Considering a XPA Gen 3 2 channel amp. Need some help.

[gkprabhu]

Hello all

I am considering getting a XPA  Gen 3 2 channel amp. This is my first 'real' amp purchase. I am currently using a yamaha RX V665 as a pre amp and this Qinpu (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0057OI448/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1)  as an amp.  I am using this to drive my Infinity 363 and paradigm Mini monitor V7 speakers. 

I am looking at any advice from members here before I pull the trigger on this. 

Do you think that the Emotiva will be a huge improvement in sound for me ( I think that it is a yes for sure, but just checking).  
Any thoughts on how dependable the amps are  ? If I do have problems down the line how would I go about fixing them ? Will the company stand behind their product ? 

Also, I am guessing that when I get the amp, I can still continue to use my yamaha as a pre amp. Please let me know if that is not the case in your opinion(s).

Thank you all 
Gopal 

[repeetavx]

Hi Gopal,

Welcome to the lounge!

Wow, moving from tubes to solid state, your bucking the trend.

Last question first. I have six Emotiva amps and I have never had a bit if trouble out of any of them. (My experience, remember we are talking about consumer electronics here.) While you'll see some threads here about problem units, (this is the place that they would complain at.) I'm sure you've noticed that we praise them a lot here too.

As far as a "huge improvement in sound". It's certainly going to be a big difference in sound. Tubes add harmonic content, and make recorded music "more musical". Solid State amplifiers are ruthlessly accurate, and in comparison, sound "thin".

That being said, you should get a major boost in bass note control and definition. Also a big boost in dynamic range, if you use it.

As you see I can't give you a definite answer, because only you know what type of expectations you have. If you live in the U.S., then do yourself a favor and give the 30-day Money Back Guarantee a try.

[gkprabhu]

Hi repeetavx

Thanks for your input. I have one additional  question for you 

the tube amp that I am using now is around 16.5 watt per channel.  So don't you think that the XPA Gen 3 would be an improvement in sound or does  that not matter at all ?  Sorry if the question is stupid or ignorant. 

Thanks 
Gopal 

[Wideawake]

Gopal, where do you live? US or India? If in India, I suggest maxing out the channels on the amp, if you can afford it, so that you don't need to sent it back to Emotiva to have additional channels added down the line. How many channels are you using in your setup?

I was using an RX-665 before I added an external amp and the difference in sound was remarkable. So, my guess is that you too should experience a significant improvement in sound quality.

Also, because of the higher wattage that these amps can provide to your speakers, which are not ultra high in sensitivity, you will likely get better dynamics and smoother transients at loud volumes than you would with your tube amp. The quality of the sound will be different when comparing a tube with a solid state amp but that is for you to judge whether one is better than the other.

[KeithL]

OK, I've got to put my two cents in here.....

First, welcome....

Second,
As many people around here already know, I'm one of those people who has lots of experience with tube equipment, but doesn't especially like it.
I've owned and repaired dozens of tube amps and, while I find them interesting, I must prefer the sound of a good solid state amp.
Tubes absolutely impart a specific sort of "warm and smooth" sound to whatever you play through them.
Some people describe this using words like "musical" and "organic" - but others of us just think of it as blurring and rounding off the sound.
Only you can decide which of those applies to you.

So, yes, switching from a low powered tube amp to an XPA Gen3 is going to be a BIG change.
You'll get tighter, cleaner bass, and music that sounds more like what the recording actually sounds like, with less editorializing on the sound by your equipment.
And, yes, going from 16 watts to several hundred is also going to let you play things a lot louder, and, more importantly, a lot cleaner when you do turn it up.
(While tube amps do tend to sound more powerful than they really are, they also tend to add more and more coloration as you play them louder.
A good quality solid state amp like our XPA will simply get louder when you play it louder. )

And, no, contrary to what you might see on TV, not all audiophiles like tubes better.... 

