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Post by jmilton on Jun 17, 2015 14:24:49 GMT -5
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novisnick
EmoPhile
CEO Secret Monoblock Society
Posts: 27,223 
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Post by novisnick on Jun 17, 2015 14:59:47 GMT -5
Thanks for the post. I enjoyed the read. Very critical but I think honest. Are they a good/great value? He's not sure,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,we know what's in his audio rack!!!  A set of these!!
nuf said,,,,,,,,,
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Post by qdtjni on Jun 17, 2015 15:11:18 GMT -5
A bit like bitching about the attention to detail on your top of the line Corvette that has the performance or better of a Porsche 911 GT2, whatever Ferrari or Lamborghini at the fraction of the price of those fancy cars.
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Post by Boomzilla on Jun 17, 2015 16:23:06 GMT -5
Well, what are you wanting to pay for? Audio performance, or a switch that goes all the way to one side of the front panel? Yes, the attention to detail on an Emotiva gear isn't what it is on an amp that costs 10x as much. But the performance, in my opinion, is between 95 and 105% of what you'd get with a 10x more expensive amp. At that level, the sound is more a matter of "slightly different" than "truly better."
I do agree with the reviewer about the vanishingly small difference between the Class A and Class AB modes. With my speakers, it's hard to tell at all which mode is engaged. More demanding speakers would probably cause a greater difference. Note that I didn't say "more revealing." My speakers have very high resolution, but they're a relatively easy drive. With a pair of Thiel 3.7s, for example, the amp would have to work much harder, and the differences between the classes might (but only might) be more audible.
The reviewer ended up with a fairly "neutral" opinion about the XPA-1Ls. I would give them a strong positive, myself, but I care more about sound than cosmetics.
Boom
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Post by emotifan on Jun 29, 2015 16:46:53 GMT -5
Being a poor audiophile myself, a thousand plus dollars for amplification is significant for me and I do expect better attention to detail than I saw in the pictures this reviewer provided. I hope the scratches in the face plates were caused by the reviewer and the amps didn't show up that way. I think maybe Emotiva needs to pay a visit or two to their Chinese factory and crack the whip a little. There are other companies producing products in this manner with better results. As of yet I haven't experienced this in the three pieces of gear I've purchased from this company, with the exception of a bad XDA-1 which was immediately replaced with a good one, and that was a close out item. My third piece of gear is an XSP-1 which so far I'm thrilled with, as I was with the USP-1 it replaces. I'll be writing a full review of that after some more extended listening.
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geebo
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Post by geebo on Jun 29, 2015 17:10:39 GMT -5
Being a poor audiophile myself, a thousand plus dollars for amplification is significant for me and I do expect better attention to detail than I saw in the pictures this reviewer provided. I hope the scratches in the face plates were caused by the reviewer and the amps didn't show up that way. I think maybe Emotiva needs to pay a visit or two to their Chinese factory and crack the whip a little. There are other companies producing products in this manner with better results. As of yet I haven't experienced this in the three pieces of gear I've purchased from this company, with the exception of a bad XDA-1 which was immediately replaced with a good one, and that was a close out item. My third piece of gear is an XSP-1 which so far I'm thrilled with, as I was with the USP-1 it replaces. I'll be writing a full review of that after some more extended listening. I've bought lots of Emo gear in the past 5 years including two XPA-1Ls and never ever have I gotten anything that looks like those photos. Even the B stock XPA-2 and XSP-1 I bought looked pristine. |
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novisnick
EmoPhile
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Post by novisnick on Jun 29, 2015 17:12:41 GMT -5
Scratched pieces of new audio gear from Emotiva?,,,,,,,,,can it happen? Of course, does it happen? I'm sure, but,,,,,,,,,
I think rarely. I've personally purchased 20 Sherbourn/Emotiva pieces of gear, both new and new to me, not one mark or imperfection on any of that gear!!,
Not One! Am I just lucky? As far as immaculate products?,,,,,YES, but I also think that it's the norm and not the exception.
Someone please do the math, so far every piece of gear has performed equal to or way above its advertised promise.
