XPA-2 or XPA-1's

[audiobill]

New to Emotiva, I'm delighted with my new XPA-2  and DC-1 after moving from Audio Research and Balanced Audio Technology.

I use either my Magneplanar 1.6's or my Dynaudio Geminis; either pair can be run biamped or full range.

I'd like feedback and thoughts on whether I should get another XPA-2 and run biamped, or 2 XPA-1's and run full range.

Four XPA-1's are not an option!

Thanks-

Bill

[Jim]

Two XPA-1s would probably be your best bet.

Great mono blocks, plenty of power.

[Poodleluvr]

Oct 27, 2013 7:45:36 GMT -5 Jim said:

Two XPA-1s would probably be your best bet.

Great mono blocks, plenty of power.

+1

[wizardofoz]

Or you bridge 2 xpa2's and decide if you like the beefier bridged output which is almost an xpa-1 in a way or run it biamp . Just be carefull when changing configurations.

Or go for xpa-1l's x 2 or maybe 4

[repeetavx]

Bi-wiring and bi-amping are hot subjects here on the Lounge. I would bi-wire first. If you don't hear a difference then I wouldn't bother bi-amping.

If you don't hear a difference, then I hear that the XPA-1s would be a step-up from our XPA-2.

I heard a definite improvement on my Def Techs when I bi-wired. My long term goal is to passive vertical bi-amp with two gen. 1 XPA-2s.

[audiobill]

Thanks,

Also considering the iL's, but a little concerned that dynamics may be a little constrained with. inefficient speakers

Should I be?

Bill

[GreenKiwi]

I'd either do one XPA-2 or two XPA-1s or one xpr-2

[wizardofoz]

Just realised maybe the xpa-2 can only run into 8ohms in bridged mode.

[novisnick]

Oct 27, 2013 13:43:39 GMT -5 wizardofoz said:

Just realised maybe the xpa-2 can only run into 8ohms in bridged mode.

Not maybe,,,,,fact,,,,I think
He,,,,He,,,,



Peace

[novisnick]

Price wise, 2 XPA-1s cost about the same as 1 XPR-2 with more power.
I prefer monos but this is an option,,,,,I also prefer more power, if you think power doesn't means anything , try driving very, very efficient Klipsch speakers with 1000 watts, it's made a huge difference!
Besides, any system worth having is a journey!

Peace,

Nick

[paintedklown]

My vote would be for the XPA-1 mono blocks. Plenty of power on tap for huge dynamics, and if you ever decide to change speakers in the future, you will not have to worry weather or not your amps are up to task.

Good luck with whatever you choose.

[Billagain]

And, it appears that the XPR-2 isn't "quad balanced".







Now, do I get the XPA-1's on sale, or wait to pay full price for the XPA-1 Gen 2?

Thanks,

[novisnick]

;)Gen 2,Gen 2,Gen 2,Gen 2,Gen 2,Gen 2,Gen 2,Gen 2,Gen 2,Gen 2,Gen 2,Gen 2,Gen 2,Gen 2,Gen 2,Gen 2,Gen 2,Gen 2,Gen 2,Gen 2,Gen 2,Gen 2,Gen 2,Gen 2,
Gen 2,Gen 2,Gen 2,Gen 2,Gen 2,Gen 2,Gen 2,Gen 2,Gen 2,Gen 2,Gen 2,Gen 2,Gen 2,Gen 2,Gen 2,Gen 2,Gen 2,Gen 2,Gen 2,Gen 2,Gen 2,Gen 2,Gen 2,Gen 2,


Did I vote Gen 2,
,,',,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,Yeh, that's my vote,,,,Gen 2


Peace,

[deltadube]

Oct 27, 2013 14:24:01 GMT -5 Billagain said:

And, it appears that the XPR-2 isn't "quad balanced".







Now, do I get the XPA-1's on sale, or wait to pay full price for the XPA-1 Gen 2?

Thanks,

i go for the old xpa 1s for the value.. 799 is pretty cheap.. and sound pretty good to me especially teamed up with the xsp 1

cheers

[Boomzilla]

OK - Allow me to be the contrarian voice (again)... My speakers (Definitive Technology SM65s) have sounded their best when vertically bi-amplified. Whether this is due to the different amplifiers or not, I can't say.

