XPR-1 Dilemma tri-fold

[lehighvalleyjeff]

Ok so here is my problem:

I purchased three XPR-1s from a private seller (he wouldn't just sell two). They all arrived and I'm happy with the two in my two-channel system. Actually they sound better than I expected.

Problem is #3. In a two channel system I don't need a third amp unless I decide to bi amp and then I need a fourth... Has anyone bi-amped these? Does anyone want to sell or buy just one XPR-1?

I listed it for $300 under what I just paid for it at $900 expecting someone to jump on it. Then I saw audiogon and eBay listings for a pair for $1999 listed 26 days and no action.

Any suggestions are welcomed. I'm surprised that the secondary market doesn't realize how great these sound. Maybe I will just buy #4 and have two even pairs.

[garbulky]

Hi Jeff. Your XPR-1's are likley going to sell. However you have to wait till there is another single XPR-1 on the market. Then the buyer will snatch both up at the price!
Having said all that...
Each XPR-1 does 30 watts in class A. So bi amping gives you 60 watts of class A per speaker which is more or less the class A power of the XPA-1 gen 2's. It also gives you oh you know....FOUR THOUSAND WATTS PER CHANNEL in 4 ohm loads.
So maybe a tad overzealous but if you can, you can . I would instead use that money tat you would have spent for another XPR-1, sell the XPR-1 you have and buy THIS for a REAL improvement. As much as the DC-1 is a nice DAC, I doubt it's going to stand any chance next to Schiit's multi bit flagship effort - it's closest competitor being another multi bit DAC at $10k.
schiit.com/products/yggdrasil

[lehighvalleyjeff]

I have to agree with you. Im just surprised at the market for the reference line seems soft. Honestly I have had many amplifiers in my system (brands not relevant), the XPR-1's are overbuilt and frankly underpriced from Emotiva. For a long time I anticipated getting JC-1's as I've owned other amps designed by John Curl / Bob Crump and I've spent many hours auditioning them. The XPR's seriously outperformed them by a long shot (I preferred the sound).

It baffles me that more people in the audio community haven't embraced these as undervalued gems. I too was skeptical until I finally heard them in my system. Once I did there was no way I could imagine enjoying music without them.

Just my two cents.

[garbulky]

I agree Jeff! It makes me happy when I see people disover Emotiva and realize holy moley there stuff is pretty darn good (and at a fraction of the price!). I stumbled upon them by accident and ordered their (at the time) entry level UPA-2. I honestly felt that at the price which $300 something that I stole it. I was worried that it wouldn't have enough power but then when I got it, I was like...this cost me $300?! Get outta here!
Then I realized that all their stuff had very good value especially their flagship models - both stereo and mono blocks. The XPR-1 for instance....I challenge anybody to find a class A biased monoblock that has got a 3 KV transformer, gobs of capacitance, and is fully balanced to boot for anything near that price. Same goes for the XPA-1 gen 2 (and 1) and XPA-1 L's. Just really incredible stuff imo.
You feel like they could compromise ... and though I won't talk about the new u series - anything X series and above is beefy as all get out.
Even Schiit audio appears to have respect for them and talked about whether they would even want to compete with Emotiva iron!

It may have something to do with the flagship X series were flagships in their category. They didn't have anything higher. The XPA-2 was their flagsip stereo amp, the XPA-5 was their flagship multichannel, and the XPA-1 was the best they had. They also stood the test of time so we know their design is solid as the still offer their five year warranty with them. And now they have the R series which is like taking a tank and pressing the insanity button. As you are undoubtedly hearing now!

[lehighvalleyjeff]

Yes very true, my friend. I've never heard an XPA-1 but the flagship XPR line really gave them a lot of credibility in the audio world. In fact they really proved that expensive wasn't entirely necessary to provide great sonics. There are many posts on audiogon and avs forum etc with previous owners of Mark Levinson, Bryston, Krell, Mc Intosh and many other very expensive brands being very satisfied with XPR-1's.

In my opinion, they could have charged and extra $500 per amp to make the XPR profitable and I think many people would have still purchased them. In my opinion, the 20 amp dedicated line hurt them from hitting the masses. I'm sure there was design and engineering requirements but in reality, I know several people who spent more money on less performance because of that issue.

I'm very happy to have the XPR-1s in my system before they abandoned the line. Frankly I didn't have $15k in my budget for two monoblocks and the end result (sound quality of music) in my system is more than enjoyable. It's hard to put an actual price on such an intangible.


As for the Schiit stuff, WOW! They are really kicking ass and doing things with digital that are raising the bar for all of the dac companies. My experience with digital audio has been after chasing CD, HDCD, SACD, DVD audio, etc is that after tens of thousands of dollars over the last 20 years in both software and constantly changing hardware I'm back to where I started. Two channel CD. I have an SACD player but I'm now not buying anymore and only purchasing good old stereo CDs. With the DC-1 and the jitter filters I'm happy and satisfied for now in 44.1 native and and getting off the bandwagon of chasing the perfect format. I think I own 9 different copies of Wish You Were Here and I find myself enjoying the CD the best.

[stiehl11]

I hope someone buys your amp soon. I have a single Phase Technologies PC-1.3 that I bought because I misunderstood the auction that I bought years ago. I tried selling it for about a year and gave up.

[lehighvalleyjeff]

Sept 13, 2015 12:59:26 GMT -5 stiehl11 said:

I hope someone buys your amp soon. I have a single Phase Technologies PC-1.3 that I bought because I misunderstood the auction that I bought years ago. I tried selling it for about a year and gave up.

Thanks. Yes, I might just keep it. The audio market is very reactive to trends. Frankly I've owned many amps that were "the thing" in their day but none of them can hold a candle to the XPR-1.

Maybe I will make a second system and buy another XPR1

[etc6849]

Where are you located?  I'm in SC.

Sept 12, 2015 20:25:39 GMT -5 lehighvalleyjeff said:

Ok so here is my problem:

I purchased three XPR-1s from a private seller (he wouldn't just sell two). They all arrived and I'm happy with the two in my two-channel system. Actually they sound better than I expected.

Problem is #3. In a two channel system I don't need a third amp unless I decide to bi amp and then I need a fourth... Has anyone bi-amped these? Does anyone want to sell or buy just one XPR-1?

I listed it for $300 under what I just paid for it at $900 expecting someone to jump on it. Then I saw audiogon and eBay listings for a pair for $1999 listed 26 days and no action.

Any suggestions are welcomed. I'm surprised that the secondary market doesn't realize how great these sound. Maybe I will just buy #4 and have two even pairs.

[leonski]

Do you have your XPRs connected to a dedicated 20 amp line? THEN you'll get all the juice you paid for.

Any luck selling the 'odd' amp out? I'd think some REAL overachiever would want it for a Sub Amp.

[lehighvalleyjeff]

Mar 8, 2016 2:46:31 GMT -5 leonski said:

Do you have your XPRs connected to a dedicated 20 amp line? THEN you'll get all the juice you paid for.

Any luck selling the 'odd' amp out? I'd think some REAL overachiever would want it for a Sub Amp.

Sorry for the long delay for a reply. Just saw your post...

Yes both are on individual 20 amp dedicated lines. Lots of juice. And yes back in the fall a member of this forum grabbed the 3rd XPR-1 for use as a center channel amp I believe.