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Post by thxultra on Jan 5, 2017 11:11:56 GMT -5
XPA gen 3 seems like a nice amp but curious how it stacks up to offerings from Monoprice and outlaw (7140). I'm a bit concerned about the power supply in the Emotiva vs the monoprice. The monoprice has two massive torridal (pardon my spelling) transformers and weighs 95pounds. The Emotiva is balanced but don't think that will have as much effect on sound quality. Need to go 7 channels and then will probably eventually buy a second unit for the 4 ceiling speakers. Been reading great reviews on both products but unsure what is going to be my best bang for my buck.
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Post by garbulky on Jan 5, 2017 11:14:33 GMT -5
The XPA gen 3 is not balanced. It has XLR inputs. But the upcoming double wide module is balaced.
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Post by Boomzilla on Jan 5, 2017 11:19:58 GMT -5
DC power supply is the key thing. Minimum ripple & noise ensures the best amplifier operation. Power supply design is both an art and a science. There are multiple ways to get that high-current, ripple-free DC rail. Different companies use different methods, but the proof is in the performance. Despite many people's claims to the contrary, there's little reason to fear switching power supplies these days. It's a mature technology and provides perfectly fine performance.
The Emotiva amps and almost every "pro-audio" amp in the business these days uses switching power supplies. They weigh less, run cooler, and cost (much) less. The only application that I've read about that isn't well served by switching power supplies is where very high current at very low frequency is demanded on a continuous basis. Such a demand does not occur in audio. So from a power supply basis, Emotiva's power supply is as good as anyone's.
That leaves the question of "how do the amps sound?" Unfortunately, I can't offer you any advice on that issue. I haven't heard the Monoprice amp or the Outlaw. But if you do get the opportunity to listen to them, I (and probably many others here on the Lounge) would be most interested in your opinions of which sounds the better.
Happy Shopping!
Boomzilla
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Post by thxultra on Jan 5, 2017 11:44:48 GMT -5
DC power supply is the key thing. Minimum ripple & noise ensures the best amplifier operation. Power supply design is both an art and a science. There are multiple ways to get that high-current, ripple-free DC rail. Different companies use different methods, but the proof is in the performance. Despite many people's claims to the contrary, there's little reason to fear switching power supplies these days. It's a mature technology and provides perfectly fine performance. The Emotiva amps and almost every "pro-audio" amp in the business these days uses switching power supplies. They weigh less, run cooler, and cost (much) less. The only application that I've read about that isn't well served by switching power supplies is where very high current at very low frequency is demanded on a continuous basis. Such a demand does not occur in audio. So from a power supply basis, Emotiva's power supply is as good as anyone's. That leaves the question of "how do the amps sound?" Unfortunately, I can't offer you any advice on that issue. I haven't heard the Monoprice amp or the Outlaw. But if you do get the opportunity to listen to them, I (and probably many others here on the Lounge) would be most interested in your opinions of which sounds the better. Happy Shopping! Boomzilla Hardest part with these three amps is there is no place to hear them all. I did hear the Monoprice runs hot but it is a pure class A/b amp also. Heard being balanced isn't a big deal with a short wire run but the 7140 is a much cheaper option as well (but also less power 140watts vs 200watts). Know Emotiva AMPS are always well regarded as a great bang for the buck. Haven't heard anything negative about any of these amps. I'm running B&W 703 mains so they need some juice but think these will all be sufficient in that reguards. |
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Post by vneal on Jan 5, 2017 11:53:22 GMT -5
I too have not heard all three. I think you have to look at all three companies offerings. Which has the best warranty, price, reputation etc.. I think when it comes to amps Emotiva has the stronger reputation as well as offering
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Post by mountain on Jan 5, 2017 11:56:53 GMT -5
I have been extremely happy with my non balanced outlaw model 7200 ( 200 watts x 7 @ 8 ohms, 300 X 7 @ 4.0hms).. I bought it before I was aware of emotiva products. I have not heard similar amps by emotiva or monoprice . However, based on reviews, both by professional and by owners on this lounge, I would not hestitate to by a similar Xpa amp by emotiva.
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Post by rbk123 on Jan 5, 2017 12:06:36 GMT -5
I'll be curious to see how many years it'll take for the SMPS myth to finally be accepted as busted.
