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Post by leonski on Jul 24, 2018 22:15:28 GMT -5
In another thread someone noted that @ IDLE his xpa-5 was right at 70 watts.
In standby? Near Zero.
I would expect the XPA-1 to follow a similar pattern with it getting pretty warm in 'A' and much cooler in 'A/B'.
And room temp in standby.
I can't offhand find the thread where people chimed in with various power draws of different EMO amps.
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KeithL
Administrator 
Posts: 10,273
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Post by KeithL on Jul 25, 2018 10:25:02 GMT -5
Correct.... There's a separate little "standby supply" on most of our amps - that powers the circuitry that allows them to "listen" for the turn-on signal. So at that point the amp is stone cold, or at least room temp? The amp is probably off except for the trigger listening circuitry. Keith could confirm. |
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Post by jmilton on Aug 20, 2018 20:23:30 GMT -5
leonski and donh50 Was an organist in the 1970s and 1980s and can second your impression of the bass power of classical pipe organs. The 32 foot stops descend into "vibration only" for the lowest 4 or 5 notes of the pedalboard. There used to be 64' stops around but, apparently, there are only 1 or 2 left in the world. The last octave and a half of the 64' pedalboard only rumbles, but it can be a monstrous noise. If you are looking for a good recording that shows off the power of the organ pedals, check out the recent re-issue of Biggs playing the Rheinberger organ concertos. This came out in 1973 in stereo and quad (remember that?). The SACD version just released in Europe recreates the 4 channel version in DSD exactly as 4.0. It has a tremendous amount of bass energy and was recorded in Biggs's home church. And counterpoint, DO TELL. Expecting great news. And, perhaps with your moniker, you will write us a fugue as well? Thanks for this. I just got my copy of Rheinberger from the UK and it is outstanding. Sounds like it was recorded yesterday. Thank you mister Biggs for bringing his music to our ears...in multi-channel 🙂 |
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Post by leonski on Aug 20, 2018 20:54:40 GMT -5
The Demo Disc that came with my HSU Research Sub has a very good recording of the Saint Saens 'Symphony Number 3' so called 'with organ'.
This has a monster bass line of the type from either a 32' or 64' pipe. My sub will BARELLY reproduce the 16hz tone. At lower amplitudes.
I have a disc by Carol Williams, the former San Diego Municipal Organist recorded at Blenheim Palace, the ancestral home of the Churchills. (Think Winston)
This is a marvelous instrument of great power in a very well done space. And the power is visceral. 'In The News' is a wonderful showpiece. (Think Roller Skating)
One of my prize discs however, is the Michael Murray recordings made on th Ruffatti Organ in DAvies Symphony Hall.......For TELARC which not only issued a 'direct to disc' version on Vinyl,
but the Direct to CD version which I have. Most of this disc is kind of Churchy with the first 30" plus being BACH.
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Post by craigl59 on Aug 22, 2018 10:20:12 GMT -5
OK Guys: Power Supply update and GOOD NEWS!
Have been fine tuning my XPA-1 setup and have added a Furman 20 amp cleaner/conditioner to the 20 amp circuit. This unit shows both voltage and current draw and, so, now I can report specific values.
WHEN IN CLASS A the 2 monoblocks start out drawing 9 amps then, as the unit warms up, moves down to a stable 6.4 amps (both amps, 3.2 each). With the cooling fans I have operating, and very efficient Tekton speakers, this is enough amperage power for all but the loudest of orchestral crescendos. In short, my listening stays in class A all of the time and it sounds splendid indeed.
WHEN IN CLASS A/B the draw for both monos moves up and down centering around 2 amps. Because of the circuitry, this draw changes with music load but never gets very high.
AT REST, the two monos draw exactly .2 amps -- which is a similar figure to other audio equipment at rest.
On Leonski's advice, also got a Kill-A-Watt to check total usage from the Tv and other items in the chain. All other components use roughly 9 amps when operating.
