etunes
Seeker Of Truth
Posts: 7
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Post by etunes on Oct 14, 2014 10:42:58 GMT -5
I'm thinking about doing a DIY sub but I don't want to build in an onboard plate amp so I've been looking at traditional amps and also using an outboard crossover. A single XPA-100 looks like it should do the job fairly well. Has anyone done this and if so how are your results? Also, are these amps capable of driving a 2 ohm load? I didn't see a power spec rating going that low, but that doesn't mean the amp isn't capable of driving that impedance. I only ask as I've been thinking about using a dual VC 4 ohm woofer wired for a 2 ohm load. This isn't set in stone so I can avoid doing that but I'd like to know if this amp can do it if I wanted it to. Thanks!
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Post by garbulky on Oct 14, 2014 10:47:56 GMT -5
It'll probably work. But it likely wouldn't be fantastic if the load dipped below 2 ohms imo.
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Post by ansat on Oct 14, 2014 11:26:41 GMT -5
I currently use a upa-2 to drive 2 4 ohm TC sounds subwoofers. It does a fairly good job. (not as good as the crown amp of mine)(but far prettier in the rack) I would not run a 2 ohm load into the amp though. Since the load changes with frequency dipping into the 1 ohm range could yield negative results. If I were to do a new build, I would probably use a plate amp for simplicity. If I were stuck with an external amp, I would stick with Crown or try out the inuke 3000 or 6000 dsp as I have been hearing some positive results with them.
Tony
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Post by repeetavx on Oct 14, 2014 11:59:04 GMT -5
There are a couple of us using the XPA-100 as a sub amp. Mine is driving a an old dbx 15 inch 8 ohm speaker. The first Emotiva amp I used on it was a UPA-1. It did a better job than the Parasound HCA-750A that I had been using previously. Then I moved up to the XPA-100. It has even more control and musicality than the UPA-1 did.
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Post by Gary Cook on Oct 14, 2014 14:58:46 GMT -5
I also use an XPA-100 as a sub amp with a 17" driver in a 100 litre ported enclosure. I have used many amps with that sub and the XPA-100 is easily the most musical. While at the same time maintaining the impact for movies. For the last week I've had an XPA-1L (in for service and test) driving the sub and I honestly didn't notice the difference.
Cheers Gary
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Post by moovtune on Oct 14, 2014 16:25:39 GMT -5
I used a mini x-100 for about three weeks powering one of my Epik Legends when its amp went out. It did just fine. So an XPA-100 should work great.
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Post by sct on Oct 14, 2014 17:18:35 GMT -5
Go with a Crown XLS-1000, it'll do the job properly and has a nice built-in crossover...
SCT
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Post by Gary Cook on Oct 14, 2014 20:11:59 GMT -5
Go with a Crown XLS-1000, it'll do the job properly and has a nice built-in crossover... SCT That's valid choice, but one I rejected for purely personal reasons, which may not apply to everyone. I'm not a fan of fans in home audio gear, perfectly OK in pro gear, used them all the time. I also prefer the Class AB sound (as found in an XPA-100), it's not that I don't like the Class D sound, it's just that for music I prefer Class AB. Cheers Gary
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etunes
Seeker Of Truth
Posts: 7
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Post by etunes on Oct 15, 2014 8:43:49 GMT -5
Thanks for the thoughts so far. I have looked at the Crown, but I'm a little skeptical with regards to the power claims they make on these amps. Anything that puts out that kind of power and only weighs 9 pounds doesn't really compute for me, besides the fact that the power spec is rated at .5% THD at 1khz. If people can really vouch for them then I'll seriously consider it, though. It certainly would be more convenient to have the crossover built into the amp.
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Post by laserman35 on Oct 15, 2014 9:03:26 GMT -5
Crown Class D pro-audio amps gives you insane amounts of power per weight. I believe the Crown amps are close to spec power ratings unlike the Behringer EP4000 that I'm using. The Crown amps are very good. If my amp was not $100 used I would own the Crown amp.
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Post by Gary Cook on Oct 15, 2014 14:42:57 GMT -5
Thanks for the thoughts so far. I have looked at the Crown, but I'm a little skeptical with regards to the power claims they make on these amps. Anything that puts out that kind of power and only weighs 9 pounds doesn't really compute for me, besides the fact that the power spec is rated at .5% THD at 1khz. If people can really vouch for them then I'll seriously consider it, though. It certainly would be more convenient to have the crossover built into the amp. I can most certainly vouch for the power claims, as I mentioned previously they are a Class D amp so the common weight to watts ratio doesn't apply like it does to a Class A or Class AB amp. For some people the fan noise drives them crazy, others don't even notice it. Some people love the sound of a Class D amp, others not so much, even when driving a sub which is not as critical as a full range speaker. I also like the bonus that the sub amp looks like the rest of my gear, even though I could easily put it out of sight. So there are a number of personal preferences at work, but I don't see watts as being one of them. Cheers Gary
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Post by sct on Oct 15, 2014 14:59:42 GMT -5
>>If people can really vouch for them then I'll seriously consider it, though. It certainly would be more convenient to have the crossover built into the amp.<<
Andrew Robinson had Crown amps in his system and *loved* them. And the 0.5% THD is of no consequence, especially if you're using it as a sub amp. You can buy the Crown with 30 days to check it out. You should do so...
SCT
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etunes
Seeker Of Truth
Posts: 7
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Post by etunes on Oct 16, 2014 8:50:11 GMT -5
OK then - the Crown is officially on the list. Can anyone comment on the fan noise? This will be in my music-only system and I like the room to be as silent as possible and excessive fan noise will probably annoy me. Would the fan be audible from 10 - 12 feet away from inside a cabinet?
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