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Post by drbrutallica on Dec 2, 2012 11:09:15 GMT -5
Boomzilla, you are the man!!
Thanks a lot, I think I'll go for the xpa-2. I'm pretty sure my kef is 10x easier to drive than a thiel. I think upa-1 mono blocks might be unnecessary for now. I could definitely get another xpa-2 and bridge them if I want to go to monoblock path in the future.
As for the pre-amp, I was debating to get XSP-1 or USP-1. Is it worth the money to get a 900 re-amp over the $370 usp-1? and yes, I want it to be as colorless as possible. But I read the USP-1 does a good job doing that too
Thanks again Boomzilla, I appreciate your review
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Post by Boomzilla on Dec 2, 2012 12:52:03 GMT -5
Boomzilla, you are the man!!...Is it worth the money to get a 900 re-amp over the $370 usp-1?... Well, thanks for the kudos, but keep in mind that my advice (or any other advice that you find on the internet) is worth exactly what you've paid for it. Your ears are different than mine and I'm sure that there are some, even here on this Lounge, that would swear that the other Emo products are as good or better than the ones I've commented on. As to the XSP vs USP question, there are a number of threads here on the Lounge about that. I've never owned a USP, and can't comment about it. The XSP was the schizz for me because I'm currently using some speakers (Klipsch La Scalas) that are extremely critical about inter-channel balance at low volume settings. The XSP has the matched resistor ladder attenuator that is best for this need. You'll need to evaluate your own needs to see which preamp is the right one for you. That said, there is plenty of comparative review to be mined on this board. Happy shopping - Boomzilla |
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Post by drbrutallica on Dec 2, 2012 16:06:52 GMT -5
I read some USP-1 owners thought the USP pre amp volume knob gain is too high that causes the xda2 to overload and sounded harsh at 9 o'clock turning. They solved the problem by adding attenuator:
(http://www.amazon.com/Harrison-Labs-Line-Level-Attenuator/dp/B0006N41B0/ref=sr_1_14?ie=UTF8&qid=1348350298&sr=8-14&keywords=attenuator) between the pre and power amp.
Did you experience the same problem?
thanks
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Post by Boomzilla on Dec 2, 2012 16:20:52 GMT -5
I read some USP-1 owners thought the USP pre amp volume knob gain is too high that causes the xda2 to overload and sounded harsh at 9 o'clock turning. They solved the problem by adding attenuator: (http://www.amazon.com/Harrison-Labs-Line-Level-Attenuator/dp/B0006N41B0/ref=sr_1_14?ie=UTF8&qid=1348350298&sr=8-14&keywords=attenuator) between the pre and power amp. Did you experience the same problem? thanks No - I've never owned a USP-1; I've only owned the XSP-1. |
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Post by drbrutallica on Dec 2, 2012 16:22:47 GMT -5
so, i guess no such problem in xsp
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Post by Deleted on Dec 2, 2012 17:20:38 GMT -5
God zilla, nice posts! (Get it? Godzilla! ;D   ) OK, well it seems to me, that the speaker in Boom's very nice review was a very important factor. That Thiel CS3.6 is a bear to drive. Stereophile back before most of you were in diapers (1995) found it difficult as it measured below 3 ohms thru most of the range. They used the Mark Levinson #23.5 for the review. Another review in Stereophile tested the 23.5 into one channel at 4 ohms with 0.1% distortion at about 470 watts. Emotiva's test on the AP tested the XPA-2 with both channels driven at 4 ohms with 0.1% at about 500 watts. Stereophile said the CS3.6 had "an amazing degree of control, punch, and depth in the bass." It's obvious that the Thiel needed a lot of power to the low end, not the power one finds in a wimpy amp. It's clear that Thiel's recommendation for up to 500 watts into 4 ohms was spot on. Only an amp on the power level of the 23.5 or the XPA-2 or of higher power will reproduce the bass that the CS3.6 is capable of. I'm not sure about the power requirements of the KEF Q5's that the future Dr. Brutallica has, but Mr. Zilla owns speakers that require lots of low current headroom some of us nuts are always recommending. The Thiel's demonstrate very clearly that the other amps were running out of low current gas driving the CS3.6's. |
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Post by drbrutallica on Dec 2, 2012 19:02:01 GMT -5
I do have plan to upgrade my speakers to Thiel or Magnepan some day. It seems like XPA-2 will do a good job driving it.
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Post by drbrutallica on Dec 11, 2012 6:58:14 GMT -5
From what I read so far, both XPA-2 and UPA-1's are great amps. But for stereo enthusiast, UPA-1's are better option. I'm gonna order my power amps either today or tomorrow. Since xPA-100 is the new UPA-1, I'm gonna order two of the xpa-100's then. Anybody has compared between xpa-100 and upa-1 yet? I bet they sound the same.
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Post by drbrutallica on Dec 14, 2012 18:29:57 GMT -5
Just got the new pair of XPA-100 yesterday. 2-day free shipping really impresses me, especially with the big and heavy load. Anyways, I hooked them up with my krell kav-300i. I instantly noticed bigger soundstage from my kef compared when they were driven by my conrad. The separation was better too, maybe due to higher power wattage per channel.
So this is my first time ever buying a brand new stereo component. All other components were used. Do I have to turn them on the whole day for break in period? They already sounds great out of the box, tho.
