Post by rontj on Oct 24, 2013 20:59:13 GMT -5
Would like to share some thoughts with my new XPA-5 that I just yesterday installed.
First, this thing is HEAVY. Carrying it from my front porch, up my stairs to my dedicated media room wouldn't be described as easy.
Have had no problems of any kind. Connected the included 1/8" male to 1/8" male for 12 VDC trigger power on, which works fine.
I watched a couple programs on TiVo without running Audyssey, as it was late, and I just wanted to eat a bit and watch some TV. Actually forgetting that the XPA-5 was installed, I was aware of more audible content. The volume wasn't any louder, to my ears, or according to the dB level on my Denon receiver, but I was aware of more ambient sound effects. To my ears, it sounded smooth, effortless, like an idling engine.
Next day, as I was calibrating via Audyssey MultEQ XT32 from my receiver, when the AVR sent the first 10 test tones to my left main speaker, the speaker actually thumped like a subwoofer. Not so much my center, but the same with my right main, and surrounds, which are the same speaker as my mains. Awesome. I've owned these speakers for 8 years and didn't know they could do that. Spec sheet claims on axis @ 0 degrees +/- 3dB 30-23,000 Hz.
After I ran the 8 positions, I put Ray Charles SACD Genius Loves Company, in my OPPO BDP-103 and listened to track 1. At the end of the track, even though I was the only one in the room, I loudly said to no one, "That was awesome!!!". I have 12 bass traps in my 200 sq ft room, with other strategically positioned first reflection panels, and based on all that I've heard, felt my bass management was very good. Well, now it's better. One of the tracks, can't remember which, had some incredible plucking of guitar strings, and I don't remember them ever sounding that crisp and fast. I've heard that disc 20 times or more, and am as familiar with it as I am any music. Vocals have always sounded, especially on some tracks, like Ray and his duet partner are in the room, but even moreso now.
Haven't watched a Blu-ray yet with reference audio, but plan on it soon. With the little I've heard of the XPA-5, I'm very pleased.
First, this thing is HEAVY. Carrying it from my front porch, up my stairs to my dedicated media room wouldn't be described as easy.
Have had no problems of any kind. Connected the included 1/8" male to 1/8" male for 12 VDC trigger power on, which works fine.
I watched a couple programs on TiVo without running Audyssey, as it was late, and I just wanted to eat a bit and watch some TV. Actually forgetting that the XPA-5 was installed, I was aware of more audible content. The volume wasn't any louder, to my ears, or according to the dB level on my Denon receiver, but I was aware of more ambient sound effects. To my ears, it sounded smooth, effortless, like an idling engine.
Next day, as I was calibrating via Audyssey MultEQ XT32 from my receiver, when the AVR sent the first 10 test tones to my left main speaker, the speaker actually thumped like a subwoofer. Not so much my center, but the same with my right main, and surrounds, which are the same speaker as my mains. Awesome. I've owned these speakers for 8 years and didn't know they could do that. Spec sheet claims on axis @ 0 degrees +/- 3dB 30-23,000 Hz.
After I ran the 8 positions, I put Ray Charles SACD Genius Loves Company, in my OPPO BDP-103 and listened to track 1. At the end of the track, even though I was the only one in the room, I loudly said to no one, "That was awesome!!!". I have 12 bass traps in my 200 sq ft room, with other strategically positioned first reflection panels, and based on all that I've heard, felt my bass management was very good. Well, now it's better. One of the tracks, can't remember which, had some incredible plucking of guitar strings, and I don't remember them ever sounding that crisp and fast. I've heard that disc 20 times or more, and am as familiar with it as I am any music. Vocals have always sounded, especially on some tracks, like Ray and his duet partner are in the room, but even moreso now.
Haven't watched a Blu-ray yet with reference audio, but plan on it soon. With the little I've heard of the XPA-5, I'm very pleased.
