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Post by hlevinson on Oct 31, 2015 19:30:37 GMT -5
I have a big birthday coming up this month (50) and am considering a few options my wife want to get for my birthday present.
Current set-up is an XPA-3 powering fronts and center along with an Onkyo TX-NR1007 for the rears. System is used for home theater (110" Carada screen wth BenQ W6000 projector) and also some SACD/5.1 music listening (Serious music listening). My speakers are KEF 105.3 Reference for the fornt and rears and KEF XQ2C center channel, I have to say i am extremely thrilled with the system as is, but always on a mission to find that extra little bit / nuance.
With the Emotiva winter sale I am looking at 2 options:
Option 1 - Getting an XPR-2 amp ($1500 unit cost plus cost for running a 20amp line) to power the fronts and use the XPA-3 for the center and rears. Advantage is moving up to the XPR line.
Option 2 - Getting two XPA-1 amps ($1750) to power the fronts and use the XPA-3 for the center and rears. Advantage is moving to mono blocks.
Need to decide in the next few days.......
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Post by novisnick on Oct 31, 2015 19:44:33 GMT -5
I have a big birthday coming up this month (50) and am considering a few options my wife want to get for my birthday present. Current set-up is an XPA-3 powering fronts and center along with an Onkyo TX-NR1007 for the rears. System is used for home theater (110" Carada screen wth BenQ W6000 projector) and also some SACD/5.1 music listening (Serious music listening). My speakers are KEF 105.3 Reference for the fornt and rears and KEF XQ2C center channel, I have to say i am extremely thrilled with the system as is, but always on a mission to find that extra little bit / nuance. With the Emotiva winter sale I am looking at 2 options: Option 1 - Getting an XPR-2 amp ($1500 unit cost plus cost for running a 20amp line) to power the fronts and use the XPA-3 for the center and rears. Advantage is moving up to the XPR line. Option 2 - Getting two XPA-1 amps ($1750) to power the fronts and use the XPA-3 for the center and rears. Advantage is moving to mono blocks. Need to decide in the next few days.......  |
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Post by villock on Oct 31, 2015 19:52:58 GMT -5
I have a big birthday coming up this month (50) and am considering a few options my wife want to get for my birthday present. Current set-up is an XPA-3 powering fronts and center along with an Onkyo TX-NR1007 for the rears. System is used for home theater (110" Carada screen wth BenQ W6000 projector) and also some SACD/5.1 music listening (Serious music listening). My speakers are KEF 105.3 Reference for the fornt and rears and KEF XQ2C center channel, I have to say i am extremely thrilled with the system as is, but always on a mission to find that extra little bit / nuance. With the Emotiva winter sale I am looking at 2 options: Option 1 - Getting an XPR-2 amp ($1500 unit cost plus cost for running a 20amp line) to power the fronts and use the XPA-3 for the center and rears. Advantage is moving up to the XPR line. Option 2 - Getting two XPA-1 amps ($1750) to power the fronts and use the XPA-3 for the center and rears. Advantage is moving to mono blocks. Need to decide in the next few days....... Shocker |
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Post by dally on Oct 31, 2015 19:59:23 GMT -5
Either option sounds good, but just for your information you do NOT need to upgrade to a 20 amp outlet for the XPR-2. If you're comfortable working with household current, just simply change your 15 amp receptacle for a 20 amp one and you're done. If you're not comfortable with that, just buy a 20 amp to 15 amp adapter. you'll NEVER pull enough current to justify 20 amp service.
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Post by Gary Cook on Oct 31, 2015 20:07:27 GMT -5
The golden rule, when all things are equal choose the monoblocks. When someone else is paying the price is "equal", choose the monoblocks.
Cheers
Gary
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Post by novisnick on Oct 31, 2015 20:11:03 GMT -5
Id like to mention MONOBLOCKS!!!!!!! Thank you! Carry on!! Shocker Easy now!!  Didn't mean to startle you!,,,he,,,,he,,,,,he,,,,,,, Yes, Im an avid mono guy! I'm just not a big believer of multichannel amps for two channel music. If the gentalmen is still looking at the XPR-2, I can say that he will not need a 20 amp circuit to drive the amp. Thats only required when testing the amp. It would be nice, but not required. As I've said before, I drive my XPR-1s on a single 15 amp circuit and couldnt ask for more. The XPA-1 gen 2 supply a generous 60 watts of classe A, more then most speakers will require. |
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Post by hlevinson on Oct 31, 2015 20:17:25 GMT -5
i understand that I don't "require" a 20amp circuit and that it will run off 15amps, but it is really a pretty easy DIY job for me to do since i have really easy access from the panel to the listening room, so why not do it.
