Joined: Nov 2012 Gender: Male Posts: 5 Location: Nashville, TN
New Convert « Thread Started on Dec 12, 2012, 1:12pm »
I had convinced a friend to buy Emotiva without ever hearing any based on some of the reviews and prices. After hearing his set up I was even more impressed. So I purchased an XPA-2. I owned a Krell KAV-250a which is similar in power 250W@8 and 500W@4. My thought was to sit down and compare the two over a weekend of listening. And I would either return the Emotiva or sell the Krell. I invited a couple of friends over and we sat down to compare. I thought it would be very difficult to distinguish a difference between the two amps. It really wasn't. At similar sound levels (which were at far different points on the preamp) the difference was in the low frequency response. I have a pair of Dali MS4's which have two 6.5 mid/woofers and have thought for a long time I need to add a sub. I don't feel that way anymore. Otherwise I would say they sounded similar. Which I think is saying somthing since I paid $3300 for the Krell in 2002 and $679 for the XPA-2 ten years later.
Joined: Nov 2012 Gender: Male Posts: 5 Location: Nashville, TN
Re: New Convert « Reply #2 on Dec 12, 2012, 1:56pm »
Actually I shipped it out today. I didn't want to post anything until I had it sold. The person I sold it to asked me why I was selling. I told him the truth that I was buying an Emotiva. He said, well, Emotiva is okay, but they don't have the build quality of the Krell. I found this very amusing. I looked at the two amps very closely. My impression was the opposite was true. The binding posts for example on the Krell are the absolute cheapest ones you can find. Not so on the Emotiva. I have to say I am impressed.
Very Happy with my Rotel preamp. I wouldn't think the change to the XSP-1 would be worth it unless I had purchased XPA-1's. My next purchase will be a DAC to use my PD-65 as a transport only.
My impression was the opposite was true. The binding posts for example on the Krell are the absolute cheapest ones you can find. Not so on the Emotiva. I have to say I am impressed.
Be careful not to let the die hard Krell fans hear that
HT setup with an Onkyo PR-SC886P, MiniDSPs, custom LCRs and surrounds, an XPR5, UPA-7, and three XPA-1s. With a pair of Seaton Submersive HPs for booms.
Re: New Convert « Reply #6 on Dec 12, 2012, 3:06pm »
I never owned a Krell, but I have extensive listening experience of the Krell amp you own and also the old Krell FPB-600s.
My Emotiva XPR-5 absolutely blows the smaller mutltichannel Krells amps away, and I think it's every bit as good as the FPB-600s. When I get the XPR-1's, I expect it to be a whole new level...
Actually I shipped it out today. I didn't want to post anything until I had it sold. The person I sold it to asked me why I was selling. I told him the truth that I was buying an Emotiva. He said, well, Emotiva is okay, but they don't have the build quality of the Krell. I found this very amusing. I looked at the two amps very closely. My impression was the opposite was true. The binding posts for example on the Krell are the absolute cheapest ones you can find. Not so on the Emotiva. I have to say I am impressed.
Very Happy with my Rotel preamp. I wouldn't think the change to the XSP-1 would be worth it unless I had purchased XPA-1's. My next purchase will be a DAC to use my PD-65 as a transport only.
And Thanks, Glad to be here.
Congrats on your new amp. After ten years of good service, sounds like the Krell did pretty good for you too. Welcome to the forums. Looks like you are pretty close to Emotiva HQ - makes it easy for you to check out their wares in person.
Joined: Mar 2008 Gender: Male Posts: 2,901 Location: Palm Beach Gardens, FL USA
Re: New Convert « Reply #8 on Dec 12, 2012, 4:14pm »
I'm wondering if the Emo amp has an advantage over the Krell in the amount current it can deliver? I have always preferred hi-current amps for their absolute control over the low-end on a good-sounding system. Sounds like you made a very wise move, Grasshopper...<g>
Joined: Nov 2012 Gender: Male Posts: 5 Location: Nashville, TN
Re: New Convert « Reply #9 on Dec 14, 2012, 12:25pm »
Yes, it does. I went with my friend to the Emofest. They had most everything out on display or playing. I was very impressed in the room where they had an Adele concert playing. I actually picked my amp up in person. Hence the reason I thought I would be able to easily try it out and if not satisfied, return it.
I have to make an admission about the tech side of amplifiers. I don't really know or care what exactly makes this one better than that. I'm like the race car driver who doesn't know how an engine works. My goal is to simply recreate the concert experience in my den. When I listen to equipment I judge them on which one sounds more natural. The Emotiva simply sounded more natural by providing me with the bass that should be there. If its because of the current, great.
Joined: Sept 2010 Gender: Male Posts: 49 Location: sunny San Diego
Re: New Convert « Reply #10 on Dec 14, 2012, 12:54pm »
What is the difference in gain of the two amps? I am sure Emotiva would have played louder with the same volume level to give you a sense of clarity and bass impact because Emotiva maybe higher in gain.
My impression was the opposite was true. The binding posts for example on the Krell are the absolute cheapest ones you can find. Not so on the Emotiva. I have to say I am impressed.
Be careful not to let the die hard Krell fans hear that
Glad you're happy with an XPA-2!!
+1 And for sure don't go into the Polk Club saying you like the XPA-2 over the Krell they will BushWhack ya over there!I mess with them all the time over there about my EMO gear.Welcome too the Emotiva Big Dan, A.K.A "Audio God"with his new amps that are out now is stompin all over them Big Boy Toys now.
Re: New Convert « Reply #12 on Dec 14, 2012, 5:00pm »
Woah, that's pretty nice. You even put your money where your mouth was and got rid of the krell and preferred the amp 6 times cheaper as having better sound. Very impressive news. I look at some of the high end amplifiers and I see they don't even bother to put the capacitance on there or sometimes even what class their amps run at or anything for that matter. First I thought - well it's high end so they are implying that none of it matters just the sound quality. But then I realized if they revealed their actual performance and specs well things may start to get a little less "magic" when compared. The way I see it, if you have impressive specs then you are not doing the company a service by not releasing it. So there must be a reason.
Joined: Nov 2012 Gender: Male Posts: 5 Location: Nashville, TN
Re: New Convert « Reply #13 on Dec 18, 2012, 5:45pm »
Katjith,
We were careful to even the volume out. At the same volume level the Emotiva was at about 10 and the Krell was at 2. Granted. I didn't have any equipment to measure, but for sure the gain on the Emotiva is a lot higher than the Krell.
The simple fact is this, I have turned the Krell up pretty loud. Regardless, I have always felt the bass lacking. Since I have owned the Krell since before the Dali's, I simply thought it was the Dali's. My previous Speakers were a pair of B&W 704 with a ASW650 sub. I thought I would have to buy another sub. Now I don't.
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