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Post by sahmen on Aug 9, 2014 16:51:09 GMT -5
ok...thanks for your input sahmen...good to know that the XPA-1L's only get "very slightly" warm to the touch when in class A/B mode. i may give the XPA-1L gen 2 a try when they come out. i think they would be a good match for my XSP-1 gen 2. I've sometimes wondered and almost gotten to the point of asking if maybe my XPA-1L is not right. Mine gets too hot to touch, and this is when it's in A/B mode. It troubles me a bit. My XPA-2, to the side of it, is way, way cooler. I thought I might search to see what others have found. The XPA-2 is driving Maggie 1.7's and the XPA-1L is driving the Maggie center channel CC5. I used to leave the main audio setup on to soothe the dogs with laid back directv "new age" music... but since creating this setup, I don't feel comfortable, leaving home with the XPA-1L turned on. I wish mine only got "very slightly warm" like the XPA-2's... maybe mine has a bad circuit? flatpicker: I have no formal training or expertise in managing electrical circuits, so I cannot offer any scientifically informed insight regarding the heating issues you're describing. However, I can safely say, that in the first 3 days of their operation, I was anxiously placing my palm on the units after every two to three hours of use for a temperature check, because I had also read about he heating issues and wanted to verify for myself whether there was anything I should be concerned about..I was also wondering whether I would need fans for the unitsl After several trips to the rack without discovering anything "alarming," and nothing that I could remotely call "hot," I began to relax and enjoy the units without any further anxiety. For what it's worth, mine are positioned on open racks--meaning open on all four sides, with several inches (i.e. more than 6 inches) of clearance on top. I also listen at low to moderate volumes (-25 to -35 on the XSP-1 volume display). I am not sure how any of this reflects on your experience, but I thought I should just share. By the way, have you spoken to Emo Tech support about your experience? |
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Post by namikis on Jan 11, 2015 19:15:41 GMT -5
I had the USP-1 for about a year (then had several other preamps) and now have the XSP-1g2. I do not recall the USP-1 sounding anywhere nearly as good as this one does. The phono section in the XSP-1 is leagues better sounding to my ears than the uSP's (and this one has adjustable loading).
I do wish the XSP-1 had:
- dual sub inputs (not just outputs)
- bass management that went below 50hz to 20
- a sub level control (ideally in front and perhaps even on the remote)
- a real tape loop separate from the processor loop
So I guess there is space for a g3.
:-)
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Post by emotifan on Jun 23, 2015 20:48:13 GMT -5
Why is this still a controversial question? : If you replace the USP-1 with the XSP-1 in the same chain of components, will you hear an audible difference in sq? I called Emo technical support and asked the same question and I was told that I would hear no difference-- no kidding. I know some lounge members would disagree, so is there a productive debate to be had about this question? Let me have your thoughts. I seriously want to put this to bed once and for all, so please take this seriously. Any helpful input would be welcome. I'm surprised anyone in tech support would say that and I think it depends on who you talk to. They designed the XSP-1 to go the last mile in fidelity and features and to my ears they have done just that. I think some people will not hear a difference in any audio components other than speakers because they are so convinced it's all about specs they don't want to hear a difference. On the other hand there are those of us who will because we want to. I just upgraded from the XSP-1 Gen 2 from the USP-1 and I heard an obvious improvement in the first few minutes of play. Maybe it's because there are aspects of music reproduction I appreciate and care about more than the average listener. Recorded space and imaging are very important to me and I listen for those things. My wife doesn't even understand what I'm talking about when I try to describe imaging and could care less. The XSP-1 does a better job with those things than the USP-1 to my ears and I don't believe I'm just projecting my expectations on what I'm hearing. I hear a wider, deeper and higher sound stage through the XSP-1 that's so obvious to me it's as if I'm watching a 3D movie vs. 2D. One very obvious thing also is that I had to turn down the volume on my dual subs. I even turned the subs off to hear how the mains reproduced bass on their own and sure enough, bass response was stronger than what I was used to with the USP-1. I would love to hear what the Magnepan MMGs I got rid of because of harshness and stridency would sound like with this preamp. |
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Post by sahmen on Jun 23, 2015 21:06:13 GMT -5
