Xpa 3 DR 3

[brunomarcs]

Brand new received on Friday. Just now connected it up, I actually read the manual and it said do not power on until all connections are made. I checked them twice, turned on the amp and the button, it was blue then it flashed amber or whatever color then off. Turned it back on and sparks flew out of top towards front vent, it seemed then the switch light turned blue but I unplugged it at this point. Damaged in shipping I’m sure! Ups delivered it of course.

[adaboy]

Jan 26, 2020 19:01:21 GMT -5 brunomarcs said:

Brand new received on Friday. Just now connected it up, I actually read the manual and it said do not power on until all connections are made. I checked them twice, turned on the amp and the button, it was blue then it flashed amber or whatever color then off. Turned it back on and sparks flew out of top towards front vent, it seemed then the switch light turned blue but I unplugged it at this point. Damaged in shipping I’m sure! Ups delivered it of course.

Maybe was damaged during shipping maybe not. Electronic devices can do weird things from time to time.

Also the main point of this generation was to be lighter and less likely to be damaged during shipping. Was the box beat to heck? If not then it was a board or part malfunction.

Could also be a loose connection, open the hood and take a look. Best starting place would be around the area you saw sparks. Look for black soot.

[davidl81]

Jan 26, 2020 22:38:43 GMT -5 adaboy said:

Jan 26, 2020 19:01:21 GMT -5 brunomarcs said:

Brand new received on Friday. Just now connected it up, I actually read the manual and it said do not power on until all connections are made. I checked them twice, turned on the amp and the button, it was blue then it flashed amber or whatever color then off. Turned it back on and sparks flew out of top towards front vent, it seemed then the switch light turned blue but I unplugged it at this point. Damaged in shipping I’m sure! Ups delivered it of course.

Maybe was damaged during shipping maybe not. Electronic devices can do weird things from time to time.

Also the main point of this generation was to be lighter and less likely to be damaged during shipping. Was the box beat to heck? If not then it was a board or part malfunction.

Could also be a loose connection, open the hood and take a look. Best starting place would be around the area you saw sparks. Look for black soot.

I personally would not open up a thing.  Call emotiva tomorrow and they will get your swapped out ASAP.  

[brunomarcs]

Oh yeah I’m not gonna open, gonna send it back but this sets me back you know. In my younger days I would have it out with the ups man, the packaging was not torn up or damaged in any way but it was on its side! I imagine it was thrown about in their handing efforts, Lay it down flat like it goes #1.

[routlaw]

The condition of the package doesn't necessarily indicate how things might have been handled. For instance approximately 20 years ago I received an amp via one of the shippers from another company. The box was in perfect condition, yet when I unpacked the amp things were rattling around inside. Turns out the large power supply capacitors had literally broken off the circuit boards during shipping. There were 3 of them rolling around inside. This one was returned, company sent out a replacement and the same thing happened and that box was also in fine condition. When I ordered the XMC-1 the first two came in DOA due to ribbon cables being being knocked completely out of their socket (for lack of a better term). Both of those boxes were also in fine shape as well. Certainly nothing that would have indicated this level of an impact. 

Regardless bummer you have to deal with this but customer service should be able to take care of you quickly.

[brunomarcs]

Almost every electronic device I’ve ever had shipped had some form of damage but all worked fine. These amps are packed in a more or less hard foam packing, it doesn’t allow for the shipper to be rough which they are. Hifido from japan needs to pack for them. Should be double boxed with plenty of cushion, for you to receive two in the same shape ought to tell them something about there packing.

[mack71]

Jan 27, 2020 14:07:33 GMT -5 brunomarcs said:

Almost every electronic device I’ve ever had shipped had some form of damage but all worked fine. These amps are packed in a more or less hard foam packing, it doesn’t allow for the shipper to be rough which they are. Hifido from japan needs to pack for them. Should be double boxed with plenty of cushion, for you to receive two in the same shape ought to tell them something about there packing.

You have full rights to complaints, returns or exchanges for a product free of defects ... do not waste time ... sometimes it happens

[brunomarcs]

I sent them an email and told em the amp was defective, been at work and it’s hard to get anything done. Once home this evening I swapped out there cord with a known good one I have and wouldn’t you know it, it stayed on with a light for ea channel, it was short lived though, I still had it connected using balanced cables no sound out through an av8801 and once I moved it to try out two channel setup it did the same as before, no more arching though after the first time. It’s back in its box and it’ll be going back Wednesday, I need a return of some kind. I’m curious to know what the hell went wrong with it and is that a sign of things to come.

