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X0.2 Owner’s Manual

The X0.2 is an ultra high quality three chassis  line-stage audio 
pre-amplifier featuring remote control and internal power supply.  
It combines a completely new circuit topology with traditional 
construction representing thirty five years of  preamplifier design.

This pre-amplifier flows from a commitment to create the best 
sounding product: a simple circuit with the most natural sonic 
characteristics.  Derived from US Patent # 5,376,899, the X0.2 
integrates power MOSFET  and JFET devices in a simple Class A 
topology in order to deliver the finest sound possible.

The Super-Symmetric gain circuitry used in the X0.2 is unique in 
providing superior flexibility and performance with both balanced 
and unbalanced inputs and outputs, converting one to the other as 
desired without extra circuitry and without performance degradation.

The X0.2 minimizes the number of  components in the signal path, 
and yet retains exemplary objective performance specifications.  It 
pushes the edge of  the art in exploring how much subjective quality 
is obtainable with a new but very elementary gain stage. 

The X0.2 employs a patented new  type of  volume control that 
offers significantly better performance than seen before in an 
electronic control.  It provides over 60 dB of  range, large voltage 
swing and very good measured performance. The distortion and 
noise is at 1/10 and the dynamic range 100 times the previous state 
of  the art in active attenuation. Most importantly it is subjectively 
outstanding; better than any potentiometer we have evaluated.

The fluorescent display is a very special device.  Not only will you 
find its blue color highly attractive and readable, it is far more reliable 
than the usual LED or LCD display.

Very few people are involved in the production of  this product.  I 
supervise all phases of  the construction, and I test each pre-amplifier 
myself.  If  you have questions, comments, or problems, please feel 
free to contact me directly.

Thank you for purchasing this pre-amplifier.  It is my sincere hope 
that you will enjoy its sound as much as I do.  

                                                        

Wayne Colburn

Vice President, Design

Introduction

Summary of Contents for pre-amplifier

Page 1: ...1 X0 2 Owner s Manual pass TM X0 2 Owner s Manual May 18 2006 ...

Page 2: ...nce specifications It pushes the edge of the art in exploring how much subjective quality is obtainable with a new but very elementary gain stage The X0 2 employs a patented new type of volume control that offers significantly better performance than seen before in an electronic control It provides over 60 dB of range large voltage swing and very good measured performance The distortion and noise ...

Page 3: ...ur 4 necessary cables and to each other with one optional cable These cables must be installed before the preamp is powered up The cable jacks are clearly labeled on the rear of each chassis and are style and gender specific so as to minimize opportunity for mis connection Both gain channels are identical electrically the only difference is the color of the identifying rings under the RCA connecto...

Page 4: ...ono cable installed between these connectors unless you plan to operate the X0 2 in mono mode You may use our supplied mono cable or an aftermarket male female XLR of your choosing If you choose an aftermarket cable length should be consistent with the placement of your equipment and not excessively long The DIN connectors plug into their mating jacks and then screw into the rear panel on all thre...

Page 5: ... higher with a differential impedance of at least 20K Ohms Next to the inputs on the rear panel of the gain stages the pre amplifier offers tape inputs through both XLR and RCA connectors This output is a direct connection to inputs 1 2 3 4 and 5 when they are selected from the front panel Input 6 TAPE IN is deliberately not available through the tape output connection Tape input is designated for...

Page 6: ...p pointing arrow representing on and the down pointing arrow v representing off Mute Tape Mono and Amp The leftmost function as selected by the two mode switches is volume and the up down arrows select 72 steps incrementally indicated on the fluorescent display as 0 71 A more traditional knob located at the far right of the front panel which is always active exactly duplicates this control functio...

Page 7: ... intolerable to both ears speakers and bank account We trust that the remote control with its four buttons that duplicate those of the preamp front panel will enable you to quickly select inputs and establish levels of output The rear mounted pair of five way binding posts on the power supply control unit are intended to actuate the remote on off function of our own X series power amplifiers from ...

Page 8: ...tribute to the degradation but there are some different characteristics that are worthy of attention For example smooth low order nonlinearities are additive in quality bringing false warmth and coloration while abrupt high order nonlinearities add harshness and false brightness 3 Maximum intrinsic linearity is desired This is the performance of the gain stages before feedback is applied Experienc...

Page 9: ...changed The analog power supply for the X0 2 consists of a toroidal power transformer delivering an unregulated 45 volts which is then actively regulated before feeding passive filtering and powering the constant current sources which bias the gain stages Each channel has its own regulation The power supply noise reaching the circuit is on the order of one microvolt and the little of that which ge...

Page 10: ...ced 20K ohm balanced CMRR typ 80 dB 20 20kHz Crosstalk typ 90 dB 20 20kHz Output Noise floor 110 dBV 20 20kHz Extl amp turn on 12 volts DC 50 mA continuous Power Consumption 35 watts Dimensions 17 W x 3 5 H x 13 D each Shipping Weight 70 pounds in packing carton 3 units For more information please contact Pass Laboratories Inc P O Box 219 24449 Foresthill Rd Foresthill CA 95631 Tel 530 367 3690 Fa...

Page 11: ... of origin for warrantee service Foreign distributors are only required to offer warranty service on Pass Laboratories product that they have imported Please note Conditions of warranty service and customer rights for product purchased outside the United States may vary depending upon the distribu tor and local laws Please check with your local distributor for specific rights and details Any modif...

Page 12: ... one that is fully safety rated by the necessary local authority Power Cord Protection Power supply cords should be routed so that they are not likely to be walked on abraded or pinched by items placed on or against them paying particular attention to cords where they enter plugs or exit from a device Never under any circumstance insert a cut or damaged power cord into a mains power socket Power a...

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