And with a bit of eq'ing, what a beast. Output is insane, it sounds just as good as EMG's though different...
Awesomeness, get one

Yup it's output is about the same as EMG 81. The only bad thing about it is that it does not sound good on the clean channel where as EMG sounds good both clean and distorted. But most people use a separate pickup for clean so it's not a big issue. I think X2N is the best passive pickup for metal.

I've not tried clean yet, I'm trying to get the distorted sound as perfect as i can, you can really tell that there is just soo much more to come from it.

EMG's sound okay clean.
ITs all subjective really. BUt good choice on your purcahse and welcome to the family.
The X2N has as much output as the 81, the difference being tis still a passive pickup, so all the passive qualities remain. It responds better to dynamics, and it really represents your woods tone better than a pickup like the 81, which really makes wood choice a minimal part of the tone equation, wheras passive PUPs will capitalize on your wood choice.

I reckon it's the more "sensitive" response to mahogany that I'm struggling with atm. An 81 in my zakk wylde worked out easily and I could pretty much use a general eq setting, this pickup seems to be a bit bassier and thats probably down to the Mahogany, and the bit i need to get rid of...

QUOTE(Robfo)I reckon it's the more "sensitive" response to mahogany that I'm struggling with atm. An 81 in my zakk wylde worked out easily and I could pretty much use a general eq setting, this pickup seems to be a bit bassier and thats probably down to the Mahogany, and the bit i need to get rid of...
Its a pickup suited more for mid rangey woods, not so much Mahogony.
In a basswood body, or something similarily mid rangey, its tight as hell. In mahog it gets a bit large and loose, because of its bassy nature.
Another reason why passives are so much fun, they sound totally different in different woods.

Does this mean Im never gonna get that UBEr tone with it? Or deos it mean its gonna take a fair bit of work?

QUOTE(Robfo)Does this mean Im never gonna get that UBEr tone with it? Or deos it mean its gonna take a fair bit of work?
That depends how pastient you are

Ugh.
Tbh, it sounds good as it is, you can just tell there's more to come from it.
I'll get my gutair teacher to have a look, if he cant get a decent tone then no one can..

QUOTE(Northern_Wrath)EMG's sound okay clean.
ITs all subjective really. BUt good choice on your purcahse and welcome to the family.  
The X2N has as much output as the 81, the difference being tis still a passive pickup, so all the passive qualities remain. It responds better to dynamics, and it really represents your woods tone better than a pickup like the 81, which really makes wood choice a minimal part of the tone equation, wheras passive PUPs will capitalize on your wood choice.
I can hear a clear difference w/ an EMG on Alder vs. EMG on Mahogany. I think EMG sounds much better than X2N on clean also. But ya it's all subjective including tone. X2N is definitely an amazing pickup for anything non-clean and it would be my #1 choice if i were to go passive (along w/ paf pro for neck position).

I have a vintage X2N in my Kramer. It is a bad boy of a pickup- chunky as fuck.