XPA 1 Gen 2 better than XPA 2 Gen 2?

[509Paul]

I keep talking myself out of ordering the XPA 1 Gen 2 closeout amps since I already have an XPA 2 Gen 2 running the fronts. Is there any reasons to think the XPA 1 amps would be an improvement and to remove the XPA 2 in terms of sound quality. For my home theater setup the XPA 2 is more than enough but I alway wonder it the 2 channel music experience could be better with these amps and the class A mode. My speakers are Polk Audio Rti-A9 currently but I plan on a set of Martin Logan’s in the future to possibly pair with the monoblocks.

[Gary Cook]

Based on my experiences, as long as you use the monoblock advantages they are always better than equivalent stereo amps.

Cheers
Gary

[garbulky]

Jun 9, 2018 18:33:05 GMT -5 509Paul said:

I keep talking myself out of ordering the XPA 1 Gen 2 closeout amps since I already have an XPA 2 Gen 2 running the fronts. Is there any reasons to think the XPA 1 amps would be an improvement and to remove the XPA 2 in terms of sound quality. For my home theater setup the XPA 2 is more than enough but I alway wonder it the 2 channel music experience could be better with these amps and the class A mode. My speakers are Polk Audio Rti-A9 currently but I plan on a set of Martin Logan’s in the future to possibly pair with the monoblocks.

First you should know that the martin logan electrostatics in balanced mode provides close to a 1 ohm load in certain frequency ranges. But the motion range is just fine.
I have used both the 2 and XPA 1 gen 2 as well as the 1L and the XPA-2 gen 1


It's not a simple answer. At this point you already have one of the best stereo amps out there. A lot of it comes down to how good is your setup. I haven't heard it so I don't know. Is it capable of very subtle details, portraying room dimensions of the recording etc? Does it have pinpoint imaging? If it doesn't then likely you won't hear a difference.

For me there is a difference between the 1 and the 2. Basically the 2 is cut out of the exact same cloth. But the 1 provides a bit more of a seamless soundstage. In class A mode, the 1 is a bit more immersive. For me the difference is worth it. I think the XPA-1 gen2 is the best amp I've heard and for me it's stunning. I love it every time I listen to it. But you have to know the difference isn't going to knock you upside the head and depending on the quality of your setup you may not even hear it.

[teaman]

I think for the price of the close out Gen 2 XPA-1 that would easily be the better choice. Not that the XPA-2 is lacking but to have all that headroom and additional power on tap in a balanced monoblock....it is worth the extra money. Class A was not a huge make or break situation for me and I heard very little or no difference other than the amp got a lot hotter. If you plan on running balanced, the XPA-1 is the way to go.....good luck!


Tim

[509Paul]

I am using an XMC 1 with all balanced connections to the amps and the source is an OPPO UDP-203 feeding an LG OLED and being used to play music discs for stereo listening.