Well it would not fit in the rack. Too wide by a couple of inches. So had to wire it up as is. I use short 50cm interconnects so that now a problem, have had to re-locate the pre-amp to the now vacant bottom shelf of the rack so everything will reach everything else.
powered up, some clicking, some buzzing and then silence. turned the attenuation right up on the passive and put on something gentle to start with cf 'The Nightfly'. Both channels working fine, up the volume to proper levels, we have music!
I had almost fully expected to come back and say it sounds exactly the same as the XTZ it replaces. But it doesn't. Sounds a bit crisper and more focused. Obvious from the first few bars of music. Early days yet though.
Another pic. WAF is through the floor but fortunately I have no W to raise this as an issue