line preamplifier and XP-27 phono preamplifier
Takeaway: The Pass Labs XP-27 is a versatile and high-performing phono preamplifier that extracts remarkable detail and clarity from vinyl recordings. Its flexible loading options and dual inputs make it a great choice for vinyl enthusiasts seeking exceptional sound quality.
Video review
Our take on the brand
Pass Labs Class A amplifiers are celebrated for their distinctive sonic character, delivering a rich, full-bodied sound with a notably lush midrange. They imbue a unique sense of "plumpness" and warmth to the music, an intentional coloration that many enthusiasts find highly engaging. The pure Class A design ensures smooth, beautiful sound but comes with the trade-off of generating significant heat, which can warm up a room.
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CANOR
Hyperion P1
14055
/
Released
2022
Hyperion P1 is a brand new vacuum tube preamplifier of pure A-class with zero feedback designed and produced by CANOR. It is considered a reference preamplifier of the CANOR brand.
Canor Audio is a hifi brand that uses proprietary CMT circuit board technology to match the performance of point-to-point wiring while maintaining consistency in manufacturing. Their tube-based designs include unique features like a tube output stage in their DACs and custom-made output transformers with Permalloy cores in their amplifiers, setting them apart in the high-end audio market.
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Our Summary
Product Strengths
- Delivers a natural, spacious, and clean sound
- Attenuator is located in a special aluminum box (10 mm thick walls) which provides perfect shielding and absorbs the vibrations
- Is a Class-A preamplifier and was designed to avoid ANY global feedback
- Analogue part is separated from the power part by a solid aluminium wall (10 mm thick) which contributes to the elimination of interference
Product Considerations
- The tubes require a lengthy break-in period of several hundred hours
- The system remote control could be bigger
Comparisons (according to reviewers)
- The Hyperion and Virtus combo's sovereignty brings the acoustic events to 'life' more convincingly
Takeaway: The Hyperion P1 is made to provide high signal quality sound. It has excellent workmanship to ensure amazing sound quality.
Video review
Our take on the brand
Canor Audio is a hifi brand that uses proprietary CMT circuit board technology to match the performance of point-to-point wiring while maintaining consistency in manufacturing. Their tube-based designs include unique features like a tube output stage in their DACs and custom-made output transformers with Permalloy cores in their amplifiers, setting them apart in the high-end audio market.
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Pass Labs
XP-32
18375
/
Released
2021
The XP-32 is a three-piece modular preamplifier consisting of one control/power supply chassis and two additional gain chassis each containing analog signals of a single channel. The XP-32 generates less noise, crosstalk and distortion while delivering greater dynamic range, gain, output voltage and output current.
Pass Labs Class A amplifiers are celebrated for their distinctive sonic character, delivering a rich, full-bodied sound with a notably lush midrange. They imbue a unique sense of "plumpness" and warmth to the music, an intentional coloration that many enthusiasts find highly engaging. The pure Class A design ensures smooth, beautiful sound but comes with the trade-off of generating significant heat, which can warm up a room.
Expand Details
Our Summary
Product Strengths
- Tonally, the XP-32 is a more beautiful, engaging preamplifier with a beautiful class A sound that presents fatigue-free
- Exceptional build quality
- Supreme clarity of sound lends a feeling of speed, precision, and vivacity in music across various genres, from jazz to opera, symphonic to rock
- Brings forth a feeling of speed, precision, and vivacity in various genres of music, from jazz to opera, symphonic to rock
- The metaphor of the veil being lifted—or ripped away—is applicable here
Product Considerations
- Not the most neutral or transparent unit
- Needed a lot of volume for it to get a Griffin amplifier moving
- Takes up a lot of space, especially if not stacked
- Missing was a touch of body to Netrebko's voice and a sense of air around it
Comparisons (according to reviewers)
- Compared to PASLabs XB30, the XP-32 is a better line stage
- Compared to the XS preamplifier, the XP-32 uses a single-stage volume control as used in the XS preamplifier and has more range, with 0.5dB steps; it is quieter and more accurate
- Compared to the XP-30, the XP-32's inputs are DC-coupled and a servo is used after trimming
- Compared to the XP-22, it was just slightly more explicit
Takeaway: The XP-32 is a well-built preamplifier that gives a clean and clear sound, bringing more excitement to music. If you want to hear everything in music, the XP-32 might be what you are looking for.
Video review
Our take on the brand
Pass Labs Class A amplifiers are celebrated for their distinctive sonic character, delivering a rich, full-bodied sound with a notably lush midrange. They imbue a unique sense of "plumpness" and warmth to the music, an intentional coloration that many enthusiasts find highly engaging. The pure Class A design ensures smooth, beautiful sound but comes with the trade-off of generating significant heat, which can warm up a room.
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