I'd second those who've said it takes a few days to warm up. After that it sounds more musical.
I find it transparent, lucid and dynamic, resolving low-level detail effectively whilst separating different strands in louder parts. It's low-noise, quite neutral, and musical.
If your system doesn't lean in that direction, or that isn't your preference, you might miss its strengths.
Weakness is that it lacks a little power.
You don't mention your front-end; as you upgraded from another preamp presumably the XP-12 is an improvement in other respects? It could be more revealing of the sources; it could be that one of the Pass Labs preamps with a bigger PS will help.
Only one way to find out - can your dealer offer a demo, or a loan?
I find it transparent, lucid and dynamic, resolving low-level detail effectively whilst separating different strands in louder parts. It's low-noise, quite neutral, and musical.
If your system doesn't lean in that direction, or that isn't your preference, you might miss its strengths.
Weakness is that it lacks a little power.
You don't mention your front-end; as you upgraded from another preamp presumably the XP-12 is an improvement in other respects? It could be more revealing of the sources; it could be that one of the Pass Labs preamps with a bigger PS will help.
Only one way to find out - can your dealer offer a demo, or a loan?