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Post by AudioHTIT on May 25, 2023 12:13:50 GMT -5
Is there any update on whether a next generation XSP stereo preamplifier is still something Emotiva is looking at releasing in the (hopefully near) future? I have happily been using a USP-1 since it was released back around 2010. It has been great, and is one of the best bargains of any stereo equipment I have ever bought. It has all the features I need in a preamplifier (HT bypass, phono preamp, tape out, high and low pass crossovers, multiple inputs), as outside of Emotiva only Parasound has preamplifiers with all these capabilities. The only things I had found wanting with the USP-1 are 1) the volume control which gets loud quickly and does not allow very fine control; and 2) it can sound a little harsh in the upper mid-range and high frequencies, particularly as volume is increased. So, I reached a point where I intended to replace it with the XSP-1 which based on all the feedback I read has a superb volume control with the analog resistor ladder, as well as having a smoother upper mid-range and high end. The XSP-1 gen 2 was no longer being made by Emotiva though, so I intended to wait until the next generation X-series preamplifier was released. After 3 years though I did not want to keep waiting, so I was able to recently buy locally a used, but in good shape, XSP-1 gen 2 at a good price......and wow am I floored by the performance of it. The volume control is a huge improvement which I expected, but I was not expecting to find it this much better sounding than the USP-1. The XSP-1 sounds more open and much more dynamic than the USP-1. The soundstage is wider, deeper, and just overall bigger sounding. It makes the USP-1 sound flat and compressed by comparison. The phono section is also improved from the USP-1. I would have loved to have spent my money directly with Emotiva for a new and under warranty next generation XSP, but I just did not want to wait any longer as I am not getting any younger and I listen to a lot of stereo music that I want to enjoy to the fullest extent possible. I may still buy a next gen XSP if and when they are released, but there has really been no indication from Emotiva that this is even still something that is being pursued for production and release in the marketplace. Maybe stereo preamps are just a dying product these days, and it does not make business sense for companies to design, build, and sell them at reasonable price points. I expect they’re thinking the XDA-3 will fit that role, and it should for those who have a ‘modest’ analog requirement — one RCA, one XLR input (maybe a turntable and a CD player with balanced outputs). I’d be surprised to see an XSP model resurface when they have other big projects going on.
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KeithL
Administrator
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Post by KeithL on May 25, 2023 12:46:44 GMT -5
Yes... we will have a new "big preamp" on the way... and it's got some really cool features... but it probably won't be available until around the end of this year or early next year. Is there any update on whether a next generation XSP stereo preamplifier is still something Emotiva is looking at releasing in the (hopefully near) future? I have happily been using a USP-1 since it was released back around 2010. It has been great, and is one of the best bargains of any stereo equipment I have ever bought. It has all the features I need in a preamplifier (HT bypass, phono preamp, tape out, high and low pass crossovers, multiple inputs), as outside of Emotiva only Parasound has preamplifiers with all these capabilities. The only things I had found wanting with the USP-1 are 1) the volume control which gets loud quickly and does not allow very fine control; and 2) it can sound a little harsh in the upper mid-range and high frequencies, particularly as volume is increased. So, I reached a point where I intended to replace it with the XSP-1 which based on all the feedback I read has a superb volume control with the analog resistor ladder, as well as having a smoother upper mid-range and high end. The XSP-1 gen 2 was no longer being made by Emotiva though, so I intended to wait until the next generation X-series preamplifier was released. After 3 years though I did not want to keep waiting, so I was able to recently buy locally a used, but in good shape, XSP-1 gen 2 at a good price......and wow am I floored by the performance of it. The volume control is a huge improvement which I expected, but I was not expecting to find it this much better sounding than the USP-1. The XSP-1 sounds more open and much more dynamic than the USP-1. The soundstage is wider, deeper, and just overall bigger sounding. It makes the USP-1 sound flat and compressed by comparison. The phono section is also improved from the USP-1. I would have loved to have spent my money directly with Emotiva for a new and under warranty next generation XSP, but I just did not want to wait any longer as I am not getting any younger and I listen to a lot of stereo music that I want to enjoy to the fullest extent possible. I may still buy a next gen XSP if and when they are released, but there has really been no indication from Emotiva that this is even still something that is being pursued for production and release in the marketplace. Maybe stereo preamps are just a dying product these days, and it does not make business sense for companies to design, build, and sell them at reasonable price points.
