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Post by taxman2 on Jul 22, 2013 7:05:37 GMT -5
BTW Taxman, are you running your XDA-2 through the XSP? If so do you notice any change in the SQ (better/same)? I heard the XDA is better direct to the amp, which is why mine is such. I'm also looking at the XSP in the future. Yes, I am and there is no hearable difference that I could notice. But I use XSP-1 mostly because I am hooking up my two subs in the L and R outputs and that IMHO makes the great difference. |
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Post by chopthebass on Jul 22, 2013 7:28:03 GMT -5
I just got the XPA-2 Gen 2 to power my Polk LSiM 707's. Wow what a difference! I initially was powering with a RX A3020 (Yamaha's "Flagship" Receiver) but always thought something was missing. The detail and bass are now amazing. Made me fall back in love with my speakers! Ben I just noticed you have the Polk 707's. I am thinking about the 705's but I can only find one review, and an amazon review. Do you know if there is much difference between the 705 & 707? Are you happy with the bass from yours? I don't plan on a sub, but need strong bass. Thanks! |
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Post by creimes on Jul 22, 2013 10:06:17 GMT -5
The XPA-1L will easily drive your speakers, I would love to have a pair but I got my 1.5 year old XPA-2 for an insane price.
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Post by milsap195 on Jul 22, 2013 12:10:20 GMT -5
I sent back my 1l's this week, didn't think there was enough difference and kept my gen 1 xpa2. The best money I spent was on the xsp1, it made the most difference.
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Post by dac0964 on Jul 22, 2013 13:32:34 GMT -5
BTW Taxman, are you running your XDA-2 through the XSP? If so do you notice any change in the SQ (better/same)? I heard the XDA is better direct to the amp, which is why mine is such. I'm also looking at the XSP in the future. Yes, I am and there is no hearable difference that I could notice. But I use XSP-1 mostly because I am hooking up my two subs in the L and R outputs and that IMHO makes the great difference. Thanks. |
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Post by greg121986 on Jul 22, 2013 15:58:10 GMT -5
Why is the lower gain on the amplifier better?
I am currently using an Oppo BDP-105 as a 2 channel and multi-channel preamp into an Anthem PVA7 multi channel amp. I find on some multi channel content I need to push volume levels up to 75-85 (out of 100) steps on my Oppo. I believe this might be a limitation on my Oppo side, considering that it's processing video, audio, streaming, and providing pre-amp signals to the power amp. However, would I benefit more from the higher gain on the older XPA-5, instead of the lower gain on the XPA-5 Gen 2? The Anthem PVA-7 has 29dB gain, the same as the XPA-5 Gen 2. My Speakers are rated at 88-89dB sensitivity.
I am so close to pulling the trigger on an XPA-5 Gen 2 as my first emotiva product but I'm a am not sure if it's the proper match for my Oppo BDP-105.
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Post by taxman2 on Jul 26, 2013 7:43:25 GMT -5
Today a friend of mine who has XPA-2 came over and I played some of his tracks and he told me that XPA-1L is in another dimension. There is no comparison between these two. He's has got mac minnie, XDA-2 and Dynaudio Contour speakers. In his honest opinion XPA-1L overcomes XDA-2 in all aspects.
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Post by leonski on Sept 27, 2013 23:30:12 GMT -5
This is the problem I'm going thru.....
I'd like to biamp my Magnepan MG1.6s with EITHER 4x XPA-1L or a PAIR of XPA-2gII.
Based on what may or may not be a big help with class 'a' except to the people to whom I pay my Electric Bill in summer......and some other 'number' stuff
For input impedance, the nod goes to the 1L
Transformer size to power ratio? The 1200va of the GII gets top marks.
The ergonomics of a single amp and amp STAND behind each speaker helps the GII case, as well. I'll have to turn each amp on / off by hand, since
I don't want 2400va of transformer hitting the dedicated (only amps) circuit all at once. I'm sure the startup surge is awesome.
At moderate levels = unclipped, I'll bet most people would be hard pressed to tell 'em apart.
And, to top it off......a PAIR of the GII amps will save 1000$ vs a quartet of the 1L monos. That's quite a bump towards ANY preamp.
