Anthem MCA-2 Series II VS XPA-2 Review 12/5/11

[krazystang]

Hey Everyone!

Just wanted to let you know I will be doing an In-House review this weekend of the Emo XPA-2 Vs Anthem MCA-2 Series II Power Amps. It will just be my ears doing the listening and making the final decision. Speakers will be calibrated using SPL meter for the Movie testing.

My results will be posted Monday. If anyone has any requests or ideas on the testing, let me know. Below is what I will be listening to and my current equipment.

Processor= Anthem AVM-20
CD/ Blu-Ray Player= Oppo-BDP93

Tower Speakers= Paradigm Studio 100 V.3
Center= Paradigm CC 570 V.3
Surround = Paradigm ADP 470 v.3
DUAL Paradigm Seismic 12 Subs. (these will not be used during testing)

Test Song's- 1.Fly Like An Eagle 2. House at Pooh Corner (requested). 3. Trapt Headstrong 4. Various Pink Floyd, and Various R&B / Rap.

Test Movies- Could use some help here, I have tons of Blu-Ray's, so if anyone knows some good parts of movies for 5 channel surround let me know. If not I will just go with a few random action movies.

Room= 20' by 26' open floor plan 9' ceilings.

I will judging everything from the vocals to the low end punch.

The winner (to my ears) stays in my House. The loser will be sold.

This is my first experience with Emotiva, so i'm excited to hear this beast. I received the XPA-2 about 4 days ago and I have had it playing everyday since at low to medium volume, just incase any "break-in was needed".

I also have a UPA-1 Monoblock that will be running my center during Movies, i'll also give my thoughts on that.

Any recommendations?

[audiofile]

I'd check out the scene in which TRex is chasing the jeep with Jeff Goldblum in the back. "Jurassic Park"

Music: Tom Petty "Waterline" or "Private Investigations"

Music: Saliva "Starting Over"

Music: Apacolyptica "Nothing Else Matters"

Music: Elton John "Belfast"

[hemster]

krazystang, I'm eagerly awaiting your review. I love your speakers! (ok, they seem very familiar to me! )

Suggestions:

Movies:

310 from Yuma (gunfights)
Fifth Element (vertical taxi scenes)
Gladiator (battle scenes)
LOTR (many scenes)
Any Harry Potter movie (lots of scenes)

Musak:

Eagles - When Hell Freezes Over
Pink Floyd - almost any album
Jeff Beck - Live at Ronnie Scott's
RAP - why bother?

[NorthStar]

Blu-ray disc: 'Tron Legacy', various scenes; the music rocks!

[krazystang]

Neighbors Beware..... Testing in progress..............

[NorthStar]

Neighbors? ...I don't have no neighbors, or they are too far away to even annoy me.

[monkumonku]

Dec 3, 2011 20:43:22 GMT -5 NorthStar said:

Neighbors? ...I don't have no neighbors, or they are too far away to even annoy me.

I think you mean your neighbors are too far away for you to annoy them. ;D

[NorthStar]

Ya, that's exactly what I meant, sorry. ;D

[restless]

Very interested to hear your results. I have a Anthem MRX 500 that is basically doing pre-amp duties. I have added an XPA3 for my B&W 704 LR and B&W Center, with a UPA2 feeding the rear Polk LSi15's. The MRX500 is only handling the high front speakers (Polk LSi7's). I have been thinking up picking up a XPA2 for the L/R, and move all the other speakers to other amps.

The MRX500 has a wonderful sound, and with more amplification of the Emotiva Amps, it has brought out additional detail in music and movies. I am using a OPPO 93 for movies as well as SACD/CD and FLAC music.

The Anthem ARC does a wonderful job of setting up speakers, even when driven by external amps.

Good luck with your testing.

[House]

boy do i wish you had the cc-670....its a killer center..... :-)

I had the 570 and then upgraded it like a month later...heaven

[Deleted]

For music, definitely check out Pat Metheny's "Imaginary Day", studio version, not live. Also, Porcupine Tree's "Stupid Dream" or "In Absentia" would be good test material. You should also consider some discs that feature female vocals, Jennifer Warnes' "Famous Blue Raincoat" is a good candidiate...

-RW-

[krazystang]

UPDATE!!

Well guys sorry for the delay in getting the review posted, but here is what I came up with.

I used music from all kinds of genre's during the review, and multiple blu-ray's

I'm gonna make the review short and sweet..

First impression, the xpa-2 is a massive amp. It made my adcom 5503 (which is huge) look fairly small. It dwarfed the Anthem MCA-2.

Basically what i'm saying is make sure you have room for this bad boy.

REVIEW:


Music:

I'm no professional speaker / amplifier reviewer , but here is what I came up with.

When I fired up some music on both amps, I was surprised to hear how overall similar the XPA-2 and MCA-2 sounded. It almost sounded like they were amps designed by the same company.
(keep in mind, I listen to my music/ movies loud, so both amps got a good workout)

-The highs/midrange sounded very similiar on both amps. Both crisp and clear.
-The XPA-2 overall had more low end punch. And it was quality punch! (as with both amps).
-There was more Headroom obviously with the XPA-2.

Movies:

-Both amps performed great again, I did notice that with the XPA-2 you felt a little more like you "were there" during certain scenes of movies.. gun fights, explosions, etc...

I'm also testing the UPA-1 out as we speak for my center channel.


Long story short, heres the deal....

The Xpa-2 just found a new home in my system! The Anthem is also staying, it will now be powering my surround sound

Looks like The Adcom 5503 (great amp) will be the one leaving.

Bottom Line:
I believe the XPA-2 performed just as well, if not better in some areas than the MCA-2 did. If size is an issue you might be in trouble with the XPA-2, as it's 3 times the size of the Anthem.

The XPA-2 for $699 (XMAS) or $799 with a 5 YEAR warranty, is a FANTASTIC deal! And that's the bottom line.

If you guys have any other questions, just hit me up!

Thanks Again!

[briank]

Anthem receivers, Pre's and PrePro's love Emo Power! . . . and they make a damn fine combo.

[NorthStar]

Tell us some' new that we don't know. ;D