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Post by jdubs on Dec 14, 2012 9:30:14 GMT -5
Speakers are Dali Helicon 400 2.5 way Floorstanding. 4 ohm and 88db sensitivity. Recommended amplifier 50-300 watts. I know both options are way more than 300 watts at 4 ohms; I'm ok with that. My pre-amp has options of changing trim levels and volume knob sensitivity.
My question is, what are the benefits of the XPR-2 over two XPA-1. I can't look at specs and understand: maybe someone can explain in plain English what the advantages of the reference line is.
It would actually be less expensive to go XPR-2, but I've always been intrigued by monoblocks. Any input is appreciated!
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Post by Jim on Dec 14, 2012 9:42:52 GMT -5
It's hard to beat good monoblocks, as there is no cross talk (Left/Right signal interfering with eachother). The XPA-1s are exceptionally good monoblocks, and I believe will be touted for the sound quality leader for quite a while. I own an XPR-5, and I have no doubt the XPR-2 will be just as good (if not better).
I'm sure you'd be perfectly happy with either one. They both provide a ton of power. The real advantage of an XPR-2 would be one cabinet instead of 2. In my mind, they have more similarities than differences, so it's hard to make a huge case for one or the other. They both provide 1000W at 4 ohms. The XPR-2 is wired for a 20A outlet, the XPA-1s, 15A.
If your pre-amp is fully balanced, and that's important, the XPA-1s are each fully balanced as well (the XPR-2 isn't)
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bkdc
Minor Hero
Posts: 24
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Post by bkdc on Dec 14, 2012 9:48:02 GMT -5
The only benefit is cost and space savings, and possibly a small improvement in your electricity bill.
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Post by Jim on Dec 14, 2012 9:51:45 GMT -5
The only benefit is cost and space savings, and possibly a small improvement in your electricity bill. I think you'd only see a difference in electricity bill --- if you left the XPR-2 (or XPA-1) on ALL the time. And even then, it's only like 114W idle (2x XPA-1) vs 85W or so (65-85W is what I measured for XPR-5) . So maybe 30W? |
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Post by jdubs on Dec 14, 2012 10:07:07 GMT -5
I'd put them on 12v trigger anyway. Maybe turn them on when I get home and turn them off when I go to bed. Not too worried about the power usage.
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Post by garbulky on Dec 14, 2012 10:14:01 GMT -5
Jdubs: Maybe it would help to know the essential negatives for picking the XPR-2 -
Class:
The xpa - 1 is a class A/B amplifier while the XPR-2 uses Class H technology. A class A/B only amplifier is usually considered more appealing but not by a huge extent. (Maybe, I'm wrong on the latter).
Balanced:
The XPA-1 is fully balanced which cancels out some distortion produced by the amplifier. If you are running it from a fully balanced source to a fully balanced pre-amp to a fully balanced amp then there is distortion cancellation all along that line which is desirable. Fully balanced amplifiers are expensive. The XPR-2 is not a fully balanced amplifier HOWEVER their new specs make the answer a bit grey as they mention some form of quad-balanced circuitry. They have mentioned that the XPR-1 is fully balanced but haven't explicitly stated that with the xpr-2. If I had to guess, the xpr-2 is not fully balanced but has some elements of it inside it.
Monoblock design: True monoblock design of the xpa-1 allows an improvement to the sound signal. Also in an amplifier driving two channels like the xpr-2, one channel produces slightly less volume than the other one all channels driven. In a monoblock this doesn't happen.
Class A power: The XPA-1 is able to produce 10 watts of class A per channel (20 watts in stereo) before switching over to a different class when the power demands go beyond 20 watts stereo. Class A power is considered desirable and most listening is done at only a few watts for moderate listening levels with the higher power requirements reserved for loud peaks. There has been no information if the XPR-2 produces any kind of substantial class A power.
However with all these points above whether they affect anything in real life listening and audibility is debatable. But those are the negatives as I see for picking an XPR-2.
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Post by Jim on Dec 14, 2012 10:25:04 GMT -5
Nicely put garbulky.
I never thought about the 10W of class A for the XPA-1. Curious to know what the XPR can do.
I emailed sales to ask about the "dual vs quad" listing on the XPR-2. Seems muddy to me!
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zstar
Minor Hero
Posts: 60 
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Post by zstar on Dec 14, 2012 10:50:22 GMT -5
walk through the technical differences between the XPR-1 and XPA-1
Based on those diffferences which one ?
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Post by danr on Dec 14, 2012 11:13:13 GMT -5
Talk to Erwin. He has both the XPR-5 and XPA-1s. I believe he's posted twice that he feels the XPR-5 is every bit as good as the XPA-1s.
