danb
Minor Hero
Posts: 19 
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Post by danb on Nov 13, 2015 11:29:45 GMT -5
Just received my XSP-1 pre-amp. Shipping was lightning fast as always from Emotiva, in fact I almost wasn't ready for it! Packed beautifully and the set up was fairly painless.
I was moving from an NAD C162 (18 years old??) to the XSP so I was able to utilize the balanced inputs to the XPA-1 monoblocks that I got about 9 months ago.
First impressions on power up. It is a really great looking component! Maybe because blue is my favorite color? The only thing is, from where I sit for listening (12 feet away) my old eyes can't make out the display all that good. But that is on me, not Emotiva. I only have 4 inputs connected so I really don't have to see it that much anyway.
The phono preamp was a significant improvement over the NAD. Could really hear the separation in channels.
I really couldn't hear much difference when playing CD's or DVD's on my Oppo-103 between the XSP vs the NAD. But hey, my ears are old and the NAD was a pretty darn good unit. I'm sure as I continue listening I may start to appreciate the XSP more. For some reason though, the old Pioneer CTF-1250 cassette deck sounded much better with XSP, just seemed more separation in the channels. I don't listen to my old cassettes much but that will perhaps change now.
I have a little Schitt (just love to say that) Vali tube headphone amp hooked up to the Processor out and there is plenty of juice to it for listening to both my Grado SR325 and Sennheiser 424 phones. And it sounds perfect. I can't say better than the NAD but again the NAD is a decent unit.
I can't say the same thing though for the XSP headphone output. First I guess I thought it would be a 1/4" socket but its the little 1/8" (ahhhhh, progress. . . ) so I got out my converter and tried the Grado first. Sounds good but it really couldn't drive them very hard. In fact I maxed out the volume and it was not really loud at all. Would be good for soft chamber music but hey, I'm an old dude who loves his Led Zepplin, The Who, Black Sabbath, etc and you gotta play that loud!! The XSP headphone amp just doesn't have enough oomph. And it was a joke with the Sennheiser's. So can't say I'm happy with the headphone amp but I guess you can't have everything.
Overall, it doesn't have the impact that moving to the XPA-1 monoblocks did for my system (or getting the Oppo-103 for that matter over an old NAD 502 CD player) but it is a VERY fine unit. I'm going to give it an 8.5 grade.
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Post by garbulky on Nov 13, 2015 11:43:23 GMT -5
Hi there! Thanks for your review! From what I'm gathering the Oppo 103 is unfortunately not a fully balanced output. It has XLR outputs - just not balanced. So that source to amp balanced itnegrity isn't preserved. Having said all that, I don't think you'd notice a huge difference going the fully balanced route. But if that was your goal I'm afraid the Oppo doesn't quite do it. I think yours is a very solid review. I hope to get myself an XSP-1 as well. Just a suggestion...adjust your speaker positioning after changing to the XSP-1. New electronics do change the optimum placement by a small but significant amount. You may want to try one the multibit options on Schiit's DACs. Did you hear about those? They have trickle down technology from their flaship yggdrasil options. Or since you seem to like Saber sound you could give a try to audiobill 's Grace M902 DAC or Eastern Electrics flagship. I haven't heard it but two people on this forum have and thought they were quite nice. Also something that you now have access to is bass management for ....dual subs. And I have heard just such a setup with dual PSA XV15's. (You could go the smaller XS 15 route). And it was exceptional audio. A solid improvement over standalone towers (orlesser subs). Now keep in mind we are not bass heads and it wasn't about volume. It was more about that the quality of the audio appeared to get cleaned up by the addition of dual sub.  Enjoy |
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Post by AudioHTIT on Nov 13, 2015 12:04:27 GMT -5
Nice observations on a good preamp. It makes sense to me that your analog sources (phono and cassette) sound better because that's where the XSP-1 shines - pure analog. The sound from your CD player is mostly established by its DAC and analog circuits before it leaves the unit, so again it makes sense that the sound is similar to your previous preamp. Nice you were able to use balanced connections to the amps. Enjoy your new toy!
