|
|
Post by scubadiver on Aug 14, 2014 12:10:45 GMT -5
Another stupid question from me....
Back and forth on my new amps....
For the moment, please take the balanced connections out of the equation....
If you have efficient speakers (90dB spl @ 2.83V / 1m), what benefit/advantage would an XPA-5 have over a UPA-5? |
|
emovac
Emo VIPs 
Saeed al-Sahhaf
Posts: 2,456
|
Post by emovac on Aug 14, 2014 12:24:03 GMT -5
First, take the two spec sheets and match them side by side. Build quality, better parts, power supply, reserve capacitance would be what to look for. My suggestion is to always buy the best you can reasonably afford. It saves money in the long run from unneccesary upgrades. Amps last a long time and don't need to be upgraded like prepros and media devices. I might even suggest the XPR series if you can swing it.
|
|
stiehl11
Emo VIPs
Give me available light!
Posts: 7,261
|
Post by stiehl11 on Aug 14, 2014 12:24:27 GMT -5
If power is all that we're looking at then the pros/cons are pretty self explanatory. If we're talking about which would sound better then that is up to the listener and not directly linked to power (unless you're clipping the lower powered amp).
|
|
|
|
Post by knucklehead on Aug 14, 2014 12:27:02 GMT -5
For the first few years I owned a UPA-7 I drove the ERT's with it. I got the 'itch' to try out a different amp so I bought an XPA-5 and sold the UPA-7. I still miss the UPA-7. The UPA-5 is the same thing with 2 fewer channels. The ERT's are 89db efficient and really rocked well with the UPA-7 - and with a UPA-2 - and currently a UPA-500. The 500 runs out of gas at higher SPL's but I'd go deaf listening at those levels anyway. The UPA amps are very good - I'll go out on a limb and say that 99% of HT enthusiasts could 'get by' with a UPA-5-7 very easily. If you were to remove their mono's or big XPA amps and slip in a UPA-5 they probably wouldn't notice.
|
|
|
|
Post by Nodscene on Aug 14, 2014 12:39:43 GMT -5
I tend to agree more with knucklehead. While the newer UPA line isn't as powerful as the older line you could probably get away with using one of those. I have the UPA-7 and will one day upgrade to the XPA series just to have more headroom during peaks at higher listening levels but don't expect any sound quality differences.
|
|
|
|
Post by creimes on Aug 14, 2014 12:42:53 GMT -5
I had my entire 5 channels running on my LPA-1 for a while before I re-purchased some XPA-1L's and I found the LPA-1(Similar to the UPA-7) a little less punchy and dynamic, everyone will have different results and this is a hard question to answer properly  , what volume levels do you listen at and how big is the room, my room is not that big but i do like it louder but not overly loud and I also have acoustic panels on the walls and ceiling as well. Chad |
|
bootman
Emo VIPs
Typing useless posts on internet forums....
Posts: 9,358
|
Post by bootman on Aug 14, 2014 13:33:38 GMT -5
For the first few years I owned a UPA-7 I drove the ERT's with it. I got the 'itch' to try out a different amp so I bought an XPA-5 and sold the UPA-7. I still miss the UPA-7. The UPA-5 is the same thing with 2 fewer channels. The ERT's are 89db efficient and really rocked well with the UPA-7 - and with a UPA-2 - and currently a UPA-500. The 500 runs out of gas at higher SPL's but I'd go deaf listening at those levels anyway. The UPA amps are very good - I'll go out on a limb and say that 99% of HT enthusiasts could 'get by' with a UPA-5-7 very easily. If you were to remove their mono's or big XPA amps and slip in a UPA-5 they probably wouldn't notice. Whaaaa? No way all XPR-1s all around. POWER POWER POWER!!!!! ....but really what you said.  All kidding aside. I tell people the only way you would know for sure is to try it yourself and don't listen to crazy forum folks who don't even use their own name......... Oh wait. nevermind then. |
|
bootman
Emo VIPs
Typing useless posts on internet forums....
Posts: 9,358
|
Post by bootman on Aug 14, 2014 14:13:32 GMT -5
I forgot, Emotiva has a video for this very question!
|
|
|
|
Post by garbulky on Aug 14, 2014 15:03:47 GMT -5
I have 90+db efficient speakers and have a UPA-2 (not UPA-200). This amp is similar to the XPA-200.
I've also tried an XPA-2 and an XPR-2.
The larger Emo amps were faster and better at producing music - especially when hooked up to a dedicated pre-amp like a USP-1 or XSP-1.
The XPA-2 was faster and not quite as laid back as the UPA-2. It was by all means a superior amp.
The XPR-2 was more similar to the UPA-2 (not a bad thing at all) and had a "body" to the sound.
All these were being played at around the same volume which really wasn't demanding a lot of power at all as i don't play too loud.
|
|
novisnick
EmoPhile
CEO Secret Monoblock Society
Posts: 27,230 
|
Post by novisnick on Aug 14, 2014 17:00:53 GMT -5
Amps, the more powerful, cleaner, dynamic and manhandling you can do to start with ,,,the less likely you'll need or want to upgrade to find what you want, or think you need. When the sound isn't just right,,,,you'll know that it's NOT the Emotiva MONOBLOCK.
