Post by cra on Dec 9, 2011 13:47:30 GMT -5
Recently, I decided to upgrade my system from a Denon 4308 AVR to individual components (amps and a pre/pro). My 5.1 system includes two Paradigm Studio 100 fronts, a CC-690 center, two Paradigm Studio 60 surrounds, and a Velodyne HGS15 (soon to be replaced by a newer 12” Velodyne). As I was doing research online, I learned about Emotiva products; I had never heard of them before. I spent about two weeks scouring the internet for anything I could read about Emotiva XPA amplifiers and UMC-1 pre/pro. Like many audiophiles, I was concerned about the low price point. Virtually everything I read about XPA amplifiers was positive, so I ordered an XPA-2 and an XPA-3. I didn’t get the same feeling about the UMC-1 and didn’t want to wait for Emotiva’s new X series pre/pro, so I opted for the new Rotel RSP-1572; a bit spendy but highly regarded. The XPA-3 was ordered Monday and showed up 4 days later. I ordered the XPA-2 on Wednesday when my reserve number came up. But it won’t show up until mid December. The the Rotel RSP-1572 was ordered from Chelsea Audio here in Portland and won’t show up until mid December. Since I had unexpectedly sold my Denon 4308 for about $600 in about an hour on Craigslist, the folks at Chelsea Audio were kind enough to lend me a NAD T757 until my RSP-1572 shows up.
By the way, the NAD T757 is a 60W “minivan” of an AVR and, in my opinion, is way over priced at about $1600. It’s a plain vanilla AVR targeted to folks/families that just want to switch it on and have descent sound coming out of consumer level surround speakers. Needless to say, it fell flat driving my Paradigm speakers by itself. Compared to the $1600 NAD T757, the guy who purchased my Denon 4308 got one heck of a deal.
Last night I hooked up the XPA-3 to the NAD to drive my fronts and center. My surrounds were being driven by the NAD. I decided to listen to the Eagles When Hell Freezes Over DVD (DTS) to get a flavor for how the XPA-3 would sound driving 200W into my Paradigm fronts and center. I wasn’t expecting too much since the Denon 4308 has an excellent 140w amplifiers section. I was also skeptical of the NAD preamp, but it seemed to do a good job. After about 30 seconds of listening to Hotel California it was clear that the XPA-3 was driving my Paradigms like never before. It was like they came to life. The detail was amazing. I was so taken by the sound I watched/listened to the entire DVD. WOW! I can only imagine how much better my system will sound when I hook up the RSP-1572 and the XPA-2. My final configuration will be to drive the fronts with the XPA-2 and the center and surrounds with the XPA-3. Needless to say the XPA-3 is here to stay. I expect the same of the XPA-2.
By the way, the NAD T757 is a 60W “minivan” of an AVR and, in my opinion, is way over priced at about $1600. It’s a plain vanilla AVR targeted to folks/families that just want to switch it on and have descent sound coming out of consumer level surround speakers. Needless to say, it fell flat driving my Paradigm speakers by itself. Compared to the $1600 NAD T757, the guy who purchased my Denon 4308 got one heck of a deal.
Last night I hooked up the XPA-3 to the NAD to drive my fronts and center. My surrounds were being driven by the NAD. I decided to listen to the Eagles When Hell Freezes Over DVD (DTS) to get a flavor for how the XPA-3 would sound driving 200W into my Paradigm fronts and center. I wasn’t expecting too much since the Denon 4308 has an excellent 140w amplifiers section. I was also skeptical of the NAD preamp, but it seemed to do a good job. After about 30 seconds of listening to Hotel California it was clear that the XPA-3 was driving my Paradigms like never before. It was like they came to life. The detail was amazing. I was so taken by the sound I watched/listened to the entire DVD. WOW! I can only imagine how much better my system will sound when I hook up the RSP-1572 and the XPA-2. My final configuration will be to drive the fronts with the XPA-2 and the center and surrounds with the XPA-3. Needless to say the XPA-3 is here to stay. I expect the same of the XPA-2.
