As you noted, you can read the comparison of the XP-30 to the XP-20 and to your X0.2 on Dagogo or Secrets of Home Theater Hifi. The descriptions of the XP-20, which I owned for a few months, are spot on (I also owned and liked the X0.2). I didn't care for the XP-20 in my system. I replaced it with the ARC Ref 40 Anniversary and for me it was a significant upgrade (Of course it should have been it was $25K!). Like Ed Momkus I found the XP-20 too clinical although a liked the dead quiet background and bass. However, if your power amp is on the warm side it may be just the ticket. The ARC Ref 40 has more warmth, better sound stage, and just a bit of texture resulting in a very natural sound to me. While the bass is very good in the ARC, it will not match the XP-20 for sheer impact if that's important to you, although it has a tactile quality the 20 doesn't have. I have not heard the XP-30 although reviews suggest that I would really like it. You don't say what amp you're pairing the preamp with and that is a major consideration. My tube hybrid Counterpoint NP220 (mid-tweets to 240 Hz) is dead neutral, very immediate and very revealing. Oh, you may have a difficult time finding a used Ref Anniversary as they were a limited run dicontinued since Fall of 2011. If you're seriously consider ARC get the 5SE as it has the bigger power supply and the teflon output caps. These recent upgrades as well as new tubes and transformers are the major drivers of the change in the ARC house sound and the the reason ARC is enjoying a bit of a resurgence. Happy listening and good luck.
