XPA-DR2 questions

[MSWguest]

Hello:

I'm considering buying an XPA-DR2.

I'd especially like to hear from folks who have purchased the XPA-DR2.   But anyone in the know, please reply.  

1)  Is this "differential reference" technology similar to the McIntosh Labs "quad balanced" technology?    I don't really understand either (not being an electrical engineer) but from cursory reading it seems they are at least similar, if not the same.      Except for the price of a McIntosh vs. the XPA-DR2 of course!    

2)  Is it worth the extra $600 to buy the XPA-DR2 vs, the $1,000 XPA-2, Generation 3?

More questions may follow as I think of them.

Thanks everyone,
Mark

[niuguy]

Bump because I’m curious as well.

[leonski]

At some point you must make some decisions. Deciding on gear based on some 'technical' aspect makes sense only if you can HEAR it. Most modern A/B amps are fairly satisfying to listen to and you won't go far off with many of the
'big names' in audio.
Mc sounds enough different to have what's called a 'house sound' or 'presentation'. Like it? Buy it. Don't like it? Move on.

And while you're moving on, try to get past MOST of the specs and advertising blurbs. Every maker searches for a 'unique selling position' and some are more successful than others.

Some speakers also simply do not like some amps. Old-School speakers with high internal damping might not pair well with a modern high-damping SS amp. But would with even a modern Tube amp. \
Modern HT speakers are Usually Designed to be a fairly EASY load for the partnering amp. No huge impedance dips or phase swings. So most competent amps (electrically, anyway) will work fine. HT receivers
generally have only OK amps easily bettered by stuff like the XPA-5 and all of them.

And lastly, in general, you probably need to evaluate your REAL power needs. This means you have some idea of the speakers you will be using. Highly sensitivie speakers (often wrongly called 'efficient) simply do not need 500 watts each. I could make
use of such power periodically but my speakers are in the 'low sensitivity' end of the spectrum.

And while it is oft repeated, questions like 'What room?' 'What Speakers?' 'Listening habits?' all come into play. If the wife has given you a wall in the living room, you might want to consider good STEREO since HT will become obtrusive, generally, while
WAF (Wife Acceptance Factor) is near-zero for a 7 channel surround system with wires EVERYWHERE.

Just my OPINION, but the better and more thoughtful the purchase you make NOW, the less you will be tempted to start chasing your tail with 'upgrades'. Which may or may NOT actually be so.

[garbulky]

I haven't heard the XPA DR blades. But I have heard the gen 3 single blades and the XPA-1 gen 2. If it was me, I would just go with the XPA-1 gen 2. brutiarti has heard the XPR-1 and the XPA DR amps. He doesn't think the DR amps are as good as the XPR-1

[pallpoul]

Jul 14, 2018 12:17:38 GMT -5 niuguy said:

Bump because I’m curious as well.

In my opinion, it depends om your setting and speakers, I did try both, and to my ears no difference with my La Scala's II. I ended up returning the DR II amp, I still have my xpa-2, gen-3, and use it periodically, with other speakers (less efficient), and it sounds great, and is a good bargain for the price.

[brutiarti]

Jul 14, 2018 12:59:04 GMT -5 garbulky said:

I haven't heard the XPA DR blades. But I have heard the gen 3 single blades and the XPA-1 gen 2. If it was me, I would just go with the XPA-1 gen 2. brutiarti has heard the XPR-1 and the XPA DR amps. He doesn't think the DR amps are as good as the XPR-1

Yes Gar. Let me do a silly automotive comparison but bare with me.
The xpr-1’s can be an F1 racing car. The Brystons are a mclaren street car. Both can do 200mph but the brystons are more refined. The xpr-1’s are raw power and they are awesome. But sometimes you like some comfort. The Dr-1 can be a mustang. It can put 200mph but it takes more effort and you can tell. Of course my ears YMMV

[creimes]

Jul 14, 2018 18:06:03 GMT -5 brutiarti said:

Jul 14, 2018 12:59:04 GMT -5 garbulky said:

I haven't heard the XPA DR blades. But I have heard the gen 3 single blades and the XPA-1 gen 2. If it was me, I would just go with the XPA-1 gen 2. brutiarti has heard the XPR-1 and the XPA DR amps. He doesn't think the DR amps are as good as the XPR-1

Yes Gar. Let me do a silly automotive comparison but bare with me.
The xpr-1’s can be an F1 racing car. The Brystons are a mclaren street car. Both can do 200mph but the brystons are more refined. The xpr-1’s are raw power and they are awesome. But sometimes you like some comfort. The Dr-1 can be a mustang. It can put 200mph but it takes more effort and you can tell. Of course my ears YMMV

On that subject I have always wondered what makes those amps that are more expensive actually sound better(if they do) like is there something one company knows that the other doesn't on making a really good sounding product, just a question that's all.

