iceman66
Emo VIPs 
"You miss 100% of the shots you don't take" The Great One
Posts: 1,083
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Post by iceman66 on Nov 14, 2010 0:00:18 GMT -5
Beethoven was a musical genius so naturally he would have chose the UPA-1 for his music. I'm sure he would have like the XPA-2, at least as a step stool since it's taller and heavy. BTW, what the heck is this "Schiit Asgard" on you equipment list. Are you now making up stuff just to look cool. I mean, what's this "Schiit"  ?? Don't give Monku any Schiit, his Shiit is the real deal, some would say his Schiit doesn't stink either. |
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Post by roadrunner on Nov 14, 2010 1:31:46 GMT -5
I think sometimes, judging from his equipment list, he's a little full of "Shiit".  Hey, doggy-ears, let's not get excited and leave a "pile" on the rug in the listening room. ;D Actually, I thought Monku made a Freudian slip when making commentary about the sound quality of his new toy. ;D ;D Make anymore nasty remarks about my Emotiva cables and Monku is gonna grab you by your ears and neuter your "cable" with his Samaria sword... you will have to be careful where you Schiit after wards.  |
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ntrain42
Emo VIPs
Smoke me a kipper, I'll be home before breakfast!
Posts: 2,969
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Post by ntrain42 on Nov 14, 2010 7:18:36 GMT -5
I don't know why ntrain keeps hammering on how "bad" the THD of the XPA-2 is. Yes, it is higher than the UPA-1, but it is so low that not even a dog could hear it. ;D I just took a look at the Audio Precision test results for an 8 Ohm load. Any guess what it shows? Let me save you some time. The XPA-2 has THD of 0.02%, or less, from 2 watts thru 200 watts per channel with both channels driven from 20 Hz to 20 KHz. The Revel F12 speakers will probably never approach drawing 200 watts at any frequency level, let alone those in the treble range. The differences in room acoustics will have a far greater impact on the smoothness of treble response than any difference between the UPA-1 and the XPA-2. Get real, no human being will ever discern a 0.02% distortion level. Depending on what the OP's intended usage of the amps, I can make an argument for either one of these amps being better than the other. There are many more important variables involved here than the near non-existence THD. I sincerely believe the OP will be extremely impressed with either one of these amps. Any audible difference between the sound of these two amps will be minor, assuming the supporting gear even allows the difference to be detected. If you are looking for the optimum refinement in your sound buy the UPA-1; AND, if you are looking for the maximum impact in your sound buy the XPA-2.  You didnt read the spec page correctly. The spec your giving gives THD+N using a 1khz test tone ONLY. THe one Im referring to gives THD+N from 20hz to 20khz. From around 4-5khz up through 20khz the THD climbs into the .1-.2% range which is a magnitude of 10 times higher. And this can be very audible to some in the form of a grainy top end and/or listening fatigue over time. With bright/forward top ends on certain speakers this can be magnified. And as stated before, some people are more susceptible to this than others. |
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Post by Porscheguy on Nov 14, 2010 12:34:20 GMT -5
Its in my sig Andrew. Snell C/V. I'm sure you will say they suck too.....:-) OK, thanks for answering that. So your speakers feature a SILK DOME TWEETER with significantly less on and off axis amplitude response which have a much more laid back sound compared to the Revel's which feature a metal dome tweeter which have a higher frequency response range coupled with significantly higher amplitude both on and off axis. Heck if Im right, those Snells also have a good chunk of foam on the front baffle board to help reduce and absorb high frequency reflections as well. In your case the higher THD of the XPA-2 is going to be reduced in amplitude just due to the fact alone of the tweeter design and set up. Even the sensitivity of those Snells require double the power roughly to get the same output volume as the Revel's here in question. So your basing your experience on a speaker totally different in nature to the Revel Towers the OP has just picked up. The Revel's are going to reveal more of the amps characteristics and potential deficiencies in the treble range. ANd thats one big reason why I especially recommend he go with the UPA-1's because of the significantly lower high frequency THD. And again if the OP, is dead set on more power which would be absolutely and literally useless to those Revel's, then I'd recommend the XPA-1 monoblocks. He will have literally limitless headroom(well technically 4db over the UPA-1), perfect channel seperation/0 crosstalk and retain a very low THD in the treble range(which is IMO the most important thing for those speakers). No they don't. They are titanium dome tweeters..... Shall I pull them out and give you the model number? |
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ntrain42
Emo VIPs
Smoke me a kipper, I'll be home before breakfast!
