Post by frankp on Feb 14, 2009 14:51:17 GMT -5
EMOTIVA AUDIO UPA-7 MULTI CHANNEL POWER AMPLIFIER
FRANK PARKER
I’ve been interested in Emotiva since the middle of December 2008. I stumbled upon them while looking through the audioholics online reviews. Upon reading the review for the ultra theater package I went over to the emotiva website for more info on their interesting products. What I found was a company that had a passion for building hi quality products at what I believed to be almost too good to be true prices. Looking through the forum pages I found posts backing up the claim. It seemed no one had a bad word, and if there was a problem Emotiva was quick to remedy it. In this world of financial instability a company that goes the extra mile will earn the trust and business from its prospective customers. Emotiva is that company.
I started posting and asking questions which were replied to very fast. Budget was a problem for me as is probably the case with mostly everyone right now. Anyway I managed to come up with enough money for the UPA-7. I had mulled over the XPA line, but I don’t listen at above average volume settings(at first). Roadrunner was a big help with my decision in choosing the UPA-7, and I thank him again for his wisdom. But you didn’t start reading this for just words about Emotiva, everyone know about the addiction. Would I become addicted also?
I received my UPA-7 on February 5th. What a sight it was, solid as a rock and heavy as a boulder. I brought it home and hooked it up to my Denon 2809ci avr. Power time.- I popped in one of my favorite cd’s the very best of Chicago. All I can say is WOW! My speakers have never sounded so good. The horns sounded great on questions 67 and 68, midrange smooth and bass tight and satisfying. Saturday in the park was like listening to a new version of the song. Next, I put in April Wine’s greatest hits. Their was a new found energy to the songs I had not experienced before with just a receiver only based system. I was becoming more and more impressed with the musical nature of the amp-2809 and my Paradigm combo. Sacd and Dvd audio provided more musicality and energy. The Eagles Hotel California was a surround sound joy to my ears. The title song usually gets the billing, but New kid in town was so smooth and sweet I couldn’t help but keep a big smile on my face. Norah Jones Come Away With Me on SACD was just as good. She has a way of pulling me into her work with my favorite One Flight Down. When I turned up the volume on everything I listened to, what I heard was just more great sound, nothing edgy or any kind of breakup in the speakers like I used to get with only my 2809. Tonal qualities stayed the same as far as my hearing was concerned. Alas, I’m still a country boy by heart so it wouldn’t be fair to exclude good ole George Strait. His Strait out of the box was and still is one of my favorite cd’s to listen to. Strait cares about his productions and it shows. Solid separation of instruments and small details I have not heard before on selections like Marina Del Rey, and Just Look At Me. And just presenting a larger soundstage. You don’t have to be a country western fan to appreciate his work. So, I was completely satisfied with the UPA-7’s music abilities, what about movies? To me the soundtracks of movies can be as moving an experience as listening to music is. My first selection was Transformerson blueray. The sound was dynamic and involving to the point my son and his friends all came into watch. One of his friends asked if I had any other movies, sure do kiddo, how about the Dark Knight? Most of them have not seen it yet although I had watched certain parts quite a few times. There were details in the movie I had not heard before, like when he jumps on to the van at the beginning, the little musical intro just before the jump. By this time I was getting the volume up pretty close to ref level, and everything sounded superb. One of my old favorites Star Trek II The Wrath of Khan proved to be one of those textures and lucid details experiance.
The surrounds came to life with the Enterprise warp speeding away before the Reliant blows up from the genesis device. The panning to the rear surrounds revealed a reverb I hadn’t heard before and I’ve watched this movie countless times on satellite and dvd. Next up was my final and crucial test for the UPA-7. If it passed this it will be top dog in my book. I have always loved composer John Williams, his work on Star Wars and Indiana Jones are great. But I think his greatest work was on Superman The Movie. So I put it in and got ready for an awe inspiring revisit. I was not disappointed in the least. The score was more powerful and revealing than ever. From the commanding opening march to the can you read my mind flying sequence with Lois to turning back the world to save her. Everything was as if it was new. I’m no audio pro, but I have listened to enough friends systems and compared theirs to mine. Mostly the differences lied in the receivers processing or speakers used, sounding more alike than not in my opinion. I've read pro reviewers talking about amp and speakers getting along with each other, and I believe it to be true. I used to have a Vincent Audio integrated amp and it was no slouch, but I didn’t like the combination with my speakers, so it was sold. What the UPA-7 has brought to me is a new appreciation of the music I listen to and the movies I watch. Lets see, what does the website say lucid details, check. Textures, check. And great dynamics, double check. Have I got the addiction? You be the judge.
Thanks for reading.
