# PMG pre Vs PassLabs xp12

**URL:** <https://forum.psaudio.com/t/pmg-pre-vs-passlabs-xp12/43674>\
**Category:** Preamplifiers\
**Created:** [February 7, 2026, 5:47am UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/pmg-pre-vs-passlabs-xp12/43674 "2026-02-07T05:47:57Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 7\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Andy\_Walters](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecae2f/32.png) [@Andy\_Walters](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/Andy_Walters)\
**Post date:** [February 7, 2026, 5:47am UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/pmg-pre-vs-passlabs-xp12/43674/1 "2026-02-07T05:47:57Z")

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Hi all from down under

I have about $15000 AUD to spend and am about to audition both these units as I believe my preamp is the weakest link in my system & they are about the same price.

Need more info? Just ask

What are your thoughts on these?

Cheers

Andy

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**Author:** ![adifferentpaul](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forum.psaudio.com/adifferentpaul/32/282181_2.png) [@adifferentpaul](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/adifferentpaul)\
**Post date:** [February 7, 2026, 6:47am UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/pmg-pre-vs-passlabs-xp12/43674/2 "2026-02-07T06:47:17Z")

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Those two preamps are both great choices. Can’t go wrong either way.

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**Author:** ![Elk](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forum.psaudio.com/elk/32/1240_2.png) [@Elk](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/Elk)\
**Post date:** [February 7, 2026, 2:59pm UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/pmg-pre-vs-passlabs-xp12/43674/3 "2026-02-07T14:59:40Z")

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I have not heard them back-to-back. But I expect the PMG to have greater transparency with the XP-12 to present with more warmth (not that the PMG is cold, rather it is neutral).

Why do you feel your current pre is inadequate? What is it?

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**Author:** ![msaladino22](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forum.psaudio.com/msaladino22/32/127421_2.png) [@msaladino22](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/msaladino22)\
**Post date:** [February 7, 2026, 3:40pm UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/pmg-pre-vs-passlabs-xp12/43674/4 "2026-02-07T15:40:59Z")

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PMG Pre is closer to XP-22 than 12.

 ![IMG_1368](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/uploads/psaudio/original/4X/6/3/2/63279e22192525096795bca25ff71aa18be8a1ec.jpeg)

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**Author:** ![Andy\_Walters](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecae2f/32.png) [@Andy\_Walters](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/Andy_Walters)\
**Post date:** [February 9, 2026, 12:57am UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/pmg-pre-vs-passlabs-xp12/43674/5 "2026-02-09T00:57:26Z")

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Hey all…

My system consists of:

Pre: Stellar Gain Cell

Amp: BHK250

Streamer/DAC: Lumin T3

Power: PS Audio P10

Sub: REL T7x

Speakers: Amphion 7LS

Cheers Andy

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**Author:** ![pcullen1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ba8739/32.png) [@pcullen1](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/pcullen1)\
**Post date:** [February 9, 2026, 12:53pm UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/pmg-pre-vs-passlabs-xp12/43674/6 "2026-02-09T12:53:28Z")

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The reviewer says he still holds the XP-22 “near and dear to his heart”. What is one to conclude from that? Nothing, I think.

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**Author:** ![msaladino22](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forum.psaudio.com/msaladino22/32/127421_2.png) [@msaladino22](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/msaladino22)\
**Post date:** [February 9, 2026, 1:03pm UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/pmg-pre-vs-passlabs-xp12/43674/7 "2026-02-09T13:03:53Z")

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He stated that the PMG was more dynamic. The important point here is the PMG Pre is more competitive to the XP-22 not Xp-12 the less costly option.