Differences in XPA amplifier generations

[hawkster]

I am in the market for an XPA amp, as my 25 year old Adcoms have a failing bass response. To replace them, I will need an XPA-5. However, as I am 70, I have a limited budget (not to mention time). Therefor, buying used is appealing. Other than the modularity of the Gen 3, what are other important differences? Would a Gen 2 or even Gen 1 work as well for me? FWIW, I will be driving 4 ohm Martin Logan 60XTs L&R and a 50XT center, plus two ML surrounds.

[garbulky]

I think you'll do very nicely with a used XPA-5 gen 1 or 2. Great sound. No issues. If you want to step it up a used XPA-1 gen 2 is just the ticket imo (but $$).
If I was choosing and I had to buy for all 5 channels it would be the PA-1 amps. Imo it would sound spectacular and cheap. I have heard the ML Motion towers and I think they are worth the money you'll spend on great amps.Imo they are very close but not quite the level of the XPA-1 gen 2 - which is the best amp I've heard.

[Boomzilla]

IMHO, garbulky hit it on the head. Best would be all PA-1 amps, but you'd also do OK with a generation one or two XPA-5 amplifier. The only disagreement I'd have would be the XPA-1 recommendation - yes, they're superb amps, but you'd need FIVE of them and they're neither small or inexpensive. You'd get 95% of their performance with the PA-1 amps plus the PA-1s (all five of them) would fit into the same space as a single XPA-1, and they'd collectively weigh less.

[stiehl11]

I agree with garbulky and Boomzilla that the XPA-5 gen 1 or 2 should do you well. And I also agree that... wait, you specifically said limited budget. So, $1,600 for 5 PA-1 amps and apx. $3,500 for 5 XPA-1 amps are likely out of your budget if you're looking for a used XPA-5 at the going rate of spx. $600. Sure, the amps they recommended are great amps, but so is the XPR-5 and a host of other amps that are likely above your implied budget and not what you're looking for.

The XPA-5 will run your MLs well. It ran/runs my Phase Techs well (the Phase Tech PC-9, my previous L/R speakers, would dip to 1.8 ohm). The only major difference that I can tell is the weight savings between the previous generations and the current Gen 3.

[davidl81]

Oct 9, 2019 0:04:29 GMT -5 hawkster said:

I am in the market for an XPA amp, as my 25 year old Adcoms have a failing bass response. To replace them, I will need an XPA-5. However, as I am 70, I have a limited budget (not to mention time). Therefor, buying used is appealing. Other than the modularity of the Gen 3, what are other important differences? Would a Gen 2 or even Gen 1 work as well for me? FWIW, I will be driving 4 ohm Martin Logan 60XTs L&R and a 50XT center, plus two ML surrounds.

I had a Gen 2 XPA-5 and it’s a damn fine amp. I replaced it with a Gen 3 XPA-9 (5 mono boards 2 stereo boards) just to reduce the number of amps in my rack. The Gen 3 is lighter, but SQ wise there is not much of a difference. If you need 5 channels I would look for a used XPA-5 Gen 2 and call it good. The only reason I say Gen 2 is just because it will be a little newer and may still have factory warranty.

[mgbpuff]

Each generation of Emotiva amps got more complex. Gen 1 is my favorite. No monkey business. In fact it was so good the other generations were based on it.

[Gary Cook]

My first Emotiva amp was an XPA-5 Gen 1 and I still have it, a great home theatre addition, more than enough grunt and has handled anything that I have thrown at it.

Cheers
Gary

[cawgijoe]

Oct 9, 2019 15:27:47 GMT -5 Gary Cook said:

My first Emotiva amp was an XPA-5 Gen 1 and I still have it, a great home theatre addition, more than enough grunt and has handled anything that I have thrown at it.

Cheers
Gary

Same here!

[slk55]

My first and only Emotiva amp is an XPA5 gen 1. On all day every day, runs cool solid, built like a bank vault. Driving a pair of Polk LSI15,s and Lsic center. Along with Polk monitor 70's as side surrounds.

[AudioHTIT]

As I am also later in years, I have come to consider lighter amps as a criteria. Some here don’t like the Gen 3 amps because of their power supply and hence their lightness, but for HT duty I’ve been quite pleased with the sound of the G3 and very much appreciate it’s lighter weight; the PA-1’s also fit that bill and they’re fully balanced (albeit with a few more power cords). I would no longer buy a heavy amp (though I still own two), as I don’t believe it’s required to get good sound, and heavy amps get damaged in shipping more often.

[daveczski65]

+1 for the PA-1 amps,,I have three on the fronts,,with tektons,,Luv them.

[audiobill]

Heavy amps keep the Ms. toned.....

[donh50]

I have three Gen 1 XPA amplifiers (XPA-2, XPA-3, XPA-5) purchased ranging from 2007 to 2010. Knocking on wood but all are doing just fine. They are basic amps without the class G and switch-mode power supplies of the later series ampas so are heavier and a little hotter-running. I would be surprised if there was significant sound difference but have only briefly heard a Gen 2 amp and never (AFAIK) a Gen 3 so can't say from experience. If you can move the thing (heavy), a used Gen 1 would be a good deal. They main drawback I can think of is that I have read Emotiva no longer services Gen 1 products so you'll be on your own for a local repair shop if it does go out.

[AudioHTIT]

Jul 13, 2020 11:20:36 GMT -5 audiobill said:

Heavy amps keep the Ms. toned.....

I do call her if I need to move the VTLs, she likes building rock walls and is pretty strong.

[donh50]

Jul 13, 2020 14:12:08 GMT -5 AudioHTIT said:

Jul 13, 2020 11:20:36 GMT -5 audiobill said:

Heavy amps keep the Ms. toned.....

I do call her if I need to move the VTLs, she likes building rock walls and is pretty strong.

Annoy her much?

[audiobill]

LOL, I read climbing rock walls!