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Post by Ransom on Jan 12, 2014 3:03:27 GMT -5
Hi everyone! I've been reading about these amps for a long time and, after a nice December at work, I took the plunge and purchased a pair of these mono blocks to pair with some Goldenear Triton 2's towers I've been wanting for a while. Right now I'm looking for suggestions before my return period for the Parasound p5 preamp is up. Not that there is anything wrong with it, but I need more comparisons before time is up. Unfortunately the XSP-1 isn't available right now or that would be thrown into the mix for sure. I bought the P5 because it has a pretty good DAC and parasound has a reputation for adding some warmth, which I like. So far I love the setup, but then again, I don't have much as a reference either  . So, to complicate matters...I have an Oppo 105 on the way, so I can compare the DAC in the Oppo with that of the P5. Since I will have the Oppo potentially taking over DAC duty, the P5 won't be a must if another preamp may be better or maybe unnecessary altogether if the Oppo alone as a preamp doesn't hurt SQ too much. Hopefully my convoluted writing is making all this clear. So, the evaluation will be an oppo directly to the mono blocks (acting as a preamp with no P5 help) vs. Oppo on DAC duty combined with P5 as preamp vs. the existing setup of the P5 running DAC duty and preamp...I would love one more contender in there in the preamp role just to make things interesting. Since I like warmer sounds, a tube preamp is a consideration or maybe a hybrid like a Vincent. Thoughts? You guys know how the audio bug can be once it bites. It has bitten  ...I just want to be sure I spend my money as best I can before my 30 day period(s) end. |
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Post by garbulky on Jan 12, 2014 5:54:45 GMT -5
Personally unless the P5 is missing something crucial, I would just upgrade the DAC unit if at all. Personally I would just leave it alone. BTW i have used the DC-1. It's very good and it would be my pick over getting a pre-amp but it can't quite deliver what a pre-amp can in dynamics. However it was more transparent than the USP-1 pre-amp I auditioned (and more transparent than the passive pre-amp I use now!!)
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Post by milsap195 on Jan 12, 2014 7:45:41 GMT -5
I am very curious as to your opinion on the P-5 pre. It is supposed to be a really nice pre amp with a lot of functionality. I have an oppo 105 as we'll and at on time had the 1-L amps with the xsp pre. At the the time I thought the set up was to steril for me and I sent back the amps. In hind sight I believe it was the combination of oppo and xsp. Since then I have determined the combination of the the two are just not a good match. I was so happy to get the three pieces and have a fully differential path but the set up was fatiguing to me. Here is a pick from back in the summer. Attachment Deleted |
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Post by creimes on Jan 12, 2014 11:12:31 GMT -5
This kind of talk is hard for me to get into and explain properly in audio terms but here goes, while my DC-1 direct to my XPA-1L's sounds great it is very neutral as in nothing seems to be added and is what the DC-1 is supposed to do as a pro dac as far as I understood, adding in my PT-7030 into the loop does add a touch of warmth(more analog) to my ears. I listen mainly with my Mac Mini via USB to the DC-1 and XLR to the Balanced input of my PT-7030 and XLR out to my XPA-1L's.
Now I'm not saying to go for the DC-1 and PT-7030 but I know what you mean in the sound you are looking for and I'm not sure the DC-1 would be that for you, but in saying that they have a 30 day trial for you to find out for yourself, every system and room sound different so it's hard to know for sure what it would do for you in your system and your room so why not take advantage of the 30 day trial.
Chad
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Post by tme110 on Jan 12, 2014 11:13:37 GMT -5
My preamp is the oppo105
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Post by mgbpuff on Jan 12, 2014 11:32:59 GMT -5
Go with a different pre - a DAC built into a preamp is a mistake, IMO. DACs change quicker than the weather.
