Pass Labs XP-20 owner manual

XP-20 Owner’s Manual

remote; those two positions, on and off. This function is useful in that it allows the preamplifier to function as a unity buffer (0dB gain at volume step 75) for use with components that best function with their own volume controls, such as surround processors. When the right-front and left-front outputs of the processor are routed through input 5 of the XP-20 (with the gain of the XP-20 set for step 75), the volume will be under full control of the processor and the XP-20’s action will be totally transparent.

When the user chooses this setting the software sets the XP-20’s gain to step 75 and displays the setting as 75P for both right and left channel, regardless of how it was previously configured. When at unity gain in the home theater mode (Pass Thru) both left and right level controls on the XP-20 will have a displayed value of 75P (0 dB), and any previous balance settings will be over written, allowing total control by the processor. Both of these default conditions are intentional, and intended to make the most advantageous use of your source electronics.

You may also set any input to unity (0 dB) by setting the volume at step 75 from the remote or front panel control.

When “Pass Thru” is de-selected the XP-20 reverts back to the previous input, volume and balance settings.

Input 5 may be manually selected and used without the “pass thru” function, in which case its behavior will be identical to inputs 1-4.

The electronic volume control allows greater than 80 dB range and is driven by a micro-controller that reads the optical encoder serving as a front panel volume control.

In this manner tracking of the volume of the two balanced channels is possible with accuracy unavailable on any ordinary analog volume control, assuring precise level steps and high common mode noise rejection in balanced circuits. Wayne Colburn’s exceptional volume control in conjunction with the fluorescent display give the user ability to replicate volume levels with absolute accuracy in steps of roughly 1 dB or less.

The remote control uses a multi-button direct access architecture. This remote is designed to operate several pieces of Pass Labs electronics, not all of the functions available on this remote will be applicable to all of your Pass Laboratories electronics. Specifically the uppermost left hand button marked “power” does not work with the XP-20. The XP-20 is designed to be powered continuously and therefore this button will not affect the pre amplifiers operation.

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