~~~~ that is all~~~~~
|
|
bootman
Emo VIPs
Typing useless posts on internet forums....
Posts: 9,358
|
Post by bootman on Aug 14, 2014 17:05:05 GMT -5
Amps, the more powerful, cleaner, dynamic and manhandling you can do to start with ,,,the less likely you'll need or want to upgrade to find what you want, or think you need. When the sound isn't just right,,,,you'll know that it's NOT the Emotiva MONOBLOCK. ~~~~ that is all~~~~~ Well you could also biamp with monos. double the fun. |
|
novisnick
EmoPhile
CEO Secret Monoblock Society
Posts: 27,230
|
Post by novisnick on Aug 14, 2014 17:07:36 GMT -5
Amps, the more powerful, cleaner, dynamic and manhandling you can do to start with ,,,the less likely you'll need or want to upgrade to find what you want, or think you need. When the sound isn't just right,,,,you'll know that it's NOT the Emotiva MONOBLOCK. ~~~~ that is all~~~~~ Well you could also biamp with monos. double the fun. I like your thinking!!,!  |
|
novisnick
EmoPhile
CEO Secret Monoblock Society
Posts: 27,230
|
Post by novisnick on Aug 14, 2014 17:08:57 GMT -5
R-1s for the bass and --1Ls for the tweeters???
|
|
|
|
Post by brand on Aug 14, 2014 18:14:19 GMT -5
Another stupid question from me....
Back and forth on my new amps....
For the moment, please take the balanced connections out of the equation....
If you have efficient speakers (90dB spl @ 2.83V / 1m), what benefit/advantage would an XPA-5 have over a UPA-5? Hi Running 101dB @ 2.83V / 1m speakers with an XPA 2, previously ran them with an XPA 5 and two UPA 1's before (before the XPA 5) that. If you're listening at reasonable levels there is not going to be difference. They might be slighty "different" but I can't say that I can hear it in a blind test. The biggest difference was a bit more headroom and a more "robust" low end. Especially movie soundtracks can dip pretty low and that made the biggest difference to me even with highly efficient speakers like mine. It just seems more effortless. Of course it might still all be placebo but the argument that has been named a couple times is very true. With an XPA or XPR it's unlikely you'll need to upgrade even if you decide to switch speakers in the future. |
|
|
|
Post by frenchyfranky on Aug 15, 2014 8:37:28 GMT -5
Let the maths out and pick the bigger you can. Listening music or intertainment isn't only a matter of math or calculation but also of sense and feeling, I think that the XPA series is a step over the UPA, so it's equal to more fun and pleasure. So, to answer at your thread title; No, I don't think. It's a little bit like asking, if I want to go from point A to point B with a car, is it a waste of money to buy a Mercedes instead of a Honda? In the audio domain your ears will make the difference, like your butt in a car.  |
|
|
|
Post by brubacca on Aug 15, 2014 8:55:45 GMT -5
Yes, no... Well maybe.
It all depends on the amp and the overload capability. From my experience I would get a X series amp over a U series amp as they do sound a bit different. I have a upa-200 and basically a mini-x. As much as I "like" having more power for transients my PA2-50 (Mini-X) is the better sounding amp with the right speakers.
I use my PA2-50 with speakers that are 88dB efficient and they sound really good for music. We don't do a lot of loud TV/movie listening since we have young kids. It may run out of gas, but I doubt it. I think the difficulty in driving a speaker comes into play. Some speakers (Magnepan/Dynaudio) and tougher loads so more power is better. Other speakers like (ProAc/Vienna Acoustics) are lighter loads and could get away with smaller amps. My 88dB speakers are know to be very tube friendly and an easy to drive speaker so smaller amps are ok for me.
If you drop down to 84-86 dB efficient speakers I would say that you probably would want the 200W x-series. 90 and above you should be fine with 120Watts or less
|
|
|
|
Post by scubadiver on Aug 15, 2014 10:16:59 GMT -5
Well... I just drank the Kool Aid and ordered my first piece of Emotiva gear - XPA-5 Gen2.
Thanks to all who offered comments above! You definitely helped me make my decision....
Bob
|
|
|
|
Post by cwmcobra on Aug 15, 2014 10:25:42 GMT -5
Congratulations! Its mighty tasty Kool Aid!!
|
|
novisnick
EmoPhile
CEO Secret Monoblock Society
Posts: 27,230
|
Post by novisnick on Aug 15, 2014 10:47:49 GMT -5
Well... I just drank the Kool Aid and ordered my first piece of Emotiva gear - XPA-5 Gen2.
Thanks to all who offered comments above! You definitely helped me make my decision....
Bob
NICE! Read my sig,,,,,,,Every system should have one. you won't be sorry !  |
|
|
|
Post by jmilton on Aug 15, 2014 11:08:55 GMT -5
Well... I just drank the Kool Aid and ordered my first piece of Emotiva gear - XPA-5 Gen2.
Thanks to all who offered comments above! You definitely helped me make my decision....
Bob
If this were the Matrix, you just swallowed the BLUE pill. Enjoy the XPA-5! |
|
, what volume levels do you listen at and how big is the room, my room is not that big but i do like it louder but not overly loud and I also have acoustic panels on the walls and ceiling as well.
