Just sold UPA-1 for XPA-1, will I regret?

[DC]

Just put out a notice in my local Hifi forum and the 1st person brought my UPA-1. Don't know whether I will regret selling them for upgrading to XPA-1 as the specs are quite similar saved for the output. LOL please not made me regret for I actually quite like the UPA-1.

[NorthStar]

Yes and No. ...But mostly No, because your XPA-1 will beat the crap out of your UPA-1! ;D

[bongteo]

I think I know who you are , you could have bring your upa-1 to another forumer's hse whom has the xpa-1 to a/b but since you already sold your upa-1, I'll give my vote to a nice move

Will the extra $ spent on the upgrade worth it? Depends on how you see it and what speaker you using and the intention of upgrading speaker in future.

Will you regret? Think no, this will be the ultimate amp to go for and I don't think you will have the doubt of "what if" again!!! If I got the extra $, I would have upgrade too!! hee..

[DC]

Thanks mate, feels better now, actually that's 1 of the reason I'm doing this. Currently using a pair of Legacy classic ( 4 ohms, loves power) & intents to sell off to get the magneplanar 1.7.

[aussie]

I doubt you will be sorry, can't say as I've heard either to be honest but the XPA-1 should be everything and more and never even break a sweat.

From all I read the XPA-1 is exceptional value, I'd sell a vital organ to buy a pair if I thought I'd get enough. From all I can read they compare very well for stereo use against amps costing 4 times as much quite easily. I quite enjoy my XPA-5 but I bet the XPA-1 isn't as forward, would be better with mids and even better bottom end control.

Almost all mutli-channel amps I have heard are a little forward, which for HT/Movies is ideal but not the case for 2 channel

[paintedklown]

I am really doubting you will regret that move. If I had the dough, I would do the same thing myself.

I am curious about how these two amplifers compare though. I will be looking forward to your opinions.

Congratulations on your new amps.

[roflcatdown]

Nov 8, 2010 5:19:58 GMT -5 DC said:

LOL please not made me regret for I actually quite like the UPA-1.

You'll regret it as soon as you get the next power bill.

[DC]

That is another thing thats bothering me, does higher wattage or output translate to higher power consumption? Can someone from the tech dept advise?

[roflcatdown]

Nov 8, 2010 10:05:50 GMT -5 DC said:

That is another thing thats bothering me, does higher wattage or output translate to higher power consumption? Can someone from the tech dept advise?

Generally you're using more power only if you're playing at volumes that require it. Just because the amp is capable of that power doesn't mean that the speakers require it, or will draw that much.

[aussie]

Unless your speakers are'nt very sensitive and like to really chew up power I doubt you'll be using any more power than before to be honest.

[ryan08]

Those Maggies will eat some power, right DC?

[DC]

I'm not sure but what I know is maggie loves power and as with my existing speakers it's 4 ohm rating.

[RPA-1 man]

Although I've never heard the UPA-1, I have heard the XPA-1 and it will definitely make a statement as soon as you start listening to it. It is a beast of an amp and as stated by aussie in his post it will not break a sweat. You will be very happy. It will probably be the last set of mono blocks you will ever need to purchase. That is unless you intend to set up a complete home theater system with one XPA-1 per speaker. WOWSER!!

[selkec]

The specs are similiar? Not really. The xpa-1 will chew up and eat that little upa-1. I had the xpa-1's and they are amazing. You will definately not regret it. I regret selling mine.

[ntrain42]

Nov 8, 2010 5:19:58 GMT -5 DC said:

Just put out a notice in my local Hifi forum and the 1st person brought my UPA-1. Don't know whether I will regret selling them for upgrading to XPA-1 as the specs are quite similar saved for the output. LOL please not made me regret for I actually quite like the UPA-1.

Honestly I prefer the UPA-1's. I feel they have a smoother top end. Plus the price difference between em($1200-1400 roughly)is pretty steep considering the XPA-1's in reality only give you an extra 3-4db of headroom for the $1200 or so spent, which isnt much at all(do you really need that since most amps during normal playback only see 1-2 watts continuous power at most). Both are excellent amps regardless, but the UPA-1's are by far the absolute best bang for the buck for what you get and are my favorite Emotiva offerings.

Regardless enjoy either way.

