XPR2 or NOT

[bluemeanies]

Well hear I go again driving myself crazy.
A few weeks ago I posted that I have B&W 804S speakers and happened to meet someone with the same speakers in a similar configuration. One noticeable difference was that he was using the XPR2 at 600 watts per channel to push his B&W 804 S speakers while I am using 200 watts to drive my mains. I also have a pair of Dynaudio Focus 110 A's that I use for 2 channel listening. They sound terrific. When I was listening to the 804's with the XPR I notice more clarity or soundstage that I do with my configuration. I purchased the 110's to fill in for my listening tastes b/c I like that crystal clear sound that I feel I am not getting with my current setup.
My friend has since moved and therefore I cannot sample his system any longer. I wanted to make sure I was not imagining something that is not there.
Does anyone have an opinion on this because I was thinking of selling my Dynaudio's and stands using that money to purchase the XPR 2. The speakers are in pristine condition.
I don't want to do something foolish....again

Thanks

[Dark Ranger]

Well, my opinion (and that's all it is--an opinion) is that other factors probably contributed to the sound you heard. I'd caution against trying to recreate a specific sound you hear elsewhere (a demo room, a friend's house, etc.) because sometimes it can be a futile exercise. Buying the same electronics or speakers as someone else does not guarantee you'll get the same sound.

The room is one of the largest factors influencing the sonic signature. You can take identical components (speakers, amp, source, etc.), set them up in several different rooms, and end up with a completely different sound. The room's ratio, objects in the room, speaker positioning, the number of flat surfaces, and even the amount of floor vs. rug covering can dramatically affect the final result. This has been demonstrated time and again. For example, let's say someone is impressed with a loudspeaker in a demo room or at a friend's house. They buy that same speaker for their own home, but end up being dissatisfied because it doesn't sound the way they expected. The speaker (or component or whatever) just doesn't work in their room.

All I'm saying is that the sonic signature you heard at your friend's house could be caused by things other than the XPR-2. Did he have an acoustically-treated room? How were the speakers positioned? What were his source components? How about the recording itself? Maybe his room allows the soundstage to expand better, or maybe it's just subtle speaker positioning.

You may hear an improvement with a XPR-2, but you might not. I just don't think it's reasonable to attribute what you heard to only the XPR-2.

[audiobill]

I have Dynaudio Geminis, with the Esotec tweeters - one of the best on the planet.

Dynaudios are known, of course for exceptionally transparent yet musical sound.

I agree that the room may be a huge factor.......exhaust possibilities there first.....

[garbulky]

Dec 9, 2013 15:36:29 GMT -5 Dark Ranger said:

Well, my opinion (and that's all it is--an opinion) is that other factors probably contributed to the sound you heard. I'd caution against trying to recreate a specific sound you hear elsewhere (a demo room, a friend's house, etc.) because sometimes it can be a futile exercise. Buying the same electronics or speakers as someone else does not guarantee you'll get the same sound.

The room is one of the largest factors influencing the sonic signature. You can take identical components (speakers, amp, source, etc.), set them up in several different rooms, and end up with a completely different sound. The room's ratio, objects in the room, speaker positioning, the number of flat surfaces, and even the amount of floor vs. rug covering can dramatically affect the final result. This has been demonstrated time and again. For example, let's say someone is impressed with a loudspeaker in a demo room or at a friend's house. They buy that same speaker for their own home, but end up being dissatisfied because it doesn't sound the way they expected. The speaker (or component or whatever) just doesn't work in their room.

All I'm saying is that the sonic signature you heard at your friend's house could be caused by things other than the XPR-2. Did he have an acoustically-treated room? How were the speakers positioned? What were his source components? How about the recording itself? Maybe his room allows the soundstage to expand better, or maybe it's just subtle speaker positioning.

You may hear an improvement with a XPR-2, but you might not. I just don't think it's reasonable to attribute what you heard to only the XPR-2.

Absolutely. I took my axiom m80's over to my friend's place. At home, I have a small-ish lviing room while my friend has a large living room. At my house the axioms had lots of bass and deep extension. No need for a subwoofer at all.
At his they sounded like they had very little bass and wouldn't really show much bass until they were near the boundaries of the wall. Very different from my room. They also lacked significantly in dynamics. In short they sounded like very different speakers. And I had been reccomending him buy axioms for his upgrade. But after seeing the way it didn't really cut the mustard there I advised him against axioms as they weren't right for him. So do not assume upgrades until you hear it in your own room.

