A-500 Initial Feedback and Questions

[drumace]

Hi guys,

I got myself the A-500 after having enough of searching for a used XPA-200 gen 2 (though would still love to get one :-)).
I bought it as a factory refurbished.
Here are some thoughts after few days of use:

1. I was disappointed to find the amp was shipped in a single box and not double, no amp fabric cover, and no replacement fuses. Talked with the CS and they said its how it is for factory refurbished. I remember a quote from the CEO saying factory refurbished products are almost indistinguishable from new ones. Well, this is not the case unfortunately. I'd pay the extra 10% to get a "clean" unit".

2. Fan noise - already saw threads about it but I remember that the CEO said the fans only there for safety reasons and will not work in normal conditions. Well, they do work in my AV cabinet which is open (back and front) and the noise is heard from 10 feet away which is unacceptable. I have an XPA-1L sitting below the A-500 (drives my center channel) so I'm wondering if this is what triggers the fans above (although the XPA-1L is only slightly warm).
Is it safe to open the unit and disconnect the fans?
Will it void the warranty?

3. Speaker terminals - I personally think they feel a level or more below what I'm used from Emotiva.

4. Volume - the A-500 replaced my old Anthem MCA-5 amp and I use it with my surround channels. For some reason, the volume I'm getting feels lower than what I had in the past. Not sure if it is related to RCA instead of XLR I used with the Anthem.

Besides that, the amp looks like a well built amp and I hope I'll be able to start enjoying it soon.

Looking forward for your feedback.

Thanks

[Ex_Vintage]

I have had an A-500 for about 10 months. It is in a closed cabinet (the door may be open, or sometimes it is closed). The back of the cabinet contains 2 large 2-3 inch slots from top to bottom. I have no additional cabinet fans. I use the A-500 mostly for 2.1 channel music and occasionally for 5.1 movies. I have never heard the fans in the amp and I usually play music at a fair volume (-15) on my MC-700 pre-pro. Does the unit feel warm, because mine is slightly warm to the touch when exercised well with the door of the cabinet closed.

[leonski]

Oct 17, 2018 2:45:31 GMT -5 drumace said:

Hi guys,

I got myself the A-500 after having enough of searching for a used XPA-200 gen 2 (though would still love to get one :-)).
I bought it as a factory refurbished.
Here are some thoughts after few days of use:

1. I was disappointed to find the amp was shipped in a single box and not double, no amp fabric cover, and no replacement fuses. Talked with the CS and they said its how it is for factory refurbished. I remember a quote from the CEO saying factory refurbished products are almost indistinguishable from new ones. Well, this is not the case unfortunately. I'd pay the extra 10% to get a "clean" unit".

2. Fan noise - already saw threads about it but I remember that the CEO said the fans only there for safety reasons and will not work in normal conditions. Well, they do work in my AV cabinet which is open (back and front) and the noise is heard from 10 feet away which is unacceptable. I have an XPA-1L sitting below the A-500 (drives my center channel) so I'm wondering if this is what triggers the fans above (although the XPA-1L is only slightly warm).
Is it safe to open the unit and disconnect the fans?
Will it void the warranty?

3. Speaker terminals - I personally think they feel a level or more below what I'm used from Emotiva.

4. Volume - the A-500 replaced my old Anthem MCA-5 amp and I use it with my surround channels. For some reason, the volume I'm getting feels lower than what I had in the past. Not sure if it is related to RCA instead of XLR I used with the Anthem.

Besides that, the amp looks like a well built amp and I hope I'll be able to start enjoying it soon.

Looking forward for your feedback.

Thanks

XLR / Balanced is +6db over RCA / Single Ended.    

When I run my TV sound thru my DAC, balanced to the preamp, it is louder than the same signal from the small dish receiver via optic to the preamp.   

[garbulky]

So the A-500 running its fan so much sounds abnormal. I would take it out and see if it still does that. Also you definitely should NOT disconnect the fan.

[leonski]

yes and yes........

Fan is there because of ....otherwise.....not enough heat sink when amp is pushed.

[drumace]

Oct 17, 2018 22:13:32 GMT -5 leonski said:

Oct 17, 2018 2:45:31 GMT -5 drumace said:

Hi guys,

I got myself the A-500 after having enough of searching for a used XPA-200 gen 2 (though would still love to get one :-)).
I bought it as a factory refurbished.
Here are some thoughts after few days of use:

1. I was disappointed to find the amp was shipped in a single box and not double, no amp fabric cover, and no replacement fuses. Talked with the CS and they said its how it is for factory refurbished. I remember a quote from the CEO saying factory refurbished products are almost indistinguishable from new ones. Well, this is not the case unfortunately. I'd pay the extra 10% to get a "clean" unit".

