Pass X1 or BAT 51 SE to drive Pass Aleph 1.2 ?

The Pass X-1 is a good preamp, but i would go with the BAT 51 SE , i think it would perform a tad better overall..I have heard both and my friend owns the Pass X-250 and the BAT VK-40 and loves them..
Good luck,
Dave

Thanks for your feedback.

Hi:
I am a loyal Pass owner and fan. Nelson and Wayne and the guys (never leave Peter out; simply the best!) are the best, and so is a lot of the equipment thay make. But the Pass X1--I could never warm up to it. I tried and tried to like it. It's sexy looking and will no doubt run forever. But I have become a true believer in having tubes in the preamp. There is more dimensionality, dynamic excitement, and well, TUBE MAGIC that I could not get out of the X1; not even close. I love my Aleph 60 mono amps (bit of a cult item at this point), but the X1 just left me bored.
Good luck,
Jeffreyfranz

I own an Aleph 4 and I agree with the above about the Pass X seriea preamps. I also could never warm up to them. Although I tend to lean toward tubes in the preamp, there is at least one solid state preamp that I would consider and that is the Ayre K-1X. Other tube choices are CAT SL-1 and First Sound Presence Deluxe. I have heard the BAT 51 SE and I was underwhelmed. There are plenty of other good choices, I am sure, and there are many which others talk about, but I haven't heard many of them, so I'll remain mute, except on the 3 that I mentioned.