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Post by wildgoose on Apr 29, 2016 20:39:21 GMT -5
Just an update. I've been really enjoying the XPA-2! In fact, I like it so much, that I really wanted to do something about the center channel as well!  For casual TV watching, a lot of the sound comes from the center speaker. The Denon obviously is no match for the XPA-2, so my center speaker is obviously not getting the love it deserves! So I started looking at the XPA-100, and before I even decided one way or another, Amazon raised its price from 400 to 500.  Then I looked at XPA-3, and soon it disappeared from the Emotiva site! Long story short, I placed an order for the XPA-5 after some deep thinking.  I don't know where I'll fit it, but I know I want to get it before it disappears and all I am left with is the Gen3 at much higher price. Now, the practical, logical, and frugal thing to do would be to simply return the XPA-2 to Amazon, as I am still within the return period, and the XPA-5 should power my 5.1 system nicely. But, for whatever reason I just cannot bring myself to return the XPA-2. It sounds so nice. The build quality is great. It just feels wrong to return it and have it damaged in shipping. So I decided to get the XPA-5 and keep the XPA-2 as well. I do have a challenge of how to explain this to the wife. What do I say when the second amp arrives and she asks, why do we need 2 of these amps? Telling her there are other dudes on the internet with more than one amp for their home theater might not cut it! |
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Post by teaman on Apr 29, 2016 20:43:14 GMT -5
Wildgoose, feel free to expand your surround to 7.1. You have the same paired amps as I do and they sound amazing for 7.1. Plus if you power your mains with the XPA-2 you can enjoy music in stereo with the same great quality you came to love!
By the way, you can never have too much stuff. My wife gave up long ago telling me that!
Tim
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Post by Gary Cook on Apr 29, 2016 21:20:43 GMT -5
Well an XPA-5 is the same size as an XPA-1. So you can tell the boss that it's just for the centre speaker, to improve the quality of the movie dialogue. (hint) It helps to complain about it first.
Cheers
Gary
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Post by tchaik on Apr 29, 2016 22:22:31 GMT -5
Just an update. I've been really enjoying the XPA-2! In fact, I like it so much, that I really wanted to do something about the center channel as well! For casual TV watching, a lot of the sound comes from the center speaker. The Denon obviously is no match for the XPA-2, so my center speaker is obviously not getting the love it deserves! So I started looking at the XPA-100, and before I even decided one way or another, Amazon raised its price from 300 to 400. Then I looked at XPA-3, and soon it disappeared from the Emotiva site! Long story short, I placed an order for the XPA-5 after some deep thinking. I don't know where I'll fit it, but I know I want to get it before it disappears and all I am left with is the Gen3 at much higher price. Now, the practical, logical, and frugal thing to do would be to simply return the XPA-2 to Amazon, as I am still within the return period, and the XPA-5 should power my 5.1 system nicely. But, for whatever reason I just cannot bring myself to return the XPA-2. It sounds so nice. The build quality is great. It just feels wrong to return it and have it damaged in shipping. So I decided to get the XPA-5 and keep the XPA-2 as well. I do have a challenge of how to explain this to the wife. What do I say when the second amp arrives and she asks, why do we need 2 of these amps? Telling her there are other dudes on the internet with more than one amp for their home theater might not cut it! thats the best idea. keep it and get more…….. |
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hemster
Global Moderator 
Particle Manufacturer
...still listening... still watching
Posts: 51,950
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Post by hemster on Apr 29, 2016 22:34:58 GMT -5
... I do have a challenge of how to explain this to the wife. What do I say when the second amp arrives and she asks, why do we need 2 of these amps? Telling her there are other dudes on the internet with more than one amp for their home theater might not cut it! Have this conversation with her: You: Honey, you want me to be happy, right? Her: Of course! You: Well, lately I've been feeling a bit... um... well... inadequate! Her: Aww, why? << she says running her fingers through your hair >> You: Other men, many much lesser than I, have been using multiple amps in their rigs. And they seem to be happy and living fulfilled lives. If only... Her: Sooo, why can't you do the same? << now's your chance, don't be shy! >> You: Well, okay, if you insist. I'll get another amp or two... << see, you left the door open for more amps! Well done!>>
And there you have it. Tune in next week for the next episode of "Ways of Our Wives" << kinda like "Days of our Lives" >>
<<Ours = Audiophools >>
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Post by wildgoose on Apr 30, 2016 0:10:53 GMT -5
Great suggestions! Keep them coming! It'll be a bit before I get the XPA-5, so the more ideas the better! |
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Post by smarties on Apr 30, 2016 2:30:35 GMT -5
XPA-2 is higher class amp than XPA-5. Use the 2 channel for L/R, and have the 5 channel for center, sides, and surrounds.