Chad

[brutiarti]

Jul 14, 2018 18:23:23 GMT -5 creimes said:

Jul 14, 2018 18:06:03 GMT -5 brutiarti said:

Yes Gar. Let me do a silly automotive comparison but bare with me.
The xpr-1’s can be an F1 racing car. The Brystons are a mclaren street car. Both can do 200mph but the brystons are more refined. The xpr-1’s are raw power and they are awesome. But sometimes you like some comfort. The Dr-1 can be a mustang. It can put 200mph but it takes more effort and you can tell. Of course my ears YMMV

On that subject I have always wondered what makes those amps that are more expensive actually sound better(if they do) like is there something one company knows that the other doesn't on making a really good sounding product, just a question that's all.

Chad

To be honest I don’t think that sounds better, just sounds different. But like my analogy said, sometimes you just like heated seats.

[teaman]

I have heard the Bryston 4B amps for years as my two buddies own them. To me they sound better than my Emotiva amps. Not sure how to explain it, just better detail and clarity. Like brutiarti said better refinement. The fact that Bryston offers up a 20 year warranty tells you they build everything with top notch components and expect the product to last. ChicagoRSpec just drove to Canada to pick up some Bryston gear and he told me the set up was his "come to Jesus" moment. It just seems to be the sentiment of most people who hear them. I really don't know anyone that left Bryston to something better, if that makes sense.

[mack71]

The best solution is to check on your system one amplifier and comparison with the other. Emotiva has a 30 day return guarantee, so it's worth a try. I will add from myself that the final effect is influenced by every element of the system, especially the speakers and room acoustics.
Referring to the earlier word Brutiarti, in my system Dr1 are better than Xpr1 and from Xpa1 Gen1 / 2, which confirms what I wrote earlier.
By the way, I congratulate the new Bryston. I never had the opportunity to listen to them because they are very rare in Europe, but I do not doubt that they are wonderful. If you love Epicons, now you have to move towards Epicon8 and you are in heaven

Jul 14, 2018 18:35:04 GMT -5 brutiarti said:

Jul 14, 2018 18:23:23 GMT -5 creimes said:

On that subject I have always wondered what makes those amps that are more expensive actually sound better(if they do) like is there something one company knows that the other doesn't on making a really good sounding product, just a question that's all.

Chad

To be honest I don’t think that sounds better, just sounds different. But like my analogy said, sometimes you just like heated seats.

[26gary26]

Just throwing in my 2 cents. I have an XPA-2 Gen3 that drives my Klipsch RF-7IIS. I have no complaints about what I am hearing at all.

[creimes]

Jul 14, 2018 18:35:04 GMT -5 brutiarti said:

Jul 14, 2018 18:23:23 GMT -5 creimes said:

On that subject I have always wondered what makes those amps that are more expensive actually sound better(if they do) like is there something one company knows that the other doesn't on making a really good sounding product, just a question that's all.

Chad

To be honest I don’t think that sounds better, just sounds different. But like my analogy said, sometimes you just like heated seats.

I hear ya on that analogy but in general it seems a higher percentage of the time if the gear you purchased cost more than one can say it is "better" as in Krell, McIntosh, Bryston, Naim and so on are always way more money to purchase and most everyone who has that gear always says it's better, just an observation I guess lol.

Chad

[leonski]

Better WHAT?
Sound? Appearance? Reliability? Support?
Lots of ways to be 'better', as I'm sure creimes would agree.

sometimes your extra cost is expressed with higher MTBF parts. Bryston tests every amp for 24 hours before shipping.
and for amps supports a 20 year warrant to original purchaser.   Might even be transferable?

[teaman]

Jul 15, 2018 12:51:46 GMT -5 leonski said:

Better WHAT?
Sound? Appearance? Reliability? Support?
Lots of ways to be 'better', as I'm sure creimes would agree.

sometimes your extra cost is expressed with higher MTBF parts. Bryston tests every amp for 24 hours before shipping.
and for amps supports a 20 year warrant to original purchaser.   Might even be transferable?

