Bruce, you mentioned earlier that you used to use a CAT with rolled in tubes. That's the preamp that i currently use and I still think it is the best that I have heard. What is your opinion of the differences between the CAT and your current Pass Labs?
XP-30 has landed!
- Thread starter Bruce B
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The xp-30 already does from the reports I have read. In regard to the XS, you will notice that the now separate power supply is huge. I am sure there will be a marked improvement with the design. There is no doubt. Of course there is a price to pay and a significant one at that. What is your engineering background that qualifies you to second guess Nelson Pass' decision to bring a product to market that is aligned with their XS amps, which are clearly superior to the XA.5 series ? The Ayre is a rather old model at this stage. Perhaps their engineering well of Idea's has run dry ?
We've been down this road before.
A 3-box unit pass lab sound only close to the 1-box Ayre (according some users report and John Atkinson's)
Maybe it'll take another 2 more generation of experimentation by pass lab to figure how other companies do it at this current model's price point.
For the same dollar, I'd rather take 1 box, and not have all these umbilical cords hanging around audio signal carrying cables.
A 3-box unit pass lab sound only close to the 1-box Ayre (according some users report and John Atkinson's)
Maybe it'll take another 2 more generation of experimentation by pass lab to figure how other companies do it at this current model's price point.
For the same dollar, I'd rather take 1 box, and not have all these umbilical cords hanging around audio signal carrying cables.
From what I remember, the CAT made things sound good. Everything just gelled together. If I may, voices, cello and other lower midrange frequencies had more body. It stuck out more, especially that and the top end. The Pass is more coherent. You don't hear anything sticking out. Not that sticking out was a bad thing. I liked the rounded edge of things. This is what the Doshi brings to the table. The Doshi and the Pass pre is a match made in heaven. If I were to choose a pre that I just want to sit and enjoy, it would be the CAT. The Pass, you can enjoy, but for different reasons.
Bruce, thanks for that. I'm not sure I understand your term...'everything just gelled together', as that is certainly not what I hear, but I'm also not sure the context you are putting that in
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Bruce, if you have to choose between xp30 and the cat as a controller for studio monitoring, to ensure the music you are mastering would be translate well to most/more systems, which unit would you chose?
Bruce, thanks for that. I'm not sure I understand your term...'everything just gelled together', as that is certainly not what I hear, but I'm also not sure the context you are putting that in
Be assured that this is a good thing!
Definitely the XP-30. It passes on exactly what is on the master tape. With the CAT, I feel it colors the sound a little too much for mastering purposes, but damn it's sure great to listen to!
I continue to be amazed by this thing. I received the unit last week and just listened to it for a couple of days. Went to the Newport Show and left it on with a signal going through it constantly. (the wife loved that!)
Listening to it tonight I can't believe how it makes every source quieter. A deeper background brings out details that were previously masked. Can't believe how noisy this Switchman 3 was. I see the light..... and it is good!!
Listening to it tonight I can't believe how it makes every source quieter. A deeper background brings out details that were previously masked. Can't believe how noisy this Switchman 3 was. I see the light..... and it is good!!
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