So we've had a few weeks on this rig, and used fellow member WGH's suggestion to help burn in the dual mono design XP-27 (we're using single ended cables currently) with excellent results. We fiddled with some settings as per
Pass's instructions, and settled on what sounds best for us re: resistance and gain. Notable is that Pass explains that one might use a lower resistance setting due to the way the phono preamp is designed; this held true for us.
While the loading of moving magnet cartridges is rather straight forward, the loading of moving coil cartridges is at best a very inexact science. Specific requirements for loading moving coil devices should be taken (and offered) very lightly.
The XP-27 is not typical and I encourage you to think separately from the cartridge manufacturer and choose your resistive loadings accordingly.
As for example with the very lowest output cartridges, the cartridge maker likely anticipated a transformer being used as the initial stage of gain, the XP-27 with its active elements is a very different proposition from a transformer as seen by the cartridge. This fundamental difference of circuit topology can affect loading preferences.
We've only positive impressions on the gear to date. Our vinyl source is: Pure Fidelity Harmony turntable with Gaia footers, Hana Umami Red cartridge, Origin Live Illustrious SE tonearm. Our findings include but are not limited to:
- No noise, absolutely no noise from the XP-27's twin chassis units.
- Dynamic realism, we were dumbstruck. There's no strain evidenced; instead there's a wonderful organicity that makes one forget about gear and fully immerses the listeners in the music. A review uses the word "transformative", and that fits perfectly. For example, on Jeff Beck's Blow by Blow's "Cause We've Ended as Lovers", Beck's superb guitar craftsmanship is on full, well-nuanced display. Riveting in the detail, soaring and mournful notes, Beck and his instrument solidly fleshed as if they were in the room. There's a lack of the music being a recording; instead, realism is substituted for "presentation".
Orchestral music is similarly organic. We have a Deutsche Grammophon "Beethhoven Edition: 9 Symphonien; Wiener Philharmonkier, Karl Bohm" set. Beethoven's 6th "Pastorale" is a favorite. The orchestra is in full display, you can see it in its positions as you listen. Stunning, bravo indeed! We're sure that the other two pieces of Pass gear (see associated equipment below) help the XP-27 to strut it's stuff so impressively, not to mention the Hana Red Umami cart, etc.
We're sure there's more goodness ahead of us. Currently we're outputting the XP-27 with single ended cables, and trying to decide on what to upgrade re: balanced cables. Once that's accomplished we're confident there more "exactness" in store. The XP-27 is highly, and without hesitation, recommended for vinyl aficionados.
Associated gear: Pass P-32 preamp
Pass XP 250.8 amp (Class AB).
Qualio IQ speakers on Gaia II footers: speakers are 4-ohm, so that's 500W/channel via the XP 250.8. They'll likely never have to run out of Class A power.
Pure Fidelity Harmony turntable with Gaia footers
Hana Umami Red cartridge
Origin Live Illustrious SE tonearm
Degritter Mark II record cleaning machine
Mola Mola Tambaqui DAC
NuPrime CDT-10 transport
Tubulus Concentus I2S cable
McIntosh MAC7200 receiver (using the tuner only)
Allnic cable loom including:
- ZL-5000 Power Cable
- ZL-3000 mk2 Power Cables
- Mu-7R Balanced Intercables
- Mu-7R Digital Cable
- ZL-5000 Speaker Cables
Triode Wire Labs Seven Plus Power Cord
Other assorted balanced and single ended interconnects
Dedicated audio room with some treatments
Two dedicated 20A circuits: one analog, the other digital
Timbernation custom audio rack
3" maple amp platform
Herbie's Big Fat Dots
Isopods