Now I've got to design some amp stands and get some connectors to replace the bananas when I split my current speaker wires into a pair of wires EACH.
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Post by novisnick on Sept 28, 2013 16:55:51 GMT -5
Why is the lower gain on the amplifier better? I am currently using an Oppo BDP-105 as a 2 channel and multi-channel preamp into an Anthem PVA7 multi channel amp. I find on some multi channel content I need to push volume levels up to 75-85 (out of 100) steps on my Oppo. I believe this might be a limitation on my Oppo side, considering that it's processing video, audio, streaming, and providing pre-amp signals to the power amp. However, would I benefit more from the higher gain on the older XPA-5, instead of the lower gain on the XPA-5 Gen 2? The Anthem PVA-7 has 29dB gain, the same as the XPA-5 Gen 2. My Speakers are rated at 88-89dB sensitivity. I am so close to pulling the trigger on an XPA-5 Gen 2 as my first emotiva product but I'm a am not sure if it's the proper match for my Oppo BDP-105. I don't believe I would trade my gen 2 XPA-5 for almost any amp, maybe an XPR-5 but that's. It. The A-5 is a great sounding amp with plenty enough power no matter how you use it. The -1Ls are in a different class and do optmize Sq for 2 channel. By the way the PA-5 200 wasy first amp and it was very good, but the return date was within limits when the XPA-5 gen 2 came out so I went for it and it is worth the trade up. But only a slite upgrade over gen 1. If you can wait and save, the no brainer are the XPR-1s IMHO |
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Post by leonski on Sept 29, 2013 18:11:26 GMT -5
Besides the 1L, what are the TRUE balanced amps in the EMO line? If I go this route, I'll get a balanced preamp so as NOT to convert back-and-forth to and from balanced. I believe each conversion has a 'cost' in ultimate SQ.
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Post by novisnick on Sept 29, 2013 18:47:34 GMT -5
XPA-1L such a SWEET sound! PERIOD!
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Post by cheapthryl on Sept 29, 2013 19:33:33 GMT -5
Besides the 1L, what are the TRUE balanced amps in the EMO line? If I go this route, I'll get a balanced preamp so as NOT to convert back-and-forth to and from balanced. I believe each conversion has a 'cost' in ultimate SQ. If I am correct, the xpr1, xpa1, xpa1L, xsp1, xda1 and xda2 are emo's balanced designs. |
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Post by Jim on Sept 29, 2013 20:10:05 GMT -5
Besides the 1L, what are the TRUE balanced amps in the EMO line? If I go this route, I'll get a balanced preamp so as NOT to convert back-and-forth to and from balanced. I believe each conversion has a 'cost' in ultimate SQ. If I am correct, the xpr1, xpa1, xpa1L, xsp1, xda1 and xda2 are emo's balanced designs. I want to say the ERC-2 and the upcoming ERC-3 are as well. |
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Post by hydrocat on Sept 30, 2013 9:15:45 GMT -5
Something to consider, is the fact that the xpa-1s are probably going to be put on sale for good price the closer the gen 2 gets to market.In my 35 years of messing around in this hobby there is not a huge difference in quality amps including class a/ab.Of course that's my ears talking,I've had xpa-1s in my two channel system for 3 years,it sounds so good I have not even considered a change.If you don't already have quality amps then any of those amps will put a smile on you're face.To my ears the dac and pre amp are the difference makers the xsp-1 will be my next upgrade,good luck and have fun.
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Post by garbulky on Sept 30, 2013 9:30:52 GMT -5
Something to consider, is the fact that the xpa-1s are probably going to be put on sale for good price the closer the gen 2 gets to market.In my 35 years of messing around in this hobby there is not a huge difference in quality amps including class a/ab.Of course that's my ears talking,I've had xpa-1s in my two channel system for 3 years,it sounds so good I have not even considered a change.If you don't already have quality amps then any of those amps will put a smile on you're face.To my ears the dac and pre amp are the difference makers the xsp-1 will be my next upgrade,good luck and have fun. I agree. But that 60 watts class A makes the XPA-1 gen 2 right at the top of my most wanted list. It's going to be a tough decision between a star class 10 watt class A monoblock and a star class 60 watt monoblock.  |
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