XPA-5 Gen 2, which internal components can be upgraded?

[Leonard]

Hi folks,

My friends and I are handy with soldering irons and we've seen and heard firsthand the sonic benefits of upgrading the internal components of amplifiers. Our reasons for doing so are twofold. First, to replace components that have failed over time. Second, to improve upon gear that was built to not exceed a certain manufacturing budget.

Examples of the first include replacing the volume pot of a vintage integrated amp with a new Alps unit from Japan. Left-right channel tracking greatly improved and previously heard noise when raising or lowering the volume was eliminated. Another are the capacitors and resistors. Bloated or leaked caps are desoldered and replaced with new ones, and resistors that have become discolored due to heat are replaced with new ones of equal value but with a higher rated wattage. Last but not least, old caked-up thermal paste between the output transistors and the heat sink are removed and replaced, sometimes with those recommended by computer overclocking enthusiasts.

Examples of the second also include capacitors. Once we got a hold of the service manuals, determining which ones to replace became straightforward. Stock capacitors are replaced with costly high-end ones specifically manufactured for audio use. Generic electrolytics are replaced with expensive Black Gates or Elna Silmic II's. Generic polypropylene or bipolar caps are replaced with either Wima or Mundorf, which are also expensive. The big power caps are replaced with costly Nichicon Gold if they are through-hole, and Sprague or Mallory if they have threaded terminals. I know big-ticket brands like Mark Levinson and Audio Research already come with these capacitors. Anyway, after the upgrade, the sonic improvements we heard were many, based on a side-by-side audition with an untouched amplifier of the same brand, model and manufacturing year. There was deeper bass, sweeter highs, more detailed focus, 3D-like imaging and improved dynamics, to name a few. In fact, there are websites put up by enterprising gentlemen who make good livings out of doing exactly this.

My XPA-5 Gen 2 is certainly not old and there's nothing wrong with it. But as good as it sounds, I'm pretty sure it was manufactured to stay below a certain price ceiling. So I'd like to try a capacitor upgrade, in the hope of achieving similar sonic improvements. A friend has an XPA-5 Gen 2 that will remain untouched that we'll use to compare my upgraded one with. But I won't proceed blindly, of course.

Does anyone here have the service manual or at least the schematic diagram of one amplifier channel of the XPA Gen 2 series? I'd be much obliged if someone could point me in the right direction.

Or has anyone done what I intend to do? On any Emotiva gear? What were the results?

Thanks, folks!

[klinemj]

There have been others who reported here that they modded their gear, and every person I recall claims amazing improvements. Whether they were or not, who knows? (Of course, if they had butchered their gear, I doubt they would have reported it...) Personally, I am confident that one can change things, but I am quite skeptical that someone could change some parts and make a huge improvement unless they really know what the original was/how it truly performed and what the new part is and how it truly performs vs. the original. For that, you need the schematic, data on the original parts, solid knowledge of the circuit as a whole, a supply of new and better parts, and the ability to put them in without messing things up. For the first 3, only insiders at Emotiva are likely to have them. You can ask them for info as you will likely find nothing helpful here...but I doubt you will get it from them.

Mark

[monkumonku]

Dec 7, 2016 17:32:42 GMT -5 klinemj said:

There have been others who reported here that they modded their gear, and every person I recall claims amazing improvements. Whether they were or not, who knows? (Of course, if they had butchered their gear, I doubt they would have reported it...) Personally, I am confident that one can change things, but I am quite skeptical that someone could change some parts and make a huge improvement unless they really know what the original was/how it truly performed and what the new part is and how it truly performs vs. the original. For that, you need the schematic, data on the original parts, solid knowledge of the circuit as a whole, a supply of new and better parts, and the ability to put them in without messing things up. For the first 3, only insiders at Emotiva are likely to have them. You can ask them for info as you will likely find nothing helpful here...but I doubt you will get it from them.

Mark

You mean DIY mods are like burn-in, it always results in a substantial, significant, huge amount of improvement but it never goes the other way? I'm skeptical as well. If those mods were as effective as claimed, then the manufacturer would incorporate them into an upgraded model and charge accordingly.