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Post by audiobill on Nov 13, 2015 12:09:32 GMT -5
Gar et al:
The real beauty of the Grace m920 is that it does not sound like most Sabre dacs at all - they are actually used in recording studios for monitoring because of the low coloration.
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Post by AudioHTIT on Nov 13, 2015 12:11:31 GMT -5
... From what I'm gathering the Oppo 103 is unfortunately not a fully balanced output. It has XLR outputs - just not balanced. So that source to amp balanced itnegrity isn't preserved. Having said all that, I don't think you'd notice a huge difference going the fully balanced route. But if that was your goal I'm afraid the Oppo doesn't quite do it. ... I'm pretty sure the Oppo BDP-103 doesn't even have XLR outputs, so it would never be balanced. The OP was talking about the connection from XSP-1 to XPA-1, which of course is fully balanced. |
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Post by novisnick on Nov 13, 2015 12:20:13 GMT -5
... From what I'm gathering the Oppo 103 is unfortunately not a fully balanced output. It has XLR outputs - just not balanced. So that source to amp balanced itnegrity isn't preserved. Having said all that, I don't think you'd notice a huge difference going the fully balanced route. But if that was your goal I'm afraid the Oppo doesn't quite do it. ... I'm pretty sure the Oppo BDP-103 doesn't even have XLR outputs, so it would never be balanced. The OP was talking about the connection from XSP-1 to XPA-1, which of course is fully balanced. You are correct, the Oppo 103 doesnt have balanced connections. |
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danb
Minor Hero
Posts: 19
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Post by danb on Nov 13, 2015 13:31:54 GMT -5
Right, I was talking about being able to connect balanced connections from the XSP to the XPA-1's. All inputs to the XSP are unbalanced (from phono, Oppo, cassette deck and Direct TV unit).
So I listened to Led Zepplin II (2014 remastered vinyl) first side through the Schitt Vali with my Sennheiser's. Pretty darn good. Then I listened to the same side but with the 2014 remastered CD via the Oppo and connected to the XSP headphone output with my Grado's. Totally satisfied even though I was basically at the volume limit. But it was more than enough output.
I'm upgrading my score to a 9.0.
The more I listen to stuff, the more the score may go up. . . .
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danb
Minor Hero
Posts: 19
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Post by danb on Nov 15, 2015 14:19:53 GMT -5
Does anyone like the remote? To me it is too heavy and wide. It could be at least 1/4" narrower and an inch plus shorter. Yeah, its super well made, but ergonomically not so great. It's a small complaint but hey, that's what these boards are for right? I just got an Oppo-103 and it has 4 times more functions but yet is narrower and easier to hold than the XPS-1 remote.
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cawgijoe
Emo VIPs 
"When you come to a fork in the road, take it." - Yogi Berra
Posts: 5,033
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Post by cawgijoe on Nov 15, 2015 15:00:00 GMT -5
I have no problem with the weight of the metal Emotiva remotes. To me it adds a bit of quality. I'll give you the skinnier part.
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Post by Gary Cook on Nov 15, 2015 15:07:56 GMT -5
Does anyone like the remote? To me it is too heavy and wide. It could be at least 1/4" narrower and an inch plus shorter. Yeah, its super well made, but ergonomically not so great. It's a small complaint but hey, that's what these boards are for right? I just got an Oppo-103 and it has 4 times more functions but yet is narrower and easier to hold than the XPS-1 remote. Known on the lounge as a weapons grade remote, the ERC-3 remote is similarly endowed  Cheers Gary |
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rpm
Minor Hero
Posts: 42
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Post by rpm on Nov 15, 2015 15:13:57 GMT -5
Love the remote. The weight the size. It's awesome.
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Post by garbulky on Nov 15, 2015 15:35:42 GMT -5
You should see the XMC-1's remote!
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cawgijoe
Emo VIPs
"When you come to a fork in the road, take it." - Yogi Berra
Posts: 5,033
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Post by cawgijoe on Nov 15, 2015 16:06:18 GMT -5
I have the XMC-1 remote. It's awesome!
