Going from XPA-3 to XPA-2 gen 2. Any difference in SQ?

[kooreeho]

Hi,
Has anyone here upgraded from XPA-3 to XPA-2 for the front? What was your experience? Did you hear any improvement or difference in SQ at all? I currently have XPA-3 driving my Maggies 1.6 and am considering to upgrade to XPA-2 but not sure if it's worth it.
Your input is much appreciated.

[novisnick]

I don't know about the SQ but in volume it will Not make any/much difference at all .
Just 2 cents I found,,,now you have them,,,,,he,,,,,he,,,,,,

[Gary Cook]

I went from an XPA-2 / XPA-3 combo to an XPA-5 and I can't say as I have noticed any difference, that's at my normal (quite loud, so my wife says) listening levels plus party time.

Cheers
Gary

[repeetavx]

Emotiva used to advertise that the XPA-2 had double the amount of output devices (transistors) as the XPA-3 or XPA-5 did. This equates to lower output impedance and better control of your speakers. Whether the extra output devices will make your maggies sound different to you, only you can answer.

[spectacle]

Mar 18, 2014 23:27:17 GMT -5 kooreeho said:

Hi,
Has anyone here upgraded from XPA-3 to XPA-2 for the front? What was your experience? Did you hear any improvement or difference in SQ at all? I currently have XPA-3 driving my Maggies 1.6 and am considering to upgrade to XPA-2 but not sure if it's worth it.
Your input is much appreciated.

I'm in the process of making this transition for my 1.7's. I'm hoping the XPA-2 will give me a little bit of headroom at upper volume levels. I'll let you know how it goes.

[pedrocols]

Mar 28, 2014 8:59:27 GMT -5 spectacle said:

Mar 18, 2014 23:27:17 GMT -5 kooreeho said:

Hi,
Has anyone here upgraded from XPA-3 to XPA-2 for the front? What was your experience? Did you hear any improvement or difference in SQ at all? I currently have XPA-3 driving my Maggies 1.6 and am considering to upgrade to XPA-2 but not sure if it's worth it.
Your input is much appreciated.

I'm in the process of making this transition for my 1.7's. I'm hoping the XPA-2 will give me a little bit of headroom at upper volume levels. I'll let you know how it goes.

I power my MG12s with a stereo amp which is 300 wpc at 4 ohms and it can get the speakers to hit clean 90dbs for music playing from my listening position so don't see reason why the XPA-2 would not have plenty of power for your maggies. Mind you I listen to music at 76dbs most of the time so for me the amp I am using has plenty of headroom...

[bootman]

If you want a jump up in headroom get the XPR-2, otherwise I would stay as is.

[audiobill]

The XPA-2 worked great with my 1.7's....

[spectacle]

Mar 28, 2014 9:43:47 GMT -5 pedrocols said:

Mar 28, 2014 8:59:27 GMT -5 spectacle said:

I'm in the process of making this transition for my 1.7's. I'm hoping the XPA-2 will give me a little bit of headroom at upper volume levels. I'll let you know how it goes.

I power my MG12s with a stereo amp which is 300 wpc at 4 ohms and it can get the speakers to hit clean 90dbs for music playing from my listening position so don't see reason why the XPA-2 would not have plenty of power for your maggies. Mind you I listen to music at 76dbs most of the time so for me the amp I am using has plenty of headroom...

I'm aiming for around 90-95dbs at the most.

I thought about doing the XPR-2 but I want to make sure the XPA-2 isn't enough for my needs before I spend that kinda coin.

[GEL]

Hi!

A few years ago I've moved from the XPA-3 powering my front L/C/R with an H/K 3600 A/V receiver running my surrounds in 5.1, to an XPA-2 for the L/R and the XPA-3 for the centre and surrounds.

Immediately I noticed an improvement. Not night and day, but significant enough for the type of music I listen to (jazz, blues, classic rock, classical). Loud is loud with both amps; the actual difference for me was how more tight and defined the low and mid-bass became at moderate volume with the XPA-2 (both in stereo and 5.1), and how transients were handled more easily by the XPA-3 and the centre channel during movies, now that it was freed of the L/R duties.

