adi67
Minor Hero
Posts: 10 
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Post by adi67 on Feb 20, 2015 15:52:48 GMT -5
Hi all,
New to this page...After reading all the specs and looking at the pics of these two amps, I'm trying to decide which way to go...I have a Jolida tube preamp and I was looking to get a nice solid state amp...I don't want to spend a lot of money (less than $1500) but I still want a decent amp. I have a pair of Vapor Audio Nimbus black and I've been using a pair of class D amps to power them. I ha the opportunity to listen to a $7k ss amp in my system, and I was surprised to hear the bass being tighter and the soundstage being much more 3D...So i decided to add a relatively inexpensive ss amp and see if i can get the same sound as the more pricey amp.
Should I go with the mono blocks? The XPA-1L have 30W in class A...would I be able to hear a difference? The only thing that keeps me from ordering a pair of XPA-1L is the speaker binding posts. I don't want to change my speaker cables, and I doubt I can make the + and - stretch that far to accommodate the binding posts on the XPA-1L...
Should I get the XPA2? More power, but nice binding posts...although I would have preferred a higher input impedance on it...
The XPR2 is nice too, but I don't want to deal with another power cord (the 20A type)...and I think it will be an overkill any way...
So which way should I go? Get the mono blocks and modify the speaker cables? Or is the XPA2 good enough? It will be just plug and play...
Thank you for your time.
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Post by deltadube on Feb 20, 2015 16:02:46 GMT -5
hey welcome to the emo forum..
they are all great amps.. comes down to money a lot of times.. on paper the mono blocks should be better.. and you get free membership in the mono block society see novisnick for details eh..
xpa 1s if you have the cash xpa 1ls xpa 2 ...
xpr 1s top dogs..
cheers..
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adi67
Minor Hero
Posts: 10
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Post by adi67 on Feb 20, 2015 16:12:51 GMT -5
okay, so your thinking is like mine...monoblocks first...then stereo amp...money is not a problem...but i don't want to over spend if i don't need to...right now it's between XPA-1L and XPA-2....hmmmm. thanx for your quick answer
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Post by factorz on Feb 20, 2015 16:19:20 GMT -5
Can't comment on which direction to go, but I will say you have some amazing speakers. I have had the pleasure of hearing the Nimbus Whites and they were stunning. I'm a Cirrus owner so nice to see another Vapor owner. I'm asking myself the exact same question in terms of amps since I just picked up a XSP-1 Gen 2. I'm also looking at the 100's since they are on sale right now.
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Post by geebo on Feb 20, 2015 16:23:18 GMT -5
I've had the XPA-2 and now have the 1Ls. Trust me, either choice is a good one.
You may be able to plug the banana plugs in from the sides like I and others have done.
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Post by rcheliguy on Feb 20, 2015 16:28:57 GMT -5
Right now I'm driving Martin Logan Ethos speakers with an XPA-2 and it is doing very well. I seriously considered going with XPA-1's as well and I'm sure they would have done well. In the end I decided to go with the smallest footprint I could. For example I have an OPPO 105D which is my digital media clearing house and balanced output preamplifer going into one amplifer to my speakers. It is a very simple setup and it sounds great. However the Ethos speakers each have a self driven 200W woofer so that takes some of the load off of the amplifier. On the other hand the impedance is only 0.8 ohm at 20kHz so they are a bit demanding as well. I won't lie about my motivations. My wife didn't want a lot showing so that had an impact on my decision. I cut a 26" x 13" hole in the back of my audio cabinet and drilled 4 x 1.5" holes in the base for better cooling of my XPA-2 with the doors closed so it isn't even visible. I took what I considered a gamble with the XPA-2, but the gamble worked out and I'm tickled with how they sound. OTOH, if I had purchased a pair of XPA-1's I'm sure I would have been tickled with how they sound as well. I can't speak to the power cord issue since each of my speakers needs power  . But now that you brought that up I think that would have been a problem for me. I only have two outlets on that wall. One plug for each speaker, one for the XPA-2 and one for a surge protector that my TV, DVR and OPPO get power from. |
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adi67
Minor Hero
Posts: 10
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Post by adi67 on Feb 20, 2015 17:30:30 GMT -5
for the XPA-1L, the problem that i have is that the speaker binding posts are so far apart...like 9"...i still don't understand why that distance...they could be much closer...my current speaker cables are weaved and the + and- terminals can't be stretch that much...i need to get a different pair of cables or send mine out to be modified...which i don't want to do...unless XPA-1L's are clearly better than the XPA-2, I think I'm leaning more towards the stereo amp... thank you all for your input...keep them coming |
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Post by factorz on Feb 20, 2015 17:34:55 GMT -5
When I have talked to Emo sales about this question they have told me they are both very close. The balanced design is a nice touch but only is a factor if your running a balanced preamp like the XSP. I think someone has a XPA-2 Gen 2 listed right now at a good price so you could give it a go and likely not take a hit if you need to resell it.