SO, a single 15 amp circuit would not be enough. A single 20 amp circuit would suffice but would be challenged by sudden amp bursts in class A. And the system I am using, one 20 amp circuit for the amps and a regular 15 amp circuit for all other components, is ideal. The monoblocks have roughly 13.5 amps of headroom to draw on for heavy crescendos and this is enough even for the very loud orchestral music I enjoy.
AND NOW for the good news...
Was able to get 2 more of the XPA-1s from Emotiva. They are out of stock but had an additional 2 available for addicts such as myself.
AS A RESULT, will be able to use the same monoblocks in my winter home and enjoy this level of audio bliss in both homes.
THANKS EMOTIVA! You guys are the best.
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Post by garbulky on Aug 22, 2018 11:06:46 GMT -5
OK Guys: Power Supply update and GOOD NEWS! Have been fine tuning my XPA-1 setup and have added a Furman 20 amp cleaner/conditioner to the 20 amp circuit. This unit shows both voltage and current draw and, so, now I can report specific values. WHEN IN CLASS A the 2 monoblocks start out drawing 9 amps then, as the unit warms up, moves down to a stable 6.4 amps (both amps, 3.2 each). With the cooling fans I have operating, and very efficient Tekton speakers, this is enough amperage power for all but the loudest of orchestral crescendos. In short, my listening stays in class A all of the time and it sounds splendid indeed. WHEN IN CLASS A/B the draw for both monos moves up and down centering around 2 amps. Because of the circuitry, this draw changes with music load but never gets very high. AT REST, the two monos draw exactly .2 amps -- which is a similar figure to other audio equipment at rest. On Leonski's advice, also got a Kill-A-Watt to check total usage from the Tv and other items in the chain. All other components use roughly 9 amps when operating. SO, a single 15 amp circuit would not be enough. A single 20 amp circuit would suffice but would be challenged by sudden amp bursts in class A. And the system I am using, one 20 amp circuit for the amps and a regular 15 amp circuit for all other components, is ideal. The monoblocks have roughly 13.5 amps of headroom to draw on for heavy crescendos and this is enough even for the very loud orchestral music I enjoy. AND NOW for the good news... Was able to get 2 more of the XPA-1s from Emotiva. They are out of stock but had an additional 2 available for addicts such as myself. AS A RESULT, will be able to use the same monoblocks in my winter home and enjoy this level of audio bliss in both homes. THANKS EMOTIVA! You guys are the best. Nice!! Also, before winter, if your speakers have BI AMP terminals, Dan Laufman says there's a nice improvement for using QUAD XPA-1's!! Just remember to remove the bridging metal plate between the two bi amp terminals before you bi amp. |
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Post by leonski on Aug 22, 2018 12:02:58 GMT -5
OK Guys: Power Supply update and GOOD NEWS! Have been fine tuning my XPA-1 setup and have added a Furman 20 amp cleaner/conditioner to the 20 amp circuit. This unit shows both voltage and current draw and, so, now I can report specific values. WHEN IN CLASS A the 2 monoblocks start out drawing 9 amps then, as the unit warms up, moves down to a stable 6.4 amps (both amps, 3.2 each). With the cooling fans I have operating, and very efficient Tekton speakers, this is enough amperage power for all but the loudest of orchestral crescendos. In short, my listening stays in class A all of the time and it sounds splendid indeed. WHEN IN CLASS A/B the draw for both monos moves up and down centering around 2 amps. Because of the circuitry, this draw changes with music load but never gets very high. AT REST, the two monos draw exactly .2 amps -- which is a similar figure to other audio equipment at rest. On Leonski's advice, also got a Kill-A-Watt to check total usage from the Tv and other items in the chain. All other components use roughly 9 amps when operating. SO, a single 15 amp circuit would not be enough. A single 20 amp circuit would suffice but would be challenged by sudden amp bursts in class A. And the system I am using, one 20 amp circuit for the amps and a regular 15 amp circuit for all other components, is ideal. The monoblocks have roughly 13.5 amps of headroom to draw on for heavy crescendos and this is enough even for the very loud orchestral music I enjoy. AND NOW for the good news... Was able to get 2 more of the XPA-1s from Emotiva. They are