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Post by ac2011 on Sept 5, 2016 11:28:02 GMT -5
I currently have 3 x XPA-100 across the front. Have been thinking about/looking for an XPA-200 for quite a while to do main surround duty. But either nobody in Canada has one, or if they do, they are not selling!
There are currently a couple of UPA-2's that I could pick up. I know the build quality of the UPA not be quite that of the XPA-200 (eg. the terminals), but probably better than the UPA-200.
Trying to figure out whether the UPA-2 would fit well with my XPA-100's in the system.
Thanks.
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Post by garbulky on Sept 5, 2016 11:34:27 GMT -5
I am not sure if the gain of the XPA-100 is 32 or 29 db gain. I do know that the XPA-200 is 29 db gain. A UPA-2 is 32 db gain. I haven't heard the XPA-200, I've heard some reports that it's an improvement. But if you looka t the pictures, the internals seem identical. The differences are XLR inputs (not balanced) and more capacitance (80,000 mf) for the XPA-200. The XPA-200 also lacks a gain control knob which allows the UPA-2 to match gains with different amps. Also lacking is a daisy chain input output which allows it to link up with other amps.
I like my UPA-2. I prefer its sound over the UPA-500 which I've heard. Though I didn't hear anything bad with the UPA-500.
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Post by vcautokid on Sept 5, 2016 12:07:54 GMT -5
In the capacity you would be asking the amplifier to perform. Any of the UPA-2,UPA-200, or XPA-200, are more than up to the task, and much more. All of them share a generous beefy linear power supply, high current, high voltage output stages, and are stellar as a front staging amplifier. So performing surround duties are a piece of cake for these amplifiers.
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stiehl11
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Post by stiehl11 on Sept 5, 2016 12:54:28 GMT -5
The UPA-2 is a very nice amplifier. I use it in my bedroom system and is loud enough to be heard in every room in my house, both stories, in the garage, and from outside the house. It will have no problem handling the surround duties of your system.
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Post by rbk123 on Sept 5, 2016 14:56:39 GMT -5
In the capacity you would be asking the amplifier to perform. Any of the UPA-2,UPA-200, or XPA-200, are more than up to the task, and much more. All of them share a generous beefy linear power supply, high current, high voltage output stages, and are stellar as a front staging amplifier. So performing surround duties are a piece of cake for these amplifiers. +1 Agree 100% with VC - we're talking surrounds here and the UPA-200 is more than sufficient not only in power but in quality, and even moreso for the UPA-2. I would only be so nitpicky if they were the mains. Save your money and put that into another toy.
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Post by wrinklemash on Sept 28, 2016 1:27:20 GMT -5
In the capacity you would be asking the amplifier to perform. Any of the UPA-2,UPA-200, or XPA-200, are more than up to the task, and much more. All of them share a generous beefy linear power supply, high current, high voltage output stages, and are stellar as a front staging amplifier. So performing surround duties are a piece of cake for these amplifiers. +1 Agree 100% with VC - we're talking surrounds here and the UPA-200 is more than sufficient not only in power but in quality, and even moreso for the UPA-2. I would only be so nitpicky if they were the mains. Save your money and put that into another toy. +1 IMO - OP cannot go wrong with the choices. My setup is very similar to the OP's with XPA-100 Gen 1's in the front (acquired a third for center channel today!!!). I am using a pair of UPA-200's for the surrounds and could not be happier. Really, the only small issue the OP has to contend with might be the gain. Ideally, it would be best if everyting matched so if the OP is considering the UPA-2' and has Gen 2 XPA-100's, I might pause, but then go ahead and buy the UPA-2. BTW- even though I am perfectly happy with them, I'd trade both my UPA-200's for either a pair of UPA-2's or XPA-200's. The later two are just better amplifiers. Example: they have BIG heatsinks and no fans in them. The UPA-*00 and BasX A*00 amplifiers all have fans in them. That said, the fans in my UPA-200's never come on, or at least I haven't noticed them turning on since I moved them to surround amplification duty.
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