Emotiva XPA 3 for me?

[bryanpritchard]

Hey guys, looking at new amps Emotiva XPA 3 and ATI 1803
I am more of a 2 channel guy so the XPA appeals to me as they 
both do. 
Will be connecting the amp to an Anthem 520 MRX
Question is XPA 3 or maybe the Basix 300
I am using Paradigm Studio 100's for the fronts. I just
sold my Adcom 5500 and these 2 look like the next choice.
Input ?

[vcautokid]

IMHO, I would go with the XPA-3 if you can. I like the BASX so, I am not slighting it at all. The XPA-3 Has more of a good thing than BASX, but BASX is allot for what you do invest in. Paradigm Studio 100s like to have some mojo ahead of them. The XPA-3 is my first choice for this match up. To be fair, it has been too long since I listened to an ATI, so comment is not there. I think your Anthem and the XPA-3 can make some great sound together. Again in IMHO.

[bryanpritchard]

Thanks for your input!!

[Gary Cook]

I honestly haven't heard an Emotiva power amplifier that I don't like. They all are voiced such that they appeal to my tastes. As a result I don't see that there is likely to be much difference in how they "sound", so the choices are more to do with the power demands of the speakers, their load characteristics, the room and most all the listener's volume requirements. If you move your power amps around then the lighter weight of the Gen3's may also have some appeal. The great thing about a good power amplifier is that it's not just good for today, but for years, decades even. I consider them a long term investment, so I tend to look at a higher level than I do in more regularly replaced gear, like processor which have relatively short technologically driven life spans.

Cheers
Gary

[bryanpritchard]

Thanks Gary! I appreciate the input. I do find it odd? they are non toroidal amps.

[leonski]

If you have the V5 version, sensitivity is pretty high at 93db 1watt/1meter.
And if this version follows the pattern of the only measured data I saw, the V2 which Stereophille tested, I'd make sure of reasonable 4ohm power.
The V2 was not a 'bad' load, with reasonable phase data and nothing approaching stuff like 2 ohms and 50 degrees, requiring a real ArcWelder of an amp.
However, the BassX does have 1% distortion at rated power.
I'd go with the G3 and not look back.
Especially if you are not into upgrade.

Go listen to some other stuff. Something more $$ but still maybe 'doable', would be the Parasound A31.
This is a 3 channel version of the A21 which has the additional advantage of being a hi-bias design and maybe
10watts per channel considered as class 'A'.

hometheaterreview.com/parasound-a31-three-channel-power-amplifier/

[Gary Cook]

Apr 10, 2017 21:52:18 GMT -5 bryanpritchard said:

Thanks Gary! I appreciate the input. I do find it odd? they are non toroidal amps.

There is a general movement to SMPS's due to their lighter weight, higher power usage efficiency and ability to tailor voltage to suite the power output demands. These days there are no sound quality questions and I have no doubt that Emotiva will have them sounding at their usual high quality level. My own personal question is long term reliability, that's a "question" not a statement, I just don't know. I'm quite happy right now with my Gen 1 and Gen 2 power amps but if I needed one some time in the future I'd have no hesitation with selecting an appropriate Gen 3.

Cheers
Gary

[bryanpritchard]

Apr 10, 2017 23:24:19 GMT -5 leonski said:

If you have the V5 version, sensitivity is pretty high at 93db 1watt/1meter.
And if this version follows the pattern of the only measured data I saw, the V2 which Stereophille tested, I'd make sure of reasonable 4ohm power.
The V2 was not a 'bad' load, with reasonable phase data and nothing approaching stuff like 2 ohms and 50 degrees, requiring a real ArcWelder of an amp.
However, the BassX does have 1% distortion at rated power.
I'd go with the G3 and not look back.
Especially if you are not into upgrade.

Go listen to some other stuff. Something more $$ but still maybe 'doable', would be the Parasound A31.
This is a 3 channel version of the A21 which has the additional advantage of being a hi-bias design and maybe
10watts per channel considered as class 'A'.

hometheaterreview.com/parasound-a31-three-channel-power-amplifier/

[bryanpritchard]

I have the V1 versions actually and have had them since 1997
I may be looking at some B&W and ML Motion 40's in the near future

[pknaz]

Apr 11, 2017 6:01:05 GMT -5 bryanpritchard said:

I have the V1 versions actually and have had them since 1997
I may be looking at some B&W and ML Motion 40's in the near future

I have a set of V1 Studio's, and I can say, that for the money, your biggest bang for the buck is going to be looking at different speakers.  The V1's were great, in their day, but a LOT has changed since then.  They are definitely the weak spot in my system, and I'm using them as surround speakers right now.  

