Which preamp for a pass labs?

Like the OP, I use a Pass XA 30.5. My phono pre is a Pass XP-15 and my Pre is a Pass XP-10.  Even on the high gain setting on the phono pre, the system is very quiet, black backgrounds, I'm sure due, in a large part, to the balanced design and CMRR as Ralph points out.  The connection between the XP-10 and XA30.5 is a 25 foot run of Canare 4e6s star quad XLRs which sound exactly like a shorter run of AQ SKY balanced cables in my system.  This also agrees with Ralph's statement about the benefit of a balanced design and cheap cables.  

Hopefully some day I will sell the XP-10 and XP-15 for an Atma-sphere MP-1.

-Karl

VAC preamp with Purist balanced cables.

I’ve used both a Cary  Slp05 and an Atma Sphere MP 1 with very good results with Pass amps, currently 2 30.8s. Preferred over any solid state pres including Pass. I run balanced Kimber selects, have 7 meter run between amps and pre.

@georgehifi Can you send me the link of the store? Thanks