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Post by lorneth1 on Aug 16, 2012 21:56:33 GMT -5
OK, first time posting here in Emotiva Forum very excited and proud owner of Emotiva XPA-5. I don't think there's any more elaboration or any good thoughts that have not been said with the XPA-5 but I have to give mine ;D First impression, massive and quite heavy!!! Very solid and well built almost justified the cost but wait there's more!!! The sound, neutral and warm like most of the reviews and took me a bit to get used to but after an hour I realized that true power doesn't come from increasing treble and bass. As I have not increased any of the tone controls at all and liked it very much after an hour. Now, the meat! What can I say...WOW! ;D Each of my speaker seems like it had an endless power, yes endless. BTW I have not increased my listening volume at all past my max which was -20. I know others might have cranked it to see more difference in performance but I know my speaker at this point to see it right away. The clarity was immaculate, the voice output and bass were more pronounced this time than it was. It seems like each of them were all engaged and ready even more to say let's go, I like it! Have not tried it in "direct" mode yet but I will later. I just want to add my review in this forum first before I check in with other forums to gloat about my new toy. So, this is my first time having separates and have always relied in AVR in powering all of speakers but it had to end and a great way to start it with XPA-5. I can't really wait for the other possibilities...  |
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hemster
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...still listening... still watching
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Post by hemster on Aug 16, 2012 21:59:03 GMT -5
Welcome to the lounge! Congrats on your amp and I absolutely agree with you on the XPA-5. And now you know it's true... once you go with separates, there's just no going back!  |
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stiehl11
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Give me available light!
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Post by stiehl11 on Aug 16, 2012 23:05:02 GMT -5
Welcome to the Lounge!!! +1 with hemster; I have never heard an AVR sound the same as or better than a well-made separate amp. I know that about 2 years ago I went listening to some of the AVRs (and speakers) touted here as very good. None of those AVRs matched my XPA-5 (only amp at that time).
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Post by lorneth1 on Aug 17, 2012 0:33:43 GMT -5
Thanks for the warm welcome ;D I'll fully exploit my new toy tomorrow , I'm still amazed and probably will for a long time. I'm just thankful that I didn't opt for the XPA-3 or I would have buyer's remorse not for the product but for the wrong item ordered. Yeah, I don't think I'll be going back to my old setup again...now onto my RTi A9 upgrade  |
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drmark
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Post by drmark on Aug 21, 2012 10:15:19 GMT -5
While many believe there is zero difference between amps at the same volume. You have learned there is improvement to be made. Good choice on your amp selection. Time to listen to the music |
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geebo
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Post by geebo on Aug 21, 2012 10:29:14 GMT -5
Welcome to the Lounge! And I know the feeling...my first foray into seperates was an XPA-5 and couldn't believe what I had been missing. Congratulations!
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Erwin.BE
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It's the room, stupid!
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Post by Erwin.BE on Aug 21, 2012 13:32:34 GMT -5
Don't want to pee on your parade, but the XPA amps have 32 dB gain, which probably is why your speakers sound louder (sorry, better) at the same volume pre-set...
But the Emo amps are all very good and cost not much so you were totally correct to get one! I got a few too and will need many more. 6 more channels for HT and a few zone amps...
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Post by thepcguy on Aug 21, 2012 13:55:10 GMT -5
Don't want to pee on your parade, but the XPA amps have 32 dB gain, which probably is why your speakers sound louder (sorry, better) at the same volume pre-set... But the Emo amps are all very good and cost not much so you were totally correct to get one! I got a few too and will need many more. 6 more channels for HT and a few zone amps... I'm happy with my UPA-5. Just right for my HT room - power is not too much nor too little. |
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Erwin.BE
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It's the room, stupid!
Posts: 2,259
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Post by Erwin.BE on Aug 21, 2012 15:49:42 GMT -5
Don't want to pee on your parade, but the XPA amps have 32 dB gain, which probably is why your speakers sound louder (sorry, better) at the same volume pre-set... But the Emo amps are all very good and cost not much so you were totally correct to get one! I got a few too and will need many more. 6 more channels for HT and a few zone amps... I'm happy with my UPA-5. Just right for my HT room - power is not too much nor too little. Cool, I will probably simply get three UPA-200 for the other channels (back/wide/height). Unless I loose my senses once again and go way over the top again.  After all it's a big room! (while he wisely did not mention the 95 dB efficiency of the speakers)  |
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Post by lorneth1 on Aug 21, 2012 21:02:48 GMT -5
None taken, I really think the Emo amp is well worth the price considering its massive and pure power build. I'm just excited that its providing the power it needs for my speakers to perform and if the gain is a part of it that's ok. Also, I just upgraded my fronts to the Rti A9s, so we'll see this combo as well. Really stoked!!!!
