I've had the Pass Labs XP-15 for a couple days now, all I can say is Wow !
If had known the difference a Phono Preamp could make I would have
bought one sooner.
Even with a modestly priced Grado the extra detail and sound stage is remarkable.
Also just to add to the above post,
MM Gains are fixed @ 40 Unbalanced .....46 Balanced.
I had read in a forum some where that you should stay within 3db of what's required for your cartridge ie. my Grado has 4.8 mv. output so 46.4 db is ideal.
I was obsessed trying to find the preamp that would fall within those numbers.
In reality being within 3db is not that nessary. My ideal is 46.4 and I'm set @ 40db
Sure I have to turn up the volume a bit, from 10 o'clock to 11:00 but not a big deal. I tried the other side of the 46.4 required and went to 50db but felt better being under. That said I feel if you are within maybe 8db's you should be fine.
The key I think is figuring out exactly how many db's your cartridge requires.
With so many tables and equations or formulas I found I was off by 4-5 db's in
some cases. So get that part right and stay within 8db's and you should be good.
So in short don't obsess over the numbers and not buy the unit you really want.
I almost pasted on my XP-15 because of it and sure glad I didn't.
This puppy is built like a tank and is never leaving my system. 😎
If had known the difference a Phono Preamp could make I would have
bought one sooner.
Even with a modestly priced Grado the extra detail and sound stage is remarkable.
Also just to add to the above post,
MM Gains are fixed @ 40 Unbalanced .....46 Balanced.
I had read in a forum some where that you should stay within 3db of what's required for your cartridge ie. my Grado has 4.8 mv. output so 46.4 db is ideal.
I was obsessed trying to find the preamp that would fall within those numbers.
In reality being within 3db is not that nessary. My ideal is 46.4 and I'm set @ 40db
Sure I have to turn up the volume a bit, from 10 o'clock to 11:00 but not a big deal. I tried the other side of the 46.4 required and went to 50db but felt better being under. That said I feel if you are within maybe 8db's you should be fine.
The key I think is figuring out exactly how many db's your cartridge requires.
With so many tables and equations or formulas I found I was off by 4-5 db's in
some cases. So get that part right and stay within 8db's and you should be good.
So in short don't obsess over the numbers and not buy the unit you really want.
I almost pasted on my XP-15 because of it and sure glad I didn't.
This puppy is built like a tank and is never leaving my system. 😎