Remote for XPA-2

[fescue]

Hello, all.
I inherited an Emotiva XPA-2 amp, B&W Matrix 801-S2 speakers, and a B&W Matrix 801 High Pass Alignment filter. I'm not an audiophile, but hear the difference between speakers, etc., - essentially a newbie and may need help with some technical details. Thanks in advance.
I'm working down the line to get the system working but the Remote isn't working.  I changed the battery, but no luck.  It looks like the XPA-2 can only be operated using a remote - true? I cannot locate a manual for this device; I can't even find an image of it when Googled (similar but not the same). I don't see any numerical designation for it.
These devices were last active about 3 years ago, then stored (no temperature extremes). I'm reluctant to spend too much getting it going (e.g., buy another remote? but then discover the amp has an issue).

What can I check/do on the remote to locate the issue?

Thanks, fescue

PS I live remotely in northern California (2 hrs from SF) so I (believe) I don't have expert resources nearby...turning to you folks!

[RichGuy]

The XPA-2 is an amp, it has no remote and cannot be controlled by one. It is either ON or OFF and can be controlled by the power button on its front and also by trigger cable for ON/OFF and switches on the back for setup.

The remote in your picture is not for the XPA-2.

[Jean Genie]

This is the manual I have. It's for the XPA Series (gen1) amps.
www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=2&ved=0ahUKEwiLrObpsfDRAhXGJCYKHbTQCPQQFggwMAE&url=http%3A%2F%2Femotiva.com%2Fresources%2Fmanuals%2Fxseries_amp_manual.pdf&usg=AFQjCNF5IuzlcJjok5xLP4Aqya5GHbDZGQ&sig2=Yq7v43TrHisv3bFlxbppBQ&cad=rja

As mentioned, there is no remote for it. The remote you've pictured looks like a pre-USP preamp remote. Maybe someone here will recognize it. 
Look around, you may have also inherited a preamp!
Enjoy your new toy(s).

jorge

[klinemj]

The only controllable aspects of your amp are the button on the front and switch on the back. The only remote for each is a fingertip...or, you can have the amp powered on or off via a trigger from another device.

Mark

[garbulky]

Your remote is for the RSP-1 I believe which is an old Emotiva preamp. Not the XPA-2.

[Jean Genie]

See my revised post. Sorry I forgot to add the link.

www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=2&ved=0ahUKEwiLrObpsfDRAhXGJCYKHbTQCPQQFggwMAE&url=http%3A%2F%2Femotiva.com%2Fresources%2Fmanuals%2Fxseries_amp_manual.pdf&usg=AFQjCNF5IuzlcJjok5xLP4Aqya5GHbDZGQ&sig2=Yq7v43TrHisv3bFlxbppBQ&cad=rja

jorge

[hosko]

Feb 1, 2017 12:18:02 GMT -5 RichGuy said:

The XPA-2 is an amp, it has no remote and cannot be controlled by one. It is either ON or OFF and can be controlled by the power button on its front and also by trigger cable for ON/OFF and switches on the back for setup.

The remote in your picture is not for the XPA-2.

Which is why I have built an IR box that has trigger out to turn my amp on and off.

Project link

[RichGuy]

Feb 1, 2017 22:17:28 GMT -5 hosko said:

Feb 1, 2017 12:18:02 GMT -5 RichGuy said:

The XPA-2 is an amp, it has no remote and cannot be controlled by one. It is either ON or OFF and can be controlled by the power button on its front and also by trigger cable for ON/OFF and switches on the back for setup.

The remote in your picture is not for the XPA-2.

Which is why I have built an IR box that has trigger out to turn my amp on and off.

Project link

And normally the processor's remote will be used to turn ON/OFF the needed amp(s) with the processors trigger.

[fescue]

Thanks to all!
If there is no Emotiva preamp, then I guess this remote has no role in my future system - old as it is, perhaps I’ll post it in the Emporium?
There was no preamp when I moved the equipment (unless he was using a Sony STR DE485 or Yamaha A-1000 in this role. I think they need to have a Line Out to use as a preamp, but I don't see that.)
And if he used one of those, where did the remote come from…a mystery.

I just want to connect something to the amp to be sure it's working before purchasing additional equipment.

At this point I’ll move on to my next questions about how I plan to use it, so I’ll start a new thread.

[garbulky]

Feb 2, 2017 18:41:38 GMT -5 fescue said:

Thanks to all!
If there is no Emotiva preamp, then I guess this remote has no role in my future system - old as it is, perhaps I’ll post it in the Emporium?
There was no preamp when I moved the equipment (unless he was using a Sony STR DE485 or Yamaha A-1000 in this role. I think they need to have a Line Out to use as a preamp, but I don't see that.)
And if he used one of those, where did the remote come from…a mystery.

