Pass Labs to launch new preamplifiers at Munich High End.

The XP-12: Single Chassis Line Level Preamp

The new XP-12 starts with a new power supply. It uses an efficient toroidal design with both an electrostatic and Mu metal shield, along with vacuum impregnating and epoxy fill to afford a very quiet transformer both electrically and mechanically.

The power supply circuitry itself is also lower noise and has additional filtering.

The XP-12 uses the single stage volume control borrowed from the Xs line preamp. This gives us one hundred 1 dB steps with lower noise and distortion, while removing some signal path parts.

The gain circuitry uses transistors from Toshiba, but has a larger, higher biased output stage like the Xs preamplifier’s auto bias. This makes longer and multiple cable runs easier to drive and provides the advantage of simplifying their single-ended output circuitry while increasing performance.

XP-12 Specs:

• Power consumption 50 Watts
• Gain 9.3dB Balanced
• Frequency response: +/- 0.05 dB 10Hz to 20KHz

-1dB @ 100KHz

• Crosstalk > 100dB
• Residual Noise 15uV 10 – 30Khz
• THD < 0.001 @ 1V 1Khz
• Double shielded low noise toroid
• Dimensions: 17” W x 12.5” D x 4” H
• MSRP: $5,800

The XP-17: Single Chassis Phono Preamp

The XP-17 uses the new-shielded low noise toroidal and input filter module, like the XP-12. The power supply has an extra stage of RC filtering, allowing for lower radiated and mechanical noise.

The XP-17 has an all new input circuit that is symmetrical and lower in noise and distortion, with greater drive capability. Noise being the most prominent part of THD+N in the first section of a phono stage; by lowering noise we get better resolution and dynamics.

It was designed with a split EQ network, like the XP-25 and XI Phono, that is more accurate and can handle greater signal levels. The secondary stage runs a higher bias output stage with auto bias.

The numerous loading options from the XP-15 are all still available, plus three gain settings to accommodate low output MC to MM cartridges.

XP-17 Specs:

• Power consumption: 40 Watts
• Gain: 76, 66, 56 dB balanced 70, 60, 50 unbalanced
• Output impedance: 110 Ohms RCA; 220 Ohms balanced
• Input impedance: 10 – 47K Ohms more than 200 values
• Capacitive loading: 10 -750 pF
• RIAA curve accuracy: +/- .1 dB 20 – 20 KHz Passive / Active EQ
• Distortion and noise: .004%
• Quad-matched low noise symmetrical JFET input.
• Double shielded low noise toroidal transformer
• Dimensions: 17” W x 12.5” D x 4” H
• MSRP: $4,300