[ntrain42]

Nov 8, 2010 19:34:01 GMT -5 selkec said:

The specs are similiar? Not really. The xpa-1 will chew up and eat that little upa-1. I had the xpa-1's and they are amazing. You will definately not regret it. I regret selling mine.

Not really. 200 watts vs. 500 watts at 8 ohms is only 3-4db more of continuos headroom. In real world volume, thats not very much at all. Remember you need to double your power to gain a paultry 3db of volume. Typical amps in typical situations are only cranking a watt or 2 at most out of them continuously.

If you want to "double" the percieved loudness you need 10db more of headroom. So to double the output of an amp like the UPA-1 that gives 200 watts continuous you would need an amp capable of cranking out over 2000 watts at 8ohms which is 10 times the power.

So 500 watts over 200 watts looks like a big difference on paper, but in reality its miniscule, and only 3-4db more of output which ain't much at all.

[DC]

While waiting for the xpa-1, i'm using 2 channel of my xpa-5 for music & somehow i find there's a overall improvement better hi, mid & tighter bass as compared with the upa-1. I'm no expert so wondering whether is my ear playing tricks or my imagination?

[ocezam]

No, I doubt your ears are playing tricks on you. The XPA-5 can produce more power with only two channels playing than the published specs that Emotiva gives with all channels driven. Most any multi channel amp will act this way. That's how most receivers make their rated power. It's also not good for the amp to operate this way for extended periods of time at high volume levels.

You are hearing the amp control your speakers tighter than with the UPA-1's. This will increase a lot with the XPA-1's. The extra power of the XPA-1's (250%!) isn't about an added 4 decibels of headroom. It's about better control. Much much better control.

You will hear this control through the things you've already mentioned. Extended highs. Tighter bass. Fuller midrange.

I think you'll love the XPA-1's. In the meantime, take it easy on the 2 channel through the XPA-5. You can do it, but don't do it for extended periods at high volume.

[Nemesis.ie]

Nov 11, 2010 4:03:11 GMT -5 DC said:

While waiting for the xpa-1, i'm using 2 channel of my xpa-5 for music & somehow i find there's a overall improvement better hi, mid & tighter bass as compared with the upa-1. I'm no expert so wondering whether is my ear playing tricks or my imagination?

IMO it's mostly tricks, but there are subtle differences. I found things better separated when moving the fronts (all 3) over the UPA-1s and a smoother tone.

The UPA-1 uses the exact same output board as the XPA-5, will have the same power available from the PSU (unless you really crank 2 channels on an XPA-5 which might not be wise) and the UPA-1 has lots more secondary capacitance (80,000uF each versus 60,000 for all 5 channels on the XPA-5).

All that said, you may find the XPA a little "firmer" - more of a kick and the UPA-1 is more "refined/smooth", possibly because of the capacitance difference. I prefer the UPA-1 sound and the mono-block separation. If you prefer the XPA-5, then the XPA-1s will probably be to your liking too.

Note that in some totally blind tests I did with recordings, 4/5 folks guessed the UPA-1 recordings 100% od the time and preferred the sound.

[badronald]

Nov 9, 2010 11:03:58 GMT -5 ntrain42 said:

Nov 8, 2010 19:34:01 GMT -5 selkec said:

The specs are similiar? Not really. The xpa-1 will chew up and eat that little upa-1. I had the xpa-1's and they are amazing. You will definately not regret it. I regret selling mine.

Not really. 200 watts vs. 500 watts at 8 ohms is only 3-4db more of continuos headroom. In real world volume, thats not very much at all. Remember you need to double your power to gain a paultry 3db of volume. Typical amps in typical situations are only cranking a watt or 2 at most out of them continuously.

If you want to "double" the percieved loudness you need 10db more of headroom. So to double the output of an amp like the UPA-1 that gives 200 watts continuous you would need an amp capable of cranking out over 2000 watts at 8ohms which is 10 times the power.

So 500 watts over 200 watts looks like a big difference on paper, but in reality its miniscule, and only 3-4db more of output which ain't much at all.

3db is actually a lot more volume but i think the biggest the biggest difference is "control" and being that the XPA-1 is a fully-balanced differential amp, it should have alot more of it over the UPA-1. I'm speaking based on specs only as i don't have either of these amps to compare but plan on getting a pair of XPA-1s