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Post by mm on Apr 22, 2015 17:33:11 GMT -5
Hello everyone! I've happily joined the Emotiva crowd! I've bought 2 x XPA-1L's G2, ERC-3 G2 and the XDA-2 G2. At the same time I also purchased Tekton Design (full tower) Lore 2.0 Speakers. I'm extremely happy and blown by the sound! Maybe I'm overthinking this too much, but I do not want to regret it later and hope not to change anything for a while or hopefully ever, I want to make sure I'm set with everything, so I've decided to upgrade my speakers (I'm still on my trial 30 day period with all the gear) and go with the better model, the Pendragon from Tekton. My question to all you guys is if the XPA-1L's are sufficient to drive these new speakers or if I should upgrade the amps to the XPA-1's. The specs of the two amps are pretty close, but I do not know if I would need more power for the speakers. The speakers are efficient - 95db 1W@1m (8 Ohm) and I do not want to blow my windows (I pretty much like to listen to music at normal levels - right now the XDA-2 is set to -39 because anything higher seems too loud). I would really appreciate your thoughts on this and it would be great if you could share your experience (maybe with these speakers). Thanks in advance! |
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Post by Gary Cook on Apr 22, 2015 17:38:30 GMT -5
XPA-1L's will do the job perfectly.
Cheers
Gary
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novisnick
EmoPhile
CEO Secret Monoblock Society
Posts: 27,222 
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Post by novisnick on Apr 22, 2015 17:41:35 GMT -5
Welcome to the home known as Emotiva!!! I'm so glad you found us! Wow!!! You've taken a big dive into sound. I know your loving what you hear. Id pour you a cup of KoolAid , but it appears that you've made your own batch!!,,,he,,,he,,,he,,,, Attachments:
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Post by teaman on Apr 22, 2015 17:41:56 GMT -5
Welcome to the Emotiva family mm. Sounds like a nice set up you have built there.
Just a heads up on the Tektons, Stereophile just tested them and their sensitivity was overinflated by quite a bit. That being said I see no reason you won't be happy with the set up you have in place. Personally I would go with the XPA-1's over the XPA-1L's for the simple reason that they are large speakers and likely enjoy the added power and headroom. I think you would be happy either way but if funds allow go big!
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Post by garbulky on Apr 22, 2015 17:43:30 GMT -5
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Post by brutiarti on Apr 22, 2015 17:43:57 GMT -5
I will go directly with the xpr-1's if money and space are not a problem, so the upgrade bug doesnt show up in the future
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Post by bond007 on Apr 22, 2015 17:44:59 GMT -5
Welcome aboard,the xpa-1Ls will do the job now if you
want more power go for the xpa-1s gen 2s.
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stiehl11
Emo VIPs 
Give me available light!
Posts: 7,261
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Post by stiehl11 on Apr 22, 2015 17:58:57 GMT -5
I think your biggest improvement in sound would be to take the extra money you'd spend on more amplification and get the XSP-1 for your ERC-3 instead of using the XDA-2. The ERC-3 has a superior DAC and analog stage to it than the XDA-2 (on par with the DC-1).
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Post by pedrocols on Apr 22, 2015 18:11:15 GMT -5
Welcome to the home known as Emotiva!!! I'm so glad you found us! Wow!!! You've taken a big dive into sound. I know your loving what you hear. Id pour you a cup of KoolAid , but it appears that you've made your own batch!!,,,he,,,he,,,he,,,, Hey Nick you are getting cheap on the Koolaid! That glass of Koolaid looks too watered.....  |
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Post by foggy1956 on Apr 22, 2015 18:12:35 GMT -5
Hello everyone! I've happily joined the Emotiva crowd! I've bought 2 x XPA-1L's G2, ERC-3 G2 and the XDA-2 G2. At the same time I also purchased Tekton Design (full tower) Lore 2.0 Speakers. I'm extremely happy and blown by the sound! Maybe I'm overthinking this too much, but I do not want to regret it later and hope not to change anything for a while or hopefully ever, I want to make sure I'm set with everything, so I've decided to upgrade my speakers (I'm still on my trial 30 day period with all the gear) and go with the better model, the Pendragon from Tekton. My question to all you guys is if the XPA-1L's are sufficient to drive these new speakers or if I should upgrade the amps to the XPA-1's. The specs of the two amps are pretty close, but I do not know if I would need more power for the speakers. The speakers are efficient - 95db 1W@1m (8 Ohm) and I do not want to blow my windows (I pretty much like to listen to music at normal levels - right now the XDA-2 is set to -39 because anything higher seems too loud). I would really appreciate your thoughts on this and it would be great if you could share your experience (maybe with these speakers). Thanks in advance! I have the Tekton enzo's paired with xpa-1l's, I doubt that I have ever needed more than the class A portion of the amps.  ? |
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novisnick
EmoPhile
CEO Secret Monoblock Society
Posts: 27,222
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Post by novisnick on Apr 22, 2015 18:24:59 GMT -5
Welcome to the home known as Emotiva!!! I'm so glad you found us! Wow!!! You've taken a big dive into sound. I know your loving what you hear. Id pour you a cup of KoolAid , but it appears that you've made your own batch!!,,,he,,,he,,,he,,,, Hey Nick you are getting cheap on the Koolaid! That glass of Koolaid looks too watered..... That was from the batch that mm made,,,,,he'll learn!!,,,  Ya'll know I mix up a potent batch of Blue!!,  |
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Post by mm on Apr 22, 2015 18:28:49 GMT -5
Thank you guys!
