# Pass Labs x-1 preamp opinions? **URL:** \ **Category:** Preamplifiers\ **Created:** [June 12, 2025, 12:30pm UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/pass-labs-x-1-preamp-opinions/41919 "2025-06-12T12:30:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![rkindel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ac91a4/32.png) [@rkindel](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/rkindel)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2025, 12:30pm UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/pass-labs-x-1-preamp-opinions/41919/1 "2025-06-12T12:30:37Z")
I’m not familiar with this preamp. I noticed at rather rough looking one available at TMR. Haven’t been able to find much online about it other than some old forum posts that trended positive. Sounds interesting but not sure if it would be musical enough. Thoughts? ---
**Author:** ![weedeewop](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forum.psaudio.com/weedeewop/32/190064_2.png) [@weedeewop](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/weedeewop)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2025, 1:34pm UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/pass-labs-x-1-preamp-opinions/41919/2 "2025-06-12T13:34:46Z")
Long in tooth, take a Pass and get the current XP-12. ---
**Author:** ![ViperRGD](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forum.psaudio.com/viperrgd/32/176965_2.png) [@ViperRGD](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/ViperRGD)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2025, 1:42pm UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/pass-labs-x-1-preamp-opinions/41919/3 "2025-06-12T13:42:40Z")
I saw what you did there!😁 ---
**Author:** ![tony22](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f04885/32.png) [@tony22](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/tony22)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2025, 2:08pm UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/pass-labs-x-1-preamp-opinions/41919/4 "2025-06-12T14:08:48Z")
Agree with weedee. It was good in its day (I had one), but it had its day in the sun. An XP-12 would be great, but IMO an XP-20 or even an XP-10 will easily surpass it. ---
**Author:** ![RonP](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forum.psaudio.com/ronp/32/213555_2.png) [@RonP](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/RonP)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2025, 2:26pm UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/pass-labs-x-1-preamp-opinions/41919/5 "2025-06-12T14:26:52Z")
It’s a fantastic preamp. But as Weedee said, it’s quite old. And Wayne Colburn’s knowledge as well as materials have come a long way since the X-1. I wouldn’t be surprised if the new XP-12 sounds better. ---
**Author:** ![jll37](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/71e660/32.png) [@jll37](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/jll37)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2025, 2:52pm UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/pass-labs-x-1-preamp-opinions/41919/6 "2025-06-12T14:52:03Z")
It’s good for the typical price, but XP-10 and XP-12 much better…friends system went from X-1 to XP-10 and was very good upgrade… ---
**Author:** ![rkindel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ac91a4/32.png) [@rkindel](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/rkindel)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2025, 3:33pm UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/pass-labs-x-1-preamp-opinions/41919/7 "2025-06-12T15:33:08Z")
Looking for the tape monitor feature so that is what grabbed my attention with the x-1. But, the XP-22 is probably the one for me. Would like to make a move in a few months. No hurry. Tried to PM you but got a message saying you had blocked the feature. Saw one on TMR a month or two ago but it sold before I acted. Still a bit on the fence. Leaving tomorrow for a vacation and have a spot reserved for PS factory tour on Tuesday. Hope to talk to someone there to see if the PMG preamp can serve my needs somehow. Of course no tape monitor with their preamps. PMG probably out of my wheelhouse price wise anyway. ---
**Author:** ![roger-macklin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9e8a1a/32.png) [@roger-macklin](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/roger-macklin)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2025, 3:45pm UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/pass-labs-x-1-preamp-opinions/41919/8 "2025-06-12T15:45:00Z")
Also note the PMG preamp does not include headphone amplifier/output as did the BHK preamp. ---
**Author:** ![weedeewop](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forum.psaudio.com/weedeewop/32/190064_2.png) [@weedeewop](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/weedeewop)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2025, 6:08pm UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/pass-labs-x-1-preamp-opinions/41919/9 "2025-06-12T18:08:03Z")
Solution noted, but just in case there is this: [Pass Labs XP-10](https://www.hifishark.com/search?q=Pass+Labs+XP-10) [XP-10](https://www.audiogon.com/listings/lisbdh2j-template-032666-full-range?refsource=hifishark) Available from a dealer at $2,100, TMR is asking $2,199 for the X-1.