2. amps-preamps
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Looking to upgrade from Emotiva XPA-1 monoblocks

I am currently running 4 XPA-L1s bi-amped into a pair of Legacy Whisper HDs along with a Legacy Wavelet DAC. My main sources are an Emotiva ERC 3 CD transport and a Rega RP 6 turntable through a Moon preamp.

The Wavelet and the Moon pre are recent upgrades and have made a pretty big difference coming from a Yamaha RX-A 1050 receiver!

For the most part the system sounds pretty good. But lately I am starting to feel like the sound is a little edgy (if that makes sense).

I feel like I have exhausted the tools I have at hand, the Wavelet room correction/contouring, room treatments, cable upgrades etc. So, I am thinking new amps would be the likely upgrade to get that little extra out of my system.

Do I stay with a 4 monoblock setup? Could I move up to better stereo amps? Stay with bi-amping? Yada, yada, yada!

Budget wise I would like to stay under $6000.

I have been doing a lot of research, but thought I would throw it out here to get some input as well.

BTW...I will be attending AXPONA next weekend so any recommendations to explore are welcome also.

Sorry for the long post! 

tkn42

Showing 3 responses by tkn42

tkn42 OP
4 posts
 

It's kind of always been there. I heard these speakers at friend's house and was really impressed with them. I don't recall what he had on the front end at the time. Always buying and selling gear. That's how I ended up with them.

I will say the Wavelet is probably the biggest change since I have owned the Whispers. I live an hour away from Legacy and had them program it for the whispers specifically and it did smooth things out a bit.

I have been doing a lot of critical listening lately. Maybe it is just me!

I will check out the McCormick though. 

 

tkn42 OP
4 posts
 

Thanks for all the input, everyone!

@jeffbij - My buddy is bringing me a couple of LSA Warp1s to try for the weekend.

 

@mark200mph - The Legacy iV 2 is on the list for sure. I have heard them at their show room multiple times, although through their upper range speakers. Very smooth amp.

I think a better explanation of what I am hearing/not hearing is a lack of detail and separation in the 800hz _ 3k range. There is a lot going on in there!  It gets fatiguing after a while. 

All part of the fun!

 

tkn42 OP
4 posts
 
@audio_guy_uofw - Yes, they are very directional. 
@jeffbij - I am curious how they will sound with the whispers. I have heard them with his Dynaudio Evoke 50s and they sounded really good.

I let you know how they sound!

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