XSP-1 Review by Boomzilla

[boomzilla]

Hi'ya, cutie.

A moll like you should already know about da XSP-1... Whaddaya? I gotta tell ya about it? Arrite then - Ya know better dan'ta lissen too close to anything dat I say...

Da machine is a class act, not like me or da likes a youse. Balanced inputs and outputs, phono stage, 'n tone controls. Way too rich a feature set for any wise guy. Matter'a fact, I used none of 'em. None of 'em, I tell'ya.

Now what I did use, yeah, in addition to you, moll, was da bass management and da remote input switchin'. Dat sub does just what it's supposed to, I tell ya - An' nuttin' but! Both da low pass and da hi-pass can be varied an' dat match, well ya just can't tell where it happens. Dat's what ya get when ya buy da good stuff! Whiskey or stereo, dat good stuff's easy ta tell.

So what's it sound like? Better'n you, moll, dat's for sure, dis baby ain't got no whiney mudder-in-law sound to it. What it DOES sound like, though, aint so easy to say. Like a bought-off witness, it just don't make much noise. Dem cenner images, dey juss don't shift and beyond dat, dere ain't no easy way to describe da sound.

I got no ten dollar words like image, spatiality, or soundstage for dis one. It's got dose, sure, but it don't seem to like add or subtrak nuttin dat I can tell. Maybe dose "golden ears" can tell some diff, but ta me, it juss sounds like da source.

An' nuttin is what da good ones are SUPPOSED to sound like. If it were like addin' or takin' sumpin' away, THEN I'd be obligated to rough it up a bit - no, moll, we aint doin' that just now, but dere aint nuttin dat I can hear.

No hiss, no hum, an' no noise of any kind - jus' like I like you, moll. Quiet is a good thing for wiseguy nerves. When it plays, what I hear's absolute music to my ears - good when da source's good and not so good otherwise. Who'm I ta knock a good thing?

I tell'ya, moll, this one's a keeper, just like you. Now don' go all weepy on me now - Ya know that sentiment stuff juss aint for da likes of me... I us'ta be big, strong, and stupid, but I ain't big & strong anymore. Even so, I know a good thing when I hear it. Emotiva done good again.



This post will be modified over time with additional comments but without the dialect.

[Deleted]

I got about two words in and stopped.....

[garbulky]

Sounds like a winner pardner. I would love to come over sometime in December to take a listen if you would be so obliging. I've always wanted to hear some REAL Klipsch or thiels.

[Topend]

Nov 19, 2012 0:47:46 GMT -5 @kraemerkid2119 said:

I got about two words in and stopped.....

Me too.

[weird23]

Worst review ever!

Couldn't subject myself to this drivel long enough to finish reading whatever it is you have written.

[bitsandbytes]

Thank you. That review was hysterical. Nothing like a great laugh to start off a dreary Monday morning work week.

Having "no whiney mudder-in-law sound" and being "quieter than a bought off witness" - now what more can you ask from a unit than that?

[klinemj]

Very creative review! I do like the comment, "but ta me, it juss sounds like da source."

Very true...it seems like it's just putting it all out there the way's supposed to be with no noise, no loss of space...the notes are just there.

Mark

[jamrock]

Hysterical review and I like it.

True high-end. Nuttin' but da sound ;D

[boomzilla]

For those offended by my meager attempt at dialect and humor, I apologize. Every once in awhile, an urge to be silly overtakes me and I succumb. I probably shouldn't have subjected you to it, and I did reconsider more than once before hitting the "post" button, but I decided to go with it anyway in hopes that at least someone would enjoy it. Apparently, some did.

If you didn't like the method, allow me to restate the message:

I find the XSP-1 to be a well-designed, well-concieved, and well-executed piece of work. It appears to do exactly what it should without adding any colorations or removing any audible information so far as I can hear. I haven't listened to it extensively enough yet to have rooted out it's subtleties, but I will continue to listen and continue to post my impressions.

What was not stated in the review and should have been are the following factoids:

• All equipment was warmed up for more than 24 hours before audition.
  
• I listened to uncompressed AIFF files originally ripped from CDs.
  
