Emotiva xpa-1 sound


I am looking to up grade my Mark Levinson 333 to a Mono block so I try out the Emotiva xpa-1 because of all the hype and the price is cheap, $1650 for a pair. Here is my two cents on the amps after listening to them. First, the binding posts on the XPA-1 are located too far apart that none of my expensive cables can be used. So what I did is used two extra silver audioquest banana plugs on each end on the speaker cables in order to make the connection on the Xindak FS-2. The xpa-1s sound strong, the voice is sweet, however there is too much noise and there is no separation thus render fatigue after listened to it about half an hour. I thought about keeping the amp because it's so cheap and I might modifying by changing out to a more expensive power cables and binding posts. After thinking about it, I decided to send the amps back because I don't think by modifying it it will cure the noise or render to a better sound of separation. I did not use the better silver speaker cables such as Neotech 02525 because it will transparent to more noise than the Xindak FS-2. My musical system comprises Wadia 861i, Revel Studio Speakers, Nordost interconnects.
au_dioguy
Have had different reaction. I had the same initial reaction and I use them with the Maggie 1.7..It was a struggle I added the 1 ohm the attenuator and then worked on placement....I used the emotiva interconnect cables and simple 12 gauge Monster wire.. Not perfect yet but I get clear separation with the tweeters on the outside. It seems a bit explosive in the upper middle....I find everything in phase and the presentation dramatic. I do not know what you mean by 'noise'... . They are very different from Yamaha M2 There are sounds I never heard before on familiar cd tracks: some of them unpleasant but for the most part flush with dramatic surprises ......I have kept them after a debate, like the one you had and I am not sorry.....
Have had different reaction. I had the same initial reaction and I use them with the Maggie 1.7..It was a struggle I added the 1 ohm the attenuator and then worked on placement....I used the emotiva interconnect cables and simple 12 gauge Monster wire.. Not perfect yet but I get clear separation with the tweeters on the outside. It seems a bit explosive in the upper middle....I find everything in phase and the presentation dramatic. I do not know what you mean by 'noise'... . They are very different from Yamaha M2 There are sounds I never heard: some of them unpleasant But for the most part they are filled with unheard surprises on cd's I have played many times before.......I have kept them after a debate, like the one you had and I am not sorry.....