Over the last week or ten days I've been comparing Pass' new XP-27 phono amp to the XP-25 I've been living with for a couple of years. I'll cut right to the chase -- this is NOT a subtle upgrade. The Pass website talks about changes to the power supply and front end input stage, and the sharp-eyed will note a change from the flat ribbon cable to a beefier round umbilical with cannon-plugs to link the two chassis. What they didn't mention was that somehow Wayne Colburn managed to turn the Presence control up to 11 or 12 -- players and vocalists are IN the room. The XP-25 set the bar pretty high but the new model vaults the bar with ease and sticks the landing for a 10.0.
Instrumental textures, musical detail, tonal saturation, micro- and macro-dynamics -- it's all off the charts. If the XP-25 was a little laid-back (and I'd never thought that about the XP-25 before), the XP-27 is vivid and lifelike and very, very present with absolutely no hint of being in-your-face forward.
Mark at Reno HiFi hooked me up with an in-home demo and of course continues his unbroken string of never having me send anything back that I've tried out. Sly marketing technique coupled with fantastic customer service, that one.
Bottom line, I'm very pleased and yes, it's definitely a keeper.
Steve
Instrumental textures, musical detail, tonal saturation, micro- and macro-dynamics -- it's all off the charts. If the XP-25 was a little laid-back (and I'd never thought that about the XP-25 before), the XP-27 is vivid and lifelike and very, very present with absolutely no hint of being in-your-face forward.
Mark at Reno HiFi hooked me up with an in-home demo and of course continues his unbroken string of never having me send anything back that I've tried out. Sly marketing technique coupled with fantastic customer service, that one.
Bottom line, I'm very pleased and yes, it's definitely a keeper.
Steve