[audiobill]

Also, like the Stealth 8's, the Dynaudios are active - meaning someone spent a lot of time optimizing the amp to those great drivers, as you know............

[Boomzilla]

I may be in a position to give more useless information soon. I have owned XPA-2 amps twice now. I have an XPR-2 on order. I'm familiar with the sound of the XPA-2 with my speakers in my room. Without changing anything else, I'll write about the XPR-2 experience when it arrives. I'm hoping for good things...

[Darksky]

The jump from XPA-2/3 combo to the XPR-5 was noticeable enough that I just ordered a pair of XPR-1s. I really like the sound of the XPR amp in my room.

I do agree that it is unrealistic to compare completely different set ups. The difference between his and your room may be enormous.

-Brad

[stiehl11]

One thing you might be noticing is an amp's sonic signature. While changing nothing else in my room or speakers I found a noticeable difference in my sound going from a Sony ES AVR, to the XPA-5, to the XPA-2. I would imagine that a XPR-2 would have a different sonic signature the others. How much the sonic signature (if any) you notice varies from person to person so, YMMV.

[bluemeanies]

Wow thanks for all of the quick responses.
First the equipment comparison to my friends system were the same except the surrounds that he had were the next level up from my surrounds. The mains and center were the same. His soundstage might have been more noticeable because his back wall of his theater was 14' where my wall and placement for my speakers is only 8'. That could have been what I was hearing. I am kind of stuck with my configuration.
Don't get wrong my system is far from mediocre but I am somewhat a perfectionist when it comes to home theater and 2channel listening. At least in my price category.
As I said I do not want to be foolish and throw money away but if I can make any improvements I will.

Thanks to all again

[garbulky]

Dec 9, 2013 20:09:15 GMT -5 bluemeanies said:

Wow thanks for all of the quick responses.
First the equipment comparison to my friends system were the same except the surrounds that he had were the next level up from my surrounds. The mains and center were the same. His soundstage might have been more noticeable because his back wall of his theater was 14' where my wall and placement for my speakers is only 8'. That could have been what I was hearing. I am kind of stuck with my configuration.
Don't get wrong my system is far from mediocre but I am somewhat a perfectionist when it comes to home theater and 2channel listening. At least in my price category.
As I said I do not want to be foolish and throw money away but if I can make any improvements I will.

Thanks to all again

That photo was very helpful. It's obvious to me that you are knowledgeable about the basics and know something about what you are doing. You also have got a good DAC in the BDA-1 and room treatments. Also you are working with what youve got in terms of rooms. The most obvious thing is that the speakers appear too close to the wall and too close to the listening position (due to the toe in angle which is too much for my taste). If possible, I would move them back, closer together but not too much, away from the side walls and toed in not as much.
But...something tells me you;ve got it that way for a reason - likely to do with not obscuring the large screen you have.
Do you have bass traps?

[bluemeanies]

Thanks for the compliments.
I do have a little knowledge but being on a lot of forums and reading "Sound and Vision" is a tremendous help.
I do not have any bass traps and I don't know how much that would help although that is the an issue I am trying to remedy. The 804S have a lot of bass and that is not what I am getting from the Dyn's . However the Dyn's do not stay in the position that you see them in the picture. I pull them away from the wall about a foot with no toe in. I have done the same with 804's and I and not entirely happy listen to them in a 2 channel mode. That being said my wife loves the way they sound musically after watching a movie. My friend who had the XPR2 said that the amp had helped his speakers sonically to bring out a more noticeable highs.
I can't say to much about that since as people have noted these are two different systems in two different rooms.
I am going to experiment a bit more with my Outlaw 990.

I appreciate you views and ideas, thanks again and I will post after my experiment.

[bluemeanies]

Nothing really new by moving speakers and trying some new settings on the 990. Pretty much I am starting to thing I am getting the max performance out of my 804's. Mind you I am not crying about the performance I am getting out of them at this point I just thought I could do a little better on the high end. You can't make a 8o4S sound like the 804D's that for sure.

Thanks to everyone