Fanboy?? I sound like one but to this point I'm just stating the facts.
Good Day All.
Edit; I've specifically purchased 4 XPA-1L amps and never a blemish.
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Post by Gary Cook on Jun 29, 2015 17:52:43 GMT -5
I've bought lots of Emo gear in the past 5 years including two XPA-1Ls and never ever have I gotten anything that looks like those photos. Even the B stock XPA-2 and XSP-1 I bought looked pristine. +1 USP-1 XPA-2 (Subsequently sold to my Uncle) XPA-3 (Subsequently sold to my Uncle) UMC-1 (Subsequently sold to my Uncle) XPA-5 UMC-200 ERC-3 2 x Airmotive 4's 2 x XPA-1L's 2 x Airmotive 6's (Bought for a friend) 2 x Airmotive 6's (Set up for a friend) XDA-2 (Set up for a friend) 4 x XPA-1L's (Bench tested for another Aussie) 2 x UMC-200's (Power supply updates) That's 22 units, shipped half way around the world, every single one of them turned up in perfect condition, even the factory B Stock. The outside boxes were damaged a number of times, but the inside packaging and the units themselves were perfect. My XPA-1L's are quite separated in terms of serial numbers (one new & one B Stock) and neither of them have an even slightly biased switch location. Is it possible that the reviewer bumped the switch when he was unpacking / setting up the unit? Or perhaps bumped by a previous reviewer? I don't know Emotiva's policy but often companies have units specifically allocated for reviews, car companies for example pass their reviewer cars around multiple times. Cheers Gary |
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Post by vcautokid on Jun 29, 2015 17:56:52 GMT -5
A bit like bitching about the attention to detail on your top of the line Corvette that has the performance or better of a Porsche 911 GT2, whatever Ferrari or Lamborghini at the fraction of the price of those fancy cars. Especially the new C7! Corvette's finest hour yet. |
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Post by emotifan on Jun 30, 2015 12:45:17 GMT -5
I'll add that I've been very impressed with the build quality of the Emotive stuff I own. I mean how much do you have to pay for NAD stuff and it's all plastic face plates.
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Post by tweed on Jun 30, 2015 12:52:40 GMT -5
I tired of the review after about the tenth time he tried to revive the dead horse he was beating.
Seriously, I have purchased a lot of Emotiva gear over the past few years and just do not see where he's coming from.
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Post by garbulky on Jul 1, 2015 2:42:39 GMT -5
I saw the pictures but to be honest....it's so hard to believe. All my Emotiva gear has absolutely exuded heavy metal and build quality! He's probably the only reviewer I've seen who's complained of the build quality. Most reviews complain the metal Emo remotes are too solidly built!
Also though I think his comparison in terms of parts and performance, it was fair but the price certainly wasn't. He compared the XPA-1 L with a $4000 unit. I think at the very least he should have stepped up to the XPA-1 gen 2's. I mean heck even Emotiva's flagship stuff doesn't even get to $4000! And that stuff completely stomps over those units in terms of power and class A capability.
However he mentioned the dynamics were a little flat. I have to wonder what kind of pre-amp he used or whether he went DAC direct. I have found Emo amps aren't at its best going DAC direct and do benefit from a nice preamp in terms of dynamics.
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Post by jmilton on Jul 2, 2015 10:47:38 GMT -5
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Post by dudeisms7 on Jul 2, 2015 11:38:50 GMT -5
Its unfortunate that the pictures show a problem in his review. I used to check out his site before it caught on and became more of a magazine... and there wasn't as much to the site initially. While I do think he hits it a little hard I do find it ironic that he uses these amps in other reviews for other products so he must have the amps held in a certain regard if doing so. I also find it ironic that since its called "poor" audiophile... some of the other items he reviews and references... aren't affordable by a poor audiophile.
