[Alehouse]

How are you? I am new here and just reaching out to see if there are Pass Lab XP20 owners that have upgraded and what did they upgrade to? The XP20 is incredible and am just curious. Thanks

[I.Greyhound Fan]

I went from a Pass Preamp (not an XP-20) to a BAT VK-51se tube preamp to go with my Pass X250 amp.  It was a nice step up.

[JakeJ]

I have had good luck mating tube preamps to solid state power amps.  I have experience with the Pass Labs XP-20 preamp as well as YBA, Rowland and AVM SS preamps and they all were better than the Pass, IMO.

[Alehouse]

Thanks, I actually went from a VTL 5.5 series II to the xp20. Ed

[Rocket]

Hi,

All I know is that Pass Labs makes very high quality equipment. I definitely wouldn't upgrade without a demonstration in your own home.

Cheers Rod

[gene9p]

I had a Pass pre amp..not the 20..I now use a Mac C2300 tube pre amp..with a Pass XA25 amp of course.

[Mr Peabody]

If you like the 20 an obvious move could be the 30.  I'd check with a Pass dealer or email Pass to ask about comparison.  Pass is a bit unusual in their preamps are not voiced the same.  It's not like a 30 will be the 20 just better.  If I was moving from the 20 I'd give a listen to D'Agostino.

What power amp(s) do you have?

[twitch54]

Hi,

All I know is that Pass Labs makes very high quality equipment. I definitely wouldn't upgrade without a demonstration in your own home.

Cheers Rod

Rod, best response so far, couldn't agree more.

[brf]

I went from the xp20 to a xp22.  To be completely honest, it was only a very slight improvement.  Sometimes “newer” is just “newer”. 

[djbnh]

How are you? I am new here and just reaching out to see if there are Pass Lab XP20 owners that have upgraded and what did they upgrade to? The XP20 is incredible and am just curious. Thanks

I run Pass gear: XP-32 preamp with the X-250.8 amp plus the XP-27 phono preamp. Initially, and for some months, I really liked the gear. Then I dropped $$ on some pairs of balanced ICs and was blown away by how good the Pass and other gear was now sounding in my system (incl. Mola Mola Tambaqui DAC, Pure Fidelity Harmony turntable with Hana Umami Red cartridge on Origin Live Illustrious SE tonearm, Qualio IQ speakers, two dedicated 20A lines in a dedicated listening room, etc.). My sources now were strutting the ultra transparency of the XP-32 preamp, sublime with tons of detail, imaging, soundstage, you name it. My wife and I were gobsmacked with our system's transformation.

Your post doesn't state if you're running all balanced currently, so that may be something to consider. My other point is that system synergy is critical, and that each part of your system should be considered re: what it adds or subtracts. There may be system chokepoints that don't allow your sources to shine, as per my case re: ICs. There also may be components that work better with some gear than other gear - numerous professional reviewers comment when testing gear, that they preferred "X" over "Y" when listening with "A", "B", and "C" in the system, but "Y" over "X" when listening with "A", "D", and "E".

Home auditioning has strong upsides, esp. if you can have the equipment for an extended period. Throughout the auditioning process let your ears be your guide. Also, if you like what you are hearing from your XP-20 and are content with your other gear, then perhaps the XP-32 may be the ticket albeit a three box solution. I understand the thoughts that some prefer tube preamps paired with solid state amps; however, for my system, the XP-32 paired with the X250.8 and aforementioned equipment does not make me feel that would be something in which I'm interested.

Best of luck with your decision making, and happy listening!

[Jeff_From_Michigan]

DJ, would you be willing to share what interconnects you are referring to when you say "Then I dropped $$ on some pairs of balanced ICs and was blown away by how good the Pass and other gear was now sounding in my system.."  ? Just curious, as I have also experienced transformational sound improvements with the swapping in of an ethernet cable and also with IC's in at least one case. Thanks in advance.