@rar1 I read somewhere here you have/had a Adcom pream GTP-500, how do/did you like it? There is a guy he has A GTP-500 and a GFA-535 for sale for $200? What do you think? Are they Adcom will work ok with my Klipsch?
Emotiva XPA5 Gen 1
Hi, I am a newbie here and also in the world of music. I started a stere system last month, Just bought a pair of Klipsch R28F and a sub. I only listen to music and now use a Onkyo TX-8555 for Stereo. I would like to have a power amp and use the Onkyo as a Preamplifier. There is a local guy has a Emotiva XPA5 Gen 1 wants to sell it for me for $400. My question is: should I buy it ? Or should I buy 2 channel amp only for stereo music? This gets me to another question: I saw ClassDAudio has A 2 channel amp, 250wpc, for over $500, is it a good amp and should buy it instead of the Emotiva?
Please hepl me!
Thanks in advance for your help!
Please hepl me!
Thanks in advance for your help!
21 responses Add your response
For your subwoofer, you will most likely have to get a couple RCA splitter cables like the following: You would connect the splitter cables to the right/left RCA outputs on your preamp. The splitters allow you to further connect separate left/right RCA cables to the amp (for main speakers) and to the subwoofer inputs. Sometimes you can get an amp that has 2 sets of RCA outputs. The Vincent has two sets. On your Onkyo preamp, you can use the single RCA subwoofer output on the back/top for the Klipsch subwoofer. Just connect it to either the left or right input on the sub. NOTE: Even though the Schiit preamps have 2 sets of outputs, you can only use one at a time. The Parasound P5 actually has an analog crossover built in so that you can split the frequencies between MAIN RCA outputs as separate SUB RCA outputs. |
My same comments on Emotiva XPA-5 also apply to A-300. If you really want a brand new amp with that much power, Emotiva is hard to beat. But you can easily get a used amp that is significantly better! Emotiva Preamp - same thing. They are rather lackluster in the midst of other preamps, but if you really want a NEW product, it's hard to beat. Preamps are actually a lot harder to buy cheaply than amps. You have to spend a good amount of money before you are able to get something decent. If you are looking for sound quality, this Vincent is probably the minimum I would recommend (it's all manual source selection and volume - no remote): http://tmraudio.com/components/preamplifiers/vincent-sa-31-stereo-line-preamplfier-sa31/ The Vincent is actually a quite excellent performer. It get's hard to find a good preamp without spending $600-700 or more. If you want bargain basement, look at Schiit Saga. You can then upgrade the tube to something like Electro-Harmonix 6SN7 to get better resolution. http://www.schiit.com/products/saga If you're willing to spend more, Schiit Freya for $699 is outstanding. If you want to stay on the solid-state side, Parasound P5: https://www.usaudiomart.com/details/649439594-selling-parasound-p5/ Hope this helps. |
Both of these amps are very old. I used to own Adcom amp (GFA545) and it was great for a first amp in my journey. However, I found it was very dirty sounding and low resolution. Both of these amps (Adcom/Acurus) are very warm and laid back sounding. If you want that kind of sound, then I would probably recommend Acurus as the better quality component. Sounds like you are looking for local ads only? Do you have a dislike for internet sales? Parasound 2125 from TMR Audio ($400): http://tmraudio.com/components/power-amplifiers/parasound-model-2125-stereo-power-amplifier/ Parasound 275 V2 (newer model) from TMR Audio ($379) Odyssey Khartago ($525): https://www.audiogon.com/listings/lis90340-odyssey-audio-khartago-tube All of these are from reputable sellers (TMR is a retailer that has excellent customer service). Any of these will be better than Adcom/Acurus. They will have more resolution and attack (more detail in the music). |
Having owned an Emotiva XPA-5 and now a Class D Audio SDS-470, the 470 is far superior in air, detail, imaging and overall sound balance than the XPA-5. As another person said, it is a bit bright and probably is not a good match with your Klipsch. When I owned a set of Klipsch Heresy II's, I ran them with a Parasound HCA-1205 amp. Smoother sounding than the Emotiva that I had. For me, the Class D Audio is the best sounding Class D amp that I have owned. Even better sounding than my Wyred4Sound ST-250 or Rotel Class D amp. |
Have the XPA-5 Gen 2 amp and have been using it for 3 years; it is excellent. You can switch from 5 to 2 channels with a pre (use the XMC-1 myself) and it makes going from movies to music effortless. If you mainly/only listen to music I would recommend you stick with a stereo setup; the XPA-5 is not necessary for this. Most music is mixed for stereo and you get a better soundstage with two speakers and channels. Even a subwoofer will interfere with low bass imaging (2 are much better). |
Thank you so much for all your help and inputs. I feel like I learned something new about music world. So my only purpose now is for stereo music, I will not buy the Emotiva XPA 5, and will look in to Parasound, Class D Audio and other Amps 2 channel. I like to buy separately amp and pre amp so I can upgrade later on. |
Hi Justin - I own the Class D Audio CDA 250 amp that you are referring to. I purchased it about 6 months ago and could not be happier with the amp. If you are in this hobby for any appreciable time, you will research at some point the different classes of amps and how class D amps work as compared to class A, the more traditional AB, and so on. Class D amps (the circuits, not the company) have not enjoyed the best of reputations, mostly because the earlier implementations of this circuit type have sounded sterile as auxinput has noted. Enter the company, Class D Audio. The amps manufactured by this company do not sound sterile, quite the opposite. I am finding the CDA 250 very musical and not at all fatiguing. I swapped out my tube amp and am using the Class D Audio in my main system and I am pleased. Granted I am running different components than you are and I am not sure how your Onkyo will perform as a preamp only, which will be the bigger determinant of the sound you get. The Onkyo is a receiver and I owned some variant of this receiver 20 years ago and while it was a good receiver, I am not sure how well if it would stand alone as a preamp. There are better amps for your money than the Emotiva. You lose nothing by trying the Class D Audio CDA 250 and see how it goes with your Onkyo. It will definitely be an improvement over the Onkyo alone, though I would not be surprised if you go preamp shopping down the road. As an aside, if you are considering an integrated amp solution, Upscale Audio has a special on the Musical Fidelity M2SI integrated. A $1000 amp for $600. This would fit your bill nicely. https://www.upscaleaudio.com/collections/sweet-deals/products/musical-fidelity-m2si-integrated-ampli... Rich |
Emotiva amps are very good for the money, but there are definitely better amps. If you really need a 5 channel amp with that much power, it’s hard to beat Emotiva. However, stock Emotiva is quit bright. I have found you can tame an Emotiva pretty okay by switching out the fuses to Isoclean (adds warmth and takes the edge off the brightness). If you are only doing 2-channel music, it’s better to put that money towards a better amp. Class D is a good technology that is efficient and provides a lot of power for the size. However, compromises are made in the circuit architecture which essentially translates to inability in the higher frequencies. These can be presented as a flatter more sterile sound. It depends on your listening. I have found Class D to lack air, life and excitement. I would probably look towards something like a Parasound A23 and upgrade the fuse to silver Hi Fi Tuning Supreme. Parasound 2125 is another good one for less money. Odyssey Audio Khartago is an excellent option. These are all in the "under $600" range. |