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Post by odedia on Sept 18, 2020 15:17:17 GMT -5
My left XPA-1L amp has been acting up for a long time (audio is occasionally lost and then comes back again). Tried to repair it locally, no one was able to figure out a problem.
So, I guess I'm in for a new pair of amps (working XPA-1L might be rerouted to the center channel).
But I love the sound of this amp so much, that I'm literally looking for EXACTLY that. It drives my Goldenear speakers wonderfully.
I've been looking at the HC-1, but all the Gen-3 models just feel different to me. I understand it could be pointless bias but they seem to have more compromises.
I use a balanced DAC and the XSP-1 Preamp (plus Vinyl when I'm in the mood) as sources.
What would I be missing out on if I go with a pair of these? Would something else be closer in sound quality? Hoesntly, if someone would have sold it on eBay i'd grab then in a heartbeat.
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Post by JKCashin on Sept 19, 2020 0:07:40 GMT -5
I hear you... I love my xpa-1l so much I actually have a spare one sitting on the floor in my bedroom that's not even hooked up to anything waiting for the day when I need it
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Post by odedia on Sept 19, 2020 3:30:56 GMT -5
I hear you... I love my xpa-1l so much I actually have a spare one sitting on the floor in my bedroom that's not even hooked up to anything waiting for the day when I need it Can I lease it until you need it? 😄 |
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Post by vcautokid on Sept 19, 2020 6:31:35 GMT -5
emotiva.com/collections/amps/products/hc-1A different world of amplifier. Not even going to start about how you will like or dislike. I would say give the HC-1 a chance if it makes sense to you. It is a SMPS vs. Linear Power Supply design here. It is the way many are doing things today. Many ways it does very well. Some like the traditional Linear Power Supply Amplifiers better. I have been around both for years myself. It is one of those, you have a preference on one or the other. Both get it done, no question. Staying out of that danger word of "better". Enough stuff circulating in the internet, that I don't need to add to the pile. Connect a pair of HC-1 amplifiers and evaluate for yourself in your listening room and hear them if they are what you expect and enjoy and lastly, like. Predictions are fun, but seldom useful. Until it is in your room for you to listen it is always a bunch of talk.
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Post by JKCashin on Sept 19, 2020 6:53:39 GMT -5
Emotiva will fix it for a set fee of $250 (may be $200... going from memory)
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Post by garbulky on Sept 19, 2020 8:11:46 GMT -5
I would not do it. Does not sound the same or as good
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stiehl11
Emo VIPs 
Give me available light!
Posts: 7,269
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Post by stiehl11 on Sept 19, 2020 11:06:17 GMT -5
I will agree with garbulky and others and say that Lonnie has said in the past that the XPA-1L was the best amp that he's ever designed. |
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Post by garbulky on Sept 19, 2020 11:46:55 GMT -5
Also in case you don't know, the HC-1 is not a fully balanced amp. It's an XPA-2 gen 3, but with a single amp blade instead of two in a smaller chassis. The XPA-1 L is a fully balanced amp. The upgrade to your XPA-1 L is the XPA-1 gen 2. It gives you everything you like about the XPA-1 L but kicks things up a notch. (I've heard XPA-1 L and also quad amped XPA-1 L and the XPA-1 gen 2).
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Post by JKCashin on Sept 19, 2020 14:13:45 GMT -5
90,000 uF capacitance is massive as far as I am concerned! The 450 VA transformer could be bigger but I am not complaining!
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Post by odedia on Sept 19, 2020 14:50:43 GMT -5
Emotiva will fix it for a set fee of $250 (may be $200... going from memory) I even had it under warranty when the issue started and I spoke with Emotiva, but shipping it to the states and then back (+ taxes) makes it too expensive. Plus they might not even find a problem, and they only do "component-level repairs", which if I understand correctly means they don't have spare parts. Thanks everyone for their thoughts. I'll search eBay for used XPA-1Ls. In the meantime I hooked up my old XPA-3 Gen 1, it is not bad (although one output has a slight "circuit" noise that's only audible when no sound is playing). |
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Post by odedia on Sept 19, 2020 14:56:07 GMT -5
The upgrade to your XPA-1 L is the XPA-1 gen 2. It gives you everything you like about the XPA-1 L but kicks things up a notch. (I've heard XPA-1 L and also quad amped XPA-1 L and the XPA-1 gen 2). Just to make sure I didn't miss anything - the XPA-1 Gen 2 is also no longer being sold, correct? |
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Post by garbulky on Sept 19, 2020 14:59:08 GMT -5
The upgrade to your XPA-1 L is the XPA-1 gen 2. It gives you everything you like about the XPA-1 L but kicks things up a notch. (I've heard XPA-1 L and also quad amped XPA-1 L and the XPA-1 gen 2). Just to make sure I didn't miss anything - the XPA-1 Gen 2 is also no longer being sold, correct? Correct. You would have to buy it used or inquire with Emotiva to see if they have any old stock. |
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Post by Gary Cook on Sept 19, 2020 18:05:58 GMT -5
My left XPA-1L amp has been acting up for a long time (audio is occasionally lost and then comes back again). Tried to repair it locally, no one was able to figure out a problem. I assume you have tried all the usual fault finding techniques. Swapped the amps around, swapped the power cables, swapped the speaker cables, swapped the interconnects, swapped the speaker etc. I often get requests to fix power amps and by far most frequently it's not the amp that is the problem. Cheers Gary |
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Post by davidl81 on Sept 19, 2020 19:24:07 GMT -5
Sounds like you are a mono block guy, but I’ll throw out a suggestion for the DR-2 amp over two HC-1 amps. The DR-2 is fully balanced and is more powerful. I have one and it is an amazing amp.
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Post by novisnick on Sept 19, 2020 20:21:37 GMT -5
Sounds like you are a mono block guy, but I’ll throw out a suggestion for the DR-2 amp over two HC-1 amps. The DR-2