Why is this still a controversial question? : If you replace the USP-1 with the XSP-1 in the same chain of components, will you hear an audible difference in sq? I called Emo technical support and asked the same question and I was told that I would hear no difference-- no kidding. I know some lounge members would disagree, so is there a productive debate to be had about this question? Let me have your thoughts. I seriously want to put this to bed once and for all, so please take this seriously. Any helpful input would be welcome. I'm surprised anyone in tech support would say that and I think it depends on who you talk to. They designed the XSP-1 to go the last mile in fidelity and features and to my ears they have done just that. I think some people will not hear a difference in any audio components other than speakers because they are so convinced it's all about specs they don't want to hear a difference. On the other hand there are those of us who will because we want to. I just upgraded from the XSP-1 Gen 2 from the USP-1 and I heard an obvious improvement in the first few minutes of play. Maybe it's because there are aspects of music reproduction I appreciate and care about more than the average listener. Recorded space and imaging are very important to me and I listen for those things. My wife doesn't even understand what I'm talking about when I try to describe imaging and could care less. The XSP-1 does a better job with those things than the USP-1 to my ears and I don't believe I'm just projecting my expectations on what I'm hearing. I hear a wider, deeper and higher sound stage through the XSP-1 that's so obvious to me it's as if I'm watching a 3D movie vs. 2D. One very obvious thing also is that I had to turn down the volume on my dual subs. I even turned the subs off to hear how the mains reproduced bass on their own and sure enough, bass response was stronger than what I was used to with the USP-1. I would love to hear what the Magnepan MMGs I got rid of because of harshness and stridency would sound like with this preamp. I'm totally in agreement with you. At the time I raised that question, roughly one year ago, I had only experienced the Pre-1 and the USP-1. I later purchased the XSP-1, and experienced for myself, a sound quality upgrade that is similar to what you have described here. The USP-1 has since been sold, although I wouldn't necessarily say the XSP-1 made it sound terrible or bad. The USP-1 can still hold its own and do a more than decent job handling two channel duties in many respectable audiophile systems. It is just that the XSP-1 proved noticeably superior in sq and in some of its feature sets. I am still keeping the XSP-1 (and my DC-1) even though I now have the XMC-1 which is currently the "baddest boy" among all the Emo "pre-s" and "pro-s"  |
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Post by Gary Cook on Jun 23, 2015 22:02:40 GMT -5
What Emotiva engineers with their pre amps is the oft quoted "straight wire with gain", what goes in (to the pre amp) is what comes out (of the pre amp) just with more voltage (to drive the power amplifier/s). Hence their "Technical" response, both the USP-1 and the XSP-1 are "straight wires with gain" so they should sound the same. Personally I have a USP-1, the very first piece of Emotiva gear that I bought, second hand as it happens. I've often contemplated getting an XSP-1, in fact it's probably the most likely next upgrade with the pair of XPA-1L's now in the system. I'm hesitant because there's no 30 day return for me being in Australia, and an XSP-1 is a relatively high cost purchase (crap exchange rate, high freight plus duty and tax). I was thinking about bringing one back from Emofest this year, but that's not going to happen for obvious reasons.
Back to the thread subject, with the USP-1 driving the XPA-1L's I experience (where the music permits it) a very large 3 dimensional sound stage, height width and depth. I have no difficulty in locating the instruments within the space, they don't move around or lack any distinction. What I did notice with the XPA-1L's in the system was a deeper sound stage, not higher or wider, just more depth. So any limitation in that area most certainly wasn't the USP-1.
What I have found is that the source material makes far more difference than the equipment, so instead of an XSP-1 I'm now searching out better quality material.
Cheers
Gary
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Post by djoel on Jun 23, 2015 22:59:26 GMT -5
I owned the USP-1 and like you Gary it was my first Emotiva unit, well I purchased XPA-2 and ERC-1 CD along with the preamp and I have to say it was the brightest harsh, ear fatiguing piece of gear I've encounter! It was worst sounding than a Yamaha AVR I had at the time. I am one of those people that you'll be hard press to find a good sounding AVR at any price. Yet the same can not be said when talking about 2 Ch pre pro, I've owned inexpensive 2ch unites that sound amazing.
