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Post by mrchisox on Sept 10, 2014 12:06:27 GMT -5
 Hi there! This is my very first post here in the Emotiva Lounge and I'm happy to be here. As a long time music enthusiast I have listened to a whole lot of audio gear and a whole lot of music from just about every genre. I tend to listen to "classic rock" in particular, stuff from the 60's through 80's, but I am pretty much open to listening to anything ONCE before making any judgment. I grew up in the 1960's and 1970's in a small town in Illinois and heard my first "stereo" back about 1967. It was a Magnavox console system with AM/FM and a turntable underneath the lid, which opened up. It belonged to my neighbor Don's folks and I heard it play on Saturday mornings while he did his weekend chores. His older brothers and sisters would play their records and while I was kind of bored sitting around waiting for Don to get his work done, I loved sitting on the couch listening to that darn thing. I think I even took a little bit of pleasure helping out a time or two by dusting that beautiful cabinet with furniture polish. See my folks didn't own a stereo so this was a real treat, and it was glorious! I knew as a 7 year old that one day I would own such a system. In the later 70's as I was a junior in high school I bought my very first stereo, a slightly used Panasonic all in one complete with a pair of 2-way "Thrusters" speakers. Oh I was SO proud of it! It didn't take long to realize that what I was listening to really didn't sound terrific. I started reading "Stereo Review" and hanging out in the local audio shops. There used to be advertisements in the various publications for the newest loudspeakers, the biggest receivers, the most advanced tape decks. It wasn't long before I purchased my first brand new Hi-Fi. I was just out of high school when I bought a Technics Direct Drive SL-D2 Turntable, Avid 102a Loudspeakers (I still have them), AIWA L450U Cassette Deck which I powered up with a Pioneer SX-650 receiver before buying the Harman Kardon PM-660 integrated amplifer a couple of years later. Not exactly high end, but I was just a kid at the time and this modest system was light years ahead of what anyone else in my circle was listening to. Over the years I purchased a number of different components, then got out of audio for the better part of 15 years while having a family and due to various other concerns. Technology has changed... A LOT, and in many ways it has passed me by. I'm NOT interested in listening to music on my telephone or streaming mp3's via some darn media player over my network. I still prefer to actually sit down and really LISTEN to music the way I used to do it 30 years ago. I don't consider myself to be "an audiophile", really. I DO insist upon music sounding excellent to my ears, which likely don't work as well as they did when I was 18 years old. I spent many years listening to LOUD volumes, as I still do when I get the chance (translation... wife and kid are out of the house). My current system consists of ALL vintage gear. It's an Adcom based system that I have owned for about 5 years, and my loudspeakers are KEF 105/2 and KEF 104/2. I love these Loudspeakers and don't see them leaving the house any time soon, but I have recently ordered the Emotiva XPA-2 Power Amplifier and I am anxious to receive it. It will be my second brand NEW component purchase since 1990 (I bought a Marantz CD-5003 disc player a few years back) and I am considering the next purchase, which will be a new preamp. Is this an audiophile level system? Well likely it isn't, but I don't have real deep pockets nor do I have a desire to pursue that goal. In the end we all need to just find what sounds terrific to our own ears given the parameters of our own financial situation and expectations. I believe that this amplifier will prove to be a terrific product that should keep me happy for a good long time and this time around I am purchasing these components without any concern whatsoever for being able to find something to listen to within my collection of music. LOL Seems kind of funny to me in retrospect... I spent all my dough as a youngster buying electronics and didn't have much to listen to! |
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Post by esquire on Sept 10, 2014 12:17:05 GMT -5
Very enjoyable read. I hope you love your XPA-2 as much as I do. Welcome to the lounge.
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Post by geebo on Sept 10, 2014 12:19:33 GMT -5
Welcome to the Lounge mrchisox. I lived in Hoffman Estates for a couple of years. Oh, and congrats on the XPA-2. It is one fine piece of gear.
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Post by dcg44s on Sept 10, 2014 12:22:42 GMT -5
Welcome.
