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Post by korolev on Apr 14, 2015 9:48:45 GMT -5
hello friends!  i'd been contemplating on a pair for xpa gen2 with a tube preamp. i do not generally turn up the volume too much and wanted to find out if xpa 1l gen2 might fit. they definitely fit the 'bill' better! would the extra headroom on xpa1 gen2 be wasted power if i do not always crank it up? or - are these massive reserves required (absolutely) for dynamic headroom in order to deliver big and fast power when the music requires them? or are the xpa1l g2 sufficient? my speakers are 90 dB but i like to have the option of hooking up any speakers, starting from 87 dB up. i listen to sonny rollins, bill evans, paul desmond, some emi fujita vocals, and other times classical music, violin and piano pieces. if my listening options were to include big orchestra - should xpa1 gen2 be considered - or would xpa1l gen2 do the job? thank you and i apologize if there are contradicting - or overly subjective questions. i really hope to have some help, or perhaps sharing of your personal experiences. |
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Post by garbulky on Apr 14, 2015 10:00:35 GMT -5
The XPA-1 gen 2 is pretty much amazing stuff. I can't think of another amp that can do what it can do at its price point - 60 watts class A fully balanced 500 watt monoblock.... wow!. Same goes for the XPA-1 L! Hey are we seeing a trend here?  The main difference I see other than the obvious power differences is that the XPA-1 gen 2 has a ginormous power supply - 1200 VA. Lovely. The XPA-1 L is something like 350 or 400 something. I've not heard the XPA-1 though. I have heard the XPA-1 L and I thought they sounded pretty nice I listen at pretty soft volumes - think 60 to max 70db spl at listening position. I feel that amp power solely for spl's is not what it's all about. The quality matters too. My vote is for the XPA-1 gen 2 just because it is my dream system and the big bad chassis and stuffed to the brim with parts, transformer and build quality. But if you get XPA-1 L's.....I don't think anyone can declare you anything but a winner. As for SPL's - when paired with a nice pre-amp - the XPA-1 L's can absolutely knjock your socks off. At no point did I ever go - eh....just a bit strained is it? THe speakers I listened to were slightly greater than 90 db, it really didn't feel like there was any strain. I listened to some big band numbers and the brass on it was HEAVENLY. The dynamics of the blaart sound of the brass sounded amazing! I think Boomzilla can attest to my enjoyment of his xpa-1-l's at his house. |
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novisnick
EmoPhile
CEO Secret Monoblock Society
Posts: 27,230 
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Post by novisnick on Apr 14, 2015 10:24:19 GMT -5
Hello, and a belated welcome to the "Family".   From what hat ive gathered about what you listen to and how loud I'm a firm believer that the XPA-1Ls will do all that you want! It's one heck of an amp my friend!!,,,,,I promise!!  Everything about them says,,,,,,,,  .  |
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Post by korolev on Apr 16, 2015 10:45:17 GMT -5
thank you so much for sharing would anyone know how often does factory renewed sales come along? i hope to pick up my first set of monoblocks during the sale. i have only started getting into audio equipment, just as i have started with my career. do not have much spare cash outside of building our first modest home and wedding preparation. |
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Post by AudioHTIT on Apr 16, 2015 11:18:13 GMT -5
... would anyone know how often does factory renewed sales come along? ... There is no schedule on sales, if you're in the e-club you'll be the first to know ... they happens when they happens. |
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Post by drtrey3 on Apr 16, 2015 13:21:43 GMT -5
And you can ALWAYS call and talk to the sales staff about factory refurbished or B stock items.
Trey
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Post by Boomzilla on Apr 16, 2015 17:22:13 GMT -5
I own the 1Ls and have no particular urges to upgrade. I've owned the XPR series before, and for my ears, the 1Ls give up little or nothing (other than build quality & weight) to their more expensive brethren. Nick is the proponent of "if some is good, more is better" school (I'm eager to meet his girlfriend...) but for the price, the 1Ls are seriously hard to beat. OTOH, the new XPA-1s aren't THAT much more than the 1Ls... If I didn't already own the wonderful 1Ls, I'd probably be in line for a pair of XPA-1s. BE ADVISED that with the larger, heavier amplifiers, moving the equipment around is a dangerous chore. If you plan to place the amps and leave them there, then buy a heavy one. For my back, though, the lighter 1Ls were a better choice. I do have a tendency to move stuff around frequently, so a rolling stand with a light-weight amp is the way for me to go.
Happy shopping!
