91%
Pass Labs XP-22
The XP-22 is the quiet power behind a great system—low noise, high resolution, and the kind of transparency that doesn’t feel clinical. It doesn’t add excitement; it reveals it, letting your sources and amplifiers perform at their best.
With a two-chassis layout and a straightforward, performance-first design, the XP-22 delivers a wide, stable soundstage and exceptional low-level detail—so music feels more present and more real.
That separation of duties pays off in calm, black backgrounds and a more effortless sense of space. You’ll hear clearer outlines around images, more believable depth, and a more natural decay of notes—especially on acoustic instruments. If you’re building a truly revealing system and want the preamp to disappear, the XP-22 is designed for exactly that.
SPECS AT A GLANCE
- Overall gain: 9.3 dB (Balanced)
- Inputs / Outputs: 5 in / 2 out | Remote: Yes
- Input impedance: 22 kΩ
- Power consumption: 40 W | Chassis: 2 | Weight: 40 lbs
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Professional Reviews 91/100
Deliciously Crispy
Sound Quality
93/100
Build Quality
96/100
Features Connectivity
88/100
Value for Money
84/100
With its inky-black background and richly textured drive, the XP-22 turns familiar recordings into something more dimensional and revealing. 6 Moons and Future Audiophile both praise its smooth, grain-free presentation, while Alpha Audio notes its extra space, punch, and control. It’s a luxurious, reference-grade line stage for listeners who value refinement over flash.
What Reviewers Are Saying
Pros
Exceptional low-noise presentation reveals fine detail, depth, and separation with a smooth, non-fatiguing character.
Rich tonal color and strong drive give music more body, punch, and control without sounding slow or woolly.
Excellent soundstage dimensionality makes instruments and vocals feel more three-dimensional and palpable.
Robust two-chassis construction, dedicated power supply, and refined controls reflect top-tier build quality.
&
Cons
Very expensive, with reviewers framing it as a nearly $10K to over-€10,000 preamp rather than a value buy.
Deliberately simple feature set may disappoint listeners who want built-in DAC, phono stage, or extra modern conveniences.
Its highly transparent, richly revealing nature can expose upstream weaknesses or glare in less sympathetic systems.
SOUND QUALITY PERFORMANCE 93/100
Reviewers consistently describe the XP-22 as exceptionally revealing and quiet, with more detail, depth, and low-level information coming through the system. They also praise its natural tonal richness and smoothness, while noting that it can still deliver strong attack and control when the music demands it.
Transparency Resolution
96/100
Multiple reviews focus on the XP-22’s ability to expose fine detail and lower the noise floor. It is described as giving a 'clearer window' onto recordings, resolving more of the master tape, and revealing effects and layered vocals with more depth and separation.
Tonal Balance Musicality
92/100
The XP-22 is repeatedly praised for sounding smooth, non-fatiguing, sweet, saturated, and richly colored. Reviewers also note believable vocals and natural instrumental tone, with one writer calling its presentation calm and voluptuous on relaxed material.
Dynamics
92/100
Reviewers report strong punch, control, and convincing attack, especially when the music calls for it. One review explicitly links its low noise and control to broader dynamics, while another describes hard attacks that still sound effortless and well-formed.
Soundstage Imaging
92/100
The XP-22 earns repeated praise for dimensionality, spatial openness, and image specificity. Reviewers describe bass lines as more three-dimensional and palpable, and say the preamp remains spatially expansive while still sounding precise and accurate.
Assessments of Build Quality, Usability, and Overall Propositions.
Build Quality
96/100
Reviewers are highly impressed by the two-chassis construction, the dedicated power supply, and the attention to small details like the locking cable, remote, and volume control. The chassis work is described as luxurious and crafted with obvious care, and several comments point to the robust, carefully executed internal design.
Features Connectivity
88/100
The XP-22 offers two balanced and three unbalanced inputs, balanced and unbalanced outputs, a tape loop, remote control, trigger output, home-theater bypass on input 5, and a unity-gain mode. Reviewers also highlight the dual-chassis power supply and the well-thought-out control layout, making it a well-equipped line-stage for its type.
Value for Money
84/100
Reviewers respect the engineering and performance, but they are also clear that this is a very expensive preamp, with comments like 'over 10,000 euros' and 'nearly $10K two-box preamp.' The value discussion leans toward justified luxury and long-term ownership rather than bargain pricing, with some emphasis on holding value rather than being a steal.
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Verified Dealers
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Authorized dealers for Pass Labs XP-22
- A 10 Audio Room 4 Music — in-store — Amsterdam Nieuw-West, Noord-Holland, Netherlands (website)
- Aalen Hifi — in-store — Schwäbisch Gmünd, Baden-Wurtemberg, Germany (website)
- Acoustic Sounds — online and in-store — Salina, Kansas, United States (website)
- Alen Audio — in-store — Extramurs, Comunidad Valenciana, Spain (website)
- Alpha High End — online and in-store — Brasschaat, Vlaams Gewest, Belgium (website)
- Alta Fedelta — online and in-store — Lombardia, Italy (website)
- Assai Audio — in-store — Centro, Comunidad de Madrid, Spain (website)
- Atelier 13 Audio — in-store — Forest Hills, Tennessee, United States (website)
- Audio & Video Expressions — in-store — Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States (website)
- Audio Aktoren — online and in-store — Horten, Vestfold, Norway (website)
and 52 more verified dealers