XSP-1

[Deleted]

Sept 24, 2014 17:02:20 GMT -5 erniejade said:

XSP-1 gen2 thats the one They made the model number too close for dyslexic people LOL. The full preamp not just the phono. For now I am running a jolida tube phono pre.

Welcome Ernie! Cool to have you here! (Devlon from Polk Audio Forum)

[Deleted]

Sept 24, 2014 16:56:20 GMT -5 rob80b said:

Hi Guys

Took a while but I've finally got an XSP-1 Gen II on the way to replace my USP-1, thanks to the current Secret Warehouse Sale.
emotivalounge.proboards.com/thread/39041/secret-warehouse-sale

Rob some impressions of it when you can!

[AudioHTIT]

Sept 24, 2014 16:56:20 GMT -5 rob80b said:

Hi Guys

Took a while but I've finally got an XSP-1 Gen II on the way to replace my USP-1, thanks to the current Secret Warehouse Sale.
emotivalounge.proboards.com/thread/39041/secret-warehouse-sale

Good for you, I saw that price and was sure someone would pick up on the nice deal. Congrats, hope you like it!

[Boomzilla]

I know this has been answered somewhere, but (of course) I can't find it:

Where on the XSP-1 sub crossover am I most likely to find 80 Hz? 12-o'clock? one?

[novisnick]

I think it's abot 8:30 to 9
Per deltadube.
Good to see Ya Boom

[deltadube]

Sept 24, 2014 20:13:19 GMT -5 Boomzilla said:

I know this has been answered somewhere, but (of course) I can't find it:

Where on the XSP-1 sub crossover am I most likely to find 80 Hz? 12-o'clock? one?

it really is that simple arithmetic scale 50 to 250 20 points per notch second notch is 90. im using a 100 cross over

on the hi and low pass filters on the xsp 1.. 2.5 notches 9.30 .. 100hz

don't forget the xsp 1 has a 12db/octave roll off slope.. so at 50 your down -12db on the mains and at 200 your -12db on the woofer..

seems to be working very well for my 100s and xpa 1s in my room with the xs15se s!!!

cheers

[Boomzilla]

Thank you kindly, gents. I somehow thought that the scale was logarithmic instead of linear. Is this wrong? If the pots are linear, then you are exactly correct. If the taper isn't linear, then it isn't that simple...

[bub]

Aug 20, 2014 8:02:21 GMT -5 sahmen said:

Jul 11, 2014 12:34:41 GMT -5 deltadube said:

11 olcock is about 80hz?

ty

Careful guys:  I called EMO tech support to ask, and I was told that crossover Frequency adjustment dials on the XSP-1 are *different* from those on the USP-1...  The crossover measurement adjustment on the XSP-1 is linear, unlike the one on the USP-1.  It means 80 Hz on the XSP-1 would not correspond to 11 O'clock (as it does on the USP-1), but to a location slightly below 9 o'clock (or to be more exact, the middle spot between the 8 o'clock and 9 o'clock markers on the XSP-1)...  I thought I should share this piece of information as the difference it makes is quite substantial:

Summary :

1.  80Hz on the USP-1 = 11 o'clock
2. 80 hz on the XSP-1 = 8:30 (9 o'clock = 90 hz)
3. * 11 o'clock on the XSP-1 = 130 hz*

[linvincible]

another crossover question for XSP-1

I use bi amplification and did not touch the filters on my speakers, so I chose not to use the crossover from the XSP-1
I let the switches in the FULL RANGE position, the one on the left for highs goes to the left and the one on the right for lows goes to the right (when looking at the rear pannel.
I wanted to switch the amps connected to bass and trebles, as a friend of mine doing bi-amp as well told me that after a couple of years his amps could only do what they had been doing for the past year and became very bad when switched. He recommended a regular switch between the amps.
So I just inverted the XLR connectors on the rear of the XSP-1 : the ones that used to go to the highs went to the lows and vice-versa.
The highs immediately were filtered!
To check if my amps were affected I also inverted the speakers cables, and sound resumed normally. So the amps are still fine

I was to upset to touch anything any more, but is there a known issue with crossover switch for highs being inverted?
(I did not go through the 117 pages of this thread but did read the 4 pages of messages including "crossover")

Or am I stupid and this is what it should do for some other reason?

thanks in advance!

[garbulky]

Your amps are not going to respond to just being a bass/treble amp in the way your friend said.

[erniejade]

I received the replacement and it also seems to have a problem. No sound. I have a AR sp16, Parasound p5 both are working fine but when i put the gen2 on, i am not getting sound. Mute is off. I read the manual and it states the output xlr and rca are both active so I am going to think i dont have to do anything to switch between them correct? I finally got to see it lit up however and it looks fantastic. Actually next to my McIntosh mc402 amp it blends right in.

[linvincible]

Sept 26, 2014 8:24:50 GMT -5 erniejade said:

I received the replacement and it also seems to have a problem. No sound. I have a AR sp16, Parasound p5 both are working fine but when i put the gen2 on, i am not getting sound. Mute is off. I read the manual and it states the output xlr and rca are both active so I am going to think i dont have to do anything to switch between them correct? I finally got to see it lit up however and it looks fantastic. Actually next to my McIntosh mc402 amp it blends right in.

weird... have you tested all inputs? RCA and XLR? have you tried to place it after the jolida in HT bypass? (so that the jolida controls the volume)
are you exactly replacing the jolida by the XSP-1 or do you use other cables/system....

