Post by rufessor on Jan 2, 2013 16:01:10 GMT -5
Hi All-
I have been slowly upgrading my system from a pretty standard single box set up based upon the Yamaha RX-V863 as a all-in-one unit which I purchased on clearance after it had been continued to save money a few years ago after purchasing a set of Paradigm speakers (i was coming from a Bose system)
So-
Speakers are ALL paradigm
2 x SE3 towers L/R
1 x SE3 Center C
2 x Bipolar/dipolar Surrounds
2 x SE sub Sub/LFE
I started with replacing the processing part of the Yamaha with a UMC-1 a few months ago and was initially very frustrated at upgrading the firmware but once I got past that I was very pleased with the UMC-1 running as the processor and using the Yamaha as AMP only by running the preouts on the UMC-1 to the multichannel pre-in on the yamaha. The UMC-1 gave a much expanded sound field with far superior clarity compared to the Yamaha.
I now have my more or less complete system. I just replaced the Yamaha amps with the XPA-5. I have Emotiva RCA interconnects (these were being used with the Yahama) and am now running Anti-Cable as speaker wire (this is new to the system with the XPA-5).
So- I now have a PS3 as a source running to the UMC-1 (HDMI) then RCA to the Amp and then Anti-cable to the speakers.
XPA-5 compared to Yamaha- AMP only comparison (was using UMC-1 previously as source so its apples to apples comparison).
FIRST- the XPA-5 should be better it costs the same as the RX-V863 new and its only an AMP.... so starting from that point, is it better?
YES_ absolutely- with out a doubt-
I note two things, the speakers are now providing amazing clarity and depth of sound at any volume, "loud" volumes are no longer "loud" or "harsh" or somehow seemingly as loud, the sound is just pure, crystal clear highs and a very balanced neutral tonal quality. Thats in 2-channel. I was AMAZED when my wife came down to dance with our kids and she IMMEDIATELY said, WOW- thats really nice. AMAZED, in 15 years of me screwing around with audio dating back to our first Bose system she has never once suggested that she could hear the difference between a boom-box and anything else we have ever owned, they were just noisy- period.
I had it on at a level that usually would have resulted in a turn it down signal, and she actually said it sounded really good!
5 channel-
I was completely amazed at the difference between the Yamaha and the XPA-5- unexpected. I had always assumed that it would be a bigger change in 2-channel due to the higher level of "listening" I do when hearing music than watching a movie but I was amazed when I turned on a 5.1 channel BlueRay and sat down. The surround speakers are INCREDIBLE now, I hear things that I have never ever noticed, the surround field is enveloping in a way that never existed prior. Sure the L/R/C sounds good, but thats kinda along the lines of the 2-channel observation.... I had never thought that I was missing any thing from the surround channels, because I figured the Yamaha could handle that easily, but the biggest change might actually be that.
I HAD RUN EMOQ with the yamaha and NOTHING much changed with the XPA-5 asside from some noted flattening of the frequency EQ using the XPA-5... so it aint that.
Very happy- Its worth it. These live up to every bit of hype and more. There is no comparison to my prior equipment, zero.
I have been slowly upgrading my system from a pretty standard single box set up based upon the Yamaha RX-V863 as a all-in-one unit which I purchased on clearance after it had been continued to save money a few years ago after purchasing a set of Paradigm speakers (i was coming from a Bose system)
So-
Speakers are ALL paradigm
2 x SE3 towers L/R
1 x SE3 Center C
2 x Bipolar/dipolar Surrounds
2 x SE sub Sub/LFE
I started with replacing the processing part of the Yamaha with a UMC-1 a few months ago and was initially very frustrated at upgrading the firmware but once I got past that I was very pleased with the UMC-1 running as the processor and using the Yamaha as AMP only by running the preouts on the UMC-1 to the multichannel pre-in on the yamaha. The UMC-1 gave a much expanded sound field with far superior clarity compared to the Yamaha.
I now have my more or less complete system. I just replaced the Yamaha amps with the XPA-5. I have Emotiva RCA interconnects (these were being used with the Yahama) and am now running Anti-Cable as speaker wire (this is new to the system with the XPA-5).
So- I now have a PS3 as a source running to the UMC-1 (HDMI) then RCA to the Amp and then Anti-cable to the speakers.
XPA-5 compared to Yamaha- AMP only comparison (was using UMC-1 previously as source so its apples to apples comparison).
FIRST- the XPA-5 should be better it costs the same as the RX-V863 new and its only an AMP.... so starting from that point, is it better?
YES_ absolutely- with out a doubt-
I note two things, the speakers are now providing amazing clarity and depth of sound at any volume, "loud" volumes are no longer "loud" or "harsh" or somehow seemingly as loud, the sound is just pure, crystal clear highs and a very balanced neutral tonal quality. Thats in 2-channel. I was AMAZED when my wife came down to dance with our kids and she IMMEDIATELY said, WOW- thats really nice. AMAZED, in 15 years of me screwing around with audio dating back to our first Bose system she has never once suggested that she could hear the difference between a boom-box and anything else we have ever owned, they were just noisy- period.
I had it on at a level that usually would have resulted in a turn it down signal, and she actually said it sounded really good!
5 channel-
I was completely amazed at the difference between the Yamaha and the XPA-5- unexpected. I had always assumed that it would be a bigger change in 2-channel due to the higher level of "listening" I do when hearing music than watching a movie but I was amazed when I turned on a 5.1 channel BlueRay and sat down. The surround speakers are INCREDIBLE now, I hear things that I have never ever noticed, the surround field is enveloping in a way that never existed prior. Sure the L/R/C sounds good, but thats kinda along the lines of the 2-channel observation.... I had never thought that I was missing any thing from the surround channels, because I figured the Yamaha could handle that easily, but the biggest change might actually be that.
I HAD RUN EMOQ with the yamaha and NOTHING much changed with the XPA-5 asside from some noted flattening of the frequency EQ using the XPA-5... so it aint that.
Very happy- Its worth it. These live up to every bit of hype and more. There is no comparison to my prior equipment, zero.
