Description
The affordable high-end preamp
The successor to the X-P500, the X-P700 offers technical refinements rarely seen in this range: dual mono design and the most direct signal processing possible (Direct Path). As a supreme refinement, it is possible to choose between two output schemes: the class A mode using bipolars in a double cascade assembly, close to a tube gradient, and the discrete mode, based on a JFet differential and current mirror in the bipolars, polarized in class AB, more traditional. Its design is very sober and uncluttered, a single rotary knob is present with a push button to validate the choices: access to inputs, volume control, bass / treble tones, balance or intensity. The remote control activates these functions remotely.
The X-P700 is really very complete: nine analog inputs, one of which is balanced, and a MM/MC phono. On the digital side: two optical inputs, one coaxial input, one USB-B (Xmos) and one USB-A. The DAC is the powerful Burr Brown PCM 1796 -24 bit/192 kHz converter. On the output side, the X-P700 offers an RCA doubled with a balanced XLR, plus a high pass output and two for the subwoofers. The headphone lovers are pampered: two inputs in front (jack 6.35 and 3.5) plus underneath a double independent gain adjustment +6, 0, -4 dB and output impedance 0 or 100 ohms.
The X-P700 is very seriously built, starting with the sober 10 mm black methacrylate front panel, common to the Classic Line. But the interior is more revealing: two large capacity toroidal transformers feed dual mono filtered and regulated power supplies on the motherboard, also containing the preamplification stages. The quality of the adjustable MC high and low level phono stage, as well as the MM capability is remarkable for this budget, hard to imagine better.
In short, at the price at which the new X-P700 is offered, it is difficult to propose better. This is what we wanted from the beginning of the development of this new preamplifier. We didn’t skimp on the quality of the components, decoding or power supply, the kind of attention that counts when listening.
The X-P700 is the ideal preamplifier, it can be associated with our range of power amplifiers like the famous X-A160 (or EVO), X-A220 (or EVO), BX2 or the new X-A600 or any other audiophile quality power amplifier. Have a good listen. Discover !