I had box speakers then and moved recently to Magnepan MMG and MMG-C for my three fronts speakers. Musical heaven and synergy on a budget! These two amps are definitely staying with me until they die and cannot be repaired, as I don't feel the need to upgrade them at all. There something to be said about the point of diminishing returns...

However: if there's one thing on my mind now, it's to buy myself those fine 1.7 and move the MMGs to the back of my room! But that will have to wait for a little while. There's something to be said about the point of diminishing... disposable income in this hobby! ;-)

G.

[pedrocols]

Mar 28, 2014 17:10:29 GMT -5 spectacle said:

Mar 28, 2014 9:43:47 GMT -5 pedrocols said:

I power my MG12s with a stereo amp which is 300 wpc at 4 ohms and it can get the speakers to hit clean 90dbs for music playing from my listening position so don't see reason why the XPA-2 would not have plenty of power for your maggies. Mind you I listen to music at 76dbs most of the time so for me the amp I am using has plenty of headroom...

I'm aiming for around 90-95dbs at the most.

I thought about doing the XPR-2 but I want to make sure the XPA-2 isn't enough for my needs before I spend that kinda coin.

Maybe I am too old but I don't see myself listening to music that loud for any lengthy period of time...lol

[iramack]

I too purchased my XPA-2 gen 2 for that very reason........my new Maggie 1.7's. I was running my MG 12's with a UPA-2 which actually did a great job. But I wanted to have more headroom and bass control and to drive my 1.7's with a real "beast" of an amp.

So, now enjoying the clean sound of 500 watts per channel being soaked up like a sponge by my 1.7's!! Man those speakers can take some JUICE!! And that amp can give it!! LOL However, the difference in gain between the two makes the "upgrade" effect less pronounced...

Still wondering if there is any line conditioning in the AC input section??

Steve

[spectacle]

Mar 29, 2014 8:58:32 GMT -5 iramack said:

Still wondering if there is any line conditioning in the AC input section??

Yes and no. From a review of a UPS I'm considering:

Fortunately, our AV components do not use this AC line voltage directly, but rather use internal power supplies to convert the AC power from the utility to the DC voltages needed for various amplification, processing or control stages inside the AV component. In the process of conversion from AC to DC, spikes, noise and harmonics are, to a large extent, removed. More expensive AV components typically have larger more expensive power supply components and these typically will do a better job of cleaning up the dirty AC power as well as providing some reserve power to meet short terms peak power needs.

So as long as your AV system is based on reasonably good components, adding a high end power conditioner to the system probably will not lead to improvements in the transparency of the sound or more vibrant colors from your TV or projector, etc. The power supply in the components are doing their job and do it well as long as there is enough AC voltage and current available at the power cord. But therein lies the rub. Power today in many parts of the world, rural areas, as well as in major metropolitan areas, is not as dependable as one may wish, and a power conditioner such as the APC S20 can really help protect your AV gear while assuring peak performance.

[ocezam]

Mar 18, 2014 23:27:17 GMT -5 kooreeho said:

Hi,
Has anyone here upgraded from XPA-3 to XPA-2 for the front?

I went from an XPA-5 to an XPA-2 on my mains, at that time Maggie 1.6. Yeah, the XPA-2 is a better amp. Faster, more headroom, more dynamic. Is it worth the coin? To me, yeah easy. Maybe, maybe not to you....

[jefft51]

I went from an XPA-5 (for my 5.1) and added an XPA-2 to drive the LF and RF. For stereo, a definite improvement at loud levels (85db and up) below that, I can't tell the difference. For movies, I haven't noticed an improvement. That is for playing through both the UMC-1 and now the Sherbourn 7030.  My speakers are ERT 8.3s at 89db sensitivity.  I'm glad I got it, but if I hadn't I'd be happy as I probably would not of thought anything was lacking. (Ignorance is Bliss)