Hifi Pig

Pass Labs’ Xs Phono Preamplifier costs $45 000 and is a dual-chassis, completely dual-mono phono stage (even the outboard power supply is entirely dual-mono, after the single power cord from the wall outlet).

Xs Phono was an in-house design exercise, developed over the course of over two years with the Pass Labs design team aiming at creating a new reference. Lead designer Wayne Colburn commented, “We tend to do well with products that we want for ourselves. Some of it is purely for us to have a reference.” The XsPhono improves upon Pass Labs’ XP-25 phono stage (US MSRP $10,600) in nearly every way.

Improved shielding (resulting in lower noise), more accurate RIAA compensation, and the use of custom-made capacitors and shock-mounted, gold-clad custom ceramic circuit boards designed for RF applications all contribute to moving the Xs Phono up “into a different league—lower noise, better dynamics, all those things” says Colburn.

The Xs Phono Has three pairs of inputs with each having its own separate, directly connected stereo phono stage with no switches or relays in the signal paths to the first amplification stages. The result is that the Xs Phono (including its dual-mono power supply) contains 13 circuit boards. The Xs Phono is, in effect, three separate phono stages housed in one chassis.

Pass Labs’ Xs Phono Dual-Chassis Phonostage is powered by its dual-mono outboard power supply, the chassis of which has a form factor identical to the XsPhono’s control chassis. The power-cord inlet connects to two totally independent left and right power supplies, each with its own transformer, filtering, and regulation. The control section has its own regulated power supply as well. The power-supply chassis connects to the Xs Phono’s control chassis by means of two power cables fitted with PowerCON locking connectors. The power supply has no on-off or Standby switch, in that the Xs Phono is designed to remain powered-up at all times.

On the front three large knobs control resistive loading, capacitive loading, and gain. Four small buttons provide for input selection, memory recall of settings for all three inputs, high-pass filter (rumble filter), and phono muting.

The Xs Phono allows selection of resistive loading between 30 Ohms and 47k-Ohms; capacitive loading between 100pF and 750pF; and gain between 56dB and 76dB. The active value will always be indicated by an illuminated LED.

The selectable/defeatable high-pass filter or rumble filter imposes a -3dB roll off from 20Hz and below, to remove unwanted sub-sonic frequencies. When the high-pass filter is not engaged, the Xs Phono’s low frequency extension is to below 5Hz.

Xs Phono can output a single-ended (RCA) signal, a balanced (XLR) signal, or both at the same time. This permits, for example, providing a signal to an analogue-to-digital converter or a digital-audio recorder at the same time as to a line stage or preamplifier.

Each of the Xs Phono three pairs of stereo inputs is served by a memory-recall function that saves the settings for resistance, capacitance, and gain. Once the optimal settings for a particular cartridge have been determined, pressing the “Save” button makes those settings the defaults for that input, always engaged upon the selection of that input.

Bryston has announced the introduction of four compact analogue solutions for vinyl enthusiasts—three phono stage preamplifiers and a matching outboard power supply. These new small form factor devices join the BUC-1 (a digital to digital converter outputting asynchronous USB) and the BOT-1 (CD ripper and player for the Bryston digital music players) also constructed in the same compact chassis. The new phono preamplifiers all feature Bryston’s 20-year warranty and are expected to become available from authorized Bryston dealers in December, 2015.

In addition to a sustained interest in analogue records and related gear, consumer feedback on the look and practicality of Bryston’s first two compact devices was highly positive. “We have spoken to so many consumers out there who bought a quality A/V receiver and would now like to start playing records—but they have no phono stage,” explained Bryston VP James Tanner. “This lineup of analogue solutions addresses every possible need, delivering audiophile performance designed to fit on just about any A/V rack or shelf,” added Tanner. Bryston is also considering a DAC, power amplifier and preamplifier to complete the small chassis product line. 

Completed prototypes of the new phono preamplifiers will be on display at 2015 CEDIA, Booth 7018.

Technicalities

The Bryston small enclosure phono preamplifiers include the model BP-2 MM (for moving magnet cartridges), the BP-2 MM/MC (for moving coil and moving magnet cartridges) and the TF-2 step-up transformer (for low-output moving coil cartridges). Both the MM and the MM/MC units require an outboard power supply called the PS-3, also constructed in a matching small chassis. Bryston customers who currently own a BP-26 preamplifier with the MPS-2 power supply can use the MPS-2 (instead of the PS-3) with either compact phono stage. The TF-2 requires no outboard power supply. The BP-2 MM has four settings (100-400 pF) to match the output of any moving magnet cartridge, and the TF-2 can be ordered with either 20dB of gain (for cartridges less than 45Ω) or 31dB of gain (for cartridges less than 5Ω).

Target MSRP Pricing: BP-2 MM $800, BP-2 MM/MC $1750, TF-2 $1500, PS-3 $1000