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Post by jackfish on Nov 27, 2012 16:09:43 GMT -5
What's the sound signature of this amp? Warm, Bright, Neutral, Clinical, Analytical, Musical? Neutral What's the best DAC to pair with this in contrast? Debatable |
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Post by Dark Ranger on Nov 27, 2012 16:27:34 GMT -5
It sounds cynical and jaded.  Why? It's still peeved that it did not get a capital letter for its model identifier! OK, remember that it is Emotiva's least expensive amplifier at the moment. It is quite neutral and smooth for an amp at this price point. It totally blew away my Denon AVR. As far as DACs, I had good success with Emotiva's XDA-1, but just about anything out there should sound good. I also considered the Schiit Bifrost to pair with it. EDIT: I should probably clarify that by "just about anything out there", I mean something that is well-constructed and designed with quality in mind.  |
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mbtorn
Seeker Of Truth
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Post by mbtorn on Nov 29, 2012 7:00:02 GMT -5
1. Can i use two mini-x as monoblocks and pair them with an emotiva usp-1 pre-amp? Has anyone done this?
2. How do you daisy chain two mini-x (kindly provide step-by-step procedures)? What does daisy chaining two mini-x achieve?
3. When the two mini-x are daisy-chained, will the power output become 100w per channel? Which mini-x will be the main amp for volume control...cdp > mini-x (amp1) + mini-x (amp2) > speakers?
4. Can you then have two set of speakers being powered by the daisy-chained mini-x since effectively will you have two sets of binding posts? Or you can only power a pair of speakers, in which case, which amp will you hook the pair of speakers?
Thanks in advance for all the help.
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Post by ribbonking on Dec 4, 2012 15:07:15 GMT -5
Finally set my a-100 mini-x up last night to use as a headphone amplifier. I bought it at Emofest.
Headphones are Hifiman HE-500 and they like power.
Bought a used HE-500 balanced cable with four pin XLR and custom made speaker taps on Head-fi.
So far sounds great - really improved the quality of the bass with these headphones. Drums sound incredibly realistic.
Highs are still there and mids are silky.
The HE-500 are known for their midrange reproduction.
Sound remains well balanced.
Heck of a headphone amp for the money.
Have to be cautious with the volume knob. Perfect between 9 and 10 o'clock.
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Post by d1sturb3d on Jul 17, 2013 6:08:14 GMT -5
is usp1 pre-amp a good combo with this amp? I need a pre-amp due to the lack of inputs of the a-100
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Post by Boomzilla on Jul 17, 2013 7:16:02 GMT -5
I've used my USP-1 with my Mini-X and they sound awesome. I also use a pro DBX equalizer as a preamp when I run the Mini-X as a public-address amplifier. The next thing I plan to try is to use the output of my Jolida Glass FX tube DAC directly into the Mini-X. With the volume pot cut back some, I'll be able to use iTunes digital volume to control the music & won't need the preamp at all.
The Mini-X's main limitation is its power output - 50 watts is enough for most speakers, but some need more. The Mini-X's 50 watts, though are TRUE 50 watts. An AVR with similar current capacity would probably be rated at 150 wpc. This is because AVRs are typically measured with ONLY one channel driven and ONLY at 1 KHz. This allows the AVR manufacturers to fudge their specs, making consumers think that they're getting power that they really aren't.
The Mini-X is versatile, light weight, and has the Emotiva "house sound" that is very similar to what I hear from my XPA-2. For its price and performance, the Mini-X is one of the best deals in audio, IMHO.
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Post by drtrey3 on Jul 17, 2013 7:21:21 GMT -5
I agree boom, I will miss ours when my daughter takes it to college. Of course, I could get lucky at Emofest and score one there!
Trey
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Post by brubacca on Jul 17, 2013 8:14:09 GMT -5
is usp1 pre-amp a good combo with this amp? I need a pre-amp due to the lack of inputs of the a-100 How many inputs do you need? Sherbourn PA2-50 is the sherbourn version of mini-x , it has 2 inputs and remote control also. Check it out. The speaker terminals are very different though. You would need to check them out. |
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Post by d1sturb3d on Jul 17, 2013 8:32:36 GMT -5
thanks guys for the response..there is a pre-owned usp1 being sold on our local forum and he is asking for about 420 usd..he bought it before much higher and add more on the shipping cost to our country..the listening area is not big since I only live in a small apartment so my mini x is already powerful enough for my needs..