Nov 21, 2016 13:56:26 GMT -5 gkprabhu said:

Hi repeetavx

Thanks for your input. I have one additional  question for you 

the tube amp that I am using now is around 16.5 watt per channel.  So don't you think that the XPA Gen 3 would be an improvement in sound or does  that not matter at all ?  Sorry if the question is stupid or ignorant. 

Thanks 
Gopal 

[repeetavx]

Nov 21, 2016 13:56:26 GMT -5 gkprabhu said:

Hi repeetavx

Thanks for your input. I have one additional  question for you 

the tube amp that I am using now is around 16.5 watt per channel.  So don't you think that the XPA Gen 3 would be an improvement in sound or does  that not matter at all ?  Sorry if the question is stupid or ignorant. 

Thanks 
Gopal 

Nope, not a stupid question.

For stereo, power is nice, but not the end all. Power gives you dynamics. The higher power of the Emotiva XPA will handle your speakers with a vice grip. This will give you a more accurate sound. How that will sound to you is subjective.

[gkprabhu]

Nov 21, 2016 16:46:51 GMT -5 Wideawake said:

Gopal, where do you live? US or India? If in India, I suggest maxing out the channels on the amp, if you can afford it, so that you don't need to sent it back to Emotiva to have additional channels added down the line. How many channels are you using in your setup?

I was using an RX-665 before I added an external amp and the difference in sound was remarkable. So, my guess is that you too should experience a significant improvement in sound quality.

Also, because of the higher wattage that these amps can provide to your speakers, which are not ultra high in sensitivity, you will likely get better dynamics and smoother transients at loud volumes than you would with your tube amp. The quality of the sound will be different when comparing a tube with a solid state amp but that is for you to judge whether one is better than the other.

Hi Wideawake 

I live in the California bay area. I am using 2 channels ( at present I am connecting 2 speakers on each side to my small tube amp ). I am only interested in music( mainly jazz ) and not movies. I do watch movies on my set up , but the kind I watch don't need surround sound and in any case I don't care for surround sound. 

Thank you for helping me out. I appreciate it. 

Best 
Gopal 

[gkprabhu]

Nov 21, 2016 18:42:18 GMT -5 repeetavx said:

Nov 21, 2016 13:56:26 GMT -5 gkprabhu said:

Hi repeetavx

Thanks for your input. I have one additional  question for you 

the tube amp that I am using now is around 16.5 watt per channel.  So don't you think that the XPA Gen 3 would be an improvement in sound or does  that not matter at all ?  Sorry if the question is stupid or ignorant. 

Thanks 
Gopal 

Nope, not a stupid question.

For stereo, power is nice, but not the end all. Power gives you dynamics. The higher power of the Emotiva XPA will handle your speakers with a vice grip. This will give you a more accurate sound. How that will sound to you is subjective.

Thank you very much repeetavx.

[gkprabhu]

Nov 21, 2016 18:35:05 GMT -5 KeithL said:

OK, I've got to put my two cents in here.....

First, welcome....

Second,
As many people around here already know, I'm one of those people who has lots of experience with tube equipment, but doesn't especially like it.
I've owned and repaired dozens of tube amps and, while I find them interesting, I must prefer the sound of a good solid state amp.
Tubes absolutely impart a specific sort of "warm and smooth" sound to whatever you play through them.
Some people describe this using words like "musical" and "organic" - but others of us just think of it as blurring and rounding off the sound.
Only you can decide which of those applies to you.

So, yes, switching from a low powered tube amp to an XPA Gen3 is going to be a BIG change.
You'll get tighter, cleaner bass, and music that sounds more like what the recording actually sounds like, with less editorializing on the sound by your equipment.
And, yes, going from 16 watts to several hundred is also going to let you play things a lot louder, and, more importantly, a lot cleaner when you do turn it up.
(While tube amps do tend to sound more powerful than they really are, they also tend to add more and more coloration as you play them louder.
A good quality solid state amp like our XPA will simply get louder when you play it louder. )

And, no, contrary to what you might see on TV, not all audiophiles like tubes better.... 