As always, I see opinions are divided slightly. ;-) The biggest problem I have with all this stuff is that I do not know much about it. I simply respond to what I hear and everything so far has sounded amazing, but I thought better speakers might be a good decision now, since I'm simply exchanging and do not have to take a hit by selling. I guess, I'm trying to understand why more headroom with the XPA-1s would be better and why it is important at normal listening levels.
I looked at the XPR-1s and I'm sure they are amazing, I just do not know if my ears are good enough to hear the difference and a dedicated 20amp circuit for each is not an option. Now my XPA-1Ls are plugged to a 15amp circuit and when I power them on, the lights dim a bit, so that monster is out of the question.
Garbulky - I have actually followed the other thread regarding the XSP-1 and the XDA-2 with interest and even called Emotiva to talk about it and was told that I would get a bit more tonal control (treble and bass), but it would not necessarily improve the sound, so I'm puzzled by all this. I do not have any analogue sources and do not plan on buying a turntable, so I do not know. :-(
It is funny, maybe my ears are really not good enough, but I've also been trying to decide between Spotify and Tidal and been going back and fourth between the two and I cannot hear the difference, maybe sometimes, it seems that on some music there is lightly more depth with Tidal, but the difference is so minimal to me that the added cost does not make any sense. Do you guys notice any difference? My iPad is not plugged directly, maybe this is why, I'm simply streaming via Airport Express.
Thanks again!
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Post by Gary Cook on Apr 22, 2015 19:15:40 GMT -5
I'm one of the people who believe that it's better to have too many watts than not enough. At my listening levels, my speakers, my room, the XPA-1L's have far too many watts, way over the top. I'm sure not using the full 35 watts in Class A for music or the Class AB 250 watts for movies. So for me XPA-1's would be over the top of something that's already over the top.
Like a chain, the quality of audio is limited by its weakest link. My iDevices sound better to me when plugged in directly, so probably worth a try.
Cheers
Gary
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Post by Nodscene on Apr 22, 2015 19:17:52 GMT -5
Honestly you are over-thinking things. You definitely don't need anything more than the XPA1L's, even when it comes to headroom. Those and the Pendragon's will be more than loud enough in any situation, especially since you said you listen at normal levels. There may even be a chance you find the Pendragons too much and want to go with something smaller. A lot depends what size of room you are in. You money will probably be best spent on room treatments.
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Post by ncred02 on Apr 22, 2015 19:31:19 GMT -5
upgrade !!!
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Post by sonicseeker on Apr 22, 2015 19:40:10 GMT -5
The XPA1L's should be plenty.
I have the pens with the XPR-5 and will never come close to the output of this amp.
The 1L's you stated sound great with the Lores so there is no reason to believe there will be anything but an improvement with the Pendragons.
The upgrade itch is always present so if in doubt go the route that will satisfy this for a while and be comfortable in that decision.
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Post by mm on Apr 22, 2015 21:00:28 GMT -5
Sonicseeker - have you ever compared the Lores to your Pendragons? I'm curious if the difference in price is justified.
Stiehl11 - I see you have the XDA-2 with ERC-3 and XSP-1 - obviously it all depends on how good one's ears are, I hope my ears are ok, but in your opinion the improvement with the XSP-1 would be noticed by an average listener (I hope I'm at least average) and the added cost justifiable? I have to add that I called Emotiva (they have been great and Extremely patient with me and I love their non-pushy approach!) and asked if the DAC in the ERC-3 was any better than what is in the XDA-2 and was told they are the same. I was also told it is always best to keep the path as short as possible, so I'm a bit confused. What makes one DAC better than the other, if they seem to have the same components? Now, if I were to get the XSP-1 what level would I set the XDA to? I imagine volume would be controlled by the XSP-1, correct? From my testing done with Spotify/Tidal and my iPad to get the same volume level (same music) I get when I use my ERC-3, I have to set the iPad's volume to 100% - would the same apply to the XSP-1 XDA-2 combo? Is that bad / overloading it?
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Post by Gary Cook on Apr 22, 2015 21:11:34 GMT -5
I'm another who prefers the sound of 2.1 stereo music with a pre amp in place (in my case that's ERC-3 to USP-1 to XPA-1L's) compared to a DAC direct to power amps (XDA-2 to XPA-1L's). To me there's more mid range impact, the overall sound is more coherent and the sound stage reaches further out into the room. Although the latter wasn't noticeable until the XPA-1L's were in place.
Cheers
Gary
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Post by pop on Apr 22, 2015 21:33:51 GMT -5
I drove a 5 channel pendragon set with an XPA5 and never even considered giving them more power. Honestly a upa1 is all you would need for the Pendragons.
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Post by mm on Apr 22, 2015 21:49:27 GMT -5
Was the reason you got rid of the Pendragons sound related or not, if I may ask?
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