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Post by dislocatedday on May 25, 2023 12:47:11 GMT -5
Is there any update on whether a next generation XSP stereo preamplifier is still something Emotiva is looking at releasing in the (hopefully near) future? I have happily been using a USP-1 since it was released back around 2010. It has been great, and is one of the best bargains of any stereo equipment I have ever bought. It has all the features I need in a preamplifier (HT bypass, phono preamp, tape out, high and low pass crossovers, multiple inputs), as outside of Emotiva only Parasound has preamplifiers with all these capabilities. The only things I had found wanting with the USP-1 are 1) the volume control which gets loud quickly and does not allow very fine control; and 2) it can sound a little harsh in the upper mid-range and high frequencies, particularly as volume is increased. So, I reached a point where I intended to replace it with the XSP-1 which based on all the feedback I read has a superb volume control with the analog resistor ladder, as well as having a smoother upper mid-range and high end. The XSP-1 gen 2 was no longer being made by Emotiva though, so I intended to wait until the next generation X-series preamplifier was released. After 3 years though I did not want to keep waiting, so I was able to recently buy locally a used, but in good shape, XSP-1 gen 2 at a good price......and wow am I floored by the performance of it. The volume control is a huge improvement which I expected, but I was not expecting to find it this much better sounding than the USP-1. The XSP-1 sounds more open and much more dynamic than the USP-1. The soundstage is wider, deeper, and just overall bigger sounding. It makes the USP-1 sound flat and compressed by comparison. The phono section is also improved from the USP-1. I would have loved to have spent my money directly with Emotiva for a new and under warranty next generation XSP, but I just did not want to wait any longer as I am not getting any younger and I listen to a lot of stereo music that I want to enjoy to the fullest extent possible. I may still buy a next gen XSP if and when they are released, but there has really been no indication from Emotiva that this is even still something that is being pursued for production and release in the marketplace. Maybe stereo preamps are just a dying product these days, and it does not make business sense for companies to design, build, and sell them at reasonable price points. I expect they’re thinking the XDA-3 will fit that role, and it might for those who have a ‘modest’ analog requirement — one RCA, one XLR input (maybe a turntable and a CD player with balanced outputs). I’d be surprised to se an XSP model resurface when they have other big projects going on. I'm surprised it took this long for a next-generation DAC/digital preamp in the XDA-3 to come out as well.
A new X-series preamplifier is probably not a priority. They do have the Bas-X PT2 and PT-1 preamps available, which I have not heard. I would have considered trying one of those, but they do not have a secondary fixed level stereo output (tape loop or processor loop) which I need as I like to run a separate headphone amp off that fixed level output.
I feel like a man out of time sometimes, as I still like to just sit in a chair in the sweet spot between my two main speakers (with two subs also to handle the low end) and listen to my music at a decent volume. I do stream, but I also listen to CDs and vinyl (as well as surround music discs). I do not think this is how most people listen to music these days though. The industry as a whole seems much more slanted towards computer audio and headphone listening, and any music listening through a speaker in the home is done through a soundbar or some other smaller single speaker device (e.g., Amazon Echo device).
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Post by dislocatedday on May 25, 2023 13:01:42 GMT -5
Yes... we will have a new "big preamp" on the way... and it's got some really cool features... but it probably won't be available until around the end of this year or early next year. Is there any update on whether a next generation XSP stereo preamplifier is still something Emotiva is looking at releasing in the (hopefully near) future? I have happily been using a USP-1 since it was released back around 2010. It has been great, and is one of the best bargains of any stereo equipment I have ever bought. It has all the features I need in a preamplifier (HT bypass, phono preamp, tape out, high and low pass crossovers, multiple inputs), as outside of Emotiva only Parasound has preamplifiers with all these capabilities. The only things I had found wanting with the USP-1 are 1) the volume control which gets loud quickly and does not allow very fine control; and 2) it can sound a little harsh in the upper mid-range and high frequencies, particularly as volume is increased. So, I reached a point where I intended to replace it with the XSP-1 which based on all the feedback I read has a superb volume control with the analog resistor ladder, as well as having a smoother upper mid-range and high end. The XSP-1 gen 2 was no longer being made by Emotiva though, so I intended to wait until the next generation X-series preamplifier was released. After 3 years though I did not want to keep waiting, so I was able to recently buy locally a used, but in good shape, XSP-1 gen 2 at a good price......and wow am I floored by the performance of it. The volume control is a huge improvement which I expected, but I was not expecting to find it this much better sounding than the USP-1. The XSP-1 sounds more open and much more dynamic than the USP-1. The soundstage is wider, deeper, and just overall bigger sounding. It makes the USP-1 sound flat and compressed by comparison. The phono section is also improved from the USP-1. I would have loved to have spent my money directly with Emotiva for a new and under warranty next generation XSP, but I just did not want to wait any longer as I am not getting any younger and I listen to a lot of stereo music that I want to enjoy to the fullest extent possible. I may still buy a next gen XSP if and when they are released, but there has really been no indication from Emotiva that this is even still something that is being pursued for production and release in the marketplace. Maybe stereo preamps are just a dying product these days, and it does not make business sense for companies to design, build, and sell them at reasonable price points. From one Keith (myself) to another..........thank you for the update and letting me know this has not been completely abandoned.
