Does anyone have experience with the Revelation Audio umbilical cables for the Pass Labs XP-32 preamp? Do these cables make for a nice upgrade over the stock umbilical cables?
You would be better off spending that money elsewhere.
The stock cables are very high quality. And they do not carry signal.
I have installed it on my Pass Labs XP-22, while it is not up there in the stratosphere as your XP-32, I noted a slight improvement, typical of a lowered noise floor. Recommended.
Pass learned from the XP-20/XP30 preamps as those umbilicals were problematic, noisy. My experience differs with the XP-22, hearing a modest reduction in noise.
After all it is no more than a power cord.
I’m with Rick (@weedeewop) on this, Mitch. I found the RAL to be a small but (to me) useful improvement over the stock XP-22 Cord. Having said that, I will also note that by comparison the difference was smaller than the difference between the stock XP-20 and the RAL cord for the XP-20. There are probably other areas where more significant gains can be had in a system, but if you’ve got money hanging around doing nothing, you might want to give it a try.
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Now if it came down to the RAL umbilical or a Gryphon PowerZone, then it has to be the PowerZone. Its impact on all components and overall sound is stunning. The downside for some is the considerable cost.
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RAL has made people (me included) upset with his delivery. I suggest you do some interweb research. I have not seen anything in a while, nor have I made a RAL purchase YMMV.
Add me to the frustrated camp with Revelation cables. I ordered and received MSB Reference umbilical cables and they made a pretty significant improvement in sound. Impressed with these umbilical cables, I ordered a power cable and a couple of XLR cables to try out. I placed the order on eBay and he immediately marked as shipped weeks ago. Still waiting for a reply to my request for an update. If he has to make the cable, no problem, just let me know and set expectations. Venture carefully into business with this one.
I wanted to share an update that I have received all cables that I ordered from RAL and am very please with all of the cables received which include two 1.5m 15a power cables and two XLR cables of different lengths. Given the performance uplift I experienced with the power cables and XLR cables, I would order again from RAL. I provided feedback to RAL recommending better and more prompt communications while setting expectations up front on production and delivery times. RAL cables are cooked prior to shipment and the results are immediate once installed as a result. The cooking process adds time to delivery. Overall, I would recommend these cables but know that most are custom made and that adds to delivery timeline.
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Will be interested in hearing about how you compare them to the Transparent cables your are divesting from…
Scott, the RAL XLR cable is slightly warmer and softer on brighter passages, more inviting on average recorded music. The AQ Dragons are more revealing, analytical, and unforgiving with poor recordings and music with leaner dynamic range. The Transparent XLRs sit somewhere in the middle of these two, musical without too much coloring allowing micro details to shine.
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Thank you for the reply, Matt.
I put in an order for the RAL umbilical cables for my Pass XP-32. I am very excited!!! I hear and read good things about these cables.
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As an XP-32 owner, I’m looking forward to your opinion.
Happy with mine after installing on a Pass Labs XP-22.
I will let you know how they are but I’m getting the upgraded version as the picture below but of the new version connectors for the XP-32
I’m also getting a pair of RAL 1.5 meter balanced interconnects. It just worked out that way so I will try them from my XP-32 to my Silver Fox headphone amp. Very exciting!