Boom
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Post by Gary Cook on Apr 16, 2015 18:05:08 GMT -5
I can't imagine needing more power for 2.1 music than the XPA-1L's deliver. Keeping in mind that the sub woofer takes a lot of the load off the R and L speakers. I suspect that even at my loudest listening levels the XPA-1L's are well and truly in Class A, so pretty much forget the Class AB 250 watts. For movies I flick the switch to Class AB and at 40 (half volume) on the UMC-200 they have more than enough impact, together with impeccable clarity.
For sure I'm a believer that there is no such thing as having too much power, but in my case the XPA-1L's already deliver too much power. So I don't see the need or want for more than too much.
Cheers
Gary
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Post by lhracing on Apr 16, 2015 20:10:08 GMT -5
I agree with Gary, the XPA-1L's have a lot of power in a small package. They are truly a fine piece of equipment and would I recommend them to anyone.
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dkami712
Sensei
Overkill is Underrated
Posts: 128
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Post by dkami712 on Apr 17, 2015 10:41:36 GMT -5
I can't imagine needing more power for 2.1 music than the XPA-1L's deliver. Keeping in mind that the sub woofer takes a lot of the load off the R and L speakers. I suspect that even at my loudest listening levels the XPA-1L's are well and truly in Class A, so pretty much forget the Class AB 250 watts. For movies I flick the switch to Class AB and at 40 (half volume) on the UMC-200 they have more than enough impact, together with impeccable clarity. For sure I'm a believer that there is no such thing as having too much power, but in my case the XPA-1L's already deliver too much power. So I don't see the need or want for more than too much. Cheers Gary Curious, why do you switch the 1L's to AB for movies when it automatically switches to AB once over 35 watts in A? |
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Post by AudioHTIT on Apr 17, 2015 12:36:32 GMT -5
I can't imagine needing more power for 2.1 music than the XPA-1L's deliver. Keeping in mind that the sub woofer takes a lot of the load off the R and L speakers. I suspect that even at my loudest listening levels the XPA-1L's are well and truly in Class A, so pretty much forget the Class AB 250 watts. For movies I flick the switch to Class AB and at 40 (half volume) on the UMC-200 they have more than enough impact, together with impeccable clarity. For sure I'm a believer that there is no such thing as having too much power, but in my case the XPA-1L's already deliver too much power. So I don't see the need or want for more than too much. Cheers Gary Curious, why do you switch the 1L's to AB for movies when it automatically switches to AB once over 35 watts in A? It uses less power and produces less heat. |
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dkami712
Sensei
Overkill is Underrated
Posts: 128
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Post by dkami712 on Apr 17, 2015 12:44:47 GMT -5
Curious, why do you switch the 1L's to AB for movies when it automatically switches to AB once over 35 watts in A? It uses less power and produces less heat. Does it really matter when you have content playing? I agree with your statement if they are sitting idle. |
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Post by AudioHTIT on Apr 17, 2015 15:42:35 GMT -5
It uses less power and produces less heat. Does it really matter when you have content playing? I agree with your statement if they are sitting idle. Well unless you are driving them pretty hard (compressed content at high volumes) they will always be using less power and producing less heat in A/B mode, that's the reason they have the switch and why people use it. It gives you the option to have the best of both worlds. I know Dark Ranger did some pretty complete measurements on this when the 1L's first came out. |
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Post by swissie on Apr 19, 2015 0:22:49 GMT -5
I'm very satisfied with my 1Ls. I only use them in class A. They do have a fairly easy life because everything under 100 Hz is handeled by a sub-woofer.
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Post by 405x5 on Apr 19, 2015 8:04:10 GMT -5
hello friends! "i'd been contemplating on a pair for xpa gen2 with a tube preamp. i do not generally turn up the volume too much and wanted to find out if xpa 1l gen2 might fit. they definitely fit the 'bill' better! would the extra headroom on xpa1 gen2 be wasted power if i do not always crank it up?" What are the make and model of speakers you are using? That's the best place to start to give you the right answer.
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Post by korolev on Apr 19, 2015 11:37:44 GMT -5
hello friends! "i'd been contemplating on a pair for xpa gen2 with a tube preamp. i do not generally turn up the volume too much and wanted to find out if xpa 1l gen2 might fit. they definitely fit the 'bill' better! would the extra headroom on xpa1 gen2 be wasted power if i do not always crank it up?" What are the make and model of speakers you are using? That's the best place to start to give you the right answer.
Thank you Sir. Anything from 86dB to 91dB a friend of mine is a collector and he has speakers from proac 1sc to harbeth shl5. they sit in his collection storage and he is very kind in offering to let me experience them (on longer term loan). I have 30 yr old tannoys dc200. |
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Post by 405x5 on Apr 19, 2015 19:12:56 GMT -5
Ok.....you will be fine with those amps. More than enough power for Bill Evans. Fan of his for over 45 years.
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