I have a 3 channel for front three, and a four channel for side/surrounds.
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Post by srpawski on Apr 30, 2016 6:23:48 GMT -5
I don't even see the xpa-2 on Amazon. They currently want 500 for the xpa-100
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Post by wildgoose on Apr 30, 2016 11:24:25 GMT -5
I don't even see the xpa-2 on Amazon. They currently want 500 for the xpa-100 You are right. They raised it from $399 to $499. |
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Post by srpawski on Apr 30, 2016 11:29:05 GMT -5
I sure wished I could make up my mind. Gen 3 5 channel or gen 2 5 channel.
I just don't know if that extra 50 watts on the gen 3 in a 5 channel will make things noticeably brighter than the gen 2 5 channel.
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Post by 509Paul on Apr 30, 2016 11:33:02 GMT -5
Wait too long and that Gen 2 XPA-5 will be gone forever.
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Post by srpawski on Apr 30, 2016 11:38:08 GMT -5
Yeah, times a tickin
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Post by Boomzilla on Apr 30, 2016 12:22:38 GMT -5
I fail to understand the motion picture industry's paranoia concerning consumer copying. I know a bunch of techies, and only one of the herd bothers ripping video (and he's considered eccentric even by the standards of his peers). Considering the storage required and the aggravation of making a good rip, why not just buy the disc & be done?
If industry insists on introducing new copy protection that disables the functionality of existing home equipment, there will be some serious pushback. HDMI 2.2a seems to be the breaking point for many I've spoken with.
No matter WHAT copy protection is implemented, those who truly want to copy (I'm thinking the Oriental markets, maybe?) are going to find a way. In the meantime, the honest consumer gets gigged again and again because the industry keeps making playback hardware obsolete.
Seems stupid to me.
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Post by Boomzilla on Apr 30, 2016 12:27:57 GMT -5
Have this conversation with her: You: Honey, you want me to be happy, right? Her: Of course! You: Well, lately I've been feeling a bit... um... well... inadequate! Her: Aww, why? << she says running her fingers through your hair >> You: Other men, many much lesser than I, have been using multiple amps in their rigs. And they seem to be happy and living fulfilled lives. If only... Her: Sooo, why can't you do the same? << now's your chance, don't be shy! >> You: Well, okay, if you insist. I'll get another amp or two... << see, you left the door open for more amps! Well done!>>
And there you have it. Tune in next week for the next episode of "Ways of Our Wives" << kinda like "Days of our Lives" >>
<<Ours = Audiophools >>
This belongs in the "Today's Humor" thread! The conversation actually goes: You: Honey, you really want me to be happy, right? Her: What do you want to buy now? You: Well, lately I've been feeling a bit...um...well...inadequate... Her: There's a reason, schmuck! LOL You: This isn't going like hemster said! Her: Is "Hemster" that blonde cow down at the grocery? I knew it, you bahstid! (swings rolling pin) You: Never mind - I'll sell the stereo & buy you another necklace! Her: Aww - (runs fingers through your hair)...  |
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Post by repeetavx on Apr 30, 2016 12:37:39 GMT -5
I sure wished I could make up my mind. Gen 3 5 channel or gen 2 5 channel. I just don't know if that extra 50 watts on the gen 3 in a 5 channel will make things noticeably brighter than the gen 2 5 channel. It's not the wattage, it's the refinement. The Gen 3 is based on XPR (Reference grade) technology. Early reports are that the Gen 3 amps produce a more refined treble and more defined bass. How much of an improvement over the almost doubling of the price of an XPA-5, is a matter of debate. |
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Post by Boomzilla on Apr 30, 2016 12:46:32 GMT -5
IMHO, the Emotiva XPA generation one amps were within 99% of the best on the market at any price.
