looking for a preamp for pass XA30.5

Very good match with Audio Research LS25 mk1...

How much of a compromise would I be making if I used unbalanced interconnects seeing as the Pass amp is a fully balanced design?

Great amp.  In my view the preamp is one of the most important and consequential pieces of equipment in an audio system, so I wouldn’t get a lesser pre just to maintain a balanced connection.  It’s expensive to implement a truly balanced preamp, so with a $2k budget you’re asking a lot IMHO.

That said, for tubes a Sachs pre can be had fully optioned up for about $2500 and a Linear Tube Audio MZ2 for $2140 fully loaded, and both offer a return policy so you can try either in your system, which is really nice.  Both are single ended only, but hard to see being disappointed with either sonically.  Don’t know your sonic preferences, but the Sachs is probably the slightly warmer of the two while the LTA likely a little cooler by comparison with both skewing more to the neutral than not so depends more on which way you’d like to lean (of course choice of tubes could affect this significantly).

If you’re stuck on a balanced design, a used Atmasphere MP3 would be worth a look and is fully balanced although not all come with a remote.  A used Backert Rhumba 1.3 can also be had used for around $2k and has balanced connections, but I don’t know if it’s balanced from input to output.  Anyway, hope this at least gives you some options to chew on, and best of luck in your search. 

Get a used B&K Pro 10 preamp.I own one and love it.

There WAS, but looks like it was pulled

Anyone who thinks there is no reason for XLR cables unless 10m runs is cra-cra, calling anything else they suggest into question

The only way that MIGHT be true is when/if the components are not dif balanced and merely offering XLR I/Os as a convenience, OR, the cables themselves are crap

As to preamps Tortuga Audio in the Tampa area has some great options

https://www.tortugaaudio.com/

hth

Check out the wyred for sound pre-amp.  Very nice for 2k with numerous reviews....after a while you can send it back in and have them do the uber stage 2 upgrade for an additional 1.7k.  It is an amazing amp for the price.

Rogue RP5 or RP7. 

+1 on Don Sachs

What’s your budget ?for under $4k Don Sachs make a nice one 
Classe make a great new preamp and amp in their top series.
for examples

I’m using a Luminous Audio Technology Axiom II with the Walker Mod with that same amp. Passive preamp that is custom-built to suit. I would email them or call them for your specific needs.
https://luminousaudio.com/collections/axiom-ii-passive-preamp/products/axiom-ii-passive-preamp-walke...

I’m wondering about the advantages of keeping everything in the system fully balanced?

The Freya + is fully balanced or SE. I don't hold any advantages for balanced, unless you want to run >10mt interconnects.
Quite a few sources, poweramps, preamps have balanced inputs/outputs that are fake, in that the circuit is SE and all they do is put a balanced opamp there to give you a balanced input/output, so they actually in this case sound worse that their SE input or output.

Cheers George  

With my Pass equipment I noticed an increase in clarity and volume when I switched from the unbalanced to the balanced inputs.

thanks guys, good info here.  I'm wondering about the advantages of keeping everything in the system fully balanced?  Many of the tube options I was looking at only have unbalanced RCA connections.  How much of a compromise would I be making if I used unbalanced interconnects seeing as the Pass amp is a fully balanced design?

adam8179
I was looking at the Schiit Freya+ but I’m not sure if its impedance characteristics would match with the Pass amp?

 Great choice, as you have three great amps in one, passive, solid state, and tube. With the best mechanical volume control there is 128 position switched relay, and it’s remote.
As for your concerns on impedance match, don’t be. It is 75ohm output impedance from tube or ss, so there is no problem.
And you can always send it back after 15 days if it doesn’t suit.

Cheers George

Pass X-1 works well with the 30.5. Should be within your budget 

I bought a SWL 9.0 Line Stage from Dan Wright, that he had rebuilt and upgraded. It is an amazing addition to my system, blew me away at the sound quality.

Couldn't be happier.
Regards,
Dan 

I'm using a Pass XP10 with my 250.8 it's a very nice sounding combo. The only drawback is the limited RCA inputs.

http://www.supratek.com.auChardonnay is in your price bracket.