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Any Pass Labs X2.5 owners or past owners care to comment on how this preamp sounds? I'll be mating it with the Pass Labs X3 amp (which is basically a 3-channel version of the X150).I've been pretty happy with Pass Labs amps including the X150 and the three channel X3. My system has morphed into a home theater with an Arcam preamp/processor and while it does a great job in home theater mode, I'm not super impressed with the Arcam as a basic 2-channel preamp. It's OK, not bad, but only OK.
I'm thinking of trying a used Pass Labs X2.5 as it will not only match my Pass Labs amp, I'm hoping it will sound much better than the Arcam as a basic preamp. The X2.5 has "theater bypass" functionality so it will be easy to integrate into the home theater.
Follow Ups:
Hello Abe; and Elvis...Synergy... is what its all about. IMO the X2.5 should give your setup quite a boost in all your playback for 2 channel program material while allowing you ease of functionality and system switching, going from movies or concert DVDs to CDs or associated stereo programming. IMHO, when done correctly, this gives you or the 'owner" the best of both worlds. My Plinius M8 - IS THE ONLY WAY TO GO FOR 2 CHANNEL LISTENING!!!
Dynamics are muted, imaging and soundstaging are less obvious, everything struggles through the AVPs bottleneck. And yes, soft sounding is a very accurate description of stereo without a dedicated 2 channel preamp inserted in to play its roll. Nite and Day!!On a different note.
Its my guess you like to review gear quite often as well as keep your curiosity and interests piqued by interchanging components and providing honest online info to the many folks that "don't have the time" to do this active research themselves, and that's a very kind service IMO, you definitely have made many friends and acquaintances here.
Nice job!In any case it looks like your putting together a very nice system with a Pass Labs matched front end incorporated into what appears to be a very enjoyable hometheatre/2channel system of substantial pedigree. Looking forward to your impressions and just by the way some very good Concert DVDs that come to mind are...
1. Lucinda Williams "Live in Austin Texas"
2. Pink Floyd's "Pulse"
3. Fleetwood Macs "The Dance"... Excellent drums...
4. Natalie Merchant "Live in New York"... Love her vocals...again, just a few Abe & Elvis...ENJOY! :)
BEST...
I replaced my ARC SP9 mkII with a 2.5 running balanced into an X150.5. Tighter bass, cleaner highs. Not as euphonic in the mids, but very clear. Never went back. Anyone want the SP9?
Thanks, I'm looking for tight bass, clean highs, and a very clear sound. I'm hoping that the x2.5 is also more dynamic than the Arcam which is a little "soft" sounding to me.
I do not have an Arcam, and usually change equipment every decade whether I need to or not. My source is Apple lossless to Benchmark, the speakers are B&W 802 matrix mk2. For what it is worth, these 50 year old ears have a tough time differentiating live classical concerts from this set up. BTW, I have always enjoyed and appreciated your posts on the pc audio side- you have been a great help.
I'd go for it. Run it balanced with the X150 and you should have a match made in heaven.Realistically, any good 2-channel analog only preamp should be a step-up over the Arcam HT processor for 2-channel listening. You bypass all the digital decoding and other circuitry that will pollute the 2-channel signal.
The Arcam processor has a "direct" mode for 2-channel listening that bypasses all digital processing. I run my CDP into it in "direct" mode. Unfortunately, the basic 2-channel preamp section is only so so. I look forward to trying the Pass Labs X2.5.
... for the looks. Too much of an impersonal, cold look - it could be any lab device though.The sound is very big, balsy, solid, coherent and very organic for a SS amp of that price. Actually it sounds like the best of both worlds, except that it doesn't have a timbre quality of the best valve preamps i have listened (EAR 864, CJ Premier 17LS, even (otherwise crap) Cary 98 etc)
I remember some AA posters earlier complained about a lack of an absolute transparency - could be true, but actually X2.5 is a seductive player that involves you more into music than into hi-fi pyrotechnics.
In my, rather revealing system, I had an occasional headache during the first few days which is either a sign that sound is absolute crap or a new device digs so much of a new detail that my small brain can't process it so fast and needs time to adjust. With X2.5 it was obviously later.
I didn't buy it because I would never pay nearly $2500 s/h a product I consider to be in a process of becoming obsolete - a preamp.
