Pass Aleph L 1.2?Maybe O.T.

[michelangelo]

I want to buy a second hand aleph L but the seller don't know the version.
The serial number is 07544.
Is the 1.0 version or 1.2?
Thank you very much

[Nelson Pass]

Harrington has already answered this question via email, but for
general information, the later one has 2 white wires from the
volume control to the board, for a total of 8 eight wires.

[michelangelo]

Thank you Mr.Pass

[scorpio1]

Originally posted by michelangelo
I want to buy a second hand aleph L but the seller don't know the version.
The serial number is 07544.
Is the 1.0 version or 1.2?
Thank you very much

Hi Michelangelo, did you get an answer to your question, I'm considering buying a used Aleph L as well, serial number 7128, pretty close to what you mentionned, what was 7544?

Thanks!

[Heiney9]

Need a little clarification about a used Aleph L as to which version the seller has.

Serial #07598

I had the seller open the top to check the wiring and this was his response:

Okay, I just carefully took the top off; mine has 6 wires from the volume control to the board. Two white, two red, two blue.

Before I buy I'd like to be absolutely sure about which version he has. He thought because the prior owner mentioned the fact that until the 3:00 position it was in passive and then switched to active (which would indicate it's a the later version 1.2). But he's not sure what version he has either and I'm not sure the prior owner even knew there are 2 versions. He could have just been repeating what he read in the on-line owners manual.

Thanks so much for any input to help determine if this is a 1.0 or 1.2. I'm anxious to mate it to my Aleph 30 amp.

[Heiney9]

The seller of the Aleph L talked with Desmond as Pass Labs and confirmed the one I an looking at is in fact the earlier 1.0.

It's my understanding that there is a series of dip switches inside the unit by which you can change the gain from the factory set 6.5dB to either 3.4dB or 0dB.

So the next obvious question, is this considered a purely passive pre-amp regardless of the gain setting? Or is it strictly passive at the 0dB gain setting and considered active for the other (2) settings.

I've read the 1.0 is a purely Mosfet design which is active.

Thanks for clearing up some of the questions for me.

H9

[Nelson Pass]

It is a unique circuit in that at a midpoint setting of the volume control
it is a pass-through from input to output, below that it is a passive
attenuator, and above that it taps into the output of a gain stage.

[Heiney9]

Thanks for the response, I appreciate it very much. I assume since the "L" was designed around the same time the Aleph 3 was that they "play" well together and would do the same with my current Aleph 30 as well?

Perhaps you could shed a little light on what difference in sound one might notice/expect between the Aleph L and the Adcom GFP750 which I am currently using with my Aleph 30. This combo sounds fantastic and I'm not wanting to loose the great synergy.

How important is the fact the GFP 750 is balanced vs. the single ended inputs/outputs of the Aleph "L".

Looking forward to your repsonse.

Brock

[Nelson Pass]

Originally posted by Heiney9
How important is the fact the GFP 750 is balanced vs. the single ended inputs/outputs of the Aleph "L".

The bulk of audiophiles seem to prefer the balanced topology with
its cancelled 2nd harmonic.

[Heiney9]

Originally posted by Nelson Pass


The bulk of audiophiles seem to prefer the balanced topology with
its cancelled 2nd harmonic.

Perhaps you could expound a little bit on why/how the 2nd harmonic is cancelled? Is this the only way to cancell a 2nd harmonic?

I'm intrigued but admit I don't quite understand it all.

Thanks again

Brock