XPA-2 is here, hooked up and I have a couple questions.

[emotifan]

Received the XPA-2 today and so far I'm impressed. I'll reserve detailed observations until after it has some hours put on it and I've listened to a variety of music through it. So to the questions.

First, the XPA-2 Gen 2 and the Adcom GFA-5500 it is replacing have the same gain specs, but output to equivalent volume setting with the XSP-1 preamp is significantly higher. For instance the first CD I'm listening to as I write this I listened to at between -12 and -10 db. The same sound level with the XPA-2 is achieved at -16 db volume setting. Now I have it hooked up through the balanced XLR connections where the Adcom only has unbalanced. Could that be the difference?

Second, I recall reading in a few reviews here that people barely get the first two meter LEDs to light up. Mine are lighting up half way or more across the display, (6 to 8 LEDs). Did Emotiva change the sensitivity of the meters in the Gen 2? I do listen at around an average 80 db spl. My Monitor Audio Silver 2s are rated at 88 db sensitivity but I've read a review that claims they are closer to 86 db.

Okay I can't resist one observation. I'm hearing detail and transparency in the mids and highs that I wasn't with the Adcom. Bass weight is about the same. The Adcom is very good in that area.

That's it for now. I hope someone can shed some light on those two questions.

[garbulky]

Very nice. I hope you are going directly from your ERC-3 CD player to the XSP-1. It is audibly superior to sending the ERC-3 signal to the XDA-1.

[novisnick]

Jul 31, 2015 20:45:58 GMT -5 garbulky said:

Very nice. I hope you are going directly from your ERC-3 CD player to the XSP-1. It is audibly superior to sending the ERC-3 signal to the XDA-1.

True!!!!

                         

[emotifan]

Jul 31, 2015 20:45:58 GMT -5 garbulky said:

Very nice. I hope you are going directly from your ERC-3 CD player to the XSP-1. It is audibly superior to sending the ERC-3 signal to the XDA-1.

Oh yeah. I don't even have the XDA-1 hooked up right now.

[monkumonku]

Jul 31, 2015 20:28:51 GMT -5 emotifan said:

Received the XPA-2 today and so far I'm impressed. I'll reserve detailed observations until after it has some hours put on it and I've listened to a variety of music through it. So to the questions.

First, the XPA-2 Gen 2 and the Adcom GFA-5500 it is replacing have the same gain specs, but output to equivalent volume setting with the XSP-1 preamp is significantly higher. For instance the first CD I'm listening to as I write this I listened to at between -12 and -10 db. The same sound level with the XPA-2 is achieved at -16 db volume setting. Now I have it hooked up through the balanced XLR connections where the Adcom only has unbalanced. Could that be the difference?

Second, I recall reading in a few reviews here that people barely get the first two meter LEDs to light up. Mine are lighting up half way or more across the display, (6 to 8 LEDs). Did Emotiva change the sensitivity of the meters in the Gen 2? I do listen at around an average 80 db spl. My Monitor Audio Silver 2s are rated at 88 db sensitivity but I've read a review that claims they are closer to 86 db.

Okay I can't resist one observation. I'm hearing detail and transparency in the mids and highs that I wasn't with the Adcom. Bass weight is about the same. The Adcom is very good in that area.

That's it for now. I hope someone can shed some light on those two questions.

I think the added gain comes from your using balanced connections - that adds about 3 db. Also on my XPA-2, in two channel normally I've got maybe 6-7 led's on during the loud parts and my speakers are rated at 86 db efficiency. So I think the behavior you're seeing is normal.

[emotifan]

Jul 31, 2015 21:19:25 GMT -5 monkumonku said:

Jul 31, 2015 20:28:51 GMT -5 emotifan said:

Received the XPA-2 today and so far I'm impressed. I'll reserve detailed observations until after it has some hours put on it and I've listened to a variety of music through it. So to the questions.

First, the XPA-2 Gen 2 and the Adcom GFA-5500 it is replacing have the same gain specs, but output to equivalent volume setting with the XSP-1 preamp is significantly higher. For instance the first CD I'm listening to as I write this I listened to at between -12 and -10 db. The same sound level with the XPA-2 is achieved at -16 db volume setting. Now I have it hooked up through the balanced XLR connections where the Adcom only has unbalanced. Could that be the difference?

Second, I recall reading in a few reviews here that people barely get the first two meter LEDs to light up. Mine are lighting up half way or more across the display, (6 to 8 LEDs). Did Emotiva change the sensitivity of the meters in the Gen 2? I do listen at around an average 80 db spl. My Monitor Audio Silver 2s are rated at 88 db sensitivity but I've read a review that claims they are closer to 86 db.

Okay I can't resist one observation. I'm hearing detail and transparency in the mids and highs that I wasn't with the Adcom. Bass weight is about the same. The Adcom is very good in that area.

That's it for now. I hope someone can shed some light on those two questions.

I think the added gain comes from your using balanced connections - that adds about 3 db. Also on my XPA-2, in two channel normally I've got maybe 6-7 led's on during the loud parts and my speakers are rated at 86 db efficiency. So I think the behavior you're seeing is normal.

Thanks! I was thinking that might be it. When I get around to it I'll switch to unbalanced just to confirm that's what it is.

[emotifan]

Jul 31, 2015 21:19:25 GMT -5 monkumonku said:

Jul 31, 2015 20:28:51 GMT -5 emotifan said:

I think the added gain comes from your using balanced connections - that adds about 3 db. Also on my XPA-2, in two channel normally I've got maybe 6-7 led's on during the loud parts and my speakers are rated at 86 db efficiency. So I think the behavior you're seeing is normal.

I switched the connections to unbalanced today and you are correct, the balanced connections definitely produce a higher gain. Around eight full digits on the XSP-1 volume display. I didn't do any measurements so I'm not sure how many db that actually is.