Thank you very much Keith. I appreciate your help. 

Nov 21, 2016 13:56:26 GMT -5 gkprabhu said:

Hi repeetavx

Thanks for your input. I have one additional  question for you 

the tube amp that I am using now is around 16.5 watt per channel.  So don't you think that the XPA Gen 3 would be an improvement in sound or does  that not matter at all ?  Sorry if the question is stupid or ignorant. 

Thanks 
Gopal 

[Wideawake]

Nov 21, 2016 21:55:18 GMT -5 gkprabhu said:

Hi Wideawake 

I live in the California bay area. I am using 2 channels ( at present I am connecting 2 speakers on each side to my small tube amp ). I am only interested in music( mainly jazz ) and not movies. I do watch movies on my set up , but the kind I watch don't need surround sound and in any case I don't care for surround sound. 

Thank you for helping me out. I appreciate it. 

Best 
Gopal 

In that case, if you are not in any hurry to get the amp, may I suggest that you wait for the monoblock configuration for the XPA3. I believe that the monoblock configurations should be available very soon. You may want to call Emotiva to get some indication of the expected time frame.

[gkprabhu]

Nov 21, 2016 22:50:00 GMT -5 Wideawake said:

Nov 21, 2016 21:55:18 GMT -5 gkprabhu said:

Hi Wideawake 

I live in the California bay area. I am using 2 channels ( at present I am connecting 2 speakers on each side to my small tube amp ). I am only interested in music( mainly jazz ) and not movies. I do watch movies on my set up , but the kind I watch don't need surround sound and in any case I don't care for surround sound. 

Thank you for helping me out. I appreciate it. 

Best 
Gopal 

In that case, if you are not in any hurry to get the amp, may I suggest that you wait for the monoblock configuration for the XPA3. I believe that the monoblock configurations should be available very soon. You may want to call Emotiva to get some indication of the expected time frame.


Hi and thank you for your reply. I am not aware of what a monoblock is. Can you please tell me the difference between an amp and a monoblock ? 

[garbulky]

Well Gopal, right now with your current setup, I don't know to be honest. I don't know how good it sounds and whether an amp change will be worth it.
hen I first went to a separate power amp, I noticed everything that Keith mentioned. Tighter bass, lots of detail, bigger soundstage etc. Eventually I settled on my keeper XPA-1 gen 2s. They are utterly fantastic. But...they do shine when other items in the system are in place - like resolving speakers, room treatment, speaker placement, a resolving DAC. Blah blah. So one item doesn't necessarily make things markedly improved. Sometimes it takes a combination.
So long story short....if you are looking for an improvement it really helps if other things are in place. That's why it's hard to guarantee it.

As for power. With solid state, I've found the more power on top, the better it tends to get things done.

With tubes, it's a whole different ball game. I've heard 12 watt tube amp do just as good as my XPA-1 gen 2 monoblocks - which imo are just fantastic units. So...it's hard to say. At realistic volumes - where the sound of the singer is what it would sound like if she was in your living room, it imo doesn't really take a huge amounts of watts.
However, with Emotiva amps you do get lots of control and detail that other solid state amps can't compete against. I still haven't heard a solid state amp do as good as Emotiva units though I'm sure they are there.

The nice thing is that power amps tend to be units that you can hold on to and they will stay with you as you upgrade other items.
I think the best performing amp I've heard has been the Emotiva XPA-1 gen 2. Right on its tail, the next best performing amp I've heard has been a toss up between the Bob Latino ST-120 tube amps, a modified Heathkit monoblock pair with 12 watts of power, and the XPA-2 gen 2. In fact the ST-120 and the Heathkits may be outdoing the XPA-2 in several aspects.
However, my friend replaced his XPA-1 gen 2's with the Bob Latino ST-120 tube amps. So...who knows?!

