Post by boomzilla on Sept 20, 2011 7:05:32 GMT -5
Ever the cheapskate, I purchased my used XPA-2 for $600 via e-Bay (shipping included). I was highly skeptical of the product, and calculated that should I choose to turn around and sell it again, I could get most of my money back.
I've been into audio since the 1970s. My first "high powered" amplifier was an Adcom GFA-1 used with Dahlquist DQ-10 speakers. Prior to that, I'd had the usual parade of '70's Japanese integrated amplifiers & receivers. I've also had in my system over the years stereo/mono power amplifiers including:
What made me look at the Emotiva XPA-2 in the first place was the purchase of my latest speakers, Thiel 3.6 models. The Thiels are highly articulate, faithful to exactly the signal that they're fed, low in impedance (often below 4 ohms for significant segments of the spectrum), and have a very complicated crossover to maintain phase coherence to the listener that creates large phase-angles to the amplifier. In short, they're difficult to drive.
I first tried my Thiels with a Jolida tube-solid-state hybrid integrated amplifier. At 100 wpc, the amp was sufficiently loud to play without clipping and had a glorious sound stage in my living room. Unfortunately, the bass (what there was of it) was very subdued, indistinct, and "mushy," for lack of a better word.
I then borrowed a Crown PS-400 "pro" power amplifier. It was a bit less open sounding than the Jolida, but despite its ample power ratings (almost 300 wpc into 4 ohms), the bass was still exhibiting the same problems as with the Jolida.
To ensure that the problem wasn't with the room rather than the amplifier, I tried moving the speakers out into the room, closer to the back wall, closer together, and farther apart. Nothing had any significant impact on the bass. Having read online reviews of this speaker, I didn't think that the speaker had recessed bass response. I therefore concluded that a more "muscular" amplifier was required that would properly control the woofers despite the intervening crossover.
My listening room is about 25 x 15 and is well ventilated on all sides by doors, openings to foyer & kitchen, and by an open stairwell landing to the second floor. The floors are vinyl plank over concrete, the walls are sheetrock, and the furniture is leather. Altogether the room is relatively "live."
My listening preferences vary widely from rock to country to classical to "surprise me." The common theme is that my better half doesn't like loud volumes and so my listening level rarely approaches 90 dB at the listening couch. This would, in theory, allow me to get by with less wattage.
My source material is uncompressed CD audio streaming from a MacBook via iTunes directly into the power amp. The MacBook DACs do the digital to analog conversion, and the analog signal goes to the amp via an 1/8 stereo headphone to dual male RCA-jack cable.
I did some online research and considered the Odyssey Khartago and Stratus, the Outlaw audio mono blocks, and the Emotiva UPA-1s. After listening to some on this forum, I finally chose the used XPA-2 (you were wondering when I'd get back to that, weren't you?).
Immediately, the system's bass tightened up significantly and became more prominent in level. This alone changed the sound of the Thiels from so-so to good. The bass now had pitch, control, and audibility that was formerly lacking with any other amplifier I'd tried.
Additionally, the soundstage now became more articulate and the depth of the soundstage approached (if not bettered) that of the tube-hybrid Jolida integrated amp. Soundstage width (already good) remained so. The soundstage depth and width equal my recall of the best amp I've had in my system in the past few years (the McIntosh MC-352), and the bass is better.
I cannot play the system too loudly in my room without the midrange and treble becoming harsh. I believe that this is an artifact of the room's reflectivity and not an aspect of the amplifier. I base this call on the fact that the system also sounded harsh if I cranked up the Jolida or the Crown too loudly.
Overall, I consider the XPA-2 the equivalent of the very best amplifier I've had in my system previously (the McIntosh MC-352 at about $3,500). I am extremely happy with the price/performance ratio of the Emotiva but even ignoring cost, this is a top-notch amplifier.
There is no grain, hash, or hiss in the signal at all, even with my ear against the speaker grilles. There is no audible hum even with my ear against the speaker grilles. The music comes from a silent background increasing the perception of high dynamic contrasts even at low volumes.
The amp sounds, dynamically, like my older Klipsch LaScalas or Cornwalls used to sound without the frequency response irregularities of those speakers. The dynamics of the Emotiva are excellent with my Thiel speakers.
The amp also does not seem to change character with frequency response. The Crown amplifier, for example, sounds clean and smooth up to the lower treble frequencies. Above that, however, the amp sounds grainy & coarse. The Emotiva does not lose its smoothness even into the highest frequencies. The Thiel tweeters are mercilessly revealing, and will display any amplifier's shortcomings. With the Emotiva amp, even chimes and cymbals retain their brass & bite without sounding grainy.
At the levels that I play, the amplifier runs coolly in my room. Despite the low impedance and difficult phase angles presented by my speakers, the amplifier maintains control and composure. With the Emotiva driving them, I can hear he detail and separation that the Thiels are famous for and enjoy the experience.
In short, Bravo Emotiva! This level of amplification, in my experience, has only been available in multi-thousand dollar amplifiers. Emotiva brings this level of performance to the masses at affordable prices.
For those unfamiliar with the Emotiva XPA-2, do not let the fact that you haven't had exposure to the brand drive you off. I've owned Bryston, McIntosh, Quicksilver, Luxman, Yamaha, and many other brands of amplifiers. The best amplifier deal I've ever bought was this Emotiva XPA-2 amplifier. Since I've never heard the well-reviewed Odyssey Audio amplifiers, I can't compare those, but I can say that the Emotiva is well worth your listen. I am not disappointed, and I suspect that you won't be either.
