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Post by rod on Dec 15, 2012 8:28:27 GMT -5
Which amp sounds better for my new lsi15 with the 2.1 system? Is it xpa 2 or a pair of xpa 100??? Another option is I can buy xpr 2 but the major problem is 20 amp circuit. I don't have this circuit at home.
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Post by ocezam on Dec 15, 2012 9:23:32 GMT -5
Same speakers I just bought, and I'm glad I bought them! I asked myself the same question when ordering my amp. I bought the XPA-2 and am VERY happy I did. The LSi15's are 4 ohm 87db sensitivity. That's a reasonably hard load and rather low efficiency. These are speakers that CRAVE power. I listen to mostly mellow jazz, Melody Gardot, Diana Krall, etc. The XPA-100's would probably be fine in this case. However, when I break out my Rock and Roll from 30 years ago, I am glad for the extra headroom. In this case, I am seeing my XPA-2's meters get near the end of their travel. They haven't indicated clipping yet, but I believe I am near this point at times. Again, the LSi15's need power. The XPA-100's give you complete channel separation, as any monoblock does, but I do not believe any person could hear channel bleed on the XPA-2. It is extremely low. Almost immeasurably so. If the XPA-100's were the same or lower price as the XPA-2, I would have considered them longer. As it is, I couldn't see paying more for 100 less watts (4 ohm). The soon to be released XPA-1L might make me re-think this though. The XPA-2 is truly an audiophile piece. As are the LSi-15's. Together they are incredibly accurate, and in my opinion incredibly undervalued. I am enjoying music more than I have in decades. Here's a similar thread ( although this guys Polk's are a lot easier to drive, and not as accurate as the LSi-15s IMHO): emotivalounge.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=amps&action=display&thread=26115Good luck! P.S. I'd be interested to know if you go ahead with a subwoofer after you buy your amp. I've found that for me it isn't necessary. The LSi15's, when properly powered, put out more than enough bass for my tastes. |
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Post by rod on Dec 15, 2012 10:05:36 GMT -5
Thank you for sharing your experience. Do you think xpr2 is the best buy compared to a pair of xpa1 if money is not an issue for this amp only? Don't forget its 20 amp circuit too...
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Post by ocezam on Dec 15, 2012 11:53:18 GMT -5
Thank you for sharing your experience. Do you think xpr2 is the best buy compared to a pair of xpa1 if money is not an issue for this amp only? Don't forget its 20 amp circuit too... To me both of those scenarios are so desirable it would be hard to make a decision. Check with an electrician first to get an idea of cost for a dedicated circuit. As I said in another thread though, if I were going to pay to have a dedicated line ran from my circuit box, I'd have a 220 volt line ran. The cost to run either should be very close to the same if not identical. All Emotiva amps auto-sense input voltage and automatically adjust to it. At 220V your amplifier will draw half of the amps from the wall as 110V. My XPA-5 is running on a 220V circuit that just happened to be in the right place when I moved in. |
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Post by rod on Dec 15, 2012 16:22:17 GMT -5
Thank you for sharing your experience. Do you think xpr2 is the best buy compared to a pair of xpa1 if money is not an issue for this amp only? Don't forget its 20 amp circuit too... To me both of those scenarios are so desirable it would be hard to make a decision. Check with an electrician first to get an idea of cost for a dedicated circuit. As I said in another thread though, if I were going to pay to have a dedicated line ran from my circuit box, I'd have a 220 volt line ran. The cost to run either should be very close to the same if not identical. All Emotiva amps auto-sense input voltage and automatically adjust to it. At 220V your amplifier will draw half of the amps from the wall as 110V. My XPA-5 is running on a 220V circuit that just happened to be in the right place when I moved in. Good for you, my friend. As for me, I will have to get the services of a certified electrician to install 20 amp circuit... Tha't my big problem now. |
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Post by ocezam on Dec 15, 2012 17:23:57 GMT -5
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Post by AudioHTIT on Dec 15, 2012 19:57:51 GMT -5
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Post by garbulky on Dec 16, 2012 1:16:19 GMT -5
Thank you for sharing your experience. Do you think xpr2 is the best buy compared to a pair of xpa1 if money is not an issue for this amp only? Don't forget its 20 amp circuit too... Rod, if it was me, I would go for two XPA-1's. They are monoblocks and fully balanced amplifiers and provide 10 watts of class A power. Very nice stuff. The main advantage of the xpr-2 is the lower 29 db gain vs 32 db high gain of the xpa-1. However, I think honestly the sound is probably very close with the gain circuitry in the xpr-2 making the biggest difference rather than all that "balanced monoblock class A" junk I just said  You won't be unhappy either way. |
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Post by htinparadise on Dec 16, 2012 2:57:54 GMT -5
Thank you for sharing your experience. Do you think xpr2 is the best buy compared to a pair of xpa1 if money is not an issue for this amp only? Don't forget its 20 amp circuit too... Rod, if it was me, I would go for two XPA-1's. They are monoblocks and fully balanced amplifiers and provide 10 watts of class A power. Very nice stuff. The main advantage of the xpa-2 is the lower 29 db gain vs 32 db high gain of the xpa-1. However, I think honestly the sound is probably very close with the gain circuitry in the xpr-2 making the biggest difference rather than all that "balanced monoblock class A" junk I just said You won't be unhappy either way. The amplifier gain of all Emotiva XPA single digit (1, 3, 2, and 5)series amps is 32 db. Happy listening, HTinP |
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Post by garbulky on Dec 16, 2012 3:33:01 GMT -5
Sorry I meant the main advantage of the xpr-2 is the lower gain of 29 db. Thanks for the catch
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Post by RightinLA on Dec 16, 2012 4:25:07 GMT -5
Sorry I meant the main advantage of the xpr-2 is the lower gain of 29 db. Thanks for the catch I don't understand how a lower gain has an advantage? |
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Post by garbulky on Dec 16, 2012 4:40:07 GMT -5
Hiss is one issue. I'm not competent technically to tell you about anything else. Something to do with gain and noise.