W

If you like tubes, the Bob Latino ST-120 may be an interesting choice to look at. If it was me, I am not interested in their new XPA gen 3, but that's probably because I've already got my keeper amp which has everything I was looking for.

Here's how I heard things
UPA-200 (similar to the Bas-x which I haven't heard): Pretty good. Nothing to write home about.
XPA-5 gen 1: Nice neutral sound. Nothing that excited me. Also did nothing wrong at all. Had less smearing than the UPA-2 but I preferred the UPA-2.
UPA-2: Lovely entry level amp. Lots of power. Slightly laid back character to it.
XPA-2 gen 1: More bass. Fantastic speed. It showed the shortcoming of the UPA-2 which was slight smearing on transients. Maybe a teensy bit "aggressive". This was a real upgrade to the UPA-2.
XPA-2 gen 2: Very similar sound signature to the XPA-1 gen 2. I found this to be an improvement over the gen 1. Same amount of bass extension.

XPA-1 gen 2: Oh my goodness. Yummy yummy. Turn on the class A switch. Excellent speed. But it revealed to me real transparency. Meaning room ambience, and room dimensions. Things feel a lot more dimensional. Very nice neutrality. More bass extension. Lots and lots and lots of detail. Every recording sounded different. It's to me the most perfect amp I've heard so far.

ST-120 tube amp: Nice rich neutral sound. Hard to evaluate the nth degree of bass control. But lots of detail. Lots of soundstage. Very natural sounding amp. It's really quite good. I didn't hear the room ambience that the XPA-1 gen 2 could do but it was also in a different setup.

Modified Heathkit monoblock: Not neutral sounding. It had a lit from within sound. Very tangible soundstage. It conveyed the impression of live music extremely well. It's the first time I felt I could really feel the musicians in the room. Pulled all kinds of details from the recording some that the more neutral xpa-1 could not do.

I have to caution you though....and you should know this. There is a large sizable portion of people that do NOT hear any differences between amps - or pretty much most decent performing electronics. Most double blind listening tests, you will read on the internet also appear to show that people aren't really hearing any difference. Now I think this is not reality. But....if you are one of those people who hear no difference....spending more money on amps is a waste of money.

So I hope that helps. Sorry I still don't know if the xpa gen 3 will work for you. People who read my posts would probably know that I am not its biggest fan - mainly due to my disappointment with their power supply choice.
But then again, I haven't heard it. Maybe it will work for you. Best luck on your journey. Wherever it takes you, I think it shall be an enjoyable one.

[Wideawake]

gkprabhu, in integrated amps, all channels share a power supply. Mono blocks are single channel amp modules with dedicated power supplies and separate circuitry. One of the primary advantages of mono blocks is that they eliminate cross talk, which is the bleeding of signals from one channel to another. Mono blocks improve sound quality and provide better imaging and sound staging.

[gkprabhu]

Thank you garbulky for your time to create such a detailed and helpful post. I am confused now that you mention that low powered tubes perform pretty well as compared to solid state amps. I guess that I might have to just try it with the 30 day guarantee. Do you know if Emotiva would cover the return shipping if I decide not to keep the amp ?  In any case, I am very grateful for/to you and all the kind folks who have helped me out with this decision. I wanted to get myself something for Christmas and thought that with the discount being offered, this would be a great time.

Happy thanksgiving and best regards
Gopal 

Nov 22, 2016 0:33:03 GMT -5 garbulky said:

Well Gopal, right now with your current setup, I don't know to be honest. I don't know how good it sounds and whether an amp change will be worth it.
hen I first went to a separate power amp, I noticed everything that Keith mentioned. Tighter bass, lots of detail, bigger soundstage etc. Eventually I settled on my keeper XPA-1 gen 2s. They are utterly fantastic. But...they do shine when other items in the system are in place - like resolving speakers, room treatment, speaker placement, a resolving DAC. Blah blah. So one item doesn't necessarily make things markedly improved. Sometimes it takes a combination.
So long story short....if you are looking for an improvement it really helps if other things are in place. That's why it's hard to guarantee it.