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Post by garbulky on Dec 14, 2012 18:34:57 GMT -5
drbrutallica: most people will side with that the amp needs no warm up at all. And scientifically they are right if I'm not mistaken. I've found my amp (or DAC who knows) sounds better the longer it's left on. There's no real explanation for it but I leave my amp and DAC left turned on as it consumes very little power on idle.
But as far as emotiva is concerned there is no recommendation for a break in period.
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Post by drbrutallica on Dec 14, 2012 23:59:38 GMT -5
Thanks Garbulky, I'll let the amps turned on overnight ans see if there's any difference.
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Post by drbrutallica on Dec 16, 2012 0:55:11 GMT -5
I've just picked up a used usp-1 for 240 bucks. From what I have read, it is a clean amp, some people say they cranked the pre-amp to the max and heard dead silent from the speakers. My usp-1 pre-amp is connected to the brand new xpa-100 pair and I can hear hissing from the tweeter if cranked to the max (But heard absolutely nothing if in mute mode). I was wondering if it is because of my speakers sensitivity is too high (91dB)? Or did I just picked a lemon?
thoughts are welcome, Thanks
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Post by Deleted on Dec 16, 2012 1:15:37 GMT -5
I've just picked up a used usp-1 for 240 bucks. From what I have read, it is a clean amp, some people say they cranked the pre-amp to the max and heard dead silent from the speakers. My usp-1 pre-amp is connected to the brand new xpa-100 pair and I can hear hissing from the tweeter if cranked to the max (But heard absolutely nothing if in mute mode). I was wondering if it is because of my speakers sensitivity is too high (91dB)? Or did I just picked a lemon? thoughts are welcome, Thanks Could be a ground loop. 91db is an average sensitivity. My speakers are 103db and I get no hiss. |
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Post by monkumonku on Dec 16, 2012 1:23:21 GMT -5
I've just picked up a used usp-1 for 240 bucks. From what I have read, it is a clean amp, some people say they cranked the pre-amp to the max and heard dead silent from the speakers. My usp-1 pre-amp is connected to the brand new xpa-100 pair and I can hear hissing from the tweeter if cranked to the max (But heard absolutely nothing if in mute mode). I was wondering if it is because of my speakers sensitivity is too high (91dB)? Or did I just picked a lemon? thoughts are welcome, Thanks I used to have a USP-1 and I couldn't hear any noise until I turned the volume to about 2:00. I don't think there's anything wrong with your unit if you have to crank it all the way to 11 before you hear any hiss, especially since your speakers are relatively efficient. In the real world that hiss is not going to audibly affect your listening enjoyment. If your music sounds good to you with the USP-1 (and I bet it does), then that's the most important thing!  |
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Post by drbrutallica on Dec 16, 2012 1:24:24 GMT -5
wow, no hiss at all at max volume even when you put your ears near to the tweeter?
I don't think it's the ground loop since all of my emotiva components doesn't have the ground prong at the back (correct me if i'm wrong). I'm using emotiva components exclusively (erc-1 -> usp-1 -> xpa-100)
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Post by drbrutallica on Dec 16, 2012 1:34:17 GMT -5
I've just picked up a used usp-1 for 240 bucks. From what I have read, it is a clean amp, some people say they cranked the pre-amp to the max and heard dead silent from the speakers. My usp-1 pre-amp is connected to the brand new xpa-100 pair and I can hear hissing from the tweeter if cranked to the max (But heard absolutely nothing if in mute mode). I was wondering if it is because of my speakers sensitivity is too high (91dB)? Or did I just picked a lemon? thoughts are welcome, Thanks I used to have a USP-1 and I couldn't hear any noise until I turned the volume to about 2:00. I don't think there's anything wrong with your unit if you have to crank it all the way to 11 before you hear any hiss, especially since your speakers are relatively efficient. In the real world that hiss is not going to audibly affect your listening enjoyment. If your music sounds good to you with the USP-1 (and I bet it does), then that's the most important thing! Yeah, you're right, i start to hear hiss after 2 o'clock. At first, I found the sound of my usp-1 was too bright compared to my previous amp (I previously used krell kav-300i as preamp). But then it sounds a lot better after it warms up. It was freezing cold when I got it (I met up with the usp-1 previous owner at a cold parking lot). Thanks for your input |
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Post by drbrutallica on Dec 16, 2012 2:00:32 GMT -5
Btw, it was provided with a tiny plastic remote control that could barely work. I have an erc-1 and its remote is a lot better (milled aluminum). I understand my plastic remote is an old version and has been replaced with a aluminum ones. Does anyone know how do I get the aluminum ones?
I also tried the on-board phono stage (connect directly from my linn axis to usp-1 mm mode phono ), I think the sound is quite flat. I experimented connect it through my musical fidelity x-lps v3 phono stage (linn axis -> musical fidelity x-lps v3 -> usp-1 aux1 ), the sound is a lot better. Day and Night difference, as if there was a blanket taken off from the speakers. Overall imaging and soundstage improved by a lot. From what I've read most find the on-board phono stage sounds great. But I wasn't impressed, anybody has similar experience?
Thanks
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Post by drbrutallica on Dec 28, 2012 19:27:58 GMT -5
update:
I got a brand new pair of magnepan MMG for $350 from local CL. I think I have found good match for my xpa-100 monoblocks. The sound is so realistic as if the singer is right in front of me. I heard these 4 ohms magnepans are hard to drive, but my emotivas drive them without problem, clean and precise. The only downside is the bass is not as good as my kefs. I guess I'll need a sub woofer in the future
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