Posts: 2,969
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Post by ntrain42 on Nov 14, 2010 12:44:13 GMT -5
OK, thanks for answering that. So your speakers feature a SILK DOME TWEETER with significantly less on and off axis amplitude response which have a much more laid back sound compared to the Revel's which feature a metal dome tweeter which have a higher frequency response range coupled with significantly higher amplitude both on and off axis. Heck if Im right, those Snells also have a good chunk of foam on the front baffle board to help reduce and absorb high frequency reflections as well. In your case the higher THD of the XPA-2 is going to be reduced in amplitude just due to the fact alone of the tweeter design and set up. Even the sensitivity of those Snells require double the power roughly to get the same output volume as the Revel's here in question. So your basing your experience on a speaker totally different in nature to the Revel Towers the OP has just picked up. The Revel's are going to reveal more of the amps characteristics and potential deficiencies in the treble range. ANd thats one big reason why I especially recommend he go with the UPA-1's because of the significantly lower high frequency THD. And again if the OP, is dead set on more power which would be absolutely and literally useless to those Revel's, then I'd recommend the XPA-1 monoblocks. He will have literally limitless headroom(well technically 4db over the UPA-1), perfect channel seperation/0 crosstalk and retain a very low THD in the treble range(which is IMO the most important thing for those speakers). No they don't. They are titanium dome tweeters..... Shall I pull them out and give you the model number? Your not using the XPA-5 for your HT? Even so those old C V's are very laid back speakers in the upper frequencies and are considered to be pretty bass heavy by today's standards. There is a parallel array of sandblock resistors inline with that tweeter as well. The sound is very similiar to some of the older Infinity tower speakers from the late 80's. |
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Post by Porscheguy on Nov 14, 2010 13:08:29 GMT -5
No they don't. They are titanium dome tweeters..... Shall I pull them out and give you the model number? Your not using the XPA-5 for your HT? Even so those old C V's are very laid back speakers in the upper frequencies and are considered to be pretty bass heavy by today's standards. There is a parallel array of sandblock resistors inline with that tweeter as well. The sound is very similiar to some of the older Infinity tower speakers from the late 80's. You have an answer for everything...... You will not be defeated. ;D |
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Post by Porscheguy on Nov 14, 2010 13:10:33 GMT -5
I use the XPA-2 to power the fronts and the XPA-5 to power the center and surrounds. The other two channels are used to power the Snell J7 in zone 2.
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NorthStar
Seeker Of Truth
"And it stoned me to my soul" - Van Morrison
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Post by NorthStar on Nov 14, 2010 13:11:00 GMT -5
Ed and Andrew are two very funny cucumbers, that's fo sur! ;D
* Rickie, get your chop-chop sword! ;D
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Post by Porscheguy on Nov 14, 2010 13:15:15 GMT -5
"Old Snells?" They are 11 years old....... Its not like they are from the 70's.