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Post by danny01 on Jan 12, 2014 13:42:29 GMT -5
I had a Parasound 2100 pre paired with XPA1L's and an XDA2. I liked how the Parasound added some warmth and musicality to the setup. I have gotten rid of the Parasound and now run the XDA2 as my pre. I am regretting selling the Parasound. It sounds a bit sterile/analytical without it. From what I have read the Sabre based Oppos sound very sterile, which may not be the best paired with Emotiva amps. I am looking at the P5 or replacing the XDA2 with a Wolfson based Audio GD 10.33 dac/pre to add some warmth. OTOH, people who go for 100% accuracy may favor the sound of the Oppo/Emotiva combo.
Sent from my HTC6500LVW using proboards
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Post by OP on Jan 12, 2014 15:46:11 GMT -5
Wow! Nearly the gamut in responses. I've got no preamp with Oppo, keep the P5, ditch the P5, get the DC-1 or get the XDA2. By Wednesday I should have the Oppo to test the no preamp idea. I've heard mixed things about the DAC and using it without the preamp. Some people love it, some people say it sounds "sterile" as some of you have pointed out. Some people love that particular sound as accurate and others like a little warmth. I'm in the latter camp with Danny01 and a few others. Now for some more direct questions if I can quote without being a member yet  |
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Post by OP on Jan 12, 2014 15:56:32 GMT -5
Personally unless the P5 is missing something crucial, I would just upgrade the DAC unit if at all. Personally I would just leave it alone. BTW i have used the DC-1. It's very good and it would be my pick over getting a pre-amp but it can't quite deliver what a pre-amp can in dynamics. However it was more transparent than the USP-1 pre-amp I auditioned (and more transparent than the passive pre-amp I use now!!) Thanks for the suggestion on the DC-1. I think for the price it's definitely worth trying out. It will be a shootout between the P5, Oppo and DC-1 in terms of DAC. I can hook each up to the amp directly and each through the P5 as well to see how this changes things. That would actually be a lot of combos to evaluate. Should be fun |
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Post by aboroth00 on Jan 12, 2014 16:27:19 GMT -5
I like the idea of the 105 of the preamp. Not the best volume control out there but if you're not looking for a lot of analog inputs it'll definitely do. If you want warmth, you can also look into a fairly inexpensive tube preamp.
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Post by OP on Jan 12, 2014 16:30:54 GMT -5
I am very curious as to your opinion on the P-5 pre. It is supposed to be a really nice pre amp with a lot of functionality. I have an oppo 105 as we'll and at on time had the 1-L amps with the xsp pre. At the the time I thought the set up was to steril for me and I sent back the amps. In hind sight I believe it was the combination of oppo and xsp. Since then I have determined the combination of the the two are just not a good match. I was so happy to get the three pieces and have a fully differential path but the set up was fatiguing to me. Here is a pick from back in the summer. I can tell you that I previously had a Peachtree DACit without a seperate preamp, rather just the AVR's preamp. Just adding the P5 (no new amps yet) was a noticeable improvement in sound separation and accuracy, but, hey, that isn't really a fair fight either. The preamp on an AVR simply isn't going to have a chance against the P5. Perhaps more telling is that the DACit has an older Sabre chip (Oppo uses newer Sabre) and it sounded fairly sterile to me compared to the P5. Again, this could just be due to some added color brought in by the P5 as preamp, I'm not sure. I'm glad you shared your impressions of the XSP paired with the oppo. That leads me to think that the combo I hit already is pretty good and that I should stick with it. The 1-L, combined with the P5 brings no fatigue for me at all. I listen for hours and my ears are easily fatigued due to tinnitus, so if my ears aren't screaming "uncle" then the P5 must be doing something right. When I originally auditioned the P5 it was with Parasounds A23 and it was surprisingly warm for SS. Now, what I really loved with my Tritons was a tube amp, but most of them are lacking in power and bass control and the ones that don't have this problem are WAY out of my price range. I bet your Carver VTA-180 sounds pretty sweet! |
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Post by OP on Jan 12, 2014 16:34:13 GMT -5