Either way I was not happy with the sound of the USP-1, but after hearing the XSP-1G2 and WOW! This is a guy who love the sound of my ModWright 36.9 a 5K 2Ch Tube Pre Pro.The XPS is simply audio nirvana for sure, and when ever I find myself with extra space, I'm building me a 2Ch system around such of device!
Dan
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Post by Gary Cook on Jun 23, 2015 23:23:39 GMT -5
Everybody's taste are allowed to be different, I really like the ERC-3, USP-1, XPA-1L combination for stereo 2.1 music. Easily the best set up I have had so far.
Speaking of tastes I can understand why some people might find the move from a tube pre amp to a USP-1 hard to take. The reverse would fill me with dread.
Cheers
Gary
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KeithL
Administrator 
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Post by KeithL on Jun 24, 2015 16:28:21 GMT -5
It's not so much that the question is controversial as a matter of perspective... and that's about a zillion times more true in our current hyperbole filled modern audiophile world, where we have people claiming that tiny little differences, which might be barely audible on a really good day, are "huge" "colossal" and "direly important".  I'm now going to proceed to give you the most accurate and informative NON-ANSWER I can.... If I were to hook up a USP-1 and an XSP-1 to the same good system, match the levels perfectly, set everything flat, and switch directly back and forth, I can hear the difference - and I'm pretty sure most of you could as well. And, if I got to pick one, I would almost certainly like the XSP-1 a little better than the USP-1. However, if I were to walk out of the room, and come back in blindfolded, I wouldn't bet that I could tell you which one was playing. I suspect I could get it right most of the time - but I wouldn't put money on it. (But I do know a few people who probably could - as long as you let them pick the source material.) Fair is fair, none of us has a really good "acoustic memory" that works accurately over more than a few seconds. If one or both of two products has a distinctive characteristic that you can recognize, then it's going to be easy to tell whether you're listening to "that one" or "the other one". Speakers are like that - most speakers have something distinctive about how they sound - which is why you can say "it does this or that well or badly". A preamp really should be "a straight wire with gain" and both the USP-1 and the XSP-1 are pretty close to that. Furthermore, neither has obvious flaws that stick out (and, assuming the goal is to make no difference, obvious virtues aren't even possible). I think I can safely say they sound "about as different as two of our different power amp models". They certainly sound LESS different than any two different models of speakers, or phono cartridges..... (And, obviously, they sound "more different" to some people than to others..... ) Why is this still a controversial question? : If you replace the USP-1 with the XSP-1 in the same chain of components, will you hear an audible difference in sq? I called Emo technical support and asked the same question and I was told that I would hear no difference-- no kidding. I know some lounge members would disagree, so is there a productive debate to be had about this question? Let me have your thoughts. I seriously want to put this to bed once and for all, so please take this seriously. Any helpful input would be welcome. I'm surprised anyone in tech support would say that and I think it depends on who you talk to. They designed the XSP-1 to go the last mile in fidelity and features and to my ears they have done just that. I think some people will not hear a difference in any audio components other than speakers because they are so convinced it's all about specs they don't want to hear a difference. On the other hand there are those of us who will because we want to. I just upgraded from the XSP-1 Gen 2 from the USP-1 and I heard an obvious improvement in the first few minutes of play. Maybe it's because there are aspects of music reproduction I appreciate and care about more than the average listener. Recorded space and imaging are very important to me and I listen for those things. My wife doesn't even understand what I'm talking about when I try to describe imaging and could care less. The XSP-1 does a better job with those things than the USP-1 to my ears and I don't believe I'm just projecting my expectations on what I'm hearing. I hear a wider, deeper and higher sound stage through the XSP-1 that's so obvious to me it's as if I'm watching a 3D movie vs. 2D. One very obvious thing also is that I had to turn down the volume on my dual subs. I even turned the subs off to hear how the mains reproduced bass on their own and sure enough, bass response was stronger than what I was used to with the USP-1. I would love to hear what the Magnepan MMGs I got rid of because of harshness and stridency would sound like with this preamp. |
