REVIEW SHOP SHARE LEARN
Pass Labs X1 Line Stage
Pass Labs X1 Line Stage
MSRP: $

More Products from Pass Labs >>
Search AudioReview forums for the Pass Labs X1 Line Stage >>
   
Top Ranked Products from Pass Labs.
Pass Labs X350.5
Rated: 5 of 5
Pass Labs X250.5
Rated: 5 of 5
Pass Labs X 600
Rated: 5 of 5
Pass Labs X 350
Rated: 5 of 5
 |  Sorted by Latest Review |  Sort by Best Rating >> |  Sort by Worst Rating >> | 
Rating
Reviewed by:

martinwtaylor

(AudioPhile)

Review Date
August 19, 2004

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 4 of 5

Used product for
More than 1 year

Visitors rate this review
4.20 of 5, 10.00 votes

Rate this review?

Review 1 of 1

Price Paid:  $9000.00 from Sounds of Music

Summary:
This preamp is an upgrade from the Pass Labs X2, itself a fine balanced design. My criteria were absolute transparency, at least two balanced inputs, balanced output (to drive my Chord SPM-1200E power amp) and remote control. The X1 meets the criteria and furthers overall system performance with fantastic transparency and good driving characteristics to the power amp. It presents no discernible character of its own and is very quiet in operation. The power supply comes in a separate box (mine is the 'hybrid cosmetics', but performs the same as the later models). Note that the X1 is considerably better than the X2, itself a nice preamp. I have yet to hear anything more transparent in my system.

Strengths:
Absolute transparency, wide frequency range, good balanced drive for power amps, remote control.

Weaknesses:
None.

Similar Products Used:
Krell & BAT preamps.


Would you like to Comment?
Join audioReview for a free account, or Login if you are already a member.

Popular Preamplifiers

more...

Latest and Greatest

Marantz SA-7S1 and Cary 306 Professional CD/SACD Players

Review of the wonderful Marantz SA-7S1 and Mini-Review tease of the Cary 306 Professional CD/SACD Players

Emotiva ERC-1 CD Player Review

The ERC-1 CD player is in a class by itself for price/performance.

IMAX: How to Ruin a Great Product

Unfortunately, it seems that IMAX has embarked on an expansion strategy that risks watering down a premium brand that took 40 years to establish.

Axiom Millennia M60 Ti

Yes, Axiom speakers are as good as you have read about.

Magnepan Magneplanar MG 1.6 User Review

In my judgment the advantage of the MG 1.6 (and other Magneplars), stems from the following: = It is a full-range dipole, and = It has uses low-mass, planar drivers for the whole audio spectrum. These attributes account for its extraordinary clarity, coherence, “air”...

News & Reviews

Submit Content Here
Come join the community. Comment on the blogs.
Sony and NetFlix jump in the same tub
NETFLIX ANNOUNCES PARTNERSHIP WITH SONY ELECTRONIaq: NFLX) the world’s largest online movie rental service, today announced a partnership [...]   more...

Onkyo A-5VL and C-5VL SACD and amp combo
Onkyo has released a SACD/Amp Combo aimed at audind allows for bi-wiring. The cost for the A-5VL and C-5VL combo is around £350. read some more [...]   more...

Used Gear Wednesday - Don’t Pass It Up!
Did you know that audioREVIEW has a classifieds sals and gear from it. Every Wednesday we’ll select classifieds to highlight all over the [...]   more...

Hi-fi Home Theater Speakers Meets Abstarct Modern Art
This beauty, 42 inches long, is designed to fit “artistic” speakers and the normal design can be found here at bornrich.org.  Even [...]   more...

Marantz SA-7S1 and Cary 306 Professional CD/SACD Players Review
I had just about given up on CDs. There were somem like second class citizens. Sure they have a place in the audio landscape, but for enjoying [...]   more...