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Post by geebo on Oct 31, 2015 20:17:56 GMT -5
Another vote for the mono blocks!
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Post by novisnick on Oct 31, 2015 20:29:41 GMT -5
i understand that I don't "require" a 20amp circuit and that it will run off 15amps, but it is really a pretty easy DIY job for me to do since i have really easy access from the panel to the listening room, so why not do it. " so why not do it " cause the XPA-1s need a standard plug, run the 20 amp circuit but use a standard receptacle! Gary, geebo very intelligent choice!!  |
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Post by ehmokey on Oct 31, 2015 20:30:54 GMT -5
I just received my pair of monoblocks and was really surprised at the clarity and layering of the instruments. Bought them for my 44th birthday too. So based on my limited experience I would suggest the mono route.
Happy birthday!
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Post by dally on Oct 31, 2015 21:10:30 GMT -5
i understand that I don't "require" a 20amp circuit and that it will run off 15amps, but it is really a pretty easy DIY job for me to do since i have really easy access from the panel to the listening room, so why not do it. Cool, if you're doing it diy and it's easy access go for it. Just trying to save you some $ electricians are big bucks |
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Post by iceatola on Nov 1, 2015 5:24:40 GMT -5
Go for option 2
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Post by cheapthryl on Nov 1, 2015 5:41:07 GMT -5
Full balanced Mono's
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Post by creimes on Nov 1, 2015 9:26:19 GMT -5
XPA-1's have my vote
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Post by DavidR on Nov 1, 2015 9:42:37 GMT -5
i understand that I don't "require" a 20amp circuit and that it will run off 15amps, but it is really a pretty easy DIY job for me to do since i have really easy access from the panel to the listening room, so why not do it. Running a separate circuit is best. You will not be sharing the load with other household items. Even if you go the monoblock route I'd still install a separate circuit. But that's just me (grandson of an electrician). |
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Post by simpleman68 on Nov 1, 2015 9:51:37 GMT -5
I'm in your same situation although I'm about to find out how the monos compare to a good 2 channel. I have an XPR2 in the basement and a Parasound A21 that I will be doing a shootout with against the new XPR 1s.  Scott  |
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Post by hlevinson on Nov 2, 2015 9:43:44 GMT -5
looks like i will be placing an order for a pair of XPA-1 amps later today.
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Post by Boomzilla on Nov 2, 2015 12:36:04 GMT -5
105.3s are low-impedance and low-sensitivity. They WILL benefit from using a high-current, high-wattage amplifier. The pair of amps you're comparing (XPR-2 and XPA-1) are both qualified, and will provide an audible improvement over ANY AV receiver on the market.
That said, there are audible differences (to my ears) between the XPR and XPA series of Emo's amps. I would say that the XPR sounds a bit recessed in the treble until it has warmed up. After that, the treble is there, but sounds quite "polite." The XPR is also a British sounding amp throughout its full range. The dynamics (with my speakers and to my ears) weren't as good as the XPA series.
For the money, I think that the XPA series is the better buy. The XPRs also ran warmer on idle than the XPAs (biased more toward class-A operation?) and sounded smoother than the XPA amps. But to my ears, the "smoothness" was not a benefit. Music can sound brash, and when the recording called for that, the XPRs civilized the sound, removing some of the brashness. The XPA series, to my ears was truer to the recording.
Now all that said, there are those who swear by the veracity of the XPR amps. Maybe I'm just an uncivilized lout, but I preferred the XPA series, ultimately.
Your money, your choice.
Happy Shopping!
Boomie
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Post by hlevinson on Nov 2, 2015 14:30:13 GMT -5
105.3s are low-impedance and low-sensitivity. They WILL benefit from using a high-current, high-wattage amplifier. The pair of amps you're comparing (XPR-2 and XPA-1) are both qualified, and will provide an audible improvement over ANY AV receiver on the market. Correct the KEFs are low impedance, but they are a very sensitive speaker. Specs from KEF are: Sensitivity: 93dB |
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Post by garbulky on Nov 2, 2015 14:40:03 GMT -5
The XPR series uses a class H power supply. When this engages to switching the rails there is a jump in distortion - very slight. There is no such jump in distortion in the XPA series. The XPA-1 gen 2 also has greater class A power than the XPR series.
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Didn't mean to startle you!,,,he,,,,he,,,,,he,,,,,,,