[doc1963]

Jan 27, 2020 19:37:56 GMT -5 brunomarcs said:

I sent them an email and told em the amp was defective, been at work and it’s hard to get anything done. Once home this evening I swapped out there cord with a known good one I have and wouldn’t you know it, it stayed on with a light for ea channel, it was short lived though, I still had it connected using balanced cables no sound out through an av8801 and once I moved it to try out two channel setup it did the same as before, no more arching though after the first time. It’s back in its box and it’ll be going back Wednesday, I need a return of some kind. I’m curious to know what the hell went wrong with it and is that a sign of things to come.

If it’s of any assurance to you, since 2009 I’ve purchased an XPA-2, XPA-3, XPA-5 and a pair of XPA-1s. All of those were first generation “heavy iron” classic Emotiva amplifiers. I have also purchased a “Gen 3” XPA-5 and a XPA DR-2. I’ve also sent the XPA-5 back to have upgraded to a “nine”. I also have an A-800. So, that’s a total of eight amplifiers with one of them making the round trip twice.

All of these amplifiers were purchased directly from Emotiva and were shipped via FedEx or UPS. All of them survived the trip, worked fine out of the box and are still working fine today.

Based on my past experiences, I wouldn’t worry about it being “a sign of things to come”, but would consider it just bad luck. These things happen all the time regardless of the manufacturer. A flat drop on a hard floor might not show damage to the shipping container, but that sudden jolt resonates straight through the box which possibly could have jarred something loose causing a short.

[cawgijoe]

They should provide you an RMA number to return it.
It’s a nice amp. They will make it right.

[davidl81]

Jan 27, 2020 19:37:56 GMT -5 brunomarcs said:

I sent them an email and told em the amp was defective, been at work and it’s hard to get anything done. Once home this evening I swapped out there cord with a known good one I have and wouldn’t you know it, it stayed on with a light for ea channel, it was short lived though, I still had it connected using balanced cables no sound out through an av8801 and once I moved it to try out two channel setup it did the same as before, no more arching though after the first time. It’s back in its box and it’ll be going back Wednesday, I need a return of some kind. I’m curious to know what the hell went wrong with it and is that a sign of things to come.

On this forum (which is full of Emotiva buyers) we get very little complaints of trouble with amps, and you may be the first with an issue on the Gen 3 amp on here. And based on the RMC thread if there were issues with the amps you would for sure hear about it on here. I would just call it bad luck and you will be fine with the new one.

[tropicallutefisk]

Overall I have been very lucky with my electronics purchases. I have purchased five amplifiers (1 XPA-1L, 1 XPA2 Gen 3 and 3 DR1s) from Emotiva with no issues. The only piece I have ever had an issue with pretty much right out of the box was a Marantz 8802a.

[brunomarcs]

I’m not gonna be discouraged and will have another amp sent out or they probably repair this one as I’m sure it’s something simple, like you say a hard drop on a floor. I also have an xpa2 gen 1 purchased a year ago from a CL seller and it continues to perform flawlessly, although one bank of led’s have quit functioning, now it is a heavy beast as you very well know.

[brunomarcs]

Emotiva had a new amp in route almost immediately after I had gotten thru on Wednesday morning, arrived Friday. It powers on and off and the led’s work on this one. The box on this one has damage to it almost severely but none to amp, the packaging does work. Thumbs up to emo for a fast return, I’ve never had service like that anywhere, I might have the unit installed by tomorrow.

[brunomarcs]

I’ve been listening now for several weeks and can tell you this thing is a beast. I have kappa 7’s for my left and rights, a diy center an alchemy I believe is the name, really great soundstage. My other emo is an xpa 2 gen 1 powering the surrounds which are Infinity’s also, rs 4000’s. I have two height speakers Yamaha hs-8’s powered monitors and I haven’t any more amplification for the other channels presently. Plan is is to purchase an xpa 6 and power the rear surrounds, left and right surrounds and two width channels. Pre pro I have is an 8801 Marantz. I’ll sell the gen 1 emo and I want mono bloc dr’s for my dedicated two channel setup.