Stereophile magazine has gone through some changes. Art Dudley passed. John Atkinson stepped out of the role of editor as Jim Austin stepped in. So when the newest issue (September 2024) arrived today, I wondered what they would say about the Pass Laboratories XP-27 phono preamplifier.
John Atkinson did the tech review and he is a long-time appreciator of the work of Wayne and Nelson. The usual mix of tech & modesty is present in the review.
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(Editor Jim Austin) noticed that, despite all these changes, the noise specification is unchanged — the same as for the XP-25. (He) asked Colburn about this. “The noise differences don’t show up in the specs because they are out of the Audio Precision analyzer’s measurement range,” he responded. “I measure on a stand-alone spectrum analyzer. Having had my hearing tested, it also falls out of my ear’s range. Why it seems quieter, I don’t know.”>
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In the conclusion, Austin said, “With the XP-27 in the system, specific musicians were easy to identify, and the character of each of the three phono cartridges I used was instantly recognizable.” Of course they love the XP-27. Congrats to all.
The same issue has the $150,000 D’agostino preamplifier!
Quasimodo was indeed used. I have also found it to be useful to find bad coax with the second frequency switch on mine.