As for power. With solid state, I've found the more power on top, the better it tends to get things done.

With tubes, it's a whole different ball game. I've heard 12 watt tube amp do just as good as my XPA-1 gen 2 monoblocks - which imo are just fantastic units. So...it's hard to say. At realistic volumes - where the sound of the singer is what it would sound like if she was in your living room, it imo doesn't really take a huge amounts of watts.
However, with Emotiva amps you do get lots of control and detail that other solid state amps can't compete against. I still haven't heard a solid state amp do as good as Emotiva units though I'm sure they are there.

The nice thing is that power amps tend to be units that you can hold on to and they will stay with you as you upgrade other items.
I think the best performing amp I've heard has been the Emotiva XPA-1 gen 2. Right on its tail, the next best performing amp I've heard has been a toss up between the Bob Latino ST-120 tube amps, a modified Heathkit monoblock pair with 12 watts of power, and the XPA-2 gen 2. In fact the ST-120 and the Heathkits may be outdoing the XPA-2 in several aspects.
However, my friend replaced his XPA-1 gen 2's with the Bob Latino ST-120 tube amps. So...who knows?!

W

If you like tubes, the Bob Latino ST-120 may be an interesting choice to look at. If it was me, I am not interested in their new XPA gen 3, but that's probably because I've already got my keeper amp which has everything I was looking for.

Here's how I heard things
UPA-200 (similar to the Bas-x which I haven't heard): Pretty good. Nothing to write home about.
XPA-5 gen 1: Nice neutral sound. Nothing that excited me. Also did nothing wrong at all. Had less smearing than the UPA-2 but I preferred the UPA-2.
UPA-2: Lovely entry level amp. Lots of power. Slightly laid back character to it.
XPA-2 gen 1: More bass. Fantastic speed. It showed the shortcoming of the UPA-2 which was slight smearing on transients. Maybe a teensy bit "aggressive". This was a real upgrade to the UPA-2.
XPA-2 gen 2: Very similar sound signature to the XPA-1 gen 2. I found this to be an improvement over the gen 1. Same amount of bass extension.

XPA-1 gen 2: Oh my goodness. Yummy yummy. Turn on the class A switch. Excellent speed. But it revealed to me real transparency. Meaning room ambience, and room dimensions. Things feel a lot more dimensional. Very nice neutrality. More bass extension. Lots and lots and lots of detail. Every recording sounded different. It's to me the most perfect amp I've heard so far.

ST-120 tube amp: Nice rich neutral sound. Hard to evaluate the nth degree of bass control. But lots of detail. Lots of soundstage. Very natural sounding amp. It's really quite good. I didn't hear the room ambience that the XPA-1 gen 2 could do but it was also in a different setup.

Modified Heathkit monoblock: Not neutral sounding. It had a lit from within sound. Very tangible soundstage. It conveyed the impression of live music extremely well. It's the first time I felt I could really feel the musicians in the room. Pulled all kinds of details from the recording some that the more neutral xpa-1 could not do.

I have to caution you though....and you should know this. There is a large sizable portion of people that do NOT hear any differences between amps - or pretty much most decent performing electronics. Most double blind listening tests, you will read on the internet also appear to show that people aren't really hearing any difference. Now I think this is not reality. But....if you are one of those people who hear no difference....spending more money on amps is a waste of money.

So I hope that helps. Sorry I still don't know if the xpa gen 3 will work for you. People who read my posts would probably know that I am not its biggest fan - mainly due to my disappointment with their power supply choice.
But then again, I haven't heard it. Maybe it will work for you. Best luck on your journey. Wherever it takes you, I think it shall be an enjoyable one.

