How do XPA-1's compare to "higher end" mono-blocks?
Jun 6, 2016 19:38:38 GMT -5
audiobill and lehighvalleyjeff like this
Post by Boomzilla on Jun 6, 2016 19:38:38 GMT -5
Amplifiers I have owned & loved:
McIntosh MC352
McIntosh MC240 (tube)
Audio Research D-40 (tube)
Emotiva XPA-2
Luxman R1070 receiver
Dynaco ST-70 (tube)
Pass Aleph 0
Yaqin VK-2100 (hybrid)
Qinpu A-6000 (hybrid)
Amplifiers I have owned & less than loved:
Nakamichi PA-5 class A
Emotiva XPA-5
Emotiva XPA-3
Emotiva Mini-X
Emotiva XPR-2
Crown XLS-1000
Crown XLS-1500
Crown XLS-2000
Crown PS-400
Jolida JD-1703 integrated (hybrid)
Musical Fidelity A-100 integrated
Yamaha (half a dozen integrateds & receivers)
Rogue Magnum 88 (tube integrated)
Quicksilver Mid-Monoblocks (tube)
VTL Compact 100 (tube)
And I could go on...
You'll maybe note that most of the amps I recall most fondly are tube units. Most that I don't are solid state or class D. The tube amps on the second list are mostly there due to reliability issues, not sound deficiencies.
Mr. Levkof is right:
Although there is a rough correlation between price & performance, it isn't reliable enough to say "if it costs more, it sounds better."
Accuracy can be had for less than stratospheric prices.
What sounds good to you may or may not have any relation to what is accurate.
I'm at a "post audiophile" point in my audio journey where I no longer care about absolute accuracy. I want what sounds good to me. Will that end up being tubes, solid-state, or hybrid? I don't yet know.
Enjoy the journey.
Boomzilla
McIntosh MC352
McIntosh MC240 (tube)
Audio Research D-40 (tube)
Emotiva XPA-2
Luxman R1070 receiver
Dynaco ST-70 (tube)
Pass Aleph 0
Yaqin VK-2100 (hybrid)
Qinpu A-6000 (hybrid)
Amplifiers I have owned & less than loved:
Nakamichi PA-5 class A
Emotiva XPA-5
Emotiva XPA-3
Emotiva Mini-X
Emotiva XPR-2
Crown XLS-1000
Crown XLS-1500
Crown XLS-2000
Crown PS-400
Jolida JD-1703 integrated (hybrid)
Musical Fidelity A-100 integrated
Yamaha (half a dozen integrateds & receivers)
Rogue Magnum 88 (tube integrated)
Quicksilver Mid-Monoblocks (tube)
VTL Compact 100 (tube)
And I could go on...
You'll maybe note that most of the amps I recall most fondly are tube units. Most that I don't are solid state or class D. The tube amps on the second list are mostly there due to reliability issues, not sound deficiencies.
Mr. Levkof is right:
Although there is a rough correlation between price & performance, it isn't reliable enough to say "if it costs more, it sounds better."
Accuracy can be had for less than stratospheric prices.
What sounds good to you may or may not have any relation to what is accurate.
I'm at a "post audiophile" point in my audio journey where I no longer care about absolute accuracy. I want what sounds good to me. Will that end up being tubes, solid-state, or hybrid? I don't yet know.
Enjoy the journey.
Boomzilla