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ericl
Minor Hero
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Post by ericl on Jan 5, 2017 13:08:36 GMT -5
I just replaced a Sansui B-2101 with a 7 channel XPA Gen3. At the same time I replaced a Peachtree Nova DAC with a XMC-1, so my results are not close to being a REAL test; just observations. I have had the same speakers (Speakerlab 7's) since 1971 & have had 5 different amps driving them. The speakers have 2 8ohm woofers in parallel which gives a 4 ohm load. The Sansui is old-school brute force power supply with capacitors the size of beer cans, rated a 4 ohms, & ultra-fast slew rate very high damping factor. The real problem will be trying to test the theoretical "weakness" of the XPA's switching power supply; my speakers will take at least 100W but I doubt this output level will be a valid test of the switching power supply. At any rate I have played the system at quite high levels without any "issues". With my old system & using an eval version of Dirac live my speakers played down to around 50Hz flat, then rolled-off. With the new system & Dirac on the XMC-1 the same speakers are flat to just a tad below 30Hz. Confirmed via ear & test tones have yet to use s SPL meter. At this point I am ecstatic & ready to love it & leave it (at least for awhile). My speakers have compression horns for the mid's & high's & the system is quite easy to listen to at high volumes. I do not roll-off the high end frequencies with Dirac (AKA house curve); I suppose my 66 year old ears do that on their own. I highly concur with boomzilla. Read this: www.stereophile.com/content/carver-challenge#WXMLVUgo2zLQbl5Y.97At some point in price/quality different amps will sound different from each over versus one being better than the other. |
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Post by garbulky on Jan 5, 2017 13:40:05 GMT -5
I'll be curious to see how many years it'll take for the SMPS myth to finally be accepted as busted. Probably when they start making switching power supplies that don't break.  |
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Post by thxultra on Jan 5, 2017 14:04:46 GMT -5
I'll be curious to see how many years it'll take for the SMPS myth to finally be accepted as busted. My concern is about the power supplies ability to supply enough current. That being said seems more power here may be going to the speakers instead of heat also. Also EI transformer vs torridal (sorry about my spelling). For what it is worth I think all three of these products are strong competitors. I think Emotiva, outlaw and ATI (looks like they make the outlaw and monoprice amps) all have a good reputation. One thing that seems to stand out with the Emotiva is the ability to steer more power to a channel that needs it 300watts per channel to 2 channels. I do tend to listen at pretty high volumes as well. I also tend to agree with the poster above that posted the link to the stereophile article about Carver (actually running one of their amps in my system now). Just because it cost big bucks doesn't mean it is better for sure. |
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Post by Boomzilla on Jan 5, 2017 15:12:01 GMT -5
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Post by garbulky on Jan 5, 2017 15:14:41 GMT -5
I would look at the XPA-100 as the competitor to the Stratos mono and the XPA-200 as the competitor for the Stratos stereo. The Emotiva amps are half the price but unfortunately they have been discontinued.  XPA-100 |
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Post by Boomzilla on Jan 5, 2017 15:19:28 GMT -5
Without ever having heard them, I'll make no comparison. Comparing specs is worthless. Manufacturers have lots of economic incentive to be creative with their specs. Furthermore, specs don't tell all - otherwise the Technics receivers of the 1970s would be the pinnacle of audio achievement - 0.00000etc. THD - unmatched by any amplifiers since!
Too many people that I've read say that the Odyssey amps are special for me to disregard them on the basis of price or specs. I'd have to hear them for myself.
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Post by Axis on Jan 5, 2017 15:25:56 GMT -5
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Post by garbulky on Jan 5, 2017 15:49:44 GMT -5
Without ever having heard them, I'll make no comparison. Comparing specs is worthless. Manufacturers have lots of economic incentive to be creative with their specs. Furthermore, specs don't tell all - otherwise the Technics receivers of the 1970s would be the pinnacle of audio achievement - 0.00000etc. THD - unmatched by any amplifiers since! Too many people that I've read say that the Odyssey amps are special for me to disregard them on the basis of price or specs. I'd have to hear them for myself. True. No substitute for a real listening test. |
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cgolf
Emo VIPs 
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Post by cgolf on Jan 5, 2017 16:16:09 GMT -5
All this talk, discussion and debate about different amps sounding different is a bunch of hogwash. To me, it's no different than the argument about cables, ie. Monster cables vs. Monoprice cables, and on and on. $5 vs. $500. Which is better, etc. etc.
Yes, there are differences, miniscule, and most unnoticable to the human ear (although maybe not to the human brain!! :-)). An amp's purpose is to amplify sound, not color, change or modify it and any decent amp will do just that and nothing more!!
