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Aesthetix Calypso or Pass Labs Preamp

I want to insert a 2 channel preamp in my multi channel system. I have narrowed down the list to Aesthetix Calypso (Signature?) and Pass Labs XP-10 (XP-20?). I was planning to keep this under $3,500 used which would disqualify the XP-20 and the signature, but if reports based on first hand usage convince me these more expensive units will trounce their cheaper brethren I may reconsider. My two channel source is a perfectwave DAC, and my poweramps are Jungson Class A JA-200 (not very well know, best compared with Pass Labs class A series).

Has anyone directly compared Pass and the Calypso?
Has anyone compared the XP-10 and XP-20?
Has anyone compared the Calypso and Calypso signature?

Which of the four options offers the best performance for the money?

I read all existing posts on the subject, so new insight is welcome.
edorr

Showing 2 responses by pdreher

pdreher's avatar
pdreher
1,193 posts
 
I've never tried Pass gear, but had the Calypso for three enjoyable years, then regrettably sold it to save some money by going with a few different integrated amps. Now I've realized how much I missed my separates and have purchased a Calypso Signature and I'm happy with my system once again! The great thing about the Calypso is you can tailor/change up the sound of your system by rolling different tubes. Really can't say enough good things about the Calypso. I'll be hard pressed to sell it again and make the same mistake twice.

Swanny - I'm really surprised that you think the build quality of the Calypso is suspect? I've owned quite a few preamps from the likes of BAT, Joule Electra, YBA & Conrad Johnson and have enjoyed my time with the Calypso the most, by a very wide margin and I've never had a hint of a problem... and they are noise free. Did you experiment with high end NOS tubes when you had it... Amperex, Telefunken, Mullard? If not, you really didn't get to hear what the Calypso is capable of. Night & day difference with the Calypso when using high quality NOS tubes vs. the stock tubes.
pdreher's avatar
pdreher
1,193 posts
 
Terryakhan - I think you have very good tubes. I can recommend you try Telefunken 12AX7 smooth plates to get another perspective.

In the 6922 slot's, I've been happy with Amperex orange label, but preferred the older & more expensive Amperex (Phillips branded) white label SQ's. Currently using IEC Mullard's white label from the mid 60's with very good success (not commonly available). So I can recommend all three listed above and feel you can't go wrong with Amperex... they are readily available, albeit not cheap.

In the 12AX7 slots I've had good results with the following:
- Telefunken smooth plates (these are the best IME... awesome mid's, dynamic & liquid but slightly shrill high's on some notes)
- Mullard CV4004 Platinums (very good, balanced all-around sound)
- Mullard / Bogen branded white labels (very warm, good bass & lower mids, strong with vocals, but erring far on the warm/dark side of neutral)

I tried Amperex Bugle Boys, but found them to lack focus... maybe just had some mismatched tubes... hard to say. I also tried the much heralded & mega expensive Mullard 10M gold pins, but found them to be too warm and veiled for my taste... once again, maybe the tubes were note well matched, nor did I buy them from a reputable dealer. I also tried new production tubes from Sovtek & Mullard New Sensor, but they all sucked, to be blunt.

Ultimately, I think there are many good tubes / choices, but think it probably pays to buy closely matched tubes from reputable dealers or at least from an Audiogon member that can verify the tubes came from a good supplier (i.e. Tubeworld, Vintage Tube Services, Upscale Audio).
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