Given my experience listening to XPA-5, UPA-1, and XPR-5...I would choose the XPR-2 hands down. I like the top end on the XPR much better, it images better, sounds clearer, and the speed/transients are amazing. Again, I have NOT heard the XPA-1...only those amps listed.
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Post by garbulky on Dec 14, 2012 11:23:56 GMT -5
walk through the technical differences between the XPR-1 and XPA-1 Based on those diffferences which one ? The main difference is that the xpa-1 is class A/B only and the xpr-1 uses class H. The XPR-1 has nearly twice the power of the XPA-1 and capacitance. No mention of (if any) class A power capabilities of the xpr-1. Also the XPR-1 has a gain of 29 db which is more desirable than the 32db gain of the XPA-1. |
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Post by jdubs on Dec 14, 2012 11:44:25 GMT -5
is more desirable than the 32db gain of the XPA-1. This, combined with the high wattage does concern me. I think I can control for it, but I am not sure. I guess that is where the return policy comes in! Anyone had trouble with this (high gain)? |
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Post by Jim on Dec 14, 2012 13:19:53 GMT -5
I emailed sales to ask about the "dual vs quad" listing on the XPR-2. Seems muddy to me! Sales confirmed that it IS a dual differential topology (nothing "quad" about it from what I understand). |
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Post by AudioHTIT on Dec 14, 2012 13:40:02 GMT -5
is more desirable than the 32db gain of the XPA-1. This, combined with the high wattage does concern me. I think I can control for it, but I am not sure. I guess that is where the return policy comes in! Anyone had trouble with this (high gain)? If your preamp had a sensitive volume control (like the USP-1), you might have problems getting just the right level with a higher gain amp, especially at lower volumes. Some add attenuators on the amp input to help with this issue. The XSP-1 would work very well with the XPA-1's. If you used the XDA-1 (with its lossy volume control), a high gain amp would force you lower in the volume range where the volume control is 'lossier'. The XDA-2 doesn't have this problem. To the original question, I like monoblocks close to my speakers, so I might go for the XPA-1's; but the XPR-2 is a beautiful, well built, and well designed amp, it would be very tempting (I'm even more tempted by a pair of XPR-1's). It's a good problem.  |
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Post by repeetavx on Dec 14, 2012 15:30:08 GMT -5
jdubs,
The R (Reference) series is suppose to be a step up in component quality as well as power, design and looks.
Low distortion capacitors can make an impressive difference in the sound of a device. Especially if they are signal path components. Designed and built for critical systems with expensive materials, these components can sometimes cost a over hundred dollars each.
Usually a manufacturer will couple component quality with design specification to justify the device's value.
On another forum there is a thread about changing signal path capacitors in the XPA-1 and XPA-2. Each of these capacitors cost around $50 each. Once this is done they claim that these devices will sound as good or better than the real big name expensive amplifiers.
I doubt that anyone other than Emotiva themselves have looked at the quality of the signal path capacitors yet in the "R" series yet. What we have is their product sales page description:
"...crafted from premium components, including precision metal film resistors, film capacitors, and multilayer glass epoxy PCB’s."
The difference that danr spoke of in an earlier post is probably due these higher quality components.
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Post by jdubs on Dec 14, 2012 19:59:46 GMT -5
All great input. Thanks!
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Post by ocezam on Dec 15, 2012 8:26:25 GMT -5
It wouldn't be an easy decision for me. Ultimately I'd probably save a few bucks and go with the XPR.
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Post by rod on Dec 15, 2012 8:35:52 GMT -5
It wouldn't be an easy decision for me. Ultimately I'd probably save a few bucks and go with the XPR. If you have 20 amp circuit available at home, then so be it. As for me, 20 amp circuit is the major consideration in my decision making in buying any xpr series... |
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Post by danr on Dec 15, 2012 10:09:06 GMT -5
You don't need a 20 amp circuit. You can buy the Furman 1520 converter, which has a 12 amp breaker on it. That will trip long before you melt the wires in the wall.
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Post by rod on Dec 15, 2012 10:15:33 GMT -5
You don't need a 20 amp circuit. You can buy the Furman 1520 converter, which has a 12 amp breaker on it. That will trip long before you melt the wires in the wall. I dont meam to disagree. But do you think emotiva will allow us to use it for xpr2? |
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Post by danr on Dec 15, 2012 10:20:44 GMT -5
Yes, Big Dan has posted about it twice. I am using one with my XPR-5 with absolutely no issues. It gets so loud before anything will trip.
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