I've been running Emotiva amps since the beginning and have never been able to tell the difference in sound from any of them. Last year, I experimented and sold a couple of Emo amps and purchased a Carvin amp for my surrounds and a QSC amp for my fronts. No difference in sound or quality. The only difference is in the fan level noise. A bit higher on these amps when paying attention but still unnoticable when listening to music or watching movies.
Just my thoughts!! 
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Post by thxultra on Jan 5, 2017 16:41:30 GMT -5
All this talk, discussion and debate about different amps sounding different is a bunch of hogwash. To me, it's no different than the argument about cables, ie. Monster cables vs. Monoprice cables, and on and on. $5 vs. $500. Which is better, etc. etc.
Yes, there are differences, miniscule, and most unnoticable to the human ear (although maybe not to the human brain!! :-)). An amp's purpose is to amplify sound, not color, change or modify it and any decent amp will do just that and nothing more!!
I've been running Emotiva amps since the beginning and have never been able to tell the difference in sound from any of them. Last year, I experimented and sold a couple of Emo amps and purchased a Carvin amp for my surrounds and a QSC amp for my fronts. No difference in sound or quality. The only difference is in the fan level noise. A bit higher on these amps when paying attention but still unnoticable when listening to music or watching movies.
Just my thoughts!!
AMPS shouldn't sound different but I have found this to not be true. Not saying more expensive means better but I can hear a difference between my QSC USA 900 and my PS Audio cx amp. THe PS Audio has a much fuller cleaner sound. The QSC isn't bad but I can say it doesn't sound nearly as good as the PS audio does. Fan noise is a issue for me with PA amps and actually the reason I'm looking for a new amp. I currently have a mixture of Crown and QSC amps for my base 7 channels and a Carver 5 channel for my atmos speakers. The PA amps have lots of overhead which I like but the fans are a big issue for me. Haven't heard Odyssey amps but they look really nice as well pretty big price jump from Emotiva though. 3 channels for the price of 7. Would probably be out of budget for me at this time. |
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cgolf
Emo VIPs
Posts: 4,615
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Post by cgolf on Jan 5, 2017 17:07:26 GMT -5
The Monoprice amps look nice but they are not cheap!! Pretty hefty price tag for a Monoprice product..... It's all relative!!!!!!  |
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Post by MusicHead on Jan 5, 2017 17:12:06 GMT -5
All this talk, discussion and debate about different amps sounding different is a bunch of hogwash. To me, it's no different than the argument about cables, ie. Monster cables vs. Monoprice cables, and on and on. $5 vs. $500. Which is better, etc. etc.
Yes, there are differences, miniscule, and most unnoticable to the human ear (although maybe not to the human brain!! :-)). An amp's purpose is to amplify sound, not color, change or modify it and any decent amp will do just that and nothing more!!
I've been running Emotiva amps since the beginning and have never been able to tell the difference in sound from any of them. Last year, I experimented and sold a couple of Emo amps and purchased a Carvin amp for my surrounds and a QSC amp for my fronts. No difference in sound or quality. The only difference is in the fan level noise. A bit higher on these amps when paying attention but still unnoticable when listening to music or watching movies.
Just my thoughts!!
AMPS shouldn't sound different but I have found this to not be true. Not saying more expensive means better but I can hear a difference between my QSC USA 900 and my PS Audio cx amp. THe PS Audio has a much fuller cleaner sound. The QSC isn't bad but I can say it doesn't sound nearly as good as the PS audio does. Fan noise is a issue for me with PA amps and actually the reason I'm looking for a new amp. I currently have a mixture of Crown and QSC amps for my base 7 channels and a Carver 5 channel for my atmos speakers. The PA amps have lots of overhead which I like but the fans are a big issue for me. Haven't heard Odyssey amps but they look really nice as well pretty big price jump from Emotiva though. 3 channels for the price of 7. Would probably be out of budget for me at this time. We should always remember that to listen to amps we necessarily have to use speakers. Therefore, we are always listening to the interaction between a given amp and speakers. IMHO it is such interaction that makes for most (if not all) of the differences heard when comparing well designed amps. I stress the "WELL DESIGNED" amp part, including a properly sized power supply. Nothing is easier to spot than an amp that runs out of steam due to a undersized power supply. |
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Post by monkumonku on Jan 5, 2017 17:13:55 GMT -5
Emotiva built its reputation on its amps. Just my own preference, but I would NEVER buy a Monoprice amp. I just wouldn't trust it. Like I said, that's my own preference. I've used their cables and cords and a couple of other products and that's fine for the really inexpensive stuff but something like an amp - I'd stick with a proven company.
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