I've had moments like that as well, but such moments are in isolation from any real comparison. Dealers sometimes depend on such "wow" moments to sell gear.
I had a 1st gen XAP amp and I thought it was amazing for the price. But then over time, when swapping in other gear, I discovered weaknesses. It might be better to not discover these, because if you're not careful you can get on a merry-go-round of continually upgrading.
But for me, sound quality is of utmost priority, and I have the budget to make improvements. These XPA-3 amps sound great until you compare with better amps, and then you hear the inaccurate bass, the hot highs, the lack of complete imaging. Not as critical with a home theater, but for music, not so much. They are built to a price point, just like any other brand, and have compromises to reach those price points.
I had a 1st gen XAP amp and I thought it was amazing for the price. But then over time, when swapping in other gear, I discovered weaknesses. It might be better to not discover these, because if you're not careful you can get on a merry-go-round of continually upgrading.
But for me, sound quality is of utmost priority, and I have the budget to make improvements. These XPA-3 amps sound great until you compare with better amps, and then you hear the inaccurate bass, the hot highs, the lack of complete imaging. Not as critical with a home theater, but for music, not so much. They are built to a price point, just like any other brand, and have compromises to reach those price points.