And I was lucky because I've managed to find a better device for less money, except it doesn't have a RC: EAR 864.
Not being totally transparent. They are not, and if you go back you will realize, that even though i said it was a noticeable when inserted in the chain the minute gains in sonics did not justify the utter loss in ergonomics. It is a PITA to get behind the equipment and swap cables just to listen to the TT instead of the CDP, or put the Pre in to listen to the tuner that has a fixed rather low ouptput. So it stays in there. All and all a preamp is a necessary evil, and i have not heard one that is absolutely without question not noticeable, and i listened to some insane ones :-) My X1 is the hybrid cosmetics version, i paid something less than 3K for it, and it was well worth it.dee
;-D
True terror is to wake up one morning and discover that your high school class is running the country.
I thought the X2.5 / X250 combo had incredible clarity, transparency, resolving qualities, etc., but too much of a “there you are” feeling. I tried swapping out the x2.5 with the ARC LS-25 Mk2 and BAT VK-30SE, but didn’t think either bettered the all pass combo. The ARC had a little more air, but was less clear. The VK-30SE was also too dry with the pass.
It is a much better balanced preamp. SE is good, but balanced is much better on the X series. Infortunately i do not have balanced in on my amp.
It is a great preamp, not much different than the X-1. Much better than the Audio Research Ls15 &16 then I compared them to.
Thanks for your comments about the Pass Labs X2.5. Are you presently using the Adcom GFP-750 that shows up in your profile? I once owned the GFP-750 (and the ARC LS16 that you mentioned). I'd be curious to know how you like the GFP-750 vs the X2.5.
I have and use the GFP-750 for this reason. I have a Wadia CD player and for a long time that was my only imput into my Pass Labs X-250 amp. This was and is still the best way to listen to this player. No preamp and additional cables. I now use in addition to the Wadia a tuner and phono stage. And because I have the preamp I run my DVD player into it for movies (two channel only). When I listen to the Wadia I have the Adcom in passive with the volume all the way up/open and use the volume control on the Wadia. This is almost as good as running the Wadia straight into the amp ( I can here a slight difference, but not much). All the other sources I run through the GFP in the passive mode. Running the Wadia this way through GFP had less effect than running it through the X2.5. I would diffently say the X2.5 is better than the Adcom 750 in active. But that is not the way that I use it. The X2.5 vs the Adcom 750 is alot closer. My system is balanced and the Adcom even still runs balanced in the Passive mode, this probably helps keep the two preamps neck and neck. Remember the Adcom GFP 750 is a Nelson Pass design.
Please excuse me if I jump in with an off-topic question.
You say "I run my DVD player into it for movies (two channel only)".
As this is my only viable choice for watching movies (for practical constraints) I would like to ask you if you miss the multi-channel effects very much.
I mean, do you find movies however enjoyable even with a stereo only sound ?
This is very interesting to me.Thanks and kind regards,
beppe
I have never had multi channel in my system. Of course I have watched movies at other peoples homes and theaters. It does not bother me not having multi channel. Two channel movies are still better sounding than just the sound from my tv. I listen to music alot. So I put my money into my stero gear, not home theater. I seemed to enjoy movies for the content and not the sound effects. This is just me.
Thank you very much Sir for your extremely kind and valuable reply.
I feel the same. I think it can be a sensible choice to set up a nice stereo system using a good sounding dvd player as the source.
Today reasonable priced but good sounding dvd players are not that rare.Thanks again and kind regards,
beppe
I have run my setup both ways and prefer having the appropriate surround sound effects while being immersed in a movie. The LFE channel for the sub woofer is important as well as the surround and center channel. That is not to say a movie cannot be enjoyable w/o the effects, I just feel it's even more enjoyable with them.For concert DVD's and music, I prefer a very clean traditional 2-channel setup.
Thank you Mr Collins.
I have seen just now your kind and very valuable reply.
Unfortunately for me it is a no issue at present.
I have to stick with just two channel.
By the way I understand that to get the full sensation to be immersed in a sound fiel the multichannels replay is the only viable choice.
Good to know that, at least with concert DVDs, the stereo is indeed the best solution.
Thanks and kind regards,
I ment to say that the Pass X2.5 vs the Adcom GFP750 in Passive is alot closer. If I had two run my system with a preamp in active all the time I would own the X2.5 or X1.
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