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Post by mrchisox on Sept 10, 2014 12:32:30 GMT -5
Now, should anybody wish to put me on their list of cronies and help me figure out how to navigate I would be hugely indebted. HAHA
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Post by novisnick on Sept 10, 2014 13:11:42 GMT -5
 Welcome mrchisox, so glad your here! I'm at your service sir. |
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Post by mrchisox on Sept 10, 2014 13:28:21 GMT -5
Very much appreciated! I've heard that this company has tremendous customer service, and I've read glowing reviews. I am really anxious to receive my new amplifier and have a good look inside. LOL Not to mess with anything but to see the guts first hand which seem to be missing from so much of this mass market stuff. As an Adcom lover for years I really appreciate the underdog. In my melon there is NO question that there is a certain degree of snobbery involved when it comes to speaking of audio gear. I have encountered it in discussion as well as on the show room floor back in the day. It seems kind of silly to me that some folks wish to poo-poo the choices folks make in their choices to enjoy music.
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Post by ÈlTwo on Sept 10, 2014 13:59:49 GMT -5
Welcome to the Lounge. . . . and, don't worry, we'll offer all sorts of advice (whether you want it or not  ). |
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Post by dksosku on Sept 10, 2014 15:39:07 GMT -5
Welcome to the lounge mrchisox.
This is one friendly place to discuss about all sort of things, not just limited to audio.
Regarding XPA-2, i'm pretty sure you'll be positively surprised and enjoy it for a long time. Looking forward to hear you impressions on XPA-2.
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Post by mshump on Sept 10, 2014 15:42:24 GMT -5
mrchisox, Welcome and enjoy the ride !
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Post by frenchyfranky on Sept 10, 2014 17:42:05 GMT -5
Welcome to the lounge, you'll not be disapointed with the XPA-2, great choice. As soon as you'll listen it the transformation to be an Emo junkie will start, be careful...  Cheers, |
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Post by mrchisox on Sept 11, 2014 10:18:57 GMT -5
Thanks everyone. I have just heard that it is shipping out today. Now let's hope it arrives quickly!
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Post by mrchisox on Sept 11, 2014 18:36:44 GMT -5
Just received notice that it will be here tomorrow. I'm a pretty happy camper!
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Post by mrchisox on Sept 11, 2014 18:40:55 GMT -5
I'm likely going to have to either go get a piece of plywood to extend the cabinet depth or cut the back out of my audio cabinet. I really hate to do that because it's a vintage 80's piece made by CW&D. It was a $500 cabinet back in the earlier part of the decade and so desirable. It hasn't a blemish on it.
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Post by mrchisox on Sept 11, 2014 21:26:11 GMT -5
OK... I am LOST. This forum seems to work a bit different than any of them that I have seen before. Somehow I figured out how to make this post, but where do I go to create a NEW post? I know, stupid question, and I ask lots of them. Ask my wife! LOL
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Post by ÈlTwo on Sept 11, 2014 22:19:17 GMT -5
Go to the top of the page and click "Home." Click the category where you'd like the new thread, such as "Emotive Amplifiers." You'll see an area in a sort of burnt orange with white writing that says "Create Thread." Click on "Create Thread." (click on the image below to enlarge and see what I'm talking about).  |
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Post by mrchisox on Sept 12, 2014 11:02:19 GMT -5
Thank you! I remember now. I feel like a dufus for having to ask but wait until you see the next one. HAHA
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Post by mrchisox on Sept 12, 2014 15:15:55 GMT -5
It just arrived a bit ago and it's pretty cold so it's going to just sit for a couple of hours and warm up a bit before I even plug it in. My first impression of the amplifier is that it's a pig! I mean that in a very good way. It's apparent to me that I am indeed an old man as just getting this puppy out of the box was much more difficult than it would have been in my teen years. I don't know how anyone would get this hoisted up to the top of an audio cabinet by themselves, really. I'd be inclined to ask for help!
As it stands this amplifier will be located in the bottom of my audio cabinet in the same location as my Adcom. I'm a bit concerned about the depth of my cabinet, however. I am hoping that the positioning of the front feet will allow me to place it inside of the cabinet, even though it will stick out a couple of inches. It's going to be close.
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Post by ÈlTwo on Sept 12, 2014 15:35:32 GMT -5
Is the Emotiva amp replacing the Adcom?
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Post by mrchisox on Sept 12, 2014 16:02:08 GMT -5
It is. Yes.
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Hi there! This is my very first post here in the Emotiva Lounge and I'm happy to be here. As a long time music enthusiast I have listened to a whole lot of audio gear and a whole lot of music from just about every genre. I tend to listen to "classic rock" in particular, stuff from the 60's through 80's, but I am pretty much open to listening to anything ONCE before making any judgment.
).
