XPA-2 or two XPA 100

[neilc]

XDA-2 just about to arrive and looking to partner with power amps. Statement speakers and music from a new mac mini...so would like help/advice/thoughts on the differences between the two amps. Will there be a sonic difference between them? I know everyone raves about the XPA-2 but wondered if the XPA 100's being mono blacks will sound better?

[bootman]

There is a pair of XPA-100s for sale at the emporium.
(and a pair of UPA-1's also which is a great buy, btw)
I don't think you can go wrong either way personally.

[geebo]

Jun 28, 2013 9:21:47 GMT -5 neilc said:

XDA-2 just about to arrive and looking to partner with power amps. Statement speakers and music from a new mac mini...so would like help/advice/thoughts on the differences between the two amps. Will there be a sonic difference between them? I know everyone raves about the XPA-2 but wondered if the XPA 100's being mono blacks will sound better?

I'd say the XPA-2. One of the benefits of monoblocks is lack of crosstalk. When Audioholics reviewed the XPA-2 they had this to say:

"Running a full range frequency sweep through the XPA-2 amplifier at full rated power (250wpc @ 8-ohms), I measured channel to channel crosstalk between the two channels where one was the disturber and the other was the Device Under Test (DUT). The Audio Precision plotted crosstalk of both channels over frequency by varying the Distruber/DUT channels. The XPA-2 produced surprisingly excellent crosstalk measurements (>140dB at 1kHz) with only a gradual rise with increasing frequency because of capacitive coupling. This is the best crosstalk measurement I’ve ever measured in an amplifier and despite the XPA-2 having a singular centralized power supply, the channel to channel isolation was on par with the best monoblock amplifiers I've ever seen!"

Here is the complete review:

www.audioholics.com/reviews/amplifiers/emotiva-xpa-2


But as bootman said, you can't go wrong with XPA-100s or UPA-1s either.

[Deleted]

If the Audioholics figures are correct, the XPA-2 is the better value: more power, less cost...

-RW-

[neilc]

thanks guys, currently the XPA 100's are on sale at $778 for a pair, where as the XPA 2 is out of stock and when it is back in stock will probably be the standard price of $799 so not much difference price wise that is my dilemma!

[bootman]

Don't rule out used gear especially if the majority of the warranty is left.
Emotiva does stand by their amps.

[geebo]

Jun 28, 2013 10:06:06 GMT -5 neilc said:

thanks guys, currently the XPA 100's are on sale at $778 for a pair, where as the XPA 2 is out of stock and when it is back in stock will probably be the standard price of $799 so not much difference price wise that is my dilemma!

Have you called about the availability of B-stock?

[neilc]

Jun 28, 2013 9:44:00 GMT -5 bootman said:

There is a pair of XPA-100s for sale at the emporium.
(and a pair of UPA-1's also which is a great buy, btw)
I don't think you can go wrong either way personally.

thanks bootman, where is the Emporium?

[creimes]

I seen a XPA-2 on the emporium a few days ago as well, never mind I see it sold.

2 UPA-1's for sale and can't go wrong at that price, I owned 2 of these and they are spectacular amps

UPA-1's click here

[brubacca]

Emporium is another sub-board here on the lounge.
emotivalounge.proboards.com/board/12/emporium

[ews0899]

There is a XPA2 available (dare I say) on Audiogon for $600 under warranty through 12/2015. With fees and shipping might be nominal savings, but thought I'd mention.
Good luck!

[neilc]

thanks for looking out for me EWS, I was hoping they would be back in stock before the new $719 price disappeared!

[ews0899]

Another thought... I returned a XPA2 just last week so you may have a shot at picking that one up as b stock. Might be worth a call and inquire. Good luck..

[solidstate]

Does anyone know when gen2 29dB amps are going to be available?

[neilc]

Jun 28, 2013 16:00:29 GMT -5 ews0899 said:

Another thought... I returned a XPA2 just last week so you may have a shot at picking that one up as b stock. Might be worth a call and inquire. Good luck..

Why did you send it back EWS? And how do you like your peachtree DAC ..it's the DAcIt right.? 

[yves]

Get the XPA-2, save your money towards a better sounding DAC. I wouldn't be at all surprised if replacing the XDA-2 with the (soon to be released) Stealth DC-1 will result in a bigger improvement than replacing the XPA-2 with a pair of XPA-100s and besides, as geebo gleefully pointerd out, "crosstalk" is a word that isn't really in the XPA-2's dictionary.

[audiosanity]

Jun 28, 2013 15:47:58 GMT -5 neilc said:

thanks for looking out for me EWS, I was hoping they would be back in stock before the new $719 price disappeared!

My guess it they won't be back. We'll have the Gen II XPA-2, for porbably $100 more than current list price.

[audiosanity]

Jun 28, 2013 10:06:06 GMT -5 neilc said:

thanks guys, currently the XPA 100's are on sale at $778 for a pair, where as the XPA 2 is out of stock and when it is back in stock will probably be the standard price of $799 so not much difference price wise that is my dilemma!

IMHO, monoblocks are a bad values. They make sense only when stuffing everything in a single chassis becomes impractical. That is not the case here. Also, the XPA-100s each have a measly 360VA transformer. The XPA-2 packs a 1,200 VA monster. The only thing going for the monoblocks is the cool/bragging factor.

[audiosanity]

Jun 28, 2013 9:46:48 GMT -5 geebo said:

... The XPA-2 produced surprisingly excellent crosstalk measurements (>140dB at 1kHz) with only a gradual rise with increasing frequency because of capacitive coupling. This is the best crosstalk measurement I’ve ever measured in an amplifier and despite the XPA-2 having a singular centralized power supply, the channel to channel isolation was on par with the best monoblock amplifiers I've ever seen!"

I get a chuckle out of such reviews. Such high channel separation may be indirectly indicative of an overall excellent design. But in itself, it doesn't mean much. At the ear level, channel separation is apparently about 6dB. Yes, 6dB.

Btwy, the XPA-2 has better S/N and slightly flatter response.

[ews0899]

Nelic-

I swapped the XPA2 for the XPR2 as I wanted that additional headroom. Moreover, the XPA did a fine job but IMO the XPR was my sweet spot in clarity and detail.
The Peachtree is a DacIt and bought it at a ridiculous price on close out, it was like under 250 bucks and so far been very pleased. At some point, I want to experiment with tube buffers between DAC and Sonos. Right now, just enjoying the music. Happy listening!

Ed