UPA-700 (& 500) Owners Review Thread

[gordog]

Hello. Newbie here and just got my first Emotiva product. I’ve been thinking about this for a while and also considered Outlaw Audio products.

I’m an audiophile from way (way) back but got out of the hobby for a number of years. Then my son had me put together a vinyl system together for him in the fall of 2011, and I re-discovered music as I’d forgotten how good a properly set up system can sound! I got my vintage equipment out of storage and have sold most of it to now up-grade my HT system for both theatre and 2 channel sound.

I’m a fairly experienced listener and have spent many hours owning or listening to high-end systems including B&W, KEF, Wilson Audio, Mark Levinson, Krell, Joule Electra, etc. Someone that I know owns the amazing (outrageous) Clearaudio Statement turntable! I've also owned and heard various 'esoteric' high-end cables and interconnects (yes, there is an audible difference!). So I have a relatively good ear and now that my better half has dictated that my equipment budget is far more limited than it was in my single days and that same equipment needs to fit in the décor of the family room, I have been looking for reasonable equipment that will meet my audiophile bent. I considered getting the XPA-5, even wondering if I made the right choice as my UPA-700 was on its way. After speaking with a few of the Emotiva techs, I decided for various reasons to at least try out the more modest amp to see what it could do.

So, I’ve become a new Emotiva UPA-700 owner:
emotivalounge.proboards.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=updates&thread=26069&page=3#497675

Since I really couldn’t find a quick reference thread on these Emotiva Boards, nor elsewhere on the ‘net, I thought I’d put together a quick review on the UPA-700 now that I’ve spent a few days with it and maybe start an owner’s review thread (it’s been asked for, so hopefully this can be moved to the Amplifier Reviews, Sub-Boards where the XPA review threads reside. I’d suspect that the impressions of the UPA-700 would apply to the UPA-500 as well.

[gordog]

Right away, with the UPA-700, I notice improved dynamics, and transient response is quicker than with the Pioneer receiver though I’d been relatively happy with the sound previously. I always thought of the 2 channel sound as being somewhat of a compromise, but it fit into my HT System with good Wife Acceptance Factor (WAF). Decay is more natural.

I’m really very impressed with this product for a modestly priced amplifier!

Some random tracks that I decided to do a critical listening to, comparing the UPA-700 to the Pioneer VSX-23TXH.

Shelby Lynne ‘Just A Little Lovin’, track 4- “I Only Want To Be With You” Wider, deeper soundstage much better PRaT, clear, forward voice with improved depth, brush on drums more distinct, guitar has purer tone

Celtic Woman ‘A New Journey’, track 7- “Dulaman”; Emo presents the drums with better, more resonant tone, deeper soundstage, the voices are better focussed and each takes a more distinct place on the soundstage rather than simply floating in space between the speakers.

On Eric Claptons’ Unplugged CD, track 6- “Nobody Knows When You’re Down & Out” much more focussed sounstage, the piano sounded more real, Clapton’s voice became smoother, and more forward, the guitar was fuller and more 'real'.

Dave Grusin ‘Discovered Again’, track 7- “Cripple Creek Breakdown”; the Emo provides a deeper soundstage, piano more distinct. Percussion is also more distinct, cymbals have a live shimmer, xylophone more resonant.

Ani Difranco ‘Knuckle Down’, track 5- “Modulation”; with the Emo the guitar sounds more full and almost like it was a different instrument from what was originally presented with the Pioneer receiver. Ani’s voice is richer and more forward, double bass string vibration sounds less harsh and more controlled. Deeper soundstage.

[pallpoul]

Thank you for the nice review, and welcome to the lounge.

You made agreat choice with the UPA-700. I had a similar experince, and adding the UPA-700 to my system has improved the sound of my Pioneer Elite SC-37 AND polk Lsi'15.

[stads77]

I have heard the xpa-5 and upa-500 in my system and to this day struggle to know if i heard any difference, even in stereo. I know that at the very least I was very happy with the upa-500 and had no problem with my decision to buy it for my friends first seperated setup with a umc-1. I think the combo is an amazing pairing especially when you can get them for less then 600 bucks used.

i am fully confident when he gets his speakers he will be a new emotivaholic.

[gordog]

Good to know the UPA-700 had the power to drive your KEF XQ3s. In order to run the XPA-5 properly with everything else plugged in, I would have had to run an extra power outlet.

The UPA-700 is also supposed to be a slightly quieter amp than the XPA, just a couple of factors in my choosing it over the XPA. Of course, having owned high power, high current amps in the past, I'd still say there are always advantages in going bigger!

Now I have a bigger budget in perhaps going with an Emotiva Pre-Pro. ;D

[stsandhu]

Hey gordog, welcome to the Lounge! Nice to see another Canuck on here!

[gordog]

Thank-you both for the welcomes. Glad to do my part in writing up a review. Hopefully others with UPA-700s and 500s will post their reviews here as well. I had to dig around on the other threads for reviews when I was doing research.

[locomotive282]

I took delivery of the Emotiva UPA-500 last week. I have used countless external amps before in live sound, recording, and car audio but I have never used one in a home audio environment.

For many years I have read countless posts by people claiming external amps are a waste and audibly indistinguishable from using a receiver. Anyone who posts that an amp has improved their sound quality gets flamed by these crazed zealots. I suspect that they are crying sour grapes.

After my initial listening test I was really angry with myself for not getting one sooner. The improvement in sound quality is amazing. I feel like this amp removed a veil that was covering my speakers. Clarity and definition of the sound stage is improved. The speakers are more balanced and dynamics that seemed harsh when using my receiver have been smoothed out.

Very satisfied customer and will be ordering a Emotiva UMC-200 to replace my Onkyo Receiver as soon as possible.