[erniejade]

The jolida I have is a phono pre. My other preamps are the AR sp16 and a parasound P5 preamps. The amp is a McIntosh 402. My DAC is a w4s dac2. Cd player is a cayin scd50T. With either of the other 2 preamps in place, it works fine output eiter xlr or rca

[erniejade]

Called CS. Again great people on the phone. He gave me some things to try to night. I will give it a shot tonight.

[erniejade]

I am used to a different kind of volume where it only rounds once not over and over. CS was right on with I wont hear anything till I hit around -40 or 3/4 full rotations on the volume knob. Its definatley a quiet unit. First impressions out of the box, its clean with decent highs but a bit thin right now. Im hopping 100-200 hours should open this up.

[Deleted]

So this unit is ok then? I have read somewhere that it does takes over 100 hours of break in time on this unit. As far as the sound, it also might sound a little thin because of you being accustomed to listening to the P5. I have read where some say the P5 is a warmer sounding preamp compared to some preamps they have heard. If that is the case, then the XSP-1 might certainly appear to be more bright.

Keep us posted as I would like to know how the unit evolves in its sound during break in. Also, feel free to post your opinions of the P5 vs XSP-1. Inquiring minds want to know! Lol

[erniejade]

The unit is ok. This one was my fault. The volume is not a typical volume knob. When I received the unit, before I turned the amp on I turned the volume all the way down. I have received new and used units with the volume left turned up and blew speakers. So when I first hooked it up and turned it on, i was not using the remote. I was using the volume knob itself and it goes down to like -110 or so. So when I turned it on and turned the volume up 2 or 3 turns of the volume knob and didnt hear anything, i thought there was something wrong. Turn 4 and it was hitting -60 ish is when I started to hear sound.

I would love to post my opinion of both. This is my 1st emo piece I have heard so I have no idea of the signature sound.

I will say on looks alone, xsp1 has it. On layout in the back of the unit, xps1 has it. The rca have better spacing for larger or locking rca's without them actually touching each other. The front layout, this is a toss up. I love the xsp has a processor loop ( old tape monitor) so if you want to run a tube buffer or any other processor like room correction or anything external, you can have it in or out of the loop for instant results! The P5 has an aux 1/8" jack on the front for plugging in a portable device and the subwoofer volume knob on the front of the unit! Both units have built in crossovers ( one of the things that got me interested in both of them) but with the xsp1 no subwoofer volume so, if you using passive subs with an external amp you have no way to turn it up or down. Besides with powered subs its nice not to have to go to the back of the sub to turn it up or down for fine tuning. It would have been better however if it was on the remote as well so you could do this from your seat instead of get up, turn, sit down, wait a few min to make sure its good or bad, get back up......... you all see what I am saying. Now for the remote, xsp1 has it. Not just because its metal vs plastic, Processor loop on the remote so you can have instant results without leaving the sweet spot, and tone ( trim) adjustments on the remote! To me that is a big plus.

Without having 24 hours in on the xsp1, I do find it a little thin but, not bad at all. I think after a full week of it burning in will make a difference. That will give it 168 hours. The 2 things I give the xsp1 a big credit for off the bat in sound, 1 dead quiet ( see my mistake because it is so quiet!) and 2, One thing that kind of bugged me with the p5, when i would hit the tone on or off, at 0 or unity, I could hear a volume and sound difference. TO me, a good design in tone at unity you should hardly hear any difference at all in our out. It was like this on my old McIntosh c39, carver c19, Adcom 565 ( for the $ that 565 is one heck of a older unit) I could engage or disengage the tone without any difference but, on the p5, I hear a difference. The xsp1 no difference at all. The tone is also minimum, so no HUGE jump in sound when you go 1 2 or 3, its slight and "just enough" to make a subtle difference without killing the rest of the frequency. When you hit the HF or LF trim and go 1 2 you almost have to give it a second to notice it but its there, not over done,and just enough to add a little or take the edge off of a shrill recording.

So far, i do not find the xsp1 shrill or fatiguing at all but, I am running a tube sacd player and a McIntosh MC402 amp. For flac, Jriver into a w4s dac2.

[Deleted]

Ernie, thanks for the time it took to write this review......very much appreciated! I have been contemplating the Parasound P3 vs the Emo XSP-1. So, it is great to me for someone to be comparing these two brands. I don't want or need an internal DAC. The DAC technology is moving too fast. A DAC will be outdated long before a good preamp. So, the things that you mention about the P5 I think I can apply towards the sound of the P3.

Neutrality or transparency of a preamp is my main consideration. Flexibility is second. Active preamps are of a little concern because even in bypass mode they can affect the sound. So, I haven't really made up my mind on active vs passive. I am considering a Stereo Knight Silvertone Passive Preamp (also made in TN), but the fact it has no XLR connects makes it a possible deal breaker.

Good point on the sub volume on the XSP-1.....makes a lot of sense. I think Emo should consider that. I have dual subs, but it would necessitate I also wish that Emo would put a 3 way toggle on the outs to select: XLR, RCA, or both. I have a reason in mind for that, but too long to explain for now.

As far as the input/output flexibility of the two preamps beyond what you have mentioned so far are there any other things where one has an advantage over the other? Let us know if you think of anything. Thanks again!

[Gary Cook]

For sub volume control turn the plate amp volume up to the maximum volume that you need and then insert an XLR Control Freak between the XSP-1 and the sub amp.

Cheers
Gary

[Deleted]

Good idea! .This seems to be the next best idea after having it in the remote