Happy Listening - Boomzilla
(moniker NOT indicative of listening preferences)
I've been into audio since the 1970s. My first "high powered" amplifier was an Adcom GFA-1 used with Dahlquist DQ-10 speakers. Prior to that, I'd had the usual parade of '70's Japanese integrated amplifiers & receivers. I've also had in my system over the years stereo/mono power amplifiers including:
- Dynaco ST-70 tube amp
- Quicksilver mono tube amps
- McIntosh MC-352 solid state super-amp
- McIntosh MC-240 tube amp
- Bryston 3BST
- etc. etc. etc.
What made me look at the Emotiva XPA-2 in the first place was the purchase of my latest speakers, Thiel 3.6 models. The Thiels are highly articulate, faithful to exactly the signal that they're fed, low in impedance (often below 4 ohms for significant segments of the spectrum), and have a very complicated crossover to maintain phase coherence to the listener that creates large phase-angles to the amplifier. In short, they're difficult to drive.
I first tried my Thiels with a Jolida tube-solid-state hybrid integrated amplifier. At 100 wpc, the amp was sufficiently loud to play without clipping and had a glorious sound stage in my living room. Unfortunately, the bass (what there was of it) was very subdued, indistinct, and "mushy," for lack of a better word.
I then borrowed a Crown PS-400 "pro" power amplifier. It was a bit less open sounding than the Jolida, but despite its ample power ratings (almost 300 wpc into 4 ohms), the bass was still exhibiting the same problems as with the Jolida.
To ensure that the problem wasn't with the room rather than the amplifier, I tried moving the speakers out into the room, closer to the back wall, closer together, and farther apart. Nothing had any significant impact on the bass. Having read online reviews of this speaker, I didn't think that the speaker had recessed bass response. I therefore concluded that a more "muscular" amplifier was required that would properly control the woofers despite the intervening crossover.
My listening room is about 25 x 15 and is well ventilated on all sides by doors, openings to foyer & kitchen, and by an open stairwell landing to the second floor. The floors are vinyl plank over concrete, the walls are sheetrock, and the furniture is leather. Altogether the room is relatively "live."
My listening preferences vary widely from rock to country to classical to "surprise me." The common theme is that my better half doesn't like loud volumes and so my listening level rarely approaches 90 dB at the listening couch. This would, in theory, allow me to get by with less wattage.
My source material is uncompressed CD audio streaming from a MacBook via iTunes directly into the power amp. The MacBook DACs do the digital to analog conversion, and the analog signal goes to the amp via an 1/8 stereo headphone to dual male RCA-jack cable.
I did some online research and considered the Odyssey Khartago and Stratus, the Outlaw audio mono blocks, and the Emotiva UPA-1s. After listening to some on this forum, I finally chose the used XPA-2 (you were wondering when I'd get back to that, weren't you?).
Immediately, the system's bass tightened up significantly and became more prominent in level. This alone changed the sound of the Thiels from so-so to good. The bass now had pitch, control, and audibility that was formerly lacking with any other amplifier I'd tried.
Additionally, the soundstage now became more articulate and the depth of the soundstage approached (if not bettered) that of the tube-hybrid Jolida integrated amp. Soundstage width (already good) remained so. The soundstage depth and width equal my recall of the best amp I've had in my system in the past few years (the McIntosh MC-352), and the bass is better.
I cannot play the system too loudly in my room without the midrange and treble becoming harsh. I believe that this is an artifact of the room's reflectivity and not an aspect of the amplifier. I base this call on the fact that the system also sounded harsh if I cranked up the Jolida or the Crown too loudly.
Overall, I consider the XPA-2 the equivalent of the very best amplifier I've had in my system previously (the McIntosh MC-352 at about $3,500). I am extremely happy with the price/performance ratio of the Emotiva but even ignoring cost, this is a top-notch amplifier.
There is no grain, hash, or hiss in the signal at all, even with my ear against the speaker grilles. There is no audible hum even with my ear against the speaker grilles. The music comes from a silent background increasing the perception of high dynamic contrasts even at low volumes.
The amp sounds, dynamically, like my older Klipsch LaScalas or Cornwalls used to sound without the frequency response irregularities of those speakers. The dynamics of the Emotiva are excellent with my Thiel speakers.
The amp also does not seem to change character with frequency response. The Crown amplifier, for example, sounds clean and smooth up to the lower treble frequencies. Above that, however, the amp sounds grainy & coarse. The Emotiva does not lose its smoothness even into the highest frequencies. The Thiel tweeters are mercilessly revealing, and will display any amplifier's shortcomings. With the Emotiva amp, even chimes and cymbals retain their brass & bite without sounding grainy.
At the levels that I play, the amplifier runs coolly in my room. Despite the low impedance and difficult phase angles presented by my speakers, the amplifier maintains control and composure. With the Emotiva driving them, I can hear he detail and separation that the Thiels are famous for and enjoy the experience.
In short, Bravo Emotiva! This level of amplification, in my experience, has only been available in multi-thousand dollar amplifiers. Emotiva brings this level of performance to the masses at affordable prices.
For those unfamiliar with the Emotiva XPA-2, do not let the fact that you haven't had exposure to the brand drive you off. I've owned Bryston, McIntosh, Quicksilver, Luxman, Yamaha, and many other brands of amplifiers. The best amplifier deal I've ever bought was this Emotiva XPA-2 amplifier. Since I've never heard the well-reviewed Odyssey Audio amplifiers, I can't compare those, but I can say that the Emotiva is well worth your listen. I am not disappointed, and I suspect that you won't be either.
Happy Listening - Boomzilla
(moniker NOT indicative of listening preferences)