I believe the warranties are transferable if you have the original bill of sale from an authorized retailer.

[Asle]

I have å bryston 4bsst2 and have compared it directly to xpr5....
I found the xpr a bit moore laidback, but the bass was better and richer with xpr.
On my speakers I prefered the xpr.....
I am also wondering about buying a DR.... Not sure about dr2 or two dr1s.....

[leonski]

Jul 15, 2018 13:31:44 GMT -5 teaman said:

Jul 15, 2018 12:51:46 GMT -5 leonski said:

Better WHAT?
Sound? Appearance? Reliability? Support?
Lots of ways to be 'better', as I'm sure creimes would agree.

sometimes your extra cost is expressed with higher MTBF parts. Bryston tests every amp for 24 hours before shipping.
and for amps supports a 20 year warrant to original purchaser.   Might even be transferable?

I believe the warranties are transferable if you have the original bill of sale from an authorized retailer.

Makes sense.     Bryston is protecting their dealers.     Good idea.      

[donh50]

From the current Bryston warranty page:

As of 2006-02-22 Bryston will only warranty Bryston products purchased through authorized Bryston dealers. Bryston products with a date code of 0608 or higher (date code format is “yyww”, where “yy” is the two least significant digits of the year and “ww” is the week of the year) must be accompanied by a copy of the bill-of-sale from a Bryston authorized dealer to qualify for warranty service. The warranty is transferable from the original owner to a subsequent owner as long as a copy of the bill-of-sale from the original authorized Bryston dealer accompanies the re-sale. The copy of the bill of sale to any subsequent owner need ONLY include the Name of the Bryston Authorized Dealer and the Model and Serial number of the Bryston product. The warranty will only be honoured in the country of the original purchase unless otherwise pre-authorized by Bryston.

IIRC, although Emotiva's warranty is five years, it is also transferable if you sell or pass on your equipment. Wish more companies would follow that sort of model.

[garbulky]

Jul 15, 2018 15:31:16 GMT -5 donh50 said:

From the current Bryston warranty page:

As of 2006-02-22 Bryston will only warranty Bryston products purchased through authorized Bryston dealers. Bryston products with a date code of 0608 or higher (date code format is “yyww”, where “yy” is the two least significant digits of the year and “ww” is the week of the year) must be accompanied by a copy of the bill-of-sale from a Bryston authorized dealer to qualify for warranty service. The warranty is transferable from the original owner to a subsequent owner as long as a copy of the bill-of-sale from the original authorized Bryston dealer accompanies the re-sale. The copy of the bill of sale to any subsequent owner need ONLY include the Name of the Bryston Authorized Dealer and the Model and Serial number of the Bryston product. The warranty will only be honoured in the country of the original purchase unless otherwise pre-authorized by Bryston.

IIRC, although Emotiva's warranty is five years, it is also transferable if you sell or pass on your equipment. Wish more companies would follow that sort of model.

Yes it's great. However the original owner must call and transfer the warranty to the new owner. Which in a way is nice because all it takes is a call. Audio GD has a 10 year non tranferrable warranty which is also nice.

[pedrocols]

Jul 15, 2018 15:31:16 GMT -5 donh50 said:

From the current Bryston warranty page:

As of 2006-02-22 Bryston will only warranty Bryston products purchased through authorized Bryston dealers. Bryston products with a date code of 0608 or higher (date code format is “yyww”, where “yy” is the two least significant digits of the year and “ww” is the week of the year) must be accompanied by a copy of the bill-of-sale from a Bryston authorized dealer to qualify for warranty service. The warranty is transferable from the original owner to a subsequent owner as long as a copy of the bill-of-sale from the original authorized Bryston dealer accompanies the re-sale. The copy of the bill of sale to any subsequent owner need ONLY include the Name of the Bryston Authorized Dealer and the Model and Serial number of the Bryston product. The warranty will only be honoured in the country of the original purchase unless otherwise pre-authorized by Bryston.

IIRC, although Emotiva's warranty is five years, it is also transferable if you sell or pass on your equipment. Wish more companies would follow that sort of model.

I think Emotiva warranty is no longer 5 years.

[donh50]

It is five years for amplifiers and the XMC-1, don't know about all the rest. It is product-specific.