[bryanpritchard]

Apr 11, 2017 8:18:53 GMT -5 pknaz said:

Apr 11, 2017 6:01:05 GMT -5 bryanpritchard said:

I have the V1 versions actually and have had them since 1997
I may be looking at some B&W and ML Motion 40's in the near future

I have a set of V1 Studio's, and I can say, that for the money, your biggest bang for the buck is going to be looking at different speakers.  The V1's were great, in their day, but a LOT has changed since then.  They are definitely the weak spot in my system, and I'm using them as surround speakers right now.  

[stiehl11]

Apr 11, 2017 6:01:05 GMT -5 bryanpritchard said:

I have the V1 versions actually and have had them since 1997
I may be looking at some B&W and ML Motion 40's in the near future

May I recommend looking at some Phase Technology PC speakers if you're speaker shopping. There looks to be some dealers in your area.

[stiehl11]

Apr 11, 2017 6:00:11 GMT -5 bryanpritchard said:

Apr 10, 2017 23:24:19 GMT -5 leonski said:

If you have the V5 version, sensitivity is pretty high at 93db 1watt/1meter.
And if this version follows the pattern of the only measured data I saw, the V2 which Stereophille tested, I'd make sure of reasonable 4ohm power.
The V2 was not a 'bad' load, with reasonable phase data and nothing approaching stuff like 2 ohms and 50 degrees, requiring a real ArcWelder of an amp.
However, the BassX does have 1% distortion at rated power.
I'd go with the G3 and not look back.
Especially if you are not into upgrade.

Go listen to some other stuff. Something more $$ but still maybe 'doable', would be the Parasound A31.
This is a 3 channel version of the A21 which has the additional advantage of being a hi-bias design and maybe
10watts per channel considered as class 'A'.

hometheaterreview.com/parasound-a31-three-channel-power-amplifier/

I've trialed the A-300 in my bedroom system with my PC-3 speakers (my bedroom is the size of a 2-car garage) and played loud enough without strain for my listening. I have yet to get my XPA-2 Gen 1 past a few LED dots using my PC-9 towers in my living room, and my neighbors say they can hear it. I don't know about the PC-3 but the PC-9 speakers will swing pretty to some low resistance with the bass.

So, depends how loud you're going to listen to your music or if your music has wild dynamic swings to it. Of course, the A-300 will gas-out before the XPA-2 Gen 3. But, are you going to be listening to it at that level?

[bryanpritchard]

I like loud and subtle both depending on what I am listening too. Blues, Rock, Jazz, etc

[stiehl11]

Apr 11, 2017 9:27:53 GMT -5 bryanpritchard said:

I like loud and subtle both depending on what I am listening too. Blues, Rock, Jazz, etc

Then my vote would be for the XPA-2 Gen 3 as well. If you could find some gently used XPA-1 (Gen 1 or Gen 2) for $1,200, that would guarantee you have plenty of power for however loud you want to go.

[leonski]

So, depends how loud you're going to listen to your music or if your music has wild dynamic swings to it. Of course, the A-300 will gas-out before the XPA-2 Gen 3. But, are you going to be listening to it at that level?

My low sensitvity panels would KILL the A-300. Especially louder and in a larger room.

In no particular order:

1. Size of room in cubic feet. factor in linked spaces
2. Listening habits. Quiet stuff? Nosebleed?
3. Speaker sensitivity. 3db is like double the amp power.
4. WHAT you listen to, mostly. Effects laden movies will need a good sub with all but the Most Robust speakers.
5 Speaker difficulty of load. Even some medium to higher sensitivity speakers with high phase angles require a more powerful and capable (low impedance) amp.

I doubt this is an exhaustive list, so add if you will. But I think these are the main points to consider when amp shopping.

At least until the listening tests begin!


One other minor point. Sure. Switchers are nice and efficient. Save on shipping, too. But typically they do NOT have the dynamic power of a Linear PS. This holds true for highly Regulated Linear PS, where
you may have a fairly high voltage and current capability, but NO 'burst' power. EMO has tried a work-around with Class 'H' whereby you have 2 or more voltage rails. You only 'tap' into the higher voltage rail
when demand dictates. I'll bet that isn't very often or over about 20% of the time, anyway.

