Post by geebo on Jun 27, 2010 0:57:49 GMT -5
I've had what I would consider above average audio systems for the past 35 years. Some of my past equipment included turntables with Infinity and Mayware tonearms, many direct-to-disc recordings, open reel tape decks, Nakamichi cassette deck and various integrated amps (my favorite, albiet low powered, being a 50wpc Sony V-FET). But I've never had a seperate amp although many times I comtemplated getting one. Lack of funds and/or my x-wife always stood in the way. The Phase Linear 400 was on my wish list if any of you can remember that one. I finally decided to get one to use with the pre-outs of my Onkyo TX-NR807 and did a lot of research on the net before making my choice. Price, value, and user reviews all played a part in my decision. The XPA-5.
My current system consists of Polk TSI500's with a CS20 up front and and older pair of R40's for surrounds and a PSW505 subwoofer. In addition to the Onkyo, I also have a Sony BDP-S470 Blu-ray player and I still have a Kenwood KD-500 turntable with that Mayware tonearm. I wasn't able to try any vinyl yet because I need a new phono cartridge but its definitely something I want to try.
Well, after 10 1/2 hours of tearing apart my system, cleaning things up, reinforcing the bottom shelf of my equipment stand to accept a 68lb piece of equipment, and adding the Emotiva XPA-5 amp with Ultra series interconnects, all I can say is WOW!!!
The first thing I popped in was David Gilmour Live at the Royal Albert Hall on Blu-Ray. Its like I was hearing it for the first time. I used a SPL meter to make sure I was listening at the same levels as I did before the changeover.
If you can describe an amp as "faster", that is just one area that impressed me. Transients were awesome and hit hard from the bass right up thru the spectrum to the highest frequencies. The dynamics quite simply blew me away. Everything seemed so much cleaner and unveiled. Electric guitars were less strident and shrill while not losing any of the upper harmonics and probably adding some to boot. Its kinda wierd, because even though I did all I could to make sure I was listening at the same volume as the night before, it didn't seem as loud. I attribute that to the smoothness and clarity I'd not heard before with my setup. All the instruments were better defined and seperated from each other. Even the bass sounded cleaner even though I have a powered subwoofer. I assume its because the initial spike of hard hitting bass notes are actually a higher frequency thats handled by the XPA-5. Then I cranked it some more and it just got better and better!
After about an hour and a half of listening I went and felt the top of the amp. Just barely warm and in fact the Onkyo (which isn't even driving any speakers) was considerably hotter!
This thing is worth every penny and then some.
Its my first seperate amp because I honestly never believed one could make as big a difference as everyone claimed. Boy, was I wrong. To say I'm pleased is definitely and understatement.
Now I'm wondering what a difference a seperate A/V processor like the UMC-1 could make....
Gotta go now. Going to put in Eagles Farewell Tour 1, Roy Orbison - A Black and White Night (HD Master Audio), and then maybe a movie or two and then....maybe get some sleep... (Nah)
George
My current system consists of Polk TSI500's with a CS20 up front and and older pair of R40's for surrounds and a PSW505 subwoofer. In addition to the Onkyo, I also have a Sony BDP-S470 Blu-ray player and I still have a Kenwood KD-500 turntable with that Mayware tonearm. I wasn't able to try any vinyl yet because I need a new phono cartridge but its definitely something I want to try.
Well, after 10 1/2 hours of tearing apart my system, cleaning things up, reinforcing the bottom shelf of my equipment stand to accept a 68lb piece of equipment, and adding the Emotiva XPA-5 amp with Ultra series interconnects, all I can say is WOW!!!
The first thing I popped in was David Gilmour Live at the Royal Albert Hall on Blu-Ray. Its like I was hearing it for the first time. I used a SPL meter to make sure I was listening at the same levels as I did before the changeover.
If you can describe an amp as "faster", that is just one area that impressed me. Transients were awesome and hit hard from the bass right up thru the spectrum to the highest frequencies. The dynamics quite simply blew me away. Everything seemed so much cleaner and unveiled. Electric guitars were less strident and shrill while not losing any of the upper harmonics and probably adding some to boot. Its kinda wierd, because even though I did all I could to make sure I was listening at the same volume as the night before, it didn't seem as loud. I attribute that to the smoothness and clarity I'd not heard before with my setup. All the instruments were better defined and seperated from each other. Even the bass sounded cleaner even though I have a powered subwoofer. I assume its because the initial spike of hard hitting bass notes are actually a higher frequency thats handled by the XPA-5. Then I cranked it some more and it just got better and better!
After about an hour and a half of listening I went and felt the top of the amp. Just barely warm and in fact the Onkyo (which isn't even driving any speakers) was considerably hotter!
This thing is worth every penny and then some.
Its my first seperate amp because I honestly never believed one could make as big a difference as everyone claimed. Boy, was I wrong. To say I'm pleased is definitely and understatement.
Now I'm wondering what a difference a seperate A/V processor like the UMC-1 could make....
Gotta go now. Going to put in Eagles Farewell Tour 1, Roy Orbison - A Black and White Night (HD Master Audio), and then maybe a movie or two and then....maybe get some sleep... (Nah)
George
