Since 1997 Pass Laboratories has been respected for building some the finest phono stages in the audio industry.
The transition from Aleph Ono, through X-0no and now to the XP-15 and XP-25 represents a sophistication and maturation of both thinking and component evolution.
- Single Chassis XP-17
- Adjustable Gain
- Resistive and capacitive loading on all the front panel for easy access.
XP17 uses the new-shielded low noise toroid and input filter module, like the XP-12. The power supply has an extra stage of RC filtering. Pass Labs has lowered radiated and mechanical noise.
Designed with a split EQ network like the XP 25 and XS Phono that is more accurate and can handle greater signal levels.
The secondary stage runs a higher bias output stage with auto bias.
The numerous loading options from the XP-15 are all still available and three gain settings to accommodate low output MC to MM cartridges.
The XP-17 has a very accurate RIAA equalisation curve. This curve is accurate to better than 1/10 dB across 10 octaves. The accuracy of this curve does not vary with an adjustment change of gain or cartridge loading. The XP-17 features gain adjustable from between 56dB and 76dB; a range sufficient to allow successful operation of not only high output moving magnet cartridges, but also the lowest output moving coil cartridges without the use of an auxiliary step-up transformer. This extremely low noise / high gain structure of the XP-17 is capable of cleanly and quietly delivering in excess of 0.5V line level signal output with a phono cartridge input of 80 micro-volts. These are some of the best performance figures in the industry, and spectacular for a piece at this price point.
