Pass Labs X1 preamp VS Dodd Audio MLP

nooshinjohn

Does anyone have any advice to offer on this one. I already have the Dodd, but have been drooling over some Pass Labs ever since DK went off the deep end with it. I am looking at the Pass Labs X1 two chassis pre. It gets raves all over the net for it's performance. I hope to pull the trigger on Saturday, but was hoping someone would jump in and offer up an opinion or two before I do.

What I am looking for is to drastically reduce background noise. Currently from my listening position, with the Dodd, I can hear audible hiss at 12 feet, with the volume turned all the way down, regardless of source. I do not get that hiss from the Pioneer SC-65.

The Pass also has a couple of features I have ben looking for, such as variable gain, and the ability to level-match the sources.

Any help would be awesome.

John

BlueFox

nooshinjohn wrote: »

What I am looking for is to drastically reduce background noise. Currently from my listening position, with the Dodd, I can hear audible hiss at 12 feet, with the volume turned all the way down, regardless of source.

Don't know anything about that Pass model, but my Pass gear sounds great and it reliable.

It appears you have much more patience than I do regarding hiss. There is no way I will tolerate hiss at my seating position, or even a little closer. Hiss, at max volume, with my ear next to the tweeter is tolerable. Louder than that then there is a problem.

F1nut

I agree with BlueFox, hiss that audible indicates a problem of one sort or the other.

marvda1

i used to get a lot of hiss from my belles pre until i started getting platinum grade tubes from upscale audio.
the hiss comes from a combination of the tubes you use and the gain of the preamp.

tonyb

Jump on it John, has everything you want.....and Ill agree with the others, hiss of any sort would drive me up a wall.

nooshinjohn

Thanks for the enabling guys. The X-1 will ship on Monday.


http://app.audiogon.com/listings/solid-state-pass-labs-x-1-2-chassis-preamp-2014-12-22-preamplifiers-50322-urbandale-ia

I grabbed it @1800.00 shipped.

F1nut

Congrats John, a major step up.

EndersShadow

Lol... He's got a sugar momma

nooshinjohn

EndersShadow wrote: »

Lol... He's got a sugar momma

Nope... I worked for this one. I will be selling a bunch of stuff to make this move. A Karma is in the works as well.

EndersShadow

nooshinjohn wrote: »

EndersShadow wrote: »

Lol... He's got a sugar momma

Nope... I worked for this one. I will be selling a bunch of stuff to make this move. A Karma is in the works as well.

Thats cool John..

PS my comment was made in jest just so we are all on the same page.

Tell your wife & mom Merry Christmas from our family to yours.

Look forward to hearing your thoughts on it.

polkfarmboy

If I had the cash I would be all pver those jbl speakers in the background. I have heard that that pass labs model lacks sparkle up top.

nooshinjohn

polkfarmboy wrote: »

If I had the cash I would be all pver those jbl speakers in the background. I have heard that that pass labs model lacks sparkle up top.

And you lack any semblance of class. Seems every time I cut you some slack, you find yet another way to p iss me off.

You are once again showing yourself to be the troll I always knew you were. Go take a shite in your own threads.

polkfarmboy

Your asking for opinions? My opinion comes from a friend. I sold a BAT.VK20 too who has this preamp but he returned the VK20 as it was not what hewas looking for either to pair up with his vk55se tube amps.

Are you asking for only positive praises because you bought this?

nooshinjohn

polkfarmboy wrote: »

Your asking for opinions? My opinion comes from a friend.....

Then you have no opinion to offer on the subject, do you?

polkfarmboy wrote: »

Are you asking for only positive praises because you bought this?

Absolutely not, if you have DIRECT relevant experience. You don't, so run along little troll, run along. No more food here for you.

ZLTFUL

John, congrats on the purchase. Oddly enough, you have now purchased something from the same shop I have made multiple purchases at (Audio Video Logic is my buddy's shop I am always referring to).

nooshinjohn

Thanks ZL... I think I got a pretty fair deal on this one. Can't wait to plug it in and figure out how to use it.

tonyb

She's a beaut John, can't wait for your observations.

nooshinjohn

tonyb wrote: »

She's a beaut John, can't wait for your observations.