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NorthStar
Seeker Of Truth
"And it stoned me to my soul" - Van Morrison
Posts: 0
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Post by NorthStar on Nov 14, 2010 13:18:34 GMT -5
Hey my Images are not that old either, even if I goddem 23 years ago. With speakers, age is not that important, only Sound is.  |
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Post by Porscheguy on Nov 14, 2010 13:25:30 GMT -5
Hey my Images are not that old either, even if I goddem 23 years ago. With speakers, age is not that important, only Sound is. + 1000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000 |
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NorthStar
Seeker Of Truth
"And it stoned me to my soul" - Van Morrison
Posts: 0
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Post by NorthStar on Nov 14, 2010 13:31:24 GMT -5
...You forgot % at the end!  |
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Post by strindl on Nov 14, 2010 13:41:37 GMT -5
With speakers, age is not that important, only Sound is. My Thiel 3.6's are from 1994 and they still sound great. A good sounding speaker is a good sounding speaker no matter when it was made. |
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Post by VisN on Nov 14, 2010 13:46:35 GMT -5
Your not using the XPA-5 for your HT? Even so those old C V's are very laid back speakers in the upper frequencies and are considered to be pretty bass heavy by today's standards. There is a parallel array of sandblock resistors inline with that tweeter as well. The sound is very similiar to some of the older Infinity tower speakers from the late 80's. You have an answer for everything...... You will not be defeated. ;D Hey every super hero needs a catchphrase. ntrain42's is "I will not be defeated" (must be said in proper super hero voice). On a more serious note there is merit in all you guys' arguments. So theoretically speaking I reckon there is no wrong or right answer. The OP will just have to find out for himself. I also think that it would be mighty MIGHTY difficult to hear significant differences in the SQ between the UPA-1 and the XPA range unclipped. |
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Post by Porscheguy on Nov 14, 2010 13:47:04 GMT -5
With speakers, age is not that important, only Sound is. My Thiel 3.6's are from 1994 and they still sound great. A good sounding speaker is a good sounding speaker no matter when it was made. Those Thiels are timeless. Still considered to be one of the best. |
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Post by Porscheguy on Nov 14, 2010 13:52:51 GMT -5
You have an answer for everything...... You will not be defeated. ;D Hey every super hero needs a catchphrase. ntrain42's is "I will not be defeated" (must be said in proper super hero voice). On a more serious note there is merit in all you guys' arguments. So theoretically speaking I reckon there is no wrong or right answer. The OP will just have to find out for himself. I also think that it would be mighty MIGHTY difficult to hear significant differences in the SQ between the UPA-1 and the XPA range unclipped. Agreed. If you look at my first comments, I said either amp would sound great. But not you know who. He is always right. He: Will not be defeated............... |
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Post by VisN on Nov 14, 2010 13:59:02 GMT -5
Porscheguy,
I really really love ntrain42 for his dogmatic stance on so many audio related matters. The truth is after I research whatever he says I realise he definitely has a very good point. So as far as I'm concerend I will not pick a fight with "He who will not be defeated". I'll leave that to his arch rival called .....
BTW. who is "you know who"? Another super hero maybe?
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Post by Porscheguy on Nov 14, 2010 14:10:48 GMT -5
Porscheguy, I really really love ntrain42 for his dogmatic stance on so many audio related matters. The truth is after I research whatever he says I realise he definitely has a very good point. So as far as I'm concerend I will not pick a fight with "He who will not be defeated". I'll leave that to his arch rival called ..... BTW. who is "you know who"? Another super hero maybe? Well VisN, you are one of the few..... |
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NorthStar
Seeker Of Truth
"And it stoned me to my soul" - Van Morrison
Posts: 0
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Post by NorthStar on Nov 14, 2010 14:13:21 GMT -5
Well, we all know that Ntrain's two best friends are Porscheguy and Chuckienut. ;D * Put these three guys in the same thread, and you got the best of both worlds for all members to benefit from! And I'm totally serious! This is true team work, as each one of them has tremendous knowledge to contribute, even more so in their disagreements. And that mister, is real power! The power of real discussions and exchanges. It's called total participation in the communication that teaches EVERYONE something useful to apply to their own life's situation. ...The Power of true Forums. |
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Post by VisN on Nov 14, 2010 14:17:32 GMT -5
Porscheguy,
LordOfTheRingsEE just outed you. Apparently you and Chuckienut are his best friends. Ooops almost forgot about the deep love shared by Strindl and him as well.
Sometimes I think we take this all a bit too seriously.
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