ntrain42
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Post by ntrain42 on Apr 9, 2010 14:22:17 GMT -5
Honestly, a $350, 200wpc/8ohm monoblock built with high quality components? There have been several complaints that the binding posts on the UPA-1 are pretty lousy. And I still say that due to the fact that the XPA-2's transformer dwarfs the UPA-1 transformer and the XPA-2 has 12 outputdevices/channel vs 6 for the UPA the XPA-2 will supply significantly more current than the UPA-1 which would benefit people who like to blast their music/movies and not run out of juice during a particualry dynamic passge/scene. Do I think the UPA-1 is probaly a great amp?? I sure do...Do I think the XPA-2 provides more advantages to a user then just 1-2dB more headroom..yes. Am I slightly biased cuz I own an XPA-2? And to get 1-2db more output, you probably need more output transistors in reality assuming similiar specs and quality. But to be frank, more output transistors or a larger PS does not mean better sound. But with this being said, I would love to hear what other advantages the XPA-2 would have over a pair of UPA-1's other than 1-2db. It sure isn't crosstalk, channel seperation,or S/N ratio which are very important specs for 2 channel setups......
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ntrain42
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Post by ntrain42 on Apr 9, 2010 14:24:39 GMT -5
My UPA-1s are sitting in my living room waiting to be opened, hooked up and compared. I'll start that process tonight. I have some TSO that I have listened to multiple times (10x10... ;D) on the XPA-2 and that will be my comparison music tonight with the UPA-1s. I've sold the XPA-5 in my game room so either the XPA-2 or the UPA-1s go in there for replacement. 1st place stays in the media room. 2nd place goes to the game room. No losers!!! ;D Make sure the output is properly matched for identical output otherwise the A/B comparison will be skewed.........
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Post by artiek on Apr 9, 2010 16:01:06 GMT -5
Has anyone noticed there's a large sound difference between the U and the X series? I can't believe any of you just switch series on a whim. You can fine tune your whole system with your choice of amplifiers, especially 2ch systems.
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Post by moodyman on Apr 9, 2010 16:31:49 GMT -5
There have been several complaints that the binding posts on the UPA-1 are pretty lousy. And I still say that due to the fact that the XPA-2's transformer dwarfs the UPA-1 transformer and the XPA-2 has 12 outputdevices/channel vs 6 for the UPA the XPA-2 will supply significantly more current than the UPA-1 which would benefit people who like to blast their music/movies and not run out of juice during a particualry dynamic passge/scene. Do I think the UPA-1 is probaly a great amp?? I sure do...Do I think the XPA-2 provides more advantages to a user then just 1-2dB more headroom..yes. Am I slightly biased cuz I own an XPA-2? And to get 1-2db more output, you probably need more output transistors in reality assuming similiar specs and quality. But to be frank, more output transistors or a larger PS does not mean better sound. But with this being said, I would love to hear what other advantages the XPA-2 would have over a pair of UPA-1's other than 1-2db. It sure isn't crosstalk, channel seperation,or S/N ratio which are very important specs for 2 channel setups...... Well for one the XPA-2 product page mentions an "enhanced output stage" that the XPA-3 and 5 don't have. I'm assuming the UPA's don't have it either. What this exactly means I have no idea. The binding posts have already been mentioned. I just believe a few more goodies, circuit wise, went into the XPA-2. If the XPA-2 is $200 more for nothing than Emotiva might as well drop it from the line-up. And from what I understand SN ratio, crosstalk numbers, etc..become meaningless at a certain point because the human ear would never be able to differentiate anyway. Will somebody be able to hear the better SN ratio on the UPA-1??..I don't know... Maybe Emotiva isolated the channels so well in the XPA-2 that the advantage of the UPA-1 monoblock is moot... Just throwing it out there...
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Post by sadams2206 on Apr 9, 2010 19:37:14 GMT -5
Well, after lots of reading I took the plunge. 2 UPA1s on order, hopefully they arrive at work early next week and then the fun begins. I am really looking forward to hearing the difference in sound quality from going to my AV Receiver to a dedicated amp, whether I went with the UPA1 or XPA2 I am confident from all the information on the board that my speakers are going to open up a whole lot more than they have been so far. Then the next waiting game begins which is how long it takes before my girlfriend comments "what are those black boxes with the glowing blue e on them?....how much did they cost?" and I will reply, "but baby, Glee never sounded so good!" Plus I got a Supercube II coming in soon to compliment my maggies...should start sounding nice here.