Go with a different pre - a DAC built into a preamp is a mistake, IMO. DACs change quicker than the weather. No doubt, they do change fast, but you don't HAVE to use the DAC in the P5 if you don't wish to. It's worth the price as a preamp by itself I would say. I just want to explore options before my return period is up. Have recommendation for another pre? |
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Post by Dan Laufman on Jan 12, 2014 17:35:46 GMT -5
The XSP-1 will be available in about 10-14 days... You choice is obvious. |
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Post by OP on Jan 12, 2014 20:45:38 GMT -5
The XSP-1 will be available in about 10-14 days... You choice is obvious. Unfortunately that would put me a little out of range of my return period, but I could always take the loss if I liked it better by selling the P5. It's a shame it wasn't available during that nice sale you guys had going . We shall see after testing with the Oppo a bit and I like the tube preamp idea someone mentioned for my listening preferences. |
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Post by OP on Jan 12, 2014 21:02:18 GMT -5
I like the idea of the 105 of the preamp. Not the best volume control out there but if you're not looking for a lot of analog inputs it'll definitely do. If you want warmth, you can also look into a fairly inexpensive tube preamp. I like your thinking. Do you have suggestions for such an inexpensive tube preamp? I don't really know preamps as well, but i've heard a few integrated models. I don't want to lose too much precision and too much bass control mind you and I'm just assuming that keeping these will quickly push me out of any area remotely conceived of as "inexpensive." I suppose I could go used. Vincent has a hybrid that has my interest (SA-31MK), but isn't exactly cheap at 1600.00. |
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Post by hikergrl on Jan 12, 2014 21:02:20 GMT -5
I agree with The Man.
Sorry, I can't comment on the P5, but comparing the sound of the emo pre-amps for 2 channel listening - the xsp-1 is significantly the best, then the usp1 and then the DC-1.
(Standard caveat - on my system, with my choices of music and with my ears!)
Many people on the emo lounge feel that the pre-amp functionality of the DC-1 sounds as good as the xsp1.
I wish I had felt that way (it would have saved me $$s), but using the DC-1 as a DAC and feeding the signal to the usp1 the sound was much more dynamic (textured, "real" sounding) than using the DC-1 as DAC and pre-amp. I really liked the usp-1 as a preamp, however the XSP-1 was a significant step up in sound quality.
Emo has a fantastic 30 day return period, shipping within CONUS is not too expensive if you decide to return.
2 channel rig: DC-1, ERC-1, dedicated laptop music server, XSP-1 (replaced USP-1), 2 x UPA-1, Mirage OMD-28 speakers (custom Zu Audio Ibis jumpers), all cables Zu Audio except USB cable (Audioquest carbon)
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Post by Dan Laufman on Jan 13, 2014 0:05:39 GMT -5
I don't want to slam my other brand, but the XSP-1 is in a different league deign and performance wise compared to the other models being mentioned here. Really.
The XSP-1 is fully balanced from input to output. It has a stunning phono stage, balanced HT bypass and 2.1 bass management. Not to mention you would have a true Differential Reference signal path with your amps. This is the whole point of the series!
Also, I'll give you the sale price since you originally wanted it with your amps.
Send me a pm if you decide to go this direction.
Cheers,
Big Dan
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Post by Chuck Elliot on Jan 13, 2014 0:20:46 GMT -5
Great combo - love mine.
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Post by deltadube on Jan 13, 2014 1:15:08 GMT -5
The XSP-1 will be available in about 10-14 days... You choice is obvious. I love the sound of my xpa 1s and xsp 1 awesome! cheers |
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Post by deltadube on Jan 13, 2014 1:17:35 GMT -5
I don't want to slam my other brand, but the XSP-1 is in a different league deign and performance wise compared to the other models being mentioned here. Really. The XSP-1 is fully balanced from input to output. It has a stunning phono stage, balanced HT bypass and 2.1 bass management. Not to mention you would have a true Differential Reference signal path with your amps. This is the whole point of the series! Also, I'll give you the sale price since you originally wanted it with your amps. Send me a pm if you decide to go this direction. Cheers, Big Dan Great offer! |
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...I just want to be sure I spend my money as best I can before my 30 day period(s) end.