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Post by repeetavx on Feb 20, 2015 18:27:30 GMT -5
Well, I just finished reading about your speakers. Recommended power 25-1000 watts. I'm assuming that you don't have the bi-wiring option.
The XPA-2 is the least powerful amp I would use on them. A pair of XPA-1Ls will only give you 900 volt/amps of power to throw around those 15 inch speakers with, compared to 1200 volt/amps of the XPA-2. What these speakers really need is a pair of XPA-1s, or an XPR series amp.
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Post by lhracing on Feb 20, 2015 19:00:28 GMT -5
I upgraded from a XPA-200 to the XPA-1L for my 2 channel system and honestly, I cannot hear a difference in SQ between the two. The XPA-200 had more than enough power to drive 90db efficient speakers so more power was not what I was looking for, I was hoping for a sound quality improvement. When I did the upgrade I asked myself the same question, XPA-2 or XPA-1L. If I had it to do over again I would probably purchase the XPA-2 which should run a little cooler and save some money, just my opinion.
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Post by Gary Cook on Feb 20, 2015 19:58:57 GMT -5
The XPA-2 is the least powerful amp I would use on them. A pair of XPA-1Ls will only give you 900 volt/amps of power to throw around those 15 inch speakers with, compared to 1200 volt/amps of the XPA-2. Converseley the XPA-1L power supplies have 90,000 mf of capacitance each ie; 180,000 mf total, which is a order of magnitude more than the XPA-2's 45,000 mf total. This is extremely important for handling the dynamic transient changes found in music. Compared to the constant load carrying ability of the transformer, I know which I would prefer to have. Cheers Gary |
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adi67
Minor Hero
Posts: 10
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Post by adi67 on Feb 20, 2015 19:59:37 GMT -5
thanx for all your replies guys...well, i'm not sure that the XPA-1L won't drive the Nimbus to loud levels...I've had them powered by a 100W/channel amp and they sounded great...i think the XPR-2 is an overkill...maybe XPA-2 is winning... |
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Post by novisnick on Feb 20, 2015 20:11:46 GMT -5
OK!,,,,,OK!,,,,,,,STOP the bus!!!
I've used Emotiva multi channel amps and MONOBLOCKS, I've extensively listened to both types of amps under all kinds of conditions and the hands down winner for YOUR needs are( yes plural) a set of XPA-1Ls. I've owned them and sold them!!!! Gezzzz , that was stupid!!!!
I have since purchased another set of XPA-1Ls and they are NOT for sale!!!!!!! Fool me once,,,,yada,,,yada,,,,,,yada,,,,,,,,,,,
Dollar for Dollar the best amp for the money,,,,,yes, I own a set of XPR-1s, an indulgence of the type I'm not accustomed to. Best amp period, but for the dollar value and performance please audition a set of the -1Ls,,,,,,I beg of you!!
Hi ,,,my name is Nick,,,,,,,,,
I have a power amp problem!!!!,,,,,,,,,,
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Post by teaman on Feb 20, 2015 20:30:10 GMT -5
OP, since you already have a beautiful and expensive set of speakers I would advise you to go with a pair of either the XPR-1's or XPA-1's. I imagine they would satisfy your needs and the models are both top notch.
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Post by audiosyndrome on Feb 20, 2015 20:39:40 GMT -5
XPA-1L Gen 2s (x5) rule. Russ |
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Post by geebo on Feb 20, 2015 20:48:56 GMT -5
thanx for all your replies guys...well, i'm not sure that the XPA-1L won't drive the Nimbus to loud levels...I've had them powered by a 100W/channel amp and they sounded great...i think the XPR-2 is an overkill...maybe XPA-2 is winning... The difference between 250 and 300 watts is about .8dB or pretty much inaudible. I would not base my decision on how loud they will play. They're virtually the same in that regard. But as mentioned earlier, there is four times the secondary capacitance available to a pair of 1Ls for those brief peaks. |
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Post by brutiarti on Feb 20, 2015 21:45:20 GMT -5
I got the XPA-2 and replaced it with the XPR-2 after a week. Not looking back. Unless i upgrade to standfloor speakers and i will go with XPR monos
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Post by creimes on Feb 20, 2015 22:06:56 GMT -5
XPA-5, XPA-2, XPA-1L's all sounded the same in my previous sytem, the only difference I heard in amps I have owned was the UPA-200 and UPA-500 were a tad less punchy, don't fret it and get what fits your needs/rack/space the best, I might actually lean towards a pair of XPA-100's, they are lighter and easier to move(XPA-2 is real heavy) and you can place them closer to the speaker if needed/wanted and they are on sale at the moment. My vote is a pair of XPA-100's but it's up to you in the end |
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Post by geebo on Feb 20, 2015 22:52:03 GMT -5
...that means i need to get my speaker cables modified to be able to connect them to those binding posts on the XPA-1L's... Are you sure they're not long enough to go into the binding posts through the holes in the side of them. Worked for me. |
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. But now that you brought that up I think that would have been a problem for me. I only have two outlets on that wall. One plug for each speaker, one for the XPA-2 and one for a surge protector that my TV, DVR and OPPO get power from. 