• The files were listened to via a MacBook computer via iTunes software
  
• The files were upsampled to 88.2 KHz via Pure Music software working in conjunction with iTunes
  
• The files were converted via an Audioquest Dragonfly USB DAC
  
• All volume control was done by the XSP-1
  
• The bass management was set to 80 Hz. for both high & low pass
  
• The subwoofer is a Definitive Technology Trinity
  
• The power amplifier for the main speakers is a Crown PS-400 (although this amplifier is generally considered "grainy sounding" in the high treble, the speakers don't reproduce high treble above 17 KHz, so the amplifier's grain was not a problem)
  
• The speakers were Klipsch La Scalas (mid 1980s models with the original K-77 tweeter) with Bob Crites' "Type A" crossovers
  
• The listening room is very live with sheetrock walls & ceiling, hardwood floors, and only a single rug for echo attenuation.
  
• A variety of music was used for audition including classical (symphony, string quartet, horn ensembles, and opera), classic pop, country, and occasional rap.
  
• My ears are now 60 years old, but without any measured presbyacusis per hearing test less than one year ago
  

Cheers - Boomzilla

[boomzilla]

Nov 19, 2012 1:09:41 GMT -5 garbulky said:

Sounds like a winner pardner. I would love to come over sometime in December to take a listen if you would be so obliging. I've always wanted to hear some REAL Klipsch or thiels.

Alas, I'll be out of town most of the month on business. Perhaps another time?

[dcg44s]

I can see how some people might not have liked the style of the review but I also appreciate the creativity and attempt to do something a little different.

[AudioHTIT]

I likes da 'color' bumba ...

[roadrunner]

Boom

I had a smirk on my face the whole time I was reading it. I was also watching an NFL football game at the same time. The fact that I continued reading your "review" while the game was in progress speaks volumes. I often post "tongue-in-cheek" orations because I feel the need for a little levity on the Lounge; and, I enjoy seeing others do the same. You need not apologize for your masterpiece. A little intelligent humor never hurt anyone.

[em3]

I bought a USP-1 a few months ago in anticipation of the completion of a 2-channel room. Along with the USP-I bought an XDA-1 and a WADIA 171 itransport. They sat in their respective boxes for 2-3 months--unopened--because the 2 channel room took longer than expected to complete.

The room was ready in OCTOBER 2012. After setting up the room--with GOLDENEAR triton 2 towers--I was REALLY IMPRESSED with the sound quality.

I use SPOTIFY for 99% of my music. I find the music to be MUCH less compressed than I-tunes. I'm not talking about apple lossless. Just plain old I-tunes...

So the system was set up in OCTOBER. iPhone/ipad---using SPOTIFY--to the WADIA. From the WADIA--to XDA-1 via TOSLINK--then to USP1--via RCA--then to XPA 2 via RCA--to the TRITONS. The TRITONS have powered subs built in--so the sub line was SPLIT--using the low pass output on the USP. AGAIN the split was with RCA.

It sounded GREAT.

I'm new to the audiophile realm. A few years ago--I completed my media room--7.2--all DEF TECH speakers. All of the components are SONY--zone 1 receiver is a sony 3400ES. Spectacular for movies. I never felt like the sony did justice to music. Then I added an XPA 5--and started listening in 2 channel--in the media room. WOW...my once lifeless SONY (for music) was revived. And then I added a PURE i-20 IPOD/IPAD DOCK/DAC. SOUNDSTAGE QUADRUPLED. Now hooked on 2-channel...wife freaking bc the media room too close to family areas--and music too loud.

SO lets move the 2-channel room...VOILA--New 2 -channel room...

..but is the emotiva/wadia/golden ear BETTER than PURE/SONY/EMOTIVA/DEF Tech? Hell yeah. many pepsi challenges later--and the results are the same--the 2 channel room better. MUCH BETTER...WHEW....

Then I got on the emotiva website one day and saw the XSP-1. And I read KLINE's review--and some others. Why didn't I just wait--and not buy the USP??!!! BC the USP was on sale--and the XSP wasn't available. And i had no idea the XSP was even on the horizon.

Many of you may be in this predicament--with a relatively new USP--and the temptation of a ??better?? XSP???

So I bought the XSP. And I bought the ERC-2. And some XLR cables from monoprice. And a MONSTER POWER (blasphemy?) conditioner from amazon--the FURMAN was like $2k--are you kidding me??!!