I just want to connect something to the amp to be sure it's working before purchasing additional equipment.

At this point I’ll move on to my next questions about how I plan to use it, so I’ll start a new thread.

Ah okay. I thought you were itnerested in remote capabilities. You're trying to see if it's working?

Okay, the first thing to know is that all this amp has in terms of control is a power button in the front. It turns it on and off. That's all you need to make it work.
HOWEVER.... the XPA-2 is a power amp. Which means it plays at maximum volume ALL THE TIME. So you need a volume control before it to turn the volume down from maximum. This is usually called a preamp. But the XPA-2 has no volume control. It needs an upstream volume control. So for instance if you have a smartphone you could turn the volume down using the volume buttons and plug it in to the RCA inputs and see if it works.
But you don't want to connect it to say the outputs of your blu ray player or CD player because then you'll probably be deaf as it will play it at max volume.
You can also use the preamp outputs of a receiver as well. or the headphone output of your laptop.

[leonski]

Got an iPhone or iPod or IPodTouch?
Use the Headphone Out to an RCA splitter.

www.walmart.com/ip/3.5mm-Headphones-Plug-to-2-RCA-M-M-Audio-Cable-Adapter/46555833?wmlspartner=wlpa&selectedSellerId=571&adid=22222222227034230406&wl0=&wl1=g&wl2=c&wl3=55652334338&wl4=aud-273067695102:pla-86829409538&wl5=9031305&wl6=&wl7=&wl8=&wl9=pla&wl10=111838760&wl11=online&wl12=46555833&wl13=&veh=sem

Link is for one available at WalMart, but most ANY store serving the HT / Stereo crowd will have one. Even 2 hours from SF. Like Sacramento or up the hill in Auburn.

Turn the level ALL THE WAY DOWN on the 'pod / phone. Connect and power up. Play a tune and SLOWLY turn the level UP. You DO have some speakers, don't you?

If you don't even have some speakers, you need some. The 50$ a pair set from Parts Express will get you started and can later be retired to the Garage.

[fescue]

Thanks garbulky. I was interested in remote capabilities - because I assumed the remote was related to the amp.

Thanks, too, leonski. I do have the giant B&W Matrix 801-S2 speakers and even purchased a couple of pair of Sewell banana plug speaker cables. I have an RCA splitter so I'll check the amp that way.

[leonski]

Just keep the gain / volume DOWN to start. If you have no preamp, the 'Pod is the ONLY level control.

Let everyone know if the amps are OK, as they should be after such brief storage.

[fescue]

The amp is working. Considering the power the Emotiva has I was surprised how much I had to push the volume on the iPod (low power as it may be).

But this may be due the fact that apparently the shorting bar on the speakers has been cut, so I'm only hearing just low or just high output.
Can I just make a short (heavy gauge wire) connection from the banana plugged input to the other post? Sorta replicates the bridge behind the panel...or not?

[garbulky]

Feb 3, 2017 18:49:06 GMT -5 fescue said:

The amp is working. Considering the power the Emotiva has I was surprised how much I had to push the volume on the iPod (low power as it may be).

But this may be due the fact that apparently the shorting bar on the speakers has been cut, so I'm only hearing just low or just high output.
Can I just make a short (heavy gauge wire) connection from the banana plugged input to the other post? Sorta replicates the bridge behind the panel...or not?

I don't know the answer to your question. However the level you have to turn up the ipod has little to do with the power capability of the amp. That has to do with a thing called gain. An amp with high gain, will require little of the volume to be adjusted on your ipod to reach a loud volume. An amp with low gain will require a lot more of the volume to be adjusted on your ipod to reach a loud volume. However that doesn't mean an amp with low gain has less power. That amp may have way more power. It just needs the volume turned up higher on the ipod to delivery it.

Think of it like a car and an accelerator. How much you have to depress the accelerator to get the power you want has little to do with how much power the engine can actually give you. It's just the way the accelerator was calibrated.

[leonski]

If the speaker Came with jumpers, you can make some up. I made jumpers for my Maggies out of #6 solid core copper to replace the chrome plated steel it came with. (they were magnetic!)

I'm not familiar with the B&W high pass alignment filter (sounds like FUN!) so you should get the manual or maybe make a phone call to a dealer for some technical help.

If this is it, have Double Fun. And it appears to be a necessary piece for the best performance of some of the B&W 8xx series speakers.

kenrockwell.com/audio/b-w/800-series-bass-alignment-filter.htm

Here is the Stereophile test of the 801 S2 with LOTS of measurements and a good read to boot.   Stereophile is a complete bunch and 
should discuss the care and feeding of your filter.  

www.stereophile.com/floorloudspeakers/506/#6PlTFbV2MzZuZ4H8.97