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Post by monkumonku on Dec 12, 2012 18:26:36 GMT -5
Wow, those are beautiful! I hate to point out a discrepancy, but... the narrative description refers to both of these behemoths as weighing 95 lbs but under the spec section it says they weigh 81 lbs and boxed 92 lbs. |
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bkdc
Minor Hero
Posts: 24
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Post by bkdc on Dec 12, 2012 18:38:21 GMT -5
Can any of the Admins comment on whether these behemoths run immediately in class A/B or whether they run in class A until a certain wattage threshold?
I haven't opened the pair of XPA-1 amps that I just received, but if I can get 10 or 20 watts of class A running out of these beasts, I may just send them back for these!
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Post by razel on Dec 12, 2012 19:41:41 GMT -5
bkdc... from my very limited understanding... others please feel free to correct me, but class H doesn't switch from class A in the low wattage to class B in the higher so there is no class A power wattage to give you. I think I'll be buying two of the XPR-1s. I like the gain of 29db. I remember with the XPA-1s, they were 32db and hiss was obvious on quiet nights when I muted. My current RPA has a gain of 29db and it's perfect. I'm assuming the 3.5V input sensitivity is for RCAs. It's usually 2V. So I may just have to turn the volume up higher. Nothing wrong with that! The ARM processor for the lights is kinda funny. That is serious overkill. Will there be an Android app available for us to use the front lights as a low res display?  How long is the bootup time? I'm kidding. It's to monitor and manage the system.
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Post by Dark Ranger on Dec 12, 2012 19:56:57 GMT -5
The ARM processor for the lights is kinda funny. That is serious overkill. Will there be an Android app available for us to use the front lights as a low res display? How long is the bootup time? I'm kidding. It's to monitor and manage the system. We like overkill!  |
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Post by Jim on Dec 12, 2012 21:10:35 GMT -5
bkdc... from my very limited understanding... others please feel free to correct me, but class H doesn't switch from class A in the low wattage to class B in the higher so there is no class A power wattage to give you. I may be wrong, but I thought that all Class A/B circuits were class A under a certain threshold? |
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Post by Jim on Dec 12, 2012 21:12:25 GMT -5
And here is an old but great quote from Dan about Class H: To quote Dan Laufman (from emotivalounge.proboards.com/index....997&post=417104 ) "All Class H amplifiers typically have a Class AB amplifier as the gain element. The Class H refers to the power supply topology, so it's all in how you choose to look at it. If you turn off the Class H rail switching, the Class H amp is now a Class AB amp. We have a two rail design in the XPR-5. The low rail, which is what the amp is powered from on idle up to about 50% of the amps voltage swing, and then the high voltage rail with takes it all the way to maximum output. By sitting on the lower rail most of the time, quiescent losses are greatly reduced. The amp runs really cool under normal operation. But when you need it, the rails instantly switch to the high voltage mode and presto, a beast is born! There is a high speed comparator that looks at the input signal and predicts where the output is going, and when needed, it turns on the high voltage rail BEFORE the output gets there. You can't fool it, even with high frequency transients, as its switching time is faster than the rise time of a 20kHz signal. Sweet! So, you get the SQ of a really well designed Class AB amp, with a huge efficiency improvement, and no sonic downside. We've been building Class H amps for a long, long time and we have the control loop down pat. It's more expensive than Class AB, but at a certain power level, it's just the only way to go. You can't justify the power losses on an amp this big. There is really no down side to a well designed Class H amp. But remember, it's all in the details. You have to start with a great sounding amplifier stage. And the Class H controller has to be done very carefully in order to minimize sonic artifacts. When done correctly, (like in the XPR-5) the result is amazing." |
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Post by danr on Dec 12, 2012 22:43:07 GMT -5
Of course they put them out the night of my work holiday party. I am too impaired too check it out. :-) Tomorrow..
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Geronimo
Sensei
Budget HT but definitely not mediocre!
Posts: 140
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Post by Geronimo on Dec 13, 2012 6:21:29 GMT -5
i just found out early morning today 5:18 central time on my watch, that XPR1 and XPR2 is already available at the emo products site. those babies are beautiful. and man oh man they are pure beasts and beauty!
i am only half the man i am today if i can't have and hold one of them, and hearing them for the rest of my life. AMEN!
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KeithL
Administrator 
Posts: 10,261
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Post by KeithL on Dec 14, 2012 14:33:39 GMT -5
Class A simply refers to the fact that both output devices are conducting at the same time (the ones between the load and the positive rail AND the ones between the load and the negative rail). In a full Class A design, both output devices conduct throughout the entire cycle. In a Class B design, one or the other is always on and the other off. In a Class A/B design there is an overlap around zero volts where both are on at once. As long as you are within that overlap area, which you are for the first few watts of output, that amp is operating in Class A; when you go outside that area (at higher power), that amp is running in Class B. Overall, it is said to be running Class A/B. So ALL Class A/B amps operate in Class A for low power outputs, and then operate in Class B at higher powers. This eliminates the crossover notch distortion that you might otherwise get at low power using Class B, yet maintains the better efficiency that you get with Class B. In a Class H design (like the XPRs), the power supply rails are controlled to optimize efficiency. It doesn't affect whether the amp itself is Class A, or Class A/B. The output stages of the XPRs operate in Class A/B. Can any of the Admins comment on whether these behemoths run immediately in class A/B or whether they run in class A until a certain wattage threshold? I haven't opened the pair of XPA-1 amps that I just received, but if I can get 10 or 20 watts of class A running out of these beasts, I may just send them back for these! |
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Post by Jim on Dec 14, 2012 14:35:24 GMT -5
Good info Keith!