2. Fan noise - already saw threads about it but I remember that the CEO said the fans only there for safety reasons and will not work in normal conditions. Well, they do work in my AV cabinet which is open (back and front) and the noise is heard from 10 feet away which is unacceptable. I have an XPA-1L sitting below the A-500 (drives my center channel) so I'm wondering if this is what triggers the fans above (although the XPA-1L is only slightly warm).
Is it safe to open the unit and disconnect the fans?
Will it void the warranty?

3. Speaker terminals - I personally think they feel a level or more below what I'm used from Emotiva.

4. Volume - the A-500 replaced my old Anthem MCA-5 amp and I use it with my surround channels. For some reason, the volume I'm getting feels lower than what I had in the past. Not sure if it is related to RCA instead of XLR I used with the Anthem.

Besides that, the amp looks like a well built amp and I hope I'll be able to start enjoying it soon.

Looking forward for your feedback.

Thanks

XLR / Balanced is +6db over RCA / Single Ended.    

When I run my TV sound thru my DAC, balanced to the preamp, it is louder than the same signal from the small dish receiver via optic to the preamp.   

OK, so does it mean I have to set the surround channel levels to +6dB (or lower all other channels) in order to get a balanced levels across all channels? The AV8801 asks you on its wizard whether each channel is connected using RCA or XLR so I thought this also applies to the levels which I'd expect will be set automatically according to the type of connection in use.
BTW, I'm not using the calibration system so currently all levels are set to 0dB.

[davidl81]

Oct 18, 2018 2:27:50 GMT -5 drumace said:

Oct 17, 2018 22:13:32 GMT -5 leonski said:

XLR / Balanced is +6db over RCA / Single Ended.    

When I run my TV sound thru my DAC, balanced to the preamp, it is louder than the same signal from the small dish receiver via optic to the preamp.   

OK, so does it mean I have to set the surround channel levels to +6dB (or lower all other channels) in order to get a balanced levels across all channels? The AV8801 asks you on its wizard whether each channel is connected using RCA or XLR so I thought this also applies to the levels which I'd expect will be set automatically according to the type of connection in use.
BTW, I'm not using the calibration system so currently all levels are set to 0dB.

Yes, you would either need to calibrate the Pre/Pro or just manually adjust the dB level to offset the 6dB delta.

FWIW I have the A-700 and A-300 and I have never heard the fan run on either.

[lancity]

So I just got an A-500 and am having the same issue... fan runs 24/7 no matter the temp. Any thoughts? Would anything other than heat cause them to turn on?

[creimes]

Jan 15, 2019 16:39:11 GMT -5 lancity said:

So I just got an A-500 and am having the same issue... fan runs 24/7 no matter the temp. Any thoughts? Would anything other than heat cause them to turn on?

May be an issue with your amp as my A-500 fans are idle, I've never heard them on at all, mine is in a open rack in a cool room FYI.

Chad

[jj2106]

Emotiva QC in China?

[garbulky]

Jan 15, 2019 16:39:11 GMT -5 lancity said:

So I just got an A-500 and am having the same issue... fan runs 24/7 no matter the temp. Any thoughts? Would anything other than heat cause them to turn on?

I think you need to contact Emotiva. That does not sound normal

[jj2106]

You should get an outright exchange.
My A-100 has a single fan, which never spins and doesn't make any strange noises.

[Deleted]

Of course I don't know Emo's design, but experienced guess would be-
It sounds like the circuit protection is either not connected and runs constantly (default mode) or the temp sensing circuit getting a false turn-on signal
The "turn-on" sensing device (thermistor) is bad
If it were me, I would raise the non-power supply side up a couple inches , then drop it. (If it were me- shipping will cause more vibrations than the drop)
I doubt Emo is using a mechanical relay, but if they do, it could be stuck.
Either way the unit needs to be returned for service.

[jj2106]

It may be tempting for us, active or retired hardware engineers, to try and diagnose faulty systems.
Unfortunately , it is pointless most of the time, due to the lack of schematics and adequate tools.
This is a job that is best left to manufacturers.
Faulty devices should be returned for repair or exchange.