I probably need three inputs one for my digital music server/player, one for my NMT, one for my CDP..I am also interested on the sub out of the USP-1
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igor
Minor Hero
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Post by igor on Jul 17, 2013 8:48:50 GMT -5
thanks guys for the response..there is a pre-owned usp1 being sold on our local forum and he is asking for about 420 usd..he bought it before much higher and add more on the shipping cost to our country..the listening area is not big since I only live in a small apartment so my mini x is already powerful enough for my needs.. I probably need three inputs one for my digital music server/player, one for my NMT, one for my CDP..I am also interested on the sub out of the USP-1 I may by misunderstanding something but isn't the USP-1 currently $390 new from EMO? Also, what is "NMT"? If it has digital out, also consider the XDA-2, $339 now, works as a pre, has remote, excellent DAC, lots of (digital) inputs, and as for sub, you can connect the sub to the XLRs while the amp to RCA or the other way around to get it working with a 2.1 system (perhaps with XLR-RCA adapters if needed). But maybe a real pre has something the XDA can't, just an idea though. |
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Post by chaosrv on Jul 17, 2013 9:06:39 GMT -5
The XDA cannot support analog inputs and has no tone controls/bass management) connecting a sub is one thing, being able to adjust it is another.
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igor
Minor Hero
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Post by igor on Jul 17, 2013 9:14:00 GMT -5
True, but some subs have possibility to adjust them built in (x-refs has 2 PEQ filters for example), or maybe the amp has that, or maybe there is a minidsp or similar in between...just gave it as a suggestion if it per any change would fit. As for analog inputs, none may be needed, that's why I asked if the "NMT" has digital out.
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Post by Boomzilla on Jul 17, 2013 9:42:49 GMT -5
Also to the OP, I'd mention that while the USP-1 has a subwoofer output, it is the devil to use. The crossover point is controlled by a pair of pots marked only at their minimal and maximal frequencies. The pots are NOT linear in their operation. On my USP-1, I can turn the low-pass up to 12 O-Clock and have NOTHING coming out of the subwoofer at all. What frequency am I really crossing over at? Only Emotiva knows, and they aren't saying!
Unless you've got a frequency analyzer and software to actually measure what is (and is not) coming out of your mains and sub, you're shooting in the dark at the actual crossover frequency. Big Dan can defend this design till he runs out of breath, but it is still a poor engineering choice and is profoundly unfriendly to users. I expect better of Emotiva, and if there was one thing to be changed on the next iteration of this product, the bass management is IT!
That said, the USP-1 is a great preamp otherwise. It has lots of input switching, good display, nice remote, and most importantly of all it neither adds or subtracts anything that I can tell from the source. This is profoundly RARE in a preamplifier, and makes the USP-1 a contender against far, far more expensive preamps.
Therefore, if (and only if) you're willing to futz about endlessly with the mysterious bass management, I can recommend the USP-1 wholeheartedly. If you want "set it and forget it" subwoofer control, then consider something else.
I, personally, prefer to shut off the bass frequencies to my satellite speakers rather than running them full range and cutting in the subwoofer below the satellites' roll-off. In my room, and to my ears, this makes the satellites image better and relieves the main power amp of much of its current demand. To do this, though, you must have a functional bass-management system. The USP-1's is only marginally functional, IMHO.