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dmraupp
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Post by dmraupp on Aug 25, 2012 21:55:46 GMT -5
None taken, I really think the Emo amp is well worth the price considering its massive and pure power build. I'm just excited that its providing the power it needs for my speakers to perform and if the gain is a part of it that's ok. Also, I just upgraded my fronts to the Rti A9s, so we'll see this combo as well. Really stoked!!!! Hello, I was wondering if you tried the Polk RTI A9'S+XPA-5 combo yet.I am very interested in hearing you're thoughts on this combo. |
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Post by lorneth1 on Aug 28, 2012 18:00:38 GMT -5
None taken, I really think the Emo amp is well worth the price considering its massive and pure power build. I'm just excited that its providing the power it needs for my speakers to perform and if the gain is a part of it that's ok. Also, I just upgraded my fronts to the Rti A9s, so we'll see this combo as well. Really stoked!!!! Hello, I was wondering if you tried the Polk RTI A9'S+XPA-5 combo yet.I am very interested in hearing you're thoughts on this combo. Yes Indeed!!! First of, listening in 2 channel mode is quite an aural experience. Onkyo's "direct" mode brings out the speaker's intended purpose, in this case, warm and natural. The mids are really great on the a9's its more present and I think its better than my a7's. I don't think there's a shortage of power coming from the XPA but then I haven't really maxed it out, still waiting for the break in period This goes for the XPA and the speakers itself. For now, I've only tested out their capabilities listening to music and I can say is that I like what I'm hearing. I'm not exactly a "great reviewer" but you can ask me and I'll try to provide my input on it. Thanks for asking. |
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Post by paintedklown on Aug 29, 2012 2:30:22 GMT -5
Congrats on the XPA-5. It really is an excellent performing amplifier, and will power most speakers to reference levels without breaking a sweat. I love my XPA-5, and the dynamics and headroom it provides is pretty amazing...  |
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Post by maverick11359 on Sept 11, 2012 2:58:48 GMT -5
G'day guys , I'm a new to this forum , I've purchased and anxiously waiting for my XPA-5 to arrive in the post..Couple of questions and thoughts that you guys probably have already resolved..Firstly are most of you using XLR balanced preouts and is their a distinct audio advantage over the unbalanced and if so are you using XLR balanced to your subwoolfers. In my exsisting Multichannel system I'm using three subys which only have RCA and speaker binding post inputs, along with using only unbalanced RCA interconnects on my pre's and pro's.I noticed Emotiva suby's have a balanced XLR input, great idea but not all brands do. Next possible problem with XLR interconnects that I now have read about , is that USA XLR balanced interconnects are wired different to Euro XLR balanced interconnects.. The Hot wire and cold wire are different pinned . eg US Hot-No3 pin Cold-No2 pin, Euro Hot- No2 pin Cold No3 pin. Do you guys swap the pins in one end of your XLR interconnects to compensate when using the US and Euro or Asain made gear. My Brand New Marantz AV7005 processor which arrived yesterday (made in Japan) warns this fact in its manual....Its going to be interesting listening to and doing a comparison. My System was a Sony VA333ES 9 year old Flagship AVR preout to two stereo 200w/8ohm Rotel RB1080 power amps and using the remaining 3 channels from the AVR,all unbalanced RCA connections . The new system means I can utilize the XLRs on the older Rotel and the XLRs on the Emotiva ,coupled up to the XLRs on the Marantz 7.2 processor .
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Post by garbulky on Sept 11, 2012 4:19:05 GMT -5
The XPA-5 isn't truly balanced. It will take XLR inputs though and do great with it. Only the XPA-1 is truly balanced. The advantage is 3db more of dynamic range. On truly balanced designs there's some more subtle advantage with lower levels of distortion and cross talk.
Easy answer: you won't gain a whole lot by going this route but it won't hurt.
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Post by maverick11359 on Sept 11, 2012 4:46:54 GMT -5
G'day garbulky, When you say its not really balanced , in what way ? The marantz processor I have purchase warns not to connect balanced XLR cables and power amps that arn't truely balanced , warning not to have the cold pin/ cable connected to ground . Not to use cables that are balanced socket on one end and RCA the other, having the ground shield and cold cables connected together ...
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Post by Gary Cook on Jan 1, 2013 0:12:50 GMT -5
My new XPA-5 arrived on Monday and it's been getting a good workout ever since, vinyl, CD's BluRays and SACD's have all had a run. A bit of history first, I had an XPA-5 a couple of years back for a month or so while I ran it in for my uncle who was away on his annual "head north to escape winter" sabatical. I really liked it then and it convinced me to get more Emotiva gear. Most recently, over the last winter, I have been running in an XPA-2 and XP-3 for him.
The new XPA-5 that arrived last Monday is mine and I'm not letting it go. I must say I haven't noticed any difference between the XPA2/3 combo and the XPA-5. It has more than enough punch for my purposes, large room, cathedral ceilings but with a relatively small viewing/listening space. That's even in stereo listening, with a USP-1, where I thought the XPA-2 might have an advantage. I do run a big/powerfull subwoofer in 5.1 and 2.1 which takes some of the load off the XPA-5.
The advantage for me is the noticeable space saving, a theme which I will continue when the budget allows by replacing the UMC-1, it has a waiting buyer, and the Denon AVR with a UMC-200. The XPA-5 just sounds nice, that's the best decription I have. not at all tiring to listen to for hours on end. In HT mode it provides way more than enough grunt, it's easy to see why it's one of (if not the most) popular of Emotiva's product.
Happy New year
Gary
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