out of stock but had an additional 2 available for addicts such as myself. AS A RESULT, will be able to use the same monoblocks in my winter home and enjoy this level of audio bliss in both homes. THANKS EMOTIVA! You guys are the best. Most important, and perhaps MORE important than sheer current draw would be the amount of SAG IN THE VOLTAGE. Just for example: Around my house in the winter during the lowest demand on the power grid, I'll measure 119vac or perhaps a few 'tenths' more. During the peak demand of summer, the voltage can even drop BELOW 115vac at which point I start to shut stuff off or even unplug. A brownout is a slight possibility. Typical summer voltage is in the 116 to 117 range. While 4+ volts doesn't SEEM like much, it represents a HUGE draw on the grid. My Kill-A-Watt is plugged into the outlet nearest the box....maybe 6 feet of wire, total to box. Likewise, in your house off a single 15 or 20 amp line? That same 4 volt drop is a LOT of current. Don't forget that any circuit be it 15 or 20 amp is DERATED by 20% for longer term draw. And lastly, that IDLE current you meausre of OVER 300 watts per amp? PURE HEAT. Since the amp is not actually doing any 'amplification' at that point, it is at ZERO efficiency and therefore doing nothing but acting as a room heater. Keep amps well ventilated and watch that electric bill SOAR. |
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Post by craigl59 on Aug 22, 2018 12:22:01 GMT -5
leonski:
As usual, you raise central points.
Have also been following the voltage drop and here are the specifics:
The 20 amp circuit under no load reads 126 volts. In a normal 4-6 hour listening session, it will sag down to an average of 122-124 volts. The lowest I have seen is 119 and this was only for a brief time and during a particularly bad storm when the power appeared to be stressed everywhere in the house.
AND, SO, have been checking the electric bill after the first month and a half of operation. It is up about $15. I can live with that as a cost for class A operation.
As a lifelong musician and occasional studio guy I am aware of the dangers of accumulating too much unused gear. So, now, I buy stuff for specific goals. My goal with the summer home was to generate an orchestral soundstage that can play at concert levels. Have been able to do this with the Emotiva/RME/Tekton combination and, so, will be recreating this in the winter home -- that is currently based on a 5.1 XMC-1 system. Today I will be avoiding the latest unpleasant cable news and listening to the new CDs that just arrived from Amazon -- symphonies by Sgambati, Balakirev, and Kalinnikov. This is what I enjoy in retirement -- along with the spaniels.
And it is worth keeping in mind that these kinds of pleasures cannot be attained without companies like Emotiva. Glad to see that their A-300 amp is doing so well and is such an impressive product at this price point. Have been touting it on Audiogon.
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Post by leonski on Aug 22, 2018 15:37:29 GMT -5
You will have the rare opportunity to compare near-identiacl systems in 2 different rooms. Looking forward to your listening notes.
Here in SoCal if you use TOO MUCH electricity, you get a NastyGram from the power company, which in an effort to keep rates down only awards in the Millions$$ to top executives.
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Post by craigl59 on Aug 28, 2018 19:52:19 GMT -5
Good news continues...
Just got the second pair of XPA-1s and tried them out to make sure they worked before moving them to the winter place. Since the new units were tested with exactly the same setup as is currently used by the first pair, was able to check on "new" versus "Broken in" states.
AND, YES, there is a good amount of difference. "New" the amps sound brighter and more brittle -- still good but slightly raucous. By comparison, the set that has been used for 2 months sounds much more natural, timbrally accurate, and unobtrusive -- just the music, please.
So am delighted to have both places outfitted for the XPA-1 experience and only disheartened by the painful realization that lifting 85 pound packages is becoming harder in old age...but when your Fitbit says the pulse rate is 265, that's normal right?
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Post by leonski on Aug 28, 2018 20:36:38 GMT -5
Bless FitBit!
Keep track of any 'breakin' you may or may NOT note and if the new are G2 amps, the Bias Switch position.
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