Post by prefabfan on Nov 17, 2013 1:40:59 GMT -5
My XPA-2 Gen 1, is refurbed.
Very happy with it.
Decided to see if more power would come from monoblock ICEpower amps.
The ICE amp was rated "Key Specifications * Maximum Power Output: 500w 4 ohms, 250w 8 ohms, per channel "
Or sometimes 550w. BUT NEVER did they say "RMS power."
I have scoured the web for ICE RMS ratings, not happening dude.
Tested on new Magnepan 1.7s with subwoofer.
Music from Sony Blu-Ray player processed through Emotiva DAC, no preamp, straight from DAC to XPA-2 using XLR.
So I trusted ICEpower amp dealer.
First the ICE failed the test the Emotiva has set the standard on; Chris Standring Blue Bolero CD on the opening cut there is a startling standup bass lifelike plucking with a deep percussive tone out of the right speaker. The Emotiva will scare you, the deep impact comes out of nowhere. And sounds REAL.
The ICE amp sounded clear and pretty, but the bass profundity was not there. No impact.
Despite their being known for woofer control?
Also, the Emotiva clearly placed the nice gourd\shaker percussion, one in each speaker, while the ICE it got lost in the music.
The smoking gun.
My copy of Donald Fagan's 2011 remaster of Nightfly is the SACD iso copy; for some reason it is recorded at a low volume. With the ICEpower monoblocks I turned up the DAC volume but the DAC topped out at 80, and that is it. That's full bore.
What I got was party background music.
The music was pleasant but not LOUD.
Back to the Emotiva XPA-2 gen 1, same setup, and at 69.5 the volume was CRANKING LOUD. No need for more volume. And the blue LEDs were at about 7-10 tops. I have NEVER seen a red LED on my Emotiva in 3 months of loud listening (I have a house on a hill, no neighbors upstairs or down, so "Crimson\Red" cranks, as does "Dawes"). Never has the Emotiva run out of steam or even hit red. Not once ever. I have never seen the red light except possibly when I flick the "On" switch. In fact, when I listen to loudly recorded music, say Mindy Smith's cryfest, "One Moment More" my LEDs are at 1-2 out of 14. I believe my downstairs rear channel Emotiva 150 watter could better the "500 watt" ICE monoblocks, but have not tried it.
Moral: There is "500 ICEpower bs watts @ 4 ohms" and there is "500 Emotiva RMS watts @ 4 ohms"
And that's the fact, Jack.
I am not an audio dealer or in any way financially interested in Emotiva.
Just a real 60 year old person who loves music.
Does anyone know, if for some reason I were to switch to XPA-2 in monoblock, do I need a 20 amp outlet (besides another XPA-2)?