Cheers - Boomzilla
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Post by d1sturb3d on Jul 17, 2013 20:44:54 GMT -5
thanks guys for the response..there is a pre-owned usp1 being sold on our local forum and he is asking for about 420 usd..he bought it before much higher and add more on the shipping cost to our country..the listening area is not big since I only live in a small apartment so my mini x is already powerful enough for my needs.. I probably need three inputs one for my digital music server/player, one for my NMT, one for my CDP..I am also interested on the sub out of the USP-1 I may by misunderstanding something but isn't the USP-1 currently $390 new from EMO? Also, what is "NMT"? If it has digital out, also consider the XDA-2, $339 now, works as a pre, has remote, excellent DAC, lots of (digital) inputs, and as for sub, you can connect the sub to the XLRs while the amp to RCA or the other way around to get it working with a 2.1 system (perhaps with XLR-RCA adapters if needed). But maybe a real pre has something the XDA can't, just an idea though. yes that is correct the usp1 is currently $390..but the shipping to our country will be around $6/lb (20x6=$120) plus handling fee and VAT of 12%..that is the cheapest route I can find for air shipping..the seller probably have bought it at the original price before.. sorry for the confusion..NMT is a Network Media Tank..for my small apartment I cannot go for 5.1 setup on movies so my NMT will downsample everything to stereo..my NMT contains all my movies..my incoming olive for my digital music.. thanks for the suggestion..I can take a look at XDA-2.. |
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Post by d1sturb3d on Jul 17, 2013 20:46:43 GMT -5
The XDA cannot support analog inputs and has no tone controls/bass management) connecting a sub is one thing, being able to adjust it is another. I see..analog inputs are a must for me..but all my sources will have digital out..my NMT has probably crappy DAC section that's for sure..I'll review this XDA thing  |
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Post by d1sturb3d on Jul 17, 2013 20:59:35 GMT -5
Also to the OP, I'd mention that while the USP-1 has a subwoofer output, it is the devil to use. The crossover point is controlled by a pair of pots marked only at their minimal and maximal frequencies. The pots are NOT linear in their operation. On my USP-1, I can turn the low-pass up to 12 O-Clock and have NOTHING coming out of the subwoofer at all. What frequency am I really crossing over at? Only Emotiva knows, and they aren't saying! Unless you've got a frequency analyzer and software to actually measure what is (and is not) coming out of your mains and sub, you're shooting in the dark at the actual crossover frequency. Big Dan can defend this design till he runs out of breath, but it is still a poor engineering choice and is profoundly unfriendly to users. I expect better of Emotiva, and if there was one thing to be changed on the next iteration of this product, the bass management is IT! That said, the USP-1 is a great preamp otherwise. It has lots of input switching, good display, nice remote, and most importantly of all it neither adds or subtracts anything that I can tell from the source. This is profoundly RARE in a preamplifier, and makes the USP-1 a contender against far, far more expensive preamps. Therefore, if (and only if) you're willing to futz about endlessly with the mysterious bass management, I can recommend the USP-1 wholeheartedly. If you want "set it and forget it" subwoofer control, then consider something else. I, personally, prefer to shut off the bass frequencies to my satellite speakers rather than running them full range and cutting in the subwoofer below the satellites' roll-off. In my room, and to my ears, this makes the satellites image better and relieves the main power amp of much of its current demand. To do this, though, you must have a functional bass-management system. The USP-1's is only marginally functional, IMHO. Cheers - Boomzilla thank you for the insight on using the bass controls..I am not concerned about it..I am a patient man in tuning ..I hope I will be able to get that sweet spot if I decided to get the USP-1 |
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Post by RightinLA on Jul 18, 2013 0:28:29 GMT -5
I like to buy and try different pieces of audio equipment.
I use my mini-X A-100 as my basic test amp to ensure the speakers or preamps etc. basically work immediately after they are taken out of the box.
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Post by d1sturb3d on Jul 23, 2013 2:24:29 GMT -5
thanks for igor's suggestion..I have decided to get an XDA-2..since I will be running all digital..I am currently searching the best way to purchase it.
my planned set up
oliveone/NMT -> XDA-2 -> mini-x -> duevel planets
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Post by dxtreme on Jul 24, 2013 17:03:55 GMT -5
I'm in the process of upgrading my pc audio setup to the following:
pc -> xda-2 -> mini-x -> Epos Epic 2
What volume level do I leave on the mini-x, since the XDA-2 will be controlling the volume?
Thanks for any assistance!
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Post by d1sturb3d on Sept 15, 2013 21:37:34 GMT -5
thanks for igor's suggestion..I have decided to get an XDA-2..since I will be running all digital..I am currently searching the best way to purchase it. my planned set up oliveone/NMT -> XDA-2 -> mini-x -> duevel planets my mini-X arrived last week and the XDA-2 arrived yesterday..need to find some crappy cables so I can test right away..I have yet to find a decent cable that I can use as an IC..got my plugs and shrink tubes already.. |
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Why? It's still peeved that it did not get a capital letter for its model identifier!
