Post by fillrup on Jan 20, 2009 20:12:47 GMT -5
Fist let me state I am NO audiophile. But I do enjoy music. And a RPA-2 arrived today!
I always thought I was missing something as reading many reviews for the Axiom speakers. Don't get me wrong I was pleased as punch with the system and it was a significant upgrade to my OLD JBL L110 speakers with a Harmon Kardon receiver which my son now has.
I had my doubts if the 4 ohm speakers could be driven with a common integrated amp, and I did have a problem driving it with a Yahmaha receiver which eventually ceased to deliver a signal to the speakers. This also was used for its surround sound. Well it was getting old anyway and a Denon 4306 receiver was bought. Wow I thought, I was getting closer to what I presumed where other users where hearing. But still I was missing something and just chalked it up to my old 50 year old ears.
For the last year I have been on and off these forums and wondering what if? Well the XPA-2 was released and I had the money available (the wife bought a sewing machine *chuckle*) and thought why not?
Let me say the Denon does do a respectable job, but I thought the separation and detail when the music was played loud was a bit muted. It also would overheat and shut off when playing music for extended period. Did I say I listen to music at times LOUD! I also have a rather large room at 25x50 to fill with music although only half is used for sitting.
Now reading the electrostatic review I was a bit worried should I have bought the XPA-2 as the M80 are cones.
I eagerly anticipated the amp and spent the entire AFC/NFC championships working my old setup to critically listen (flat eq mode). I would love to do an A/B test but switching cables is not enjoyable and would only be done if I seamed to hear no difference.
No PROBLEM! The amp was installed and WOW! The difference was noticeable right away. The mid range seemed to be more defined and as the music got louder it was much more so. The bass also became much more defined as I listened more carefully. The high end did not get overly bright, as the M80's are already pretty bright.
Some issues did arise:
1) I began to notice some recordings just SUCK! Time/Life recordings are more irritating than before, didn't even want to try the IPOD after that. Seemed like I had an old loudness switch pushed.
2) When listening to Pink Floyd and Supertramp I really pushed the amp to ear bleeding levels (something I am sure I would not want to do again) But I was able to to see the red light (clip) come on. Maybe the XPA-2 would handle this better, but honestly it was obnoxiously loud. This happened when my amp was at +15. I previously could handle this level with the Denon driving the speakers however. My loud listening was at +5 and it was plenty loud where my wife would be driven from the house. Most my listening was done at -10 and moved the needles to quarter levels. All in all the speakers where louder in my opinion that just having the Denon drive them. Maybe the Denon just doesn't drive a 4 ohm speaker as hard. I actually played the amp at full volume on occasion before, but I don't think I would ever want to do that now.
I heard noise during quiet moments but not during track changes. I have heard this before but it did seem a bit more pronounced. I might have dismissed it before, but I was really trying to find something to complain about.
I am curious if the fact the cones in the M80's are not large the amplifier did a similar job as with the electrostatics or would the XPA do a better job. I honestly felt the base was very well pronounced and could not imagine much more except at maybe ear bleeding levels.
After 4 hours of listening, I am very pleased with my purchase, and am now a bit disappointed with my Denon purchase. I am starting to think this could become very expensive if I want to improve any further. I might actually be done!
Next will come some home theater listening after I move the blue ray out of the bedroom.
I always thought I was missing something as reading many reviews for the Axiom speakers. Don't get me wrong I was pleased as punch with the system and it was a significant upgrade to my OLD JBL L110 speakers with a Harmon Kardon receiver which my son now has.
I had my doubts if the 4 ohm speakers could be driven with a common integrated amp, and I did have a problem driving it with a Yahmaha receiver which eventually ceased to deliver a signal to the speakers. This also was used for its surround sound. Well it was getting old anyway and a Denon 4306 receiver was bought. Wow I thought, I was getting closer to what I presumed where other users where hearing. But still I was missing something and just chalked it up to my old 50 year old ears.
For the last year I have been on and off these forums and wondering what if? Well the XPA-2 was released and I had the money available (the wife bought a sewing machine *chuckle*) and thought why not?
Let me say the Denon does do a respectable job, but I thought the separation and detail when the music was played loud was a bit muted. It also would overheat and shut off when playing music for extended period. Did I say I listen to music at times LOUD! I also have a rather large room at 25x50 to fill with music although only half is used for sitting.
Now reading the electrostatic review I was a bit worried should I have bought the XPA-2 as the M80 are cones.
I eagerly anticipated the amp and spent the entire AFC/NFC championships working my old setup to critically listen (flat eq mode). I would love to do an A/B test but switching cables is not enjoyable and would only be done if I seamed to hear no difference.
No PROBLEM! The amp was installed and WOW! The difference was noticeable right away. The mid range seemed to be more defined and as the music got louder it was much more so. The bass also became much more defined as I listened more carefully. The high end did not get overly bright, as the M80's are already pretty bright.
Some issues did arise:
1) I began to notice some recordings just SUCK! Time/Life recordings are more irritating than before, didn't even want to try the IPOD after that. Seemed like I had an old loudness switch pushed.
2) When listening to Pink Floyd and Supertramp I really pushed the amp to ear bleeding levels (something I am sure I would not want to do again) But I was able to to see the red light (clip) come on. Maybe the XPA-2 would handle this better, but honestly it was obnoxiously loud. This happened when my amp was at +15. I previously could handle this level with the Denon driving the speakers however. My loud listening was at +5 and it was plenty loud where my wife would be driven from the house. Most my listening was done at -10 and moved the needles to quarter levels. All in all the speakers where louder in my opinion that just having the Denon drive them. Maybe the Denon just doesn't drive a 4 ohm speaker as hard. I actually played the amp at full volume on occasion before, but I don't think I would ever want to do that now.
I heard noise during quiet moments but not during track changes. I have heard this before but it did seem a bit more pronounced. I might have dismissed it before, but I was really trying to find something to complain about.
I am curious if the fact the cones in the M80's are not large the amplifier did a similar job as with the electrostatics or would the XPA do a better job. I honestly felt the base was very well pronounced and could not imagine much more except at maybe ear bleeding levels.
After 4 hours of listening, I am very pleased with my purchase, and am now a bit disappointed with my Denon purchase. I am starting to think this could become very expensive if I want to improve any further. I might actually be done!
Next will come some home theater listening after I move the blue ray out of the bedroom.
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