As I mentioned, I just bought a used XSP-1 gen 2 last week and I really am floored by how much improvement it has brought to the music I play through it versus my USP-1. I was really skeptical that it would sound much different and better than my USP-1, but it is clearly better sounding to me and not something that I even have to strain my ears to detect the differences.
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KeithL
Administrator
Posts: 9,960
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Post by KeithL on May 25, 2023 13:09:40 GMT -5
Not really... The XDA-3 is a high-end DAC... and is designed for audiophiles who spend most of their time in the digital domain. It has all of the features you would expect in a high-end DAC as well as an HDMI-ARC input so you can connect it directly to your TV. And it has two sets of stereo analog inputs, in case you still have one or two analog sources, like maybe a phono preamp, or a high end streamer with an analog output... Or in case all of your sources are digital today but you think you might want to check out vinyl, or some other analog source, in the future. And it also has a very nice headphone amp. And, of course, you can connect it directly to your power amp, just like a preamp... But our new preamp will have more features that "analog audiophiles" expect in a full-featured analog preamp... Like tone controls, and a subwoofer output, and options for both some digital inputs and an internal phono preamp... And more than two pairs of analog inputs... (And, no, I'm not giving out any more details quite yet... ) Is there any update on whether a next generation XSP stereo preamplifier is still something Emotiva is looking at releasing in the (hopefully near) future? I have happily been using a USP-1 since it was released back around 2010. It has been great, and is one of the best bargains of any stereo equipment I have ever bought. It has all the features I need in a preamplifier (HT bypass, phono preamp, tape out, high and low pass crossovers, multiple inputs), as outside of Emotiva only Parasound has preamplifiers with all these capabilities. The only things I had found wanting with the USP-1 are 1) the volume control which gets loud quickly and does not allow very fine control; and 2) it can sound a little harsh in the upper mid-range and high frequencies, particularly as volume is increased. So, I reached a point where I intended to replace it with the XSP-1 which based on all the feedback I read has a superb volume control with the analog resistor ladder, as well as having a smoother upper mid-range and high end. The XSP-1 gen 2 was no longer being made by Emotiva though, so I intended to wait until the next generation X-series preamplifier was released. After 3 years though I did not want to keep waiting, so I was able to recently buy locally a used, but in good shape, XSP-1 gen 2 at a good price......and wow am I floored by the performance of it. The volume control is a huge improvement which I expected, but I was not expecting to find it this much better sounding than the USP-1. The XSP-1 sounds more open and much more dynamic than the USP-1. The soundstage is wider, deeper, and just overall bigger sounding. It makes the USP-1 sound flat and compressed by comparison. The phono section is also improved from the USP-1. I would have loved to have spent my money directly with Emotiva for a new and under warranty next generation XSP, but I just did not want to wait any longer as I am not getting any younger and I listen to a lot of stereo music that I want to enjoy to the fullest extent possible. I may still buy a next gen XSP if and when they are released, but there has really been no indication from Emotiva that this is even still something that is being pursued for production and release in the marketplace. Maybe stereo preamps are just a dying product these days, and it does not make business sense for companies to design, build, and sell them at reasonable price points. I expect they’re thinking the XDA-3 will fit that role, and it should for those who have a ‘modest’ analog requirement — one RCA, one XLR input (maybe a turntable and a CD player with balanced outputs). I’d be surprised to see an XSP model resurface when they have other big projects going on.
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