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Post by audiobill on Jun 24, 2015 16:36:46 GMT -5
Everybody's taste are allowed to be different, I really like the ERC-3, USP-1, XPA-1L combination for stereo 2.1 music. Easily the best set up I have had so far. Speaking of tastes I can understand why some people might find the move from a tube pre amp to a USP-1 hard to take. The reverse would fill me with dread. Cheers Gary Have you ever even heard a tube preamp? May I ask which one and which other components? |
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Post by brutiarti on Jun 24, 2015 17:15:11 GMT -5
When i jumped from a SS preamp to a tube one i didn't miss having a ss pre, actually the tube pre helped to soften the little digital feeling that i had from my cd collection
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Post by Gary Cook on Jun 24, 2015 20:21:31 GMT -5
Everybody's taste are allowed to be different, I really like the ERC-3, USP-1, XPA-1L combination for stereo 2.1 music. Easily the best set up I have had so far. Speaking of tastes I can understand why some people might find the move from a tube pre amp to a USP-1 hard to take. The reverse would fill me with dread. Have you ever even heard a tube preamp? May I ask which one and which other components? Too many to list them all, so a sample; Tube Pre AmpsMcIntosh C2, C2200, C2500 Krell KRC2 Luxman C38 Cary SLP98 A couple of Conrad Johnsons, but I don't remember the models Tube & SS Power AmpsEmotiva XPA-2, XPA-3, XPA-5 McIntosh MC275, MC3500, MC7100 Pass Labs X250 Carver Cherry 180 Halcro DM78, DM88 Pioneer Spec4 SpeakersNumerous KEF, Tannoy, Paradigm, Krix and VAF and over the years many DIY enclosures using mostly drivers from ScanSpeak and Peerless. Plus a number of electrostatic speakers, Martin Logan, Magnepan and even a pair of Sanders, but I'm just not a fan of them. I guess I'm pretty lucky (not to mention old) and I have a good friend (best man at my wedding) who is a hifi nut, plus an uncle (no longer with us), a cousin and a professional musician who was a McIntosh nutter (also unfortunately no longer with us). Added to many years in live sound and lighting. So I've experienced lots of sound systems and I have developed a pretty specific taste in what I like and what I don't like. Cheers Gary |
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Post by audiobill on Jun 25, 2015 12:12:56 GMT -5
Thank you.
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Post by motobman on Jun 25, 2015 13:38:37 GMT -5
Stupid question, but How do you get a tuner, for FM Radio to work with an XSP ?
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Post by yeeeha17 on Jun 25, 2015 13:53:26 GMT -5
Buy an external tuner or an Apple TV and stream it with an iPad or iPhone
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Post by garbulky on Jun 25, 2015 14:03:39 GMT -5
Stupid question, but How do you get a tuner, for FM Radio to work with an XSP ? Connect the output of the tuner (I assume it's line level?) To one of the XSP-1's inputs. |
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Post by motobman on Jun 25, 2015 14:43:04 GMT -5
Got it... Thank you and sorry for a stupid question on that one.
LOL
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Post by garbulky on Jun 25, 2015 14:50:39 GMT -5
No problems!
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Post by pedrocols on Jun 25, 2015 14:55:04 GMT -5
Everybody's taste are allowed to be different, I really like the ERC-3, USP-1, XPA-1L combination for stereo 2.1 music. Easily the best set up I have had so far. Speaking of tastes I can understand why some people might find the move from a tube pre amp to a USP-1 hard to take. The reverse would fill me with dread. Cheers Gary It took me only 20 seconds of listening to a tube preamp to replace my USP-1. These days I don't even use a preamp. |
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Post by garbulky on Jun 25, 2015 15:11:29 GMT -5
To my ears the XSP-1 is not a straight wire with gain. There is an audible difference in the sound (for the better). The DC-1 comes close to a straight wire with gain type sound with its analog preamp. I still haven't actually heard a straight wire with gain preamp. I suspect they don't exist to be honest Now remember getting louder while being shouty or strained while retaining the same "neutral" charactertics is not a straight wire with gain. It just sounds like one. It's not  |
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Post by emotifan on Jun 25, 2015 15:13:38 GMT -5
Got it... Thank you and sorry for a stupid question on that one. LOL Not such a stupid question when you consider that most preamps up to now have had specific device labels on their inputs, ie; CD Player, Tuner, Tape and sometimes Auxiliary. With the exception of the phono inputs they are all just line level inputs so that's I guess Emotiva figures that all they need to be called, with a number to differentiate them. |
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