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Post by Gary Cook on Apr 14, 2015 19:30:03 GMT -5
I've progressed through the XPA-2 and XPA-3 combination with a DIY sub amp, to an XPA-5 and now to a pair of XPA-1L's and an XPA-5 with an XPA-100 as a sub amp. For stereo 2.1 music the XPA-1L's and the XPA-100 are easily the best sounding in my system to date. I really didn't notice any difference between the XPA-2/XPA-3 combo and the XPA-5 for 2.1 music or for 5.1 music and movies.
You mentioned that all of your listening is 5.1 so I'd suggest adding an XPA-3 would be the way to go. Although if you have any intentions of going to 7.1 then an XPA-5 would be a better value for money long term choice.
Cheers Gary
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Post by stealthmode on Apr 14, 2015 19:37:11 GMT -5
I've progressed through the XPA-2 and XPA-3 combination with a DIY sub amp, to an XPA-5 and now to a pair of XPA-1L's and an XPA-5 with an XPA-100 as a sub amp. For stereo 2.1 music the XPA-1L's and the XPA-100 are easily the best sounding in my system to date. I really didn't notice any difference between the XPA-2/XPA-3 combo and the XPA-5 for 2.1 music or for 5.1 music and movies. You mentioned that all of your listening is 5.1 so I'd suggest adding an XPA-3 would be the way to go. Although if you have any intentions of going to 7.1 then an XPA-5 would be a better value for money long term choice. Cheers Gary No intentions of 7.1 only intention is 5.2
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Post by jmasterj on Apr 14, 2015 20:13:28 GMT -5
Gary Cook,
Out of curiosity have you ever switch one of your XPA-1L's out with your XPA-100?
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Post by Gary Cook on Apr 14, 2015 23:42:52 GMT -5
Gary Cook, Out of curiosity have you ever switch one of your XPA-1L's out with your XPA-100? Not my own, but I have actually had 4 x XPA-1L's in for testing and they all did some time as the sub woofer amp. I figured it would give them a good Class AB work out driving 4 ohms nominal. I really couldn't tell any difference between the XPA-100 and the XPA-1L driving the sub, they both sound fantastic, so musical with plenty of punch for LFE. I also did my usual amp side by side comparison, switch to mono input and power the LF speaker with one amp and the RF speaker with another. Not a lot of difference at my listening levels in Class AB, hard to pick with my ears, my equipment, in my room. But Class A on the XPA-1L compared to Class AB on the XPA-100 the difference was more noticeable. A lot more clarity in upper mids and highs, RH piano, violins and particularly cymbals, they have that metallic ringing to them. The other noticeable thing is soundstage, they were pretty much the same depth, height and width, but the XPA-1L's reach further out into the room. They sort of surround you with the music, draw you in, quite uncanny, it's not at all something I expected. Cheers Gary
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Post by jmasterj on Apr 15, 2015 2:00:58 GMT -5
Gary,
thank you I really appreciate your comparison.
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