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ntrain42
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Post by ntrain42 on Apr 10, 2010 10:11:59 GMT -5
Has anyone noticed there's a large sound difference between the U and the X series? I can't believe any of you just switch series on a whim. You can fine tune your whole system with your choice of amplifiers, especially 2ch systems. Ive heard them both, the X series(Same with UPA-1 since it really is an X series amp)will potentially sound(depending on speaker itself and its impedance curve) like it is more forward with more punch due to the fact that it puts down more power at lower impedance loads. It shows up on an RTA too(frequency response at low impendance dips is elevated a bit). With EQ smoothing though, both lineup of amps will sound identical.
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ntrain42
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Post by ntrain42 on Apr 10, 2010 10:31:22 GMT -5
And to get 1-2db more output, you probably need more output transistors in reality assuming similiar specs and quality. But to be frank, more output transistors or a larger PS does not mean better sound. But with this being said, I would love to hear what other advantages the XPA-2 would have over a pair of UPA-1's other than 1-2db. It sure isn't crosstalk, channel seperation,or S/N ratio which are very important specs for 2 channel setups...... Well for one the XPA-2 product page mentions an "enhanced output stage" that the XPA-3 and 5 don't have. I'm assuming the UPA's don't have it either. What this exactly means I have no idea. The binding posts have already been mentioned. I just believe a few more goodies, circuit wise, went into the XPA-2. If the XPA-2 is $200 more for nothing than Emotiva might as well drop it from the line-up. And from what I understand SN ratio, crosstalk numbers, etc..become meaningless at a certain point because the human ear would never be able to differentiate anyway. Will somebody be able to hear the better SN ratio on the UPA-1??..I don't know... Maybe Emotiva isolated the channels so well in the XPA-2 that the advantage of the UPA-1 monoblock is moot... Just throwing it out there... S/N, crosstalk and channel seperation never become meaningless. When you have a pair of individual monoblocks the soundstage openness and instrumentation seperation will be limited to the source unit only. This can play a big factor. If the right channel is playing a solo instrument that is bleeding into the left channel, the image will be shifted and compressed a bit. The greater the channel bleed, the greater the effect. After doing some extensive testing with my UPA-7, a 5, and an XPA-5, XPA-2, I find that all Emo amps have crosstalk, with the multichannel(7 and both 5's)units having the most. But its still apparent in the 2 as well. In terms of S/N ratio, it basically shows up as whats percieved as a dark/black audible background. Amps with very high S/N ratio with a good source preamp unit will have this characterization. Granted alot of people really won't notice this, but some people will know what I mean. Binding posts, dont make a sound difference, but if someone wanted to swap them out, it can easily be done with an Emo amp. They are all actually pretty cheap, but they do the job, even the X series. And the "enhanced" output stage probably has to do with the fact that it doubles up on the output transistors. But if they are basically of the same quality and ratings, they really need to anyway. Remember 3db more output means you have to double your power. Since the XPA-2 puts out about 1.5-2db on average more headroom than the UPA-1, that would make sense to double up the output transistors, PS etc............... No reason to drop the XPA-2, some people may in fact need that extra bit of headroom due to low sensitivity/low impedance speakers. And maybe they want a one chassis solution etc, its a really good amp. I just feel that a pair of UPA-1's is Emo's best bang for the buck presently and it has a number of advantages over their multichannel amp offerings.
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Post by moodyman on Apr 10, 2010 11:30:52 GMT -5
S/N, crosstalk and channel seperation never become meaningless. Totally disagree with you...at a certain point the numbers will not matter and nobody would ever be able to tell the difference. However..I'm not saying thats the case with the XPA vs the UPA. Coincidentally the XPA has a better SNR then the UPA at 1 watt (moderate volume) whereas the UPA surpasses the XPA as you approach full power out.
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cgolf
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Post by cgolf on Apr 10, 2010 11:30:58 GMT -5
My first thoughts and impressions regarding the UPA-1s v. XPA-2 are posted under Amplifier Reviews...
