First of all, as an as owner of the Xono, I do not find it to be lean or thin or sterile sounding. I do agree with the word "authoritative" and it does well with Pop and Rock. Extremely quiet phono with superb build. |
I have owned the Rhea and auditioned a recent Pass phono (XP15 I think).
I found the Pass very detailed but tonally thin and sterile. electric guitars were just wrong.
The Rhea was pleasant, on the warm side, but a little noisy. |
Also consider your pre amp. My understanding is that Aesthetix has rather highish output impedance (true of most tube phono) and it does not like solid state preamp very much ( at least those with 10k input impedance like Spectral, ASR etc). I recently tried Io Signature with my ASR integrated and they did not match well at all. If you have solid state pre with 10k ohms input impedance, most likely Aesthetix will not be for you. Recently I tried Fosgate Signature phono and it works very well with ASR. In the Fosgate manual, it stated that its output impedance is low enough to drive solid state pre with 10k ohms input but did not say what the actual output impedance is. In fact, it sounds better than Io Signature that I tried but this does not mean that Fosgate is better than Io Signature, just that Io Signature just does not like 10k ohms input impedance very much. I believe Rhea has similar impedance pattern to Io Signature. |
For something in between those two, how about the EAR 324 or the EAR88pb. Lots of raves for these 2 phono stage.
It would be of help if we also know what carts you plan on using them with. |
I owned an Xono for several years and compared it with the Audio Research PH7, a hybrid JFET+tube phono stage that is a bit more expensive. My take on the Pass unit is similar to Barrysandy.
As others note, the Xono is solidly constructed and very quiet; it boasts flexible impedance and capacitance loading and has plenty of gain - up to 76dB. In my system it offered a spacious soundstage with an airy sense of venue context. Low end transients are firm with a nice sense of weight and impact. Music through it has punch and drive, probably due to a nice power supply. I would not characterize it as cool or overly incisive and found it particularly well suited for rock n roll.
What I heard by comparison is the Xono is not as harmonically nuanced as the PH7. From it and other tube based units I hear instruments and vocals with better mid-note tonal development and better decay. Through the Pass unit, percussion such as bells and triangles or upper frequency brass could be a tad glassy and occasionally come forward. Overall, the PH7 offered more life-like harmonic information with less smearing, which meant better instrument articulation and separation.
Be that as it may, I really liked the Xono. As they say, you pays and you gets: a used Xonos in good condition under $1.7k would be a great value. As for new, if you don't need more than 60dB of gain, at ~$5k, the ZYX Artisan would be a v. strong solid-state competitor that doesn't sound like solid-state. Its a smallish unit that doesn't get much press, but well worth a listen. If you can go up a notch, the PH7 is superb. |
I also disagree that Xono is sterile and cold. I have not compared it to Aesthetics, but compared to Hagerman Trumpet, and MFA Luminescence. While both tube units do sound warmer and have subjectively a bit more "life", they also luck in control, accuracy and definition. Plus, they need a step-up, and even arguably the best (I have a TX103 copper based unit) introduces distortions and colorations. MFA has enough gain to pull even a .3 mv MC, but noise is high. Even with the AT OC9 in my system Xono does not sound sterile and cold. I guess this may be system dependent. |
The Aesthetix like most all tube phono stages is noisy with very low output (.2 to .3mV) cartridges.
The Xono has state of the art low noise, and high gain (up to 76 dB). Also has more resistance loading steps, and range than any other phono stage, to fine tune any MC cartridge.
The Xono is NOT sterile sounding, but very transparent, slightly warm, and natural sounding!
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I love my X-Ono. I find it musical and authoritative. Pass Labs service is top notch too. |
On the plus side, the Xono does have great build quality, very low noise, lots of gain (good for a low output mc) and is very flexible in terms of cartridge loading so you'll get the ideal set-up with it. If you're just getting into vinyl, I can't imagine why you'd want multiple phono inputs or a remote with a phono stage.
The Xono absolutely does not sound thin and analytic. It is annoyingly "gray" to me but you might not notice that if you're used to the sound of CDs and have never heard a lot of good vinyl playback. Tonal colors and immediacy are lacking due to all the caps in the signal path. It's still a really good piece and a great value used.
Overall the choice depends on the rest of your system and most especially the output of your cartridge. |
I am also just setting up a TT, mine is scheduled to arrive Sept.22. I bought a used Pass Xono to match w/my Pass Aleph amps.I have been using a old Kenwood TT that I got for free. Funny thing I am using a Aesthetix Calypso line stage..and have also considered the Rhea. They are pretty close to the same $$$$ used. After some time with the Xono, I will update you with my impressions.
Good luck going back to vinyl. Don't know if it's a costly step back in time or a giant positive leap for my ears.... |
Bravo Syntax, exactly what I was going to write. You read my mind |
I have the Xono in an all-Pass electronic chain. As Syntax writes, it is silent, with plenty of gain and very reliable. What some find sterile, analytic etc, I find transparent. Like a good pre, I don't want to hear the phono. I just want an accurate RIAA curve and gain, and flexible loading. Perhaps I am hearing synergy with the Pass pre and class A amps, but it is far from cold/sterile/analytic. I have little experience with other phonos and plan to try the new Pass XP-25.
I agree that you should try many competing units in your own system to be sure. |
Pass Xono
+ silent, good gain, reliable
- sounds sterile, thin and analytic, far away from the real thing
Aesthetix
+ multiple Phono Inputs, Remote, lots of settings and gains
- in higher gain the noise is too strong, lacks detail |
I have had both in my system and they are both very good. They both have good dynamics and they both imaged well. I could live with either one but I ended up with the Xono. The Xono has better tonal balance at least in my system. The Xono had bit more authority. I no longer have the Xono but now use a Zyx Artisan with a Zyx 4D with gold coils. If you can listen to as many set ups as you can. I do miss the Xono but love the sound of the Zyx Artisan.
Th |