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danb
Minor Hero
Posts: 19
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Post by danb on Nov 17, 2015 16:58:17 GMT -5
I had an old tired Audio Technica AT150 cartridge and things were a bit better on the XSP than the NAD but not a whole lot. So I just bought an Ortofon 2M Bronze and OMG does it sound great!!! The phono preamp in this XSP is just awesome. The detail and channel separation is just fantastic. So that ups my grade on the XSP.
I like the ability to boost and cut treble and bass on the unit, but why couldn't they have added a balance option? I could use about a .5 to 1 db boost to my right speaker. Seems it wouldn't have been too much to include and there sure is plenty of space on the 5 lb remote for it LOL!!
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Post by novisnick on Nov 17, 2015 17:33:56 GMT -5
I had an old tired Audio Technica AT150 cartridge and things were a bit better on the XSP than the NAD but not a whole lot. So I just bought an Ortofon 2M Bronze and OMG does it sound great!!! The phono preamp in this XSP is just awesome. The detail and channel separation is just fantastic. So that ups my grade on the XSP. I like the ability to boost and cut treble and bass on the unit, but why couldn't they have added a balance option? I could use about a .5 to 1 db boost to my right speaker. Seems it wouldn't have been too much to include and there sure is plenty of space on the 5 lb remote for it LOL!! As with anything, an upgraded cartridge is worth it's weight!!! In whatever denomination you like!!  I was half begging to be talked into purchasing the Exact cartridge that is made for my Rega,,,,,,,,I never could comprehend spending that much on a cartridge?  REALLY,,,,,,ARE YA CRAZY? ?? I'm so very happy I did buy it!! OMGoodness!!!  Matched with the XSP-1 gen 2,,,,,,,,, Heaven!!!  Im now using the XPS-1 with a XMC-1, I've found no difference in sound, stage or presentation. |
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danb
Minor Hero
Posts: 19
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Post by danb on Nov 17, 2015 21:31:26 GMT -5
I'd almost have to say that getting that Ortofon cartridge did more to improve my system than anything I've gotten so far. Like going from analog TV to HD! But I'm pretty sure that the XPS phono preamp was a big plus also for the upgrade.
I am like totally happy for now. Well, until next year when I start thinking about the HT upgrade. . . .
I see some more Emotiva boxes arriving in my future. Sigh, does it never end???
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Post by vneal on Nov 17, 2015 21:42:30 GMT -5
Go to Best Buy buy a $100 3TB External Hard Drive. Download your Favorite music from HD Tracks. Plug the Extenal hard drive into your Oppo front of back makes no difference.Now you will hear what your system is capable of. Those old ears will perk up I bet
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Post by novisnick on Nov 17, 2015 21:52:48 GMT -5
I'd almost have to say that getting that Ortofon cartridge did more to improve my system than anything I've gotten so far. Like going from analog TV to HD! But I'm pretty sure that the XPS phono preamp was a big plus also for the upgrade. I am like totally happy for now. Well, until next year when I start thinking about the HT upgrade. . . . I see some more Emotiva boxes arriving in my future. Sigh, does it never end??? Heres your next Christmas delivery,,,,,,,,,,,,,  It may end, after this delivery!!,,,,or, maybe not,,,,,he,,,,,he,,,,he,,,,,
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Post by garbulky on Nov 17, 2015 22:26:32 GMT -5
novisnick your Rega turntable is a work of art my friend!
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danb
Minor Hero
Posts: 19
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Post by danb on Nov 18, 2015 9:32:42 GMT -5
Go to Best Buy buy a $100 3TB External Hard Drive. Download your Favorite music from HD Tracks. Plug the Extenal hard drive into your Oppo front of back makes no difference.Now you will hear what your system is capable of. Those old ears will perk up I bet I have been listening to some mp3 and .flac files this way with my Oppo but they are all <1Mbps files. Sounded good though. I'll have to download some HD files and give those a go. Thanks for the suggestion. |
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Enjoy 
REALLY,,,,,,ARE YA CRAZY?
