Overview
Pass Lab - XP-30
XP-30: 3 chassis preamp.
Task: Make a preamp that is better than the XP-20. The result after many, many, many months is the XP-30.
We started with a larger external power supply big enough for a small power amplifier. The power supply chassis houses dual low noise Plitron transformers and has substantially more capacitance in a CRC configuration , followed by electronic capacitance multipliers. These circuits are dual mono. It has better noise suppression and filtering on top of using low noise high speed parts.
XP-30: 3 chassis preamp.
Task: Make a preamp that is better than the XP-20. The result after many, many, many months is the XP-30.
We started with a larger external power supply big enough for a small power amplifier. The power supply chassis houses dual low noise Plitron transformers and has substantially more capacitance in a CRC configuration , followed by electronic capacitance multipliers. These circuits are dual mono. It has better noise suppression and filtering on top of using low noise high speed parts.
Specifications
XP-30: 3 chassis preamp.
Task: Make a preamp that is better than the XP-20. The result after many, many, many months is the XP-30.
We started with a larger external power supply big enough for a small power amplifier. The power supply chassis houses dual low noise Plitron transformers and has substantially more capacitance in a CRC configuration , followed by electronic capacitance multipliers. These circuits are dual mono. It has better noise suppression and filtering on top of using low noise high speed parts.
Separate left and right channel chassis boxes allow us space to fit more inputs and outputs.
The XP30 has the ability to drive a pair of power amplifiers with two different gain settings slaved to the master. This can be used with an active sub woofer or in a bi amplified configuration. The output impedance is lower and able to better drive longer cable runs.
The XP30 uses the same gain modules as the XP10 and XP20 but in an enhanced configuration.
The internal on board power regulation was improved through the use of a good layout and small design improvements.
The power available from the new supply allows the daisy chaining of up to six gain channels all being controlled from one XP-30. If you want a multi channel system or have some interesting ideas for a monster system the XP30 can help get you there.
All these improvements make some small differences in measured performance lower noise, better cross talk specifications, greater dynamic range etc. The end result sonically seems to exceed these measurement differences. The result is a product that we feel is more resolving, having greater dynamics, spacing and dimensionality and closer to the real thing. .
About the Brand
Based in Foresthill, California, USA, Pass Labs was founded by Mr. Nelson Pass, a well known figure in the high end audio community.
Although Pass Labs has only been around for a decade, they have collected more awards than many companies who have been around a lot longer.
Mr. Pass is known for unique and innovative, as well as practical, circuit designs. Pass' first designs, in the Aleph line, were single-ended pure Class A solid state. The current Pass Labs "X" series amplifiers use a distortion canceling balanced audio signal circuit, and continue to receive critical acclaim. Today Pass Labs makes amplifiers, preamplifier and speakers.
more information