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Post by bwest1000 on Dec 16, 2012 9:51:28 GMT -5
I got the 25s earlier this year and felt them to be underpowered by my old Marantz 7001, so I got the XPA 2 about a month ago. It sounds amazing with the 25s. It completely opened up the 25s. I listed to a lot of rock, both new and classic, along with a lot of electronic music and it hits incredibly loud at about 60% volume. I can't imagine turning it all the way up. I've never seen the blue lights beyond about 30% of their range. I can't speak for other amps, only my own experience, but I would go with the XPA2. I can't wait to add to my Emotiva collection.
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Post by RightinLA on Dec 16, 2012 13:43:56 GMT -5
I have powered the LSi15's and LSi25's using the UPA-1's and the XPA-2 amps. I would recommend the XPA-2 amp. I'm not sure you will gain anything using the XPA-100's or the XPR-2 amps other than spending more money.
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Post by rod on Dec 16, 2012 15:09:10 GMT -5
I have powered the LSi15's and LSi25's using the UPA-1's and the XPA-2 amps. I would recommend the XPA-2 amp. I'm not sure you will gain anything using the XPA-100's or the XPR-2 amps other than spending more money. You may be right about it... Who knows if there is a difference between xpr2 or xpa2 in terms of sound quality... I hope I am making sense. |
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Post by harri009 on Dec 16, 2012 15:15:30 GMT -5
Rod I posted a link on your other thread of the owner saying its fine to use an adapter for the XPR-2. I would say buy the best that you can afford and don't look back, if you buy just what you think you need you will always have the upgraditis bug biting you.
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Post by rod on Dec 16, 2012 15:32:55 GMT -5
Rod I posted a link on your other thread of the owner saying its fine to use an adapter for the XPR-2. I would say buy the best that you can afford and don't look back, if you buy just what you think you need you will always have the upgraditis bug biting you. I hate upgraditis bug... It's tormemting my mind from time to time. |
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Post by rod on Dec 22, 2012 15:33:04 GMT -5
I finally got my lsi15 and it is perfectly matched with my xsp 1 using xpa 2.... The SQ is unbelievable. And a pair of velodyne vx 11 subs will be arriving next week that will be connected to my xsp 1 left and right set up. I can't wait anymore...
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Post by Golden Ear on Dec 22, 2012 19:29:23 GMT -5
I finally got my lsi15 and it is perfectly matched with my xsp 1 using xpa 2.... The SQ is unbelievable. And a pair of velodyne vx 11 subs will be arriving next week that will be connected to my xsp 1 left and right set up. I can't wait anymore... Polk LSi are Matt's best speaker for audiophile. I remember during those time when he own the company he redesign his speaker every couple of years but now they have same series for so many years and not being redesign or adding a new model. Polk Audio was acquired by Directed Electronics in 2006 and Matt Polk no longer in control and owner of the company and doesn't design them like use to be |
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Post by rod on Dec 22, 2012 22:17:31 GMT -5
I finally got my lsi15 and it is perfectly matched with my xsp 1 using xpa 2.... The SQ is unbelievable. And a pair of velodyne vx 11 subs will be arriving next week that will be connected to my xsp 1 left and right set up. I can't wait anymore... Polk LSi are Matt's best speaker for audiophile. I remember during those time when he own the company he redesign his speaker every couple of years but now they have same series for so many years and not being redesign or adding a new model. Polk Audio was acquired by Directed Electronics in 2006 and Matt Polk no longer in control and owner of the company and doesn't design them like use to be That sounds sad. I hope someday they will create great speakers again like lsi series. I do love these new lsi15 speakers for my music. By the way, I've owned lsi25 for a decay and three weeks ago I sent the right transformer of my lsi25 to polk audio tech department in San Diego, CA due to the fact that it generates heat even without turing it on for a period of time. I got the phone call from the San Diego tech support team member saying that they don't fix problem like that anymore. Instead, they want me to buy a brand new one ( transformer) that will cost me less that $300 including sales tax and shipping too. I dont think that's a good price becuase I can buy a brand new lsi25 from authorized online dealer worth $649. Or have it fixed locally.. What do you have me do, guys with my lsi25? |
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You won't be unhappy either way. 
