Post by darkvisions on Dec 4, 2008 15:21:15 GMT -5
What can I say about the XPA-2 that has not already been said. I did a review back in August I think after listening to it over the first weekend after I received it, but thought I would add something here in the review section.
I have had the amp now since mid-August and being single again, I have at least one bash every weekend at the house sometimes both on Friday and Saturday.
We cook on the grill, drink and crank tunes.
The XPA-2 never fails to impress everyone that joins us. With my old amp (Anthem PVA-5) and before that I had the B&K 505 S2 receiver I was always getting yelled at to turn it up louder...but I was afraid to. I could tell I was taxing the sh** out of that equipment. No longer. Some one wants it louder I turn it up and the amp just laughs at them. My XPA-2 has not lost a battle yet.
But loud doesn't necessarily mean good but in this case it means astonishing. The sound at insane levels is amazing. No fatigue at all...just pure clean pristine music.
We were listening to Comfortably Numb this past Saturday off Pink Floyd's Pulse Concert DVD. There was about 10 of us there and someone said it wasn't loud enough. I proceeded to turn my AVM-30 up to +16.5 (highest I have ever turned it). The sound was unbelievable. Just for the hell of it I got out my SPL Meter and was about 12' from my Snells...it registered between 115-120 db. No distortion, no fatigue at all. The funny part is that the LED meters were still only going about 3/4's of the way.
Needless to say everyone was astonished. After the song everyone was yelling, screaming and high fiving like we were at a live concert. Amazing.
Now that you know it's loud and stupendous. It can also handle the delicate stuff with the same control and power. Diana Krall live in Paris has to be heard with this amp to be believed. Every note from her piano rings true, her voice sends shivers up my spine. The supporting instruments are placed in their own space. The stand up bass is a wonder to behold. Tight as all hell.
No matter what you throw at this amp it will take it to another level with an almost inexhaustible amount of power at its beck and call with the finesse to control it.
Is this the King of two channel amps? For me it is and that is what it is all about...what you hear in your room on your system.
I have reached musical nirvana with the XPA-2, I think anyone thinking about it should pull the trigger and see for themselves, they will not be disappointed.
I have had the amp now since mid-August and being single again, I have at least one bash every weekend at the house sometimes both on Friday and Saturday.
We cook on the grill, drink and crank tunes.
The XPA-2 never fails to impress everyone that joins us. With my old amp (Anthem PVA-5) and before that I had the B&K 505 S2 receiver I was always getting yelled at to turn it up louder...but I was afraid to. I could tell I was taxing the sh** out of that equipment. No longer. Some one wants it louder I turn it up and the amp just laughs at them. My XPA-2 has not lost a battle yet.
But loud doesn't necessarily mean good but in this case it means astonishing. The sound at insane levels is amazing. No fatigue at all...just pure clean pristine music.
We were listening to Comfortably Numb this past Saturday off Pink Floyd's Pulse Concert DVD. There was about 10 of us there and someone said it wasn't loud enough. I proceeded to turn my AVM-30 up to +16.5 (highest I have ever turned it). The sound was unbelievable. Just for the hell of it I got out my SPL Meter and was about 12' from my Snells...it registered between 115-120 db. No distortion, no fatigue at all. The funny part is that the LED meters were still only going about 3/4's of the way.
Needless to say everyone was astonished. After the song everyone was yelling, screaming and high fiving like we were at a live concert. Amazing.
Now that you know it's loud and stupendous. It can also handle the delicate stuff with the same control and power. Diana Krall live in Paris has to be heard with this amp to be believed. Every note from her piano rings true, her voice sends shivers up my spine. The supporting instruments are placed in their own space. The stand up bass is a wonder to behold. Tight as all hell.
No matter what you throw at this amp it will take it to another level with an almost inexhaustible amount of power at its beck and call with the finesse to control it.
Is this the King of two channel amps? For me it is and that is what it is all about...what you hear in your room on your system.
I have reached musical nirvana with the XPA-2, I think anyone thinking about it should pull the trigger and see for themselves, they will not be disappointed.