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Post by sahmen on Jul 2, 2015 12:32:39 GMT -5
On a side note, just how "poor" is the "Poor Audiophile", and why doesn't he actually use his proper name? Why so much "cloak and dagger" secrecy about his identity? Okay, "hood and dagger," but I digress: __ His are after all, a bunch of reviews of audio gear, not some classified "intel" involving some NSA or KGB business  They're just audio gear reviews... So what gives?  Methinks "Poor audiophile" might juuuuuust not be quite as "poor" as he is letting on Not that it matters too much, one way or the other... This is just me having a little harmless "fun" at "Poor" audiophile's expense, because I'm feeling a little bored and restless this afternoon... I'll quietly let myself out via the back door |
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Post by garbulky on Jul 2, 2015 14:28:40 GMT -5
Well I think from his experience he was being fair. He did go on about how good it sounded plus apparently he paid for it himself. However his experience simply does not mirror mine... Emotiva gear have all been very well built. Last thing on my complaint list about the stuff!
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Post by pooraudiophile on Jul 6, 2015 8:34:22 GMT -5
Greetings all! I'm glad you all enjoyed reading both the unboxing and the full review of the XPA-1L monoblocks. In addition to expressing my thanks, I wanted to offer a corrective to a few items in the previous posts. The review does not state that the XPA-1Ls were scratched. In no way shape or form were the XPA-1Ls scratched when they arrived. Because I needed to zoom into certain areas for the purpose of the review, what you're seeing are digital artifacts from the lighting and the digital noise from the zoom and crop. To emphasize, there were no scratches on the units whatsoever. If you look at the full review here www.pooraudiophile.com/2015/01/emotiva-xpa-1l-amplifier-review.html, you'll note that the XPA-1Ls were fed by an Anthem AVM-50v 3D preamplifier ($6,499) and a pair of Revel Ultima2 Salons ($22,000). The Emotivas were fed with balanced cables from the Anthem. The simple point that I was trying to make in the review is that the performance of the XPA-1Ls was very good but I do think that there are manufacturing issues with their plant in China. I've had lots of other gear come through that's been built in China and I was very disappointed by the attention to detail shown here. For example, I haven't seen any such issues with SVS gear made in China. I hear that Emotiva is bringing manufacturing back to the USA. I'm excited by that proposition. You'll also see us going back to some more technical articles and interviews on the site. Stay tuned and thanks! |
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Post by sahmen on Jul 6, 2015 8:56:05 GMT -5
good to hear from you in person, pooraudiophile, although after learning that "the XPA-1Ls were fed by an Anthem AVM-50v 3D preamplifier ($6,499) and a pair of Revel Ultima2 Salons ($22,000)," I'm thinking you should seriously consider rethinking the "poor-" part of your handle either that, or I would have to downgrade my own rig's status from merely "poor" or "budget," to "destitute" |
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Post by qdtjni on Jul 6, 2015 9:20:08 GMT -5
Poor as in deserving of pity or sympathy? |
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novisnick
EmoPhile
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Post by novisnick on Jul 6, 2015 11:01:01 GMT -5
Dear pooraudiophile,
You only have one chance to make a first impression, You blew it!
The representation of the face of your reviewed unit ,XPA-1L's , was at least misleading and at most deliberate. Writing a review of anything is a serious endeavor, not a casual expression of ones thoughts.
This seams to represent news today, flash big headlines and later make retractions in the middle of non news when know one is watching. Shame.
If this was not your intent, why/ how did it make it to " print "? Proof reading has long been the norm in writing an article. With the advent of digital media we have the ability to fix our errors quickly.
I read your review with interest knowing the quality of the product. I have owned 4 of them and never seen the issue you found in your reviewed set.
Overall I found your review to be honest and straight forward except for the previous notation. I do feel that you pounded away at quality issues, I don't see it.
I did find and have posted that your thoughts were honest and fair, you were in fact comparing a " resonably priced " mono-block amplifier to higher priced brethren and they faired well in your opinion.
You made a large statement in the fact that you spent your money to purchase them.
I look forward to future reviews and do hope you proof read a little closer. We all have been guilty of taking things out of context or blowing them up to larger then life,
I have done this before and unwillingly will most likely do it again.
You poor,,,,,poor,,,,,,audiophile.
Nick
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