Any clue how many watts any of the XPR amps can do in class A?
(I probably couldn't hear it, but I know it's a popular question - and now I'm just curious)
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Post by vharpip on Dec 23, 2012 15:52:45 GMT -5
Where are the reviews of the XPR 2
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Post by agent9215 on Dec 25, 2012 16:02:58 GMT -5
My XPR-1s arrived yesterday and I spent about 8 hours with them. They are replacing a pair of XPA-1s so I have a excellent frame of reference. My initial impression is very very good. Right out of the box they sounded rather warm with a ton of power. I am really pleased. After a while longer I will say more, however I don't believe they wil be going back. If they sound as good as I think they will after they are broken in, Emotiva has a major hit on their hands.
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Post by danr on Dec 25, 2012 22:01:37 GMT -5
Thanks for the impressions of the 1s. Mine are still in the boxes in my office. My back is completely OUT now, I can barely move. Plus, the way I was going to install them wasn't going to work, so I had to order two 13" VTI racks. Those won't be in until early-mid January. I am very reluctant to take the XPR-1s out of the box due to my back and I don't just want to leave them on the floor in my home theater either (due to my pets).
Anyhow, I definitely believe these will sound warmer than the X-series. I definitely hear that with my XPR-5 vs my old UPA-1 (which were essentially X-series amp modules).
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Post by danr on Dec 27, 2012 14:24:43 GMT -5
Well, things are moving along a little faster than anticipated.
1.)my back is much better now, and I think I am over the hump in regards to this issue
2.)just got shipping notice on the racks that can hold the XPR-1s. Delivery is expected Jan 2, so if all goes well, I should have the XPR-1s installed by Jan. 5.
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Post by phoenixatdawn on Dec 28, 2012 16:17:02 GMT -5
Hello, my first time post here. I usually don't write in forums, especially any type of reviews, but I wanted to share my experience. My speaker is Sonus Faber Stravidari. My current amp is Mcintosh MC601's. I had owned Krell 2250e, 302e and XPR-5 in past 12 months. I currently have XPA-1's, XPA-5, ERC-2, XDA-1 in my other systems. I find Emotiva electronics a tremendous value. I just got XPR-1's hooked up to Stravidari and the combination sounds incredible. I didn't expect to be this amazed. It sounds almost identical to MC601's in low to moderate volume. However, at high to "stupid" loudness, XPR-1's sounded better than MC601's. The instruments sounded more discrete with better dynamics and control. The bass seems a bit tighter with XPR-1. I guess higher power does help MC601's still have somewhat of a "sweeter" sound overall, especially with female vocals. I felt the soundstage was about the same. XPA-1's and XPR-5 sound very good at medium volumes, but as you turn it up, they begin to lose control of lower registers. Higher ends begin to blend together and lose details. I felt they sounded great for the price but couldn't compete agains some higher end gears (and it would be unfair to expect them to at < 20% of the price). I read somewhere else in the forum comparing MC601's to XPR-5 and found them similar at lower volumes. My experience is similar but the 601's seem to have better transient dynamics and control as volume goes up. Again, this is just my opinion... Krell 302e and 2250e had totally different sounds than any Emotiva or Mcintosh. Krell had very tight and analytical sound. The bass was amazingly solid and defined - much better than any Emotiva or Mcintosh amps. But, the overall sound was very "dry" and not very engaging. Female vocal sounded excellent and real, but did not feel "magical." After couple songs, I would lose interest. Some pop songs sound great with Krells but those are not my type of music. So, Krell may sound better than XPR-1 but not as "musical." Krells throws best holographic soundstage than any amplifiers I tried. Overall, I found XPR-1's to sound very SIMILAR to Mcintosh 601's - sweet, lush. But at higher volume, XPR-1's take BETTER control of the dynamics, bass, and detail. I am very amazed. Better or similar sonic quality in almost all respect at fraction of the cost. Happy new year! |
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Post by ansat on Dec 28, 2012 16:23:54 GMT -5
welcome to the forums phoenixatdawn. I hope you decide to stick around and share some more experiences with us.
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Post by danr on Dec 28, 2012 17:32:45 GMT -5
XPA-1's and XPR-5 sound very good at medium volumes, but as you turn it up, they begin to lose control of lower registers. Higher ends begin to blend together and lose details. I felt they sounded great for the price but couldn't compete agains some higher end gears (and it would be unfair to expect them to at < 20% of the price). I read somewhere else in the forum comparing MC601's to XPR-5 and found them similar at lower volumes. My experience is similar but the 601's seem to have better transient dynamics and control as volume goes up. Again, this is just my opinion... Thanks for posting, and welcome. I have the XPR-5 hooked up right now, and haven't had the same impressions...but then I looked at the Sonus Faber speakers you are driving.  HAHAHA. I guess knowing that those are much more demanding speakers than what I am running, I would say I am not surprised by your results/experience. I also have similar experiences to yours with the Krell amps. Rock solid & holographic, but "dry" also. Now I cannot wait to get my XPR-1s hooked up...and then get my new speakers. |
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Post by phoenixatdawn on Dec 28, 2012 19:43:43 GMT -5
Actually those speakers are relatively efficient with 92dB with 30-300W. So, 1000W (or 1750W at 4ohm) is overkill. Having headroom never hurts... I am anxious to hear more opinions on XPR-1's, so please post your thoughts after you get help setting up those 100 pound monsters |
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How long is the bootup time? 
HAHAHA. I guess knowing that those are much more demanding speakers than what I am running, I would say I am not surprised by your results/experience. I also have similar experiences to yours with the Krell amps. Rock solid & holographic, but "dry" also. 