Emotiva XPA-2
Oh, I thought this was going to be a thread discussing if the XPA-2 was a good fit for you. Instead it's a thread saying...? Anyway, as far as I'm concerned, synergy with speakers counts for something. With my speakers, Emotiva amps are too bright. Try saying that on the Emo forum, I got all the same attacking opinions in reverse. Glad you found an amp you like. |
in one of my systems i have a xpa-2. i have used magnepan mmgs, phase tech monitors and mbquart towers in the system with good results. during the daytime hours there are times i am less than impressed. but after midnight with great recordings the amp is one of the best i have ever had in 35 years. other amps used were hafler, cyrus, mcintosh , luxman, british fidelity. the emotiva can sound great. |
I don't have an Emotiva amp, but I have been very impressed by the XPA 1 D/A/Preamp in my system. Very impressed indeed. Emotiva, as a company, seems to have the right formula for the future. I have seen little that compares with them for five times the price. The Krell amp I tried ten years ago was too bright for my speakers too. Doesn't mean they make bad amps. |
Gumby, are you referring to the XDA preamp they have? That was also too bright in my system, plus the volume is lossy, so it wasn't a good purchase for me. I'd beg to differ on it beating units costing much more as some find the DAC Magic by Cambridge to be better. But the Emo amps can be good depending on the speakers. What I don't like about their amps is the small power supplies and Caps they have. They get around this by higher gain structures, but owners of some speakers complain of hiss. Their power is always spec'd to .1% THD so at rated power they're already climbing rapidly into distortion. Krell or other amps, heck even Outlaw Audio, have better cap and power supplies and don't have the dancing LED lights straight out of the 80's that the Emotiva amps have. Having said that, for the money spent they are decent. Their newer line looks better, the XPR series. To each their own I guess. |
I have the XDA-1 DAC/PRE Sorry for the confusion. This: http://www.hometheaterhifi.com/dacs/dacs-reviews/introduction-to-the-emotiva-xda-1-differential-reference-dac-for-the-audiophile.html |
Just got an XPA-2. Changed out the power cord to a Cullen Crossover cord. OMG, what a difference. Anyone that says power cords don't matter, have to be crazy. The sound stage just exploded,and the instruments were better focused. Had my inlaws over and they said they couldn't tell where the speakers were. Music everywhere. I love it! |
I tried the Cullen Crossover power cord with the amp and love it. This is my first power cord upgrade so my only comparison is to stock power cord. What a difference! There is a consistent sweetness to the sound, it's just more musical. I now see the power cord as an important piece of the audio ecosystem. |
I now run my XPA2 with an Audible Illusions 3A preamp. All connectors are Morrow level 6 or 7's. So how does it sound?.......was at a dealers having my turntable tuned. Got a chance to listen to 6000 dollar speakers and 6000 dollar plus preamp and amps. My Emotiva and vintage Snell C's blew his stuff out of the water. Those that say Emo gear is midfi are just jealous they paid so much for their stuff and it doesn't sound any better....IMHO. |
I am currently using aes six PAC el34 tube amps, but used the emotiva xpa2gen for 6-8months prior to going all tube. The xpa replaced an aging b&k ex442 and there was no comparison. There was markedly more dynamic range and detail with the emotiva. The bottom end control of the xpa with my gallos was excellent. Best of all it had detail even at lower volumes. I guess this is due to its large power reserves. To me it sounded very much like the krell gear that I have heard. It had the same "bite" on cymbal crashes, etc. It seemingly epitomizes the difference between hyper detailed solid state amplifiers and softer, less fatiguing tubes. Fwiw I plan on keeping the xpa2 and building a second system around the xpa2 if/when we move from our current home. |
Schubert, it was easy to get rid of the bright sterile sound. Have you listened to Paradigm Signature speakers at all, I mean the ones with the beryllium tweeters? Or are you just going by your experiences with the Studio or Monitor line? When I switched to Parasound electronics the sound became much much better with amazing vocals. |
Hi Dave_72 I had to sell the Pass so just memory, but it was not that long between the 2. I sold my VK-D5se also and im using a very cheap source for now but i used the same source with both amps and for the $ im very happy. Side by side could be very different but nothing jumps out as a problem to my ears. I tried some class D amps before the X250.5 and sold them Quickly. Ted |