The Emotive XPA generation two amps were within 99.9% of the best on the market at any price.
I haven't heard the generation three amps, but I have some skepticism...
The Gen. 3s use class H switching power supply technology - In theory, fine. But can you hear any difference from a conventional "heavy iron" transformer with lots of capacitance? I don't know.
I think that the Gen. 3s also use sliding-voltage amplification. Again - fine in theory, but can one hear the transitions? I don't know.
For the moment, I'm giving Emotiva the benefit of the doubt, but until I hear one, I'm going to remain a skeptic.
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Post by novisnick on Apr 30, 2016 13:27:33 GMT -5
IMHO, the Emotiva XPA generation one amps were within 99% of the best on the market at any price. The Emotive XPA generation two amps were within 99.9% of the best on the market at any price. I haven't heard the generation three amps, but I have some skepticism... The Gen. 3s use class H switching power supply technology - In theory, fine. But can you hear any difference from a conventional "heavy iron" transformer with lots of capacitance? I don't know. I think that the Gen. 3s also use sliding-voltage amplification. Again - fine in theory, but can one hear the transitions? I don't know. For the moment, I'm giving Emotiva the benefit of the doubt, but until I hear one, I'm going to remain a skeptic. You just need to bring a gen 3 to my cave. |
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Post by HTfanHungary on Apr 30, 2016 14:05:48 GMT -5
IMHO, the Emotiva XPA generation one amps were within 99% of the best on the market at any price. The Emotive XPA generation two amps were within 99.9% of the best on the market at any price. I haven't heard the generation three amps, but I have some skepticism... The Gen. 3s use class H switching power supply technology - In theory, fine. But can you hear any difference from a conventional "heavy iron" transformer with lots of capacitance? I don't know. I think that the Gen. 3s also use sliding-voltage amplification. Again - fine in theory, but can one hear the transitions? I don't know. For the moment, I'm giving Emotiva the benefit of the doubt, but until I hear one, I'm going to remain a skeptic. You just need to bring a gen 3 to my cave. If the gen2 is within 99.9% of the best available amps in its class (or for any price???) then I'm a happy guy with my XPA-5 gen2 and I won't look futher for some years from now! |
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Post by garbulky on Apr 30, 2016 14:16:45 GMT -5
I fail to understand the motion picture industry's paranoia concerning consumer copying. I know a bunch of techies, and only one of the herd bothers ripping video (and he's considered eccentric even by the standards of his peers). Considering the storage required and the aggravation of making a good rip, why not just buy the disc & be done? If industry insists on introducing new copy protection that disables the functionality of existing home equipment, there will be some serious pushback. HDMI 2.2a seems to be the breaking point for many I've spoken with. No matter WHAT copy protection is implemented, those who truly want to copy (I'm thinking the Oriental markets, maybe?) are going to find a way. In the meantime, the honest consumer gets gigged again and again because the industry keeps making playback hardware obsolete. Seems stupid to me. Actually I think it's HDMI 2.0 that's the sticking point! Everybody with their current 1080p tv and most people who bought the new 4k tvs (most of which until very recently lack HDMI 2 maxing out at 1.4) will find themselves with a blank screen when HDMI 2 becomes the standard. This will happen with Blu rays 4k, Cable tv 4k Netflix 4k, Hulu 4k, Amazon 4k This is despite completely functional equipment. Now the confusion is that it's not really HDMI 2.0 that's doing this but its accompanying copy protection protocol called HDCP 2.2 which comes with HDMI 2.0 that's the problem ( which I think is what you were referring to). |
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Post by srpawski on Apr 30, 2016 14:39:31 GMT -5
Thanks for all of the feedback. You guys are the experts since you all have this type of equipment, I certainly am not. I know I can't go wrong either way with either amp version, I just need to make up my mind and not change it. Lol.
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For casual TV watching, a lot of the sound comes from the center speaker. The Denon obviously is no match for the XPA-2, so my center speaker is obviously not getting the love it deserves!
Then I looked at XPA-3, and soon it disappeared from the Emotiva site! Long story short, I placed an order for the XPA-5 after some deep thinking. 
I don't know where I'll fit it, but I know I want to get it before it disappears and all I am left with is the Gen3 at much higher price.
