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Post by cardiffkook on Feb 17, 2013 10:46:22 GMT -5
Thanks, I will.
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Post by young1 on Apr 1, 2013 9:49:27 GMT -5
I've had my XPA-100s almost 2 months now after reading Cardiffkooks original post I experienced practically the exact same thing, where did all the chest pounding bass/midbass come from W O W and @ low volumes.
In rollling back time to some of my past gear, first system was a Hafler amp and pre amp with Mirage speakers which were very inefficient (power hungry). With a Mirage passive sub 2-10s
From there I went to Kef speakers Q90s (efficient) those were run on a Acurus amp 200wpc and pre and PSB sub. Sold that and got the Arcam pre amp/ Bryston amp 100wpc and PSB silvers(i could check specs but i think those liked alot of power to ) efficient and a PSB 12" (400watt rms)sub.
Next system was a EAD preamp and Parasound amp pushing a pair of JM labs( efficient)with an NHT(passive) sub best sounding system yet.
OK here's where things got weird, 120wpc Kenwood amp with a sub out pair of homemade speakers Horn tweeter with 2 -8" woofers rolled off @ 70hz(hi efficient) and a 800 watt sub but, believe it or not this was my longest listened to system ever 10 years. Current system Klipsch RF7iis SENSITIVITY: 101dB @ 2.83V / 1m (very hi efficiency) Emotiva USP-1 pre Emotiva XPA-100s both amp/preamp have 32db gain which explains why @10 o'clock on the dial my 2 story solid block home is shaking from the basement up all my systems have always had a subwoofer and this system did as well ( 15"Klipsch 1000watt peak) right up until the XPA-100s where hooked up(replacing a anthem 225wpc) the sub didn't even make it into the system and was never even tested not even for fun, ok maybe i should have. Im a firm believer in "if its not broken dont fix it"
Bottom line this is hands down this is my most powerful and cleanest sounding system to date theres not 1 person who comes here and says WOW and most have heard my recent changes and can't get over the difference it is like having a completely new system. I'm saying it changed the sound of every piece of gear TT and CD player.
The only other minor change I did was replaced my Ultralink 11gauge bi-wires for Emotiva 10 gauge TRUE bi-wires do to the fact the Anthem only had single speaker outs.
Am I guilty of mismatching equipment?? ABSOLUTELY!!!!! putting power hungry speakers with mismatched gains on amps/preamps, low sensitivity on speakers etc. etc. then thinking geee this system sucks, it wasn't a fair test at all , I just didn't know better at the time, how important these minor and often important specs get so overlooked.
IMHO after 30+ years of swapping gear in/out do cables and wires effect sound? YES especially a subwoofer cable to were i could tighten up muddy bass (B-52s PlanetClair) good CD to use.
Does switching out amps and preamps change sound? YES DRAMATICALLY in some cases as I have most recently experienced. Note to self: "Check the dam gains".
Speakers, check the ohms and sensitivity its all about RESISTANCE. Can speaker wire affect ohms and resistance? YES marginally, try P****** threw the eye of a needle.
Nick was the salesman to whom i originally spoke to when calling asking for the XPA-2 he recommended the XPA-100s with the Klipsch speakers and man i couldn't be happier with this set up.
THANK YOU very much Nick I/we love these amps /pre but, I feel tunnel vision coming on and those new monoblocks and matching REF pre amp are calling
Steve
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Post by cardiffkook on Apr 1, 2013 13:06:39 GMT -5
Happy to someone else as impressed with these amps as me. Especially considering that your speaker choice is at the polar opposite range from mine.
After two months with these, I have definitely settled on the Maggie's as the preferred leaker for my tastes. I moved them four feet out from the rear wall and now have flat bass response to below 32 Hz. The combo of these monoblocks and the Magnepans is ridiculously good.
I moved my more efficient Triton Twos upstairs to a smaller room, but still feel they need more power than my tube amp can supply. Maybe I need to sell the Sonic Frontiers and try an XPA 2 or another pair of these upstairs?
I also found I could get a LOT better sound out of my old NHTs by moving them WAY out in the room. This smoothed out the bass. Lightened up the sound and gave me the depth that was missing. Once again though they need lots more power. I definitely got my amp into clipping on The Killer Bees album.
So, my summary two months in is that my biggest mistake so far has been that I bought only two XPA 100s rather than four.
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Post by cardiffkook on Apr 1, 2013 13:10:11 GMT -5
Just to clarify, it was the Sonic Frontiers that clipped, not the Emotivas. I can't even get these things warm to the touch. I could probably store candles on top of these brutes ( not that I would).
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Post by garbulky on Apr 1, 2013 16:32:41 GMT -5
Something that will surprise you is that the Emotiva's will not clip (very audibly). I don't know how but I once ran my amp accidentally at full power. No clipping.
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Post by young1 on Apr 2, 2013 8:54:30 GMT -5
Yes Cardiffkook i couldn't agree with you more on speaker placement, i keep mine approx. 6 ft. from the back wall and approx.1.5-2 ft. from the sides with a slight toe in, my listening distance is approx. 15ft. away and my chair is approx. 3ft. from the rear wall, any closer and it's just to loud. I did an online hearing test im good up to 12,000kz, the wife managed to hear up to 15,000kz . When we were buying speakers i was sold on the Paradigm Studio 100s and ordered them ,but before they made it to the store the wife said she wanted speakers that can produce a live band sound, due to all the live bands we hear and the salemans being in a band himself agreed she should get the Klipsch so unheard we got the RF7s. They where the same price at the time.
On the rare occassions when the girls get together and put on the club music it leaves lots of dancing room and they all seem to hug the speakers when cranked it up and as garbulky says, "accidently to max volume with no clipping", which was the case this past weekend.
We watched the newest Batman movie last night using the 2 channel system , lcd projector, 100"screen, The sound/picture on this movie is just incredible on the heavy action scenes the explosions and gun fire where so realistic sounding NO SUB NEEDED, whatso ever. This was a huge test for the XPA-100s the reserve power, separation, accuracy and speed of these amps is amazing. I am using an older top- of- the- line Sony Blueray player you know the ones that were really heavy and costly when they first came out.
The drawbacks to discovering better and better sound from this set up is, how to convince the wife we need to upgrade and, does the 7.1 system even stand a chance anymore?
On my main floor i have a Denon 7.1 amp Energy 7.1 speakers and a Sharp 240hz LED ok sound with a great picture.
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Post by cardiffkook on Apr 2, 2013 13:18:16 GMT -5
It will be interesting to hear the early reviews of the new class A 1L's. Could they be EVEN BETTER?
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Post by solidstate on Sept 5, 2013 10:24:13 GMT -5
Will XPA-100 see the Gen 2 refresh 29 db gain?
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Post by pedrocols on Sept 5, 2013 10:35:17 GMT -5
Will XPA-100 see the Gen 2 refresh 29 db gain? I do love my UPA-1s but I am also looking forward for a 29db gain. My preamp has a 100 steps volume and at less than 20 is alreaady too loud.
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Post by chaosrv on Sept 5, 2013 10:43:40 GMT -5
Will XPA-100 see the Gen 2 refresh 29 db gain? While the 29db gain would be welcomed I think the XPA-100 is still too "new" to warrant a refresh so soon. Perhaps in another year or so? That's just my opinion anyway.
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Real Maximus
Minor Hero
I now have a dedicated Salamander monoblock stand for my XPA2. Very sexy! :)
Posts: 35
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Post by Real Maximus on Apr 1, 2014 2:44:46 GMT -5
Has anyone compared the XPA 100 to the 1Ls?
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