The configurations I have tried are:

Mini-X driving the jumpered speakers
Emotiva XPA-2 driving the jumpered speakers
Emotiva XPA-2 driving the same speakers, but bi-wired
Crown PS-400 driving the jumpered speakers
Crown PS-400 driving the same speakers, but bi-wired
Two Crown PS-400s driving the vertically bi-amplified speakers

Used at normal listening levels, it was difficult to tell any difference in the sound between the Mini-X, the XPA-2, and the Crown PS-400 (single wired with jumpers on the speakers) . When we vertically bi-amplified the speakers with the TWO Crown amps, however, things changed significantly for the better.

I'll have a pair of Magnepan 1.6 speakers here this coming week (Provided the -#@*&%*&_^*&^%- FedEx people haven't damaged them in shipping). I'll plan to try the above combos again with the Maggies. If you can wait for the review, I'll tell you what I think of the two Crowns (run via one channel each) vs. the vertically bi-amplified Crowns. I suspect (again) that the bi-amplified configuration will sound better, but who knows until we try? The 4-ohm Maggies are a very different load than the 6+ ohm DefTechs.

On the other hand, I've never heard XPA-1s, and those who have say they are awesome!

[Tungx2]

same dilemma, i am on the fence on gen 1 or gen 2

but i was thinking... if i spend $2000 on xpa-1 gen 2 regular price (emo podcast said it'll be $999) compared to the sale for gen 1 $1600 gen 1, that's 400 dollars.

I know $400 could've been saved and use to buy other stuff. But if i were ever to upgrade amps, (like to resell gen 1 and get gen 2) it'll cost more than just $400 and the hassle. I'd also lose sleep, wondering how gen 2 will be like compared to gen 1.

I'd wait another week, but not sure when the halloween will end, or if there's ever going to be a christmas sale. Emotiva announced that this is the last year they are doing sales, but what about Christmas sale?

They call the current sale a holiday sale, but i'm not sure if there's going to be one before christmas

[audiobill]

Another thought - biamp with XDA-2's on the bottom, and XPA-1L for the highs.

I'll be very curious about what you learn with the 1.6's.

Thanks again,

Bill

[paintedklown]

Oct 27, 2013 17:23:23 GMT -5 Tungx2 said:

same dilemma, i am on the fence on gen 1 or gen 2

but i was thinking... if i spend $2000 on xpa-1 gen 2 regular price (emo podcast said it'll be $999) compared to the sale for gen 1 $1600 gen 1, that's 400 dollars.

I know $400 could've been saved and use to buy other stuff. But if i were ever to upgrade amps, (like to resell gen 1 and get gen 2) it'll cost more than just $400 and the hassle. I'd also lose sleep, wondering how gen 2 will be like compared to gen 1.

I'd wait another week, but not sure when the halloween will end, or if there's ever going to be a christmas sale. Emotiva announced that this is the last year they are doing sales, but what about Christmas sale?

They call the current sale a holiday sale, but i'm not sure if there's going to be one before christmas

Emotiva has said this current sale will last until Christmas, and also will be the last regularly scheduled sale.

[garbulky]

Oct 27, 2013 17:27:20 GMT -5 audiobill said:

Another thought - biamp with XDA-2's on the bottom, and XPA-1L for the highs.

I'll be very curious about what you learn with the 1.6's.

Thanks again,

Bill

The 2 have different gain structures. 32db for XPA-2 gen 1, 29db for XPA-1 L. May sound a little off unless you do some more rigging.

[deltadube]

Oct 27, 2013 17:23:23 GMT -5 Tungx2 said:

same dilemma, i am on the fence on gen 1 or gen 2

but i was thinking... if i spend $2000 on xpa-1 gen 2 regular price (emo podcast said it'll be $999) compared to the sale for gen 1 $1600 gen 1, that's 400 dollars.

I know $400 could've been saved and use to buy other stuff. But if i were ever to upgrade amps, (like to resell gen 1 and get gen 2) it'll cost more than just $400 and the hassle. I'd also lose sleep, wondering how gen 2 will be like compared to gen 1.

I'd wait another week, but not sure when the halloween will end, or if there's ever going to be a christmas sale. Emotiva announced that this is the last year they are doing sales, but what about Christmas sale?

They call the current sale a holiday sale, but i'm not sure if there's going to be one before christmas

if your worried liked that you got to go XPR 1s..... top dogs

cheers