[gkprabhu]

Nov 22, 2016 8:52:38 GMT -5 Wideawake said:

gkprabhu , in integrated amps, all channels share a power supply. Mono blocks are single channel amp modules with dedicated power supplies and separate circuitry. One of the primary advantages of mono blocks is that they eliminate cross talk, which is the bleeding of signals from one channel to another. Mono blocks improve sound quality and provide better imaging and sound staging.

Thank you buddy. 

Best
Gopal 

[creimes]

gkprabhu The 30 day trial is awesome to let you try it out in your home, return shipping would be paid by you, one benefit of the Gen3 amps is they are much lighter so shipping is cheaper on them then the Gen1 and Gen2 amps

Chad

[vneal]

I suspect you will be all SMILES with the move

[garbulky]

Nov 22, 2016 10:07:52 GMT -5 gkprabhu said:

Thank you garbulky for your time to create such a detailed and helpful post. I am confused now that you mention that low powered tubes perform pretty well as compared to solid state amps. I guess that I might have to just try it with the 30 day guarantee. Do you know if Emotiva would cover the return shipping if I decide not to keep the amp ?  In any case, I am very grateful for/to you and all the kind folks who have helped me out with this decision. I wanted to get myself something for Christmas and thought that with the discount being offered, this would be a great time.

Happy thanksgiving and best regards
Gopal 

Nov 22, 2016 0:33:03 GMT -5 garbulky said:

Well Gopal, right now with your current setup, I don't know to be honest. I don't know how good it sounds and whether an amp change will be worth it.
hen I first went to a separate power amp, I noticed everything that Keith mentioned. Tighter bass, lots of detail, bigger soundstage etc. Eventually I settled on my keeper XPA-1 gen 2s. They are utterly fantastic. But...they do shine when other items in the system are in place - like resolving speakers, room treatment, speaker placement, a resolving DAC. Blah blah. So one item doesn't necessarily make things markedly improved. Sometimes it takes a combination.
So long story short....if you are looking for an improvement it really helps if other things are in place. That's why it's hard to guarantee it.

As for power. With solid state, I've found the more power on top, the better it tends to get things done.

With tubes, it's a whole different ball game. I've heard 12 watt tube amp do just as good as my XPA-1 gen 2 monoblocks - which imo are just fantastic units. So...it's hard to say. At realistic volumes - where the sound of the singer is what it would sound like if she was in your living room, it imo doesn't really take a huge amounts of watts.
However, with Emotiva amps you do get lots of control and detail that other solid state amps can't compete against. I still haven't heard a solid state amp do as good as Emotiva units though I'm sure they are there.

The nice thing is that power amps tend to be units that you can hold on to and they will stay with you as you upgrade other items.
I think the best performing amp I've heard has been the Emotiva XPA-1 gen 2. Right on its tail, the next best performing amp I've heard has been a toss up between the Bob Latino ST-120 tube amps, a modified Heathkit monoblock pair with 12 watts of power, and the XPA-2 gen 2. In fact the ST-120 and the Heathkits may be outdoing the XPA-2 in several aspects.
However, my friend replaced his XPA-1 gen 2's with the Bob Latino ST-120 tube amps. So...who knows?!

W

If you like tubes, the Bob Latino ST-120 may be an interesting choice to look at. If it was me, I am not interested in their new XPA gen 3, but that's probably because I've already got my keeper amp which has everything I was looking for.

Here's how I heard things
UPA-200 (similar to the Bas-x which I haven't heard): Pretty good. Nothing to write home about.
XPA-5 gen 1: Nice neutral sound. Nothing that excited me. Also did nothing wrong at all. Had less smearing than the UPA-2 but I preferred the UPA-2.
UPA-2: Lovely entry level amp. Lots of power. Slightly laid back character to it.
XPA-2 gen 1: More bass. Fantastic speed. It showed the shortcoming of the UPA-2 which was slight smearing on transients. Maybe a teensy bit "aggressive". This was a real upgrade to the UPA-2.
XPA-2 gen 2: Very similar sound signature to the XPA-1 gen 2. I found this to be an improvement over the gen 1. Same amount of bass extension.

