XPA-1 Gen 1 vs. XPA-1L Gen2

[jayu969]

Need some help from fellow Emo forum members.

I have the opportunity to buy a pair of XPA-1 Gen1's at a REALLY nice price locally. For about the same amount of money I could buy a pair of used XPA-1L's Gen 2.

I have a pair of very efficient Tekton Pendragon speakers.

Thoughts?

[stads77]

I have a feeling you would always wonder about the 1L's but not so much the XPA-1 Gen 1's. I also think the lower gain and more class A would benefit your specific speakers. Just my thoughts with no valuable evidence as I have never heard either

[ocezam]

Jan 26, 2015 8:16:27 GMT -5 jayu969 said:

Need some help from fellow Emo forum members.
I have the opportunity to buy a pair of XPA-1 Gen1's at a REALLY nice price locally. For about the same amount of money I could buy a pair of used XPA-1L's Gen 2.
I have a pair of very efficient Tekton Pendragon speakers.
Thoughts?

I'd rather have the extra power and lower heat of the XPA-1 Gen I. I made this decision myself a few months ago.

They're both great amps though. Is the smaller size of the 1L any benefit to you?

[jayu969]

I have room for either. The smaller footprint is "nice to have" but certainly not the top priority...sound quality is the top priority.

Thanks for the feedback!

[garbulky]

That's easy....XPA-1 gen 1. That thing is a fully balanced 10 watts in class A BEAST. Plus it has a much larger power supply than the XPA-1 L. I didn't notice massive differences in class A mode with the XPA-1 L so if you can swing it go gen 1.

[creimes]

I doubt you would hear any difference between the two, I would grab the local XPA-1 as it sounds like the easier of the two choices, except the lifting of course haha

[jayu969]

Thanks.

So the Gen1 is Class A for the first 10w? I looked at the owners manual online and did not see that.

[garbulky]

yes

[jdaddabbo]

Assuming that you even have a System (and Ears) which is top notch enough to hear a difference between two such excellent amplifiers (many do not, but just don't realize this and/or don't wish to admit this) -AND- the XPA-1L Gen 2s are not at all overdriven (Dynamic PEAKS are what we are talking about here), then for sure it is the XPA-1L Gen 2 (Sorry all of you XPA-1 Gen 1 owners. For I used to be one too, but I am now an XPA-1L Gen 2, and XPA-1 Gen 2, and Bryston 6B SST owner, and not that it matters an XPA-3 Gen 1 and ADCOM 5802, 5503). And Yes my Legacy Audio Focus speakers and dedicated Stereo room, including the 100% dedicated dual 20 Amp isolated grounded circuits which power it all, does in fact let me hear a difference between Amplification. Although that said, it isn't ONLY the Amplifier but a combination of Source, Preamp, Amplifier, Cables, and Room which ultimately "make up" the sound for which is heard through your speakers. That is to say that it is a "combination" of all of these, and of course most of all the Speakers themselves. Again, having speakers as good as the Legacy Audio Focus, plus a darn good room / power, this has then allowed me to hear changes in Source, Preamp, Amplification, etc.  However Pre-my Legacy Audio speakers and dedicated dual 20 Amp isolated grounded circuits which power my entire two channel Stereo System, I was hard pressed to hear any difference between Sources, Preamp and Amplifiers unless the differences in these components were quite drastic (i.e. in price and build, and therefore sound quality).

OK, well just something to think about... for I am very much only trying to HELP, and don't at all wish to offend anyone... although I'm sure that I did just that for a few XPA-1 Gen 1 owners, and I'm truly sorry for that, but I am only trying to HELP .

[garbulky]

Okay I was able compare the two. Now the rooms were two different sizes and my XPA-1 was gen 2 not gen 1 etc. but the speakers were similar. My previous recommendation of the XPA-1s is what I would still do. They are very nice amps. Lots of detail and dynamic capability.

[pedrocols]

I hope you guys realize this thread is over a year old. Nevertheless, good helpful info...