Did I make the right decision in sacking the USP after 3 weeks? And not even breaking it in? for that matter--my speakers aren't even broken in. How does one actually listen to 50-100 hours of music?? Are they unemployed?? or soon to be??

The answer--UNEQUIVOCALLY-is YES!!! I made the right decision in upgrading to the XSP.

So I've done a couple of things so far. I've compared the XSP to the USP--and I've compared the ERC-2 to the WADIA/XDA (using SPOTIFY).

XSP vs USP--no comparison. XLR (balanced) outs make a HUGE DIFFERENCE. Soundstage increases. Idiosynchracies/nuances of songs become apparent. Is it the balanced outs--and not actually the XSP itself?? NO, it isn't. I used RCA for the comparison. But after comparing the 2 using RCA--and then comparing them using XLR--I found things sounded even better.

So i love the idea of using "audiophile" terms like "transparent" and "bright" and "fatiguing." WTF?? I'm not an audiophile in that context. I'm just a guy that has an ear for subtle differences between things--and likes to get a great product for a really terrific price point. And the XSP was worth the extra cost in that capacity. NO question.

So how about the ERC-2 vs the WADIA? It was actually a lot closer than i thought. Maybe bc of the XSP?? maybe bc my CDs aren't digitally remastered??

For the most part though, the ERC won out. The sound was cleaner--truer--if you will. I felt like with the XDA and wadia-the singer had a veil--now mind you a very thin one--covering his face--and when I toggled to the ERC--during the same song--the veil was lifted. And the instrumentation wasn't as jumbled. Less compressed?? Better processing?? But if you're not a big CD person--and have most of your stuff on your phone--the XDA/wadia is actually terrific. But comparing the ERC and the XDA--the ERC produces a better sound.

How do I put this succinctly in verbage that will relate to guys who use words like "timbre" and "low pass impedance??"

I'll try. When I listen to CDs with the ERC-2--along with the XSP-1, I'm able to finally HEAR the songs I've known my whole life.

Buy the XSP. Spend the $900. You will thank yourself after you've listened.

[boomzilla]

Nov 19, 2012 5:41:22 GMT -5 bitsandbytes said:

Thank you. That review was hysterical...

Nov 19, 2012 6:52:54 GMT -5 klinemj said:

Very creative review!...

Nov 19, 2012 7:13:45 GMT -5 jamrock said:

Hysterical review and I like it...

Nov 19, 2012 11:47:59 GMT -5 dcg44s said:

...I also appreciate the creativity and attempt to do something a little different.

Nov 19, 2012 12:12:50 GMT -5 AudioHTIT said:

I likes da 'color' bumba ...

Nov 19, 2012 15:37:08 GMT -5 roadrunner said:

I had a smirk on my face the whole time I was reading it...I feel the need for a little levity on the Lounge...A little intelligent humor never hurt anyone.

To all who tolerate my occasional silliness with good grace - Thank you! I truly appreciate it.

To all who found the post drivel or who just couldn't get beyond the first two words, please accept my humble apologies... And finally, to you in this second group specifically, as Justin Wilson (Cajun Humorist) used to say: "Now don't that sound nice? Actually, I just don't give a damn!"

;D

[roadrunner]

Welcome to the Emotiva Lounge, Em3. Your first post shows that you have already discovered Emotiva Audio and have made some excellent purchases. You have positioned yourself to enjoy listening to you music for years to come. Participating on the Lounge may help you to prevent repeating the USP-1/XSP-1 SNAFU. The Lounge is an excellent place to keep abreast of what new products are coming down the pipeline. Thank you for sharing your experience with Emotiva components. It will help others in making their decisions in what to purchase or not purchase, based on your experience.

The Lounge is a fun place to hang out, above and beyond the equipment reviews. Above all, enjoy yourself, have fun and share your experiences with other Lounge Members. Come back often.

[boomzilla]

What he said! ^^^

[boomzilla]

Nov 19, 2012 16:19:05 GMT -5 em3 said:

...Buy the XSP. Spend the $900. You will thank yourself after you've listened.

So far, I agree. Thanks again for posting!

[klinemj]

em3...glad my review got you to try the X...it is worth it for sure! Still loving mine!

mark

[jony1600]

lol...great review, I was laughing the whole time...BTW, if anyone knows, how much of a difference will the XSP make over the UMC multichannel pre/pro?