[sanvara]

Apr 11, 2017 14:37:59 GMT -5 leonski said:

So, depends how loud you're going to listen to your music or if your music has wild dynamic swings to it. Of course, the A-300 will gas-out before the XPA-2 Gen 3. But, are you going to be listening to it at that level?

My low sensitvity panels would KILL the A-300. Especially louder and in a larger room.

In no particular order:

1. Size of room in cubic feet. factor in linked spaces
2. Listening habits. Quiet stuff? Nosebleed?
3. Speaker sensitivity. 3db is like double the amp power.
4. WHAT you listen to, mostly. Effects laden movies will need a good sub with all but the Most Robust speakers.
5 Speaker difficulty of load. Even some medium to higher sensitivity speakers with high phase angles require a more powerful and capable (low impedance) amp.

I doubt this is an exhaustive list, so add if you will. But I think these are the main points to consider when amp shopping.

Is there an audible benefit to an XPA amp over an A-300 for 2.1 music playback using KEF LS50 speakers in a smaller room (12 x 11 x 10)? I have an Emotiva XSP-1 that will handle bass management as well as an Emotiva S10 sub. I do listen to a lot of electronic music that is quite dynamic. I like to play music loud but the room is pretty small.

What about these options vs a Crown XLS-1502? The LS50 go down as low as 3.2 ohms so I'm not sure the A-300 can manage that.

Is there any good reason to buy an amp with balanced inputs for my situation since the XSP-1 has them?

[leonski]

My limited understanding is that the XSP-1 IS a balanced design, so an amp which is Also really a balanced design could make use of that feature. I'd worry about stuff like run length and IF you are currently picking up RFI / Noise on the interconnects. If you aren't far and aren't picking up noise? I'm not sure I'd bother.    Even a 6 foot pair of Mogami Studio in 6 foot will go maybe 80$ or so at guitar center.     Don't cheap out here, but also no need to go wacky  and spend a months pay!

Those KEFs are real nice. I've seen 'em at shows demo'd with Parasound electronics.

IF you currently have the XPA, I wouldn't downgrade to the A-series. If you are buying new, I'd skip the A-series and go to the next step up the line. I think the XPA stuff will be more 'upgrade proof' as well as
providing longer satisfaction without upgrade 'itch'. Lots of good gear has gone by the wayside as a result of 'The Itch'. I think the KEFs pretty much deserve the best you can afford.

I'm not a big Crown Fan, but admit to being prejudiced. If you like 'em, that's all that counts. I won' recommend nearly Any Gear. You must audition and decide. I'd be real careful with the power ratings
of those types of amps, though. I suspect not enough heat sink for really loud for hours at a time. But who knows?

[sanvara]

Apr 16, 2017 19:59:17 GMT -5 leonski said:

My limited understanding is that the XSP-1 IS a balanced design, so an amp which is Also really a balanced design could make use of that feature. I'd worry about stuff like run length and IF you are currently picking up RFI / Noise on the interconnects. If you aren't far and aren't picking up noise? I'm not sure I'd bother.    Even a 6 foot pair of Mogami Studio in 6 foot will go maybe 80$ or so at guitar center.     Don't cheap out here, but also no need to go wacky  and spend a months pay!

Those KEFs are real nice. I've seen 'em at shows demo'd with Parasound electronics.

IF you currently have the XPA, I wouldn't downgrade to the A-series. If you are buying new, I'd skip the A-series and go to the next step up the line. I think the XPA stuff will be more 'upgrade proof' as well as
providing longer satisfaction without upgrade 'itch'. Lots of good gear has gone by the wayside as a result of 'The Itch'. I think the KEFs pretty much deserve the best you can afford.

I'm not a big Crown Fan, but admit to being prejudiced. If you like 'em, that's all that counts. I won' recommend nearly Any Gear. You must audition and decide. I'd be real careful with the power ratings
of those types of amps, though. I suspect not enough heat sink for really loud for hours at a time. But who knows?

I'm trying out the A-300 and 1502. The difference is very subtle. I feel like there was a slightly more detail and resolution with the A-300 when listening to some acoustic guitar but it takes a minute or so for me to do an A/B test and I don't know how reliable my sonic memory is. The 1502 seemed like it had a bit more treble in its sound signature. Both sounded really good. I was mainly using the A-300 tonight and there was a three dimensional aspect to the sound with the A-300, XSP-1 and LS50. I wonder if an XPA would sound better with bookshelf speakers or if I wouldn't be able to hear a difference.