For Whom?
Contents
The big question is of course: who is this high-end, 100% analogue pre-amp for? In these times of digital audio, that is a very good question. There are now simply amazingly beautiful digital devices on the market that losslessly control the volume. Think of the dCS Bartok, or the Metrum Acoustics Adagio.
The answer is in our opinion: a small niche. It’s as simple as that. But: there is a market for it. Think of people who want to listen to vinyl at a very high level. Or reviewers like us. We simply have to play with a good analog pre-amp, because we also have to test the analog outputs of a d/a converter.
But beyond that: there are still many enthusiasts with high quality equipment who are looking for an analogue pre-amp. A very nice pre-amp. And that’s the XP-22 without a doubt.
Conclusion
The Pass Labs XP-22 preamplifier is another beautiful creation by Nelson Pass. To be honest, we are used to it. Nice about the XP-22 compared to the XP-12 is the gain in dynamics, tranquillity and spaciousness. This is clearly audible if your set allows it. The extra cost of 3700 euros is certainly worth it in our opinion.Now a pure analog preamplifier in these days of digital audio is of course a niche product. But we are very happy that there are manufacturers who put time, energy, money and research into this. Because the fact is: a beauty like this remains beautiful. And there remains a market for it. Alpha Approved!