XPA-1 gen 2: Oh my goodness. Yummy yummy. Turn on the class A switch. Excellent speed. But it revealed to me real transparency. Meaning room ambience, and room dimensions. Things feel a lot more dimensional. Very nice neutrality. More bass extension. Lots and lots and lots of detail. Every recording sounded different. It's to me the most perfect amp I've heard so far.

ST-120 tube amp: Nice rich neutral sound. Hard to evaluate the nth degree of bass control. But lots of detail. Lots of soundstage. Very natural sounding amp. It's really quite good. I didn't hear the room ambience that the XPA-1 gen 2 could do but it was also in a different setup.

Modified Heathkit monoblock: Not neutral sounding. It had a lit from within sound. Very tangible soundstage. It conveyed the impression of live music extremely well. It's the first time I felt I could really feel the musicians in the room. Pulled all kinds of details from the recording some that the more neutral xpa-1 could not do.

I have to caution you though....and you should know this. There is a large sizable portion of people that do NOT hear any differences between amps - or pretty much most decent performing electronics. Most double blind listening tests, you will read on the internet also appear to show that people aren't really hearing any difference. Now I think this is not reality. But....if you are one of those people who hear no difference....spending more money on amps is a waste of money.

So I hope that helps. Sorry I still don't know if the xpa gen 3 will work for you. People who read my posts would probably know that I am not its biggest fan - mainly due to my disappointment with their power supply choice.
But then again, I haven't heard it. Maybe it will work for you. Best luck on your journey. Wherever it takes you, I think it shall be an enjoyable one.

Well I'm telling you right now....you probably aren't going to return it ! Also with tube amps, I haven't heard a lot of tube amps, but I have heard some expensive ones. None of them could really compete with Emotiva solid state for me.Most of the tube amps I'd heard had one or more of the following poor bass, sounded strained in the transients, rolled off in the treble or have weird treble coloration. Usually a nice dimensional mid range. But lack of realistic dynamics was what they all shared. This included a Dynaco Mark VII and Quick Silvers.
But the Bob Latino ST-120 was probably the only tube amp (other than a modified Heathkit which isn't available commercially) that didn't fall down compared to the XPA-1. I think it had like 30 or 60 watts of power. So...not all tube amps can compete (imo), but some sure can.

[gkprabhu]

 Can anyone tell me if this comes with interconnects to connect my preamp to this ? If not, can someone please tell me the kind of cable(s) I need to get ? 

Thank you much
Gopal 

[vcautokid]

Nov 23, 2016 20:50:25 GMT -5 gkprabhu said:

 Can anyone tell me if this comes with interconnects to connect my preamp to this ? If not, can someone please tell me the kind of cable(s) I need to get ? 

Thank you much
Gopal 

Connection of any Stereo, or 2 Channel power amplifier with your RX-V665 is quite easy. Simply use RCA Interconnects, that is one pair coming out of the front left, and right PRE-OUT on your Yamaha RX-V665, and connect to the RCA unbalanced inputs on the rear of the desired 2 channel power amplifier in consideration. In this case the Emotiva XPA-Gen3 2 channel power amplifier.

As far as interconnects. Opinions abound here, and elsewhere as to what to use. Preferences, and opinions vary relative to price, construction, and other factors. I like the keep it simple concept. A quality RCA cable is one that is well constructed with quality shielding, and conductors, and Ferrules for long life. Does that mean expensive? Not necessarily. Many brands to chose from like Emotiva's own interconnects, or Blue Jean, Monoprice, or others out there in the Audio community. It is really easy to chose, or complex depending on your expectations. But you really don't have to spend allot if you don't want too, to purchase a quality Interconnect. Speaker cables are same as far as what is possible. I am sure others will chime in, and offer further thoughts. I hope your journey in audio is a fun one, and hope we can help. Thanks for joining us here, and welcome.

P.s. Please ignore the arrow in my image of the rear panel of the RX-V665.