I’ve been obsessing about preamps for the past few months, and I’ve narrowed my choices down to three options:
(1) PMG Preamp – great initial user reviews thus far. Cost to me is $6k after BHK preamp trade-in.
(2) Backert Rhumba Extreme 1.4 – reportedly has sonics close to their flagship model, but at a lower price ($8500). A blue LED is added to the analog volume knob to make it easier to adjust volume with the remote. Purchase includes a two-week money-back trial. (See recent review in the Absolute Sound.)
(3) Hang onto my BHK preamp a bit longer and enjoy saving some money while listening to beautiful music.
I’ve gotta say if I were in your position I would lean towards option #3 for a while leaving option #1 as a possibility depending on how things pan out in the long haul. But then again option #2 might be intriguing as well depending on synergy with the rest of your system.
I went from a BHK preamp to a Pass Labs XP-12. I found the improvement in refinement, inner detail, dimensionality significant. That was the start of a long love affair with Pass Labs components. Of course my taste might not be yours at all.
No, not at all in my case. In fact I’ve been on the hunt for a nice used XP-22 for some time now. They seem to be quite rare. That one seems to check all my boxes. It’s been quite some time since Pass Labs updated their preamp line. Hoping they do and some might finally show up on the market. They have announced a new version on their top preamp. Hope that’s a good sign of more to come.
A similar experience for me, shifting from the BHK-pre to Pass XP-32. The improvement was both quantitative and qualitative, to my subjective ear in a very significant way. Overall, larger and cleaner window into the music, shifting from being-presented to being-enveloped with the music.
The Pass Labs XP-12 is easy to like, and a stepping stone to the XP-22. The latter a significant improvement in sonic presentation, especially by lowering the noise floor thus allowing sonic detail, soundstage and image specificity to shine without spotlighting.
Seems to be a rather fair price. I am not affiliated with the seller in any way, and if you are interested suggest due diligence. Pass Labs are extremely reliable IME. Used in excellent condition can take the sting out of acquisition.
@weedeewop Good questions regarding what performance improvements am I looking for that might benefit from a new preamp. In the past 6 months, I have upgraded my speakers (to Aspen FR10), my amps (to Atma-Sphere Class D GanFET monoblocks), and my streamer (to Innuos Pulsar). In the process, I have learned that increasing transparency and high-frequency detail doesn’t automatically introduce harshness and digital “edge” if you find the right equipment. So I’m looking for a balance of transparency, naturalness, and fullness of tone that makes reproduced music sound as realistic and “live” as possible, without spending too much money to get there.
At this point, I’m thinking that there may be alternatives that could replace my BHK preamp and/or Mk2 DAC and get me closer to my goals without breaking the bank. I’m considering PMG options as well as other brands, but I’m unlikely to buy anything I can’t try in my home system. Of course, I still like many things about my BHK pre and Mk2 DAC, so I’m not in a hurry to change gear. If the BHK were just a bit more open and transparent, I probably wouldn’t be looking at all.
Pass Labs will get you there, and is well built so if you are open to lightly used it could be a good move. If you were local I’d arrange a loan, with a Gryphon Power Zone 3.10 to boot.
@weedeewop Thanks for the offer of a local loan. I’m probably not super close to you, but I do live in the midwest (eastern Iowa).
I’ve been tempted by Pass Labs at times, and I have great respect for Nelson Pass. In fact, I owned a Pass-designed Adcom 555 stereo amp for many years. (I used that amp with a Bryston preamp.) I’m not sure who would win a preamp shoot-out between Pass Labs, Backert Labs, and PS Audio’s PMG preamp in my system. Interesting thought, though.
I’m pretty sure that borrowing a Gryphon PZ would be an amazing experience, but I’m not ready to go there at this point.
This forum is filled with wonderful people who have special skills in thinking up ways to “help” forum members spend their money. Keep up the good work!
My DS MKII is giving me exactly what I want sonically. So my goal in a preamp is to let that sound through without change. Secondly if the soundstage could be enhanced at the same time that would be perfect.
I’m lucky in that my Decware SEWE300B amplifier has a wonderful preamp stage built in–I’ve tried it with two excellent preamps and they are not necessary–the Mk II into the amplifier without another preamp sounds best.
Pretty much in the same crossroads as SDL above with options #1 through #3. I would add the XP-22 as option #4. No rush as the BHK pre is no slouch so leaning on #3 until all the votes are tallied.
A comparison of the PMG Pre to the Pass Labs XP-22 would be interesting. Any early PMG Pre adapters have/had the Pass pre and can shed any light?
I am currently using this unit. I went from using the Direct Stream dac directly into the 700 mono blocks. Adding the Pass Labs XP12 made all the difference and now everything is more musical, warmer and much more analog sounding. It’s a really splendid no frills solidly built unit that is very pleasing to the eye and great sounding.