Neither can I

polkfarmboy

John you have countless opinion's about stuff you have never even heard so your just a hypocrite, plain and simple. I laugh at how immature your responses are but thats not why I am posting again because your nothing to me and dont care about anything you say as its mostly BS anyways.

My post here is to ask why your selling that dodd preamp with absolutely no mention what so ever about an audible hiss from 12 feet away? I think thats something forum members deserve to know before spending over $1000 dont you?

Here is the thread http://forum.polkaudio.com/discussion/165212/for-sale-dodd-audio-mlp-preamp#latest

F1nut

Alright the two of you, go to your corners.

SCompRacer

Congrats on a fine pre amp John. The X1 also sported a patented discrete step volume control. You will love the perfect volume control from top to bottom compared to a conventional pot. No dB differences between channels regardless of setting.

nooshinjohn

That volume control is one of the things I fell in love with about the design. Can't wait to hear it.

nooshinjohn

F1nut wrote: »

Alright the two of you, go to your corners.

I am tired of that fool Jesse. I will not justify anything he says with a reply. As I said before, I was just starting to like the guy and he goes and craps up a FM thread, and now he is here to take a dump on this one.

Time to flush the t urd.

polkfarmboy

Yep I took a dump on your thread by offering.your dac that I did not even want as a trade in on a BAT preamp you said you wanted to buy from me. Oh and now you were starting to like me by talking smack on just about every thread. I start? Want some examples of that because I could link 10 instantly where you just came in and talked sh.t forno reason other than to try be a funny guy.

I think the only one who took a dump on that was that halehoang by saying that my gears junk and saying that everyone on the forum who owns a ps audio mk2 is in possezion of a piece of junk, donttry play some victim here and check yourself.

nooshinjohn

YAWN......

nooshinjohn

DSkip wrote: »

I think it could do you two some good to just have an actual conversation with each other via phone. This internet thing is a bit tricky with the characters we have on this forum.

I would be open to that... I don't like controversy either DSkip, and you are right, his posts do lack clarity. It did not at all look to me like he was offering any trade value, and if that was the case, why not communicate that through PM?

BlueFox

While perhaps not expressed in an optimum manner, PFB's question about the hiss is valid. I would be a bit irked if I purchased a preamp, and it had audible hiss. In fact I returned two NAD T-187 preamps for that very reason. I suspect John would be upset if his new Pass has an issue.

nooshinjohn

BlueFox wrote: »

While perhaps not expressed in an optimum manner, PFB's question about the hiss is valid. I would be a bit irked if I purchased a preamp, and it had audible hiss. In fact I returned two NAD T-187 preamps for that very reason. I suspect John would be upset if his new Pass has an issue.

The pre would have been pre-checked before I shipped it. I have arrangements to get it to Gary, and would have sent it there first, and any buyer would have been made fully aware of it. I have also heard the pre in a different setup with other amps and there was no problems.

I am more inclined to believe my amps and the Dodd just are a bad match with regards to the gain.

PFB's issue is that he has the communication skills of a Brahma Bull in a china shop. It makes understanding his intent almost impossible at times without the aid of C3-P0.

I reached out to PFB with my number to call if he feels like talking... meanwhile he is hitting my posts with the abuse flag... classy don't you think?

nooshinjohn

F1nut wrote: »

Congrats John, a major step up.

How would you compare this to the Joule...

nooshinjohn

It will be here on Tuesday next week... I have never been this excited to get a piece of gear ever. The anticipation is killing me!

tonyb

It's gonna be interesting to hear your thoughts John. The Joule and the Pass are 2 different animals.

The Joule of course being tube is gonna have more meat on them bones, a more fleshing out of the notes with tons of air around those higher frequencies and a wide soundstage.

The Pass is gonna be super revealing, neutral, without any coloration of the sound....which to some is what a good pre is suppose to do, right ? That scenario will let your other components characteristics shine thru.

For me though, I like a little coloration, just my personal preference. Both are excellent pre's, just a matter of which fits your system and ears best.

So by Wednesday we can expect some preliminary thoughts ?