Very limited review right now but lots more to come... ;D
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ntrain42
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Post by ntrain42 on Apr 10, 2010 13:25:31 GMT -5
S/N, crosstalk and channel seperation never become meaningless. Totally disagree with you...at a certain point the numbers will not matter and nobody would ever be able to tell the difference. However..I'm not saying thats the case with the XPA vs the UPA. Coincidentally the XPA has a better SNR then the UPA at 1 watt (moderate volume) whereas the UPA surpasses the XPA as you approach full power out. One thing to remember, the S/N measured is with a static load, and it was measured through 2 different inputs between those 2 amps for some odd reason............regardless, S/N, cross talk, channel seperation basically matter up to the point of the source units capability. If you have a source with poor #'s, then the amp is only going to be able to reproduce the input its given.
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Post by sadams2206 on Apr 12, 2010 17:50:32 GMT -5
2 days until my new toys arrive and meet their new friends (magnepan 1.7). Cant wait to hear these guys finally sing.
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Post by BillBauman on Apr 12, 2010 17:54:28 GMT -5
2 days until my new toys arrive and meet their new friends (magnepan 1.7). Cant wait to hear these guys finally sing. I feel your excitement. 1 day until my UMC-1 + 2 UPA-1's meet my Sonus Fabers.
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straub
Minor Hero
UMC-1,USP-1,ERC-1 UPA-7,UPA-2(6.2,ERD,EMR-1 , 10 and 12 emotiva subs and more!
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Post by straub on Apr 12, 2010 18:39:00 GMT -5
With or without the update Verison 6?
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Post by BillBauman on Apr 12, 2010 18:56:17 GMT -5
With or without the update Verison 6? Nobody (that I know of) has the v6 upgrade yet. I agreed to have my unit shipped with the old firmware and am waiting for the new one along with everyone else.
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cgolf
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Post by cgolf on Apr 12, 2010 19:51:46 GMT -5
I sold my ERM 6.3s and have a pair of Axiom M80s on order. I've never heard the Swan Diva 6.1s or 6.2s but I've been reading about them and may order a set if I don't like the Axioms. Either way, I'm excited about pairing up some floorstanders with the UPA-1s. On topic, it's difficult in some ways to pick the XPA or the UPA over each other. They both have distinct characteristics that aren't necessarily better than the other, just different. I can tell the difference but it's not a bad difference, just a difference. I have the XPA-2 in the game room and the UPA-1s in the media room but hey, next week they may change places. Who knows? ;D
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Post by sadams2206 on Apr 15, 2010 19:35:32 GMT -5
UPA1s arrived today and got hooked up in about 15 minutes. I can't make more than 1 blur dot illuminate, my speakers are painfully loud at that point. Havent had a really good chance to push them yet, but I am already really excited. One thing I have noticed immediately is how much more mellow the timbre is to all the audio (sorta reminds me of a tube amp) and also the phatter bass tones. My receiver was barely feeding my speakers. Now they are much happier.
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Post by broncsrule21 on Apr 16, 2010 3:57:08 GMT -5
UPA1s arrived today and got hooked up in about 15 minutes. I can't make more than 1 blur dot illuminate, my speakers are painfully loud at that point. Havent had a really good chance to push them yet, but I am already really excited. One thing I have noticed immediately is how much more mellow the timbre is to all the audio (sorta reminds me of a tube amp) and also the phatter bass tones. My receiver was barely feeding my speakers. Now they are much happier. One dot is all you will get. The UPA-1 doesn't have meters.
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Post by strindl on Apr 16, 2010 9:21:04 GMT -5
One dot is all you will get. The UPA-1 doesn't have meters. shhh...don't tell him. I want to see him keep trying.
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Post by soulrider4ever on Apr 16, 2010 14:25:53 GMT -5
One dot is all you will get. The UPA-1 doesn't have meters. shhh...don't tell him. I want to see him keep trying.
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Post by sadams2206 on Apr 16, 2010 18:44:56 GMT -5
Haha, thats awesome. My neighbors were probably thinking "wtf is wrong with this kid?" ---Me "Im trying to make more blue lights" Thanks for the heads up, I didn't get any manuals in the boxes on either amp, looked them up online just to get a quick over view and must have missed that section. Any logic you can think of why they got rid of the meters? I like it this way better actually, less distractions when watching a movie. PS: They sound great. This has made a huge improvement to my phantom center, dialog is much more coherent. My supercube arrived today, but wont be hooked up until after the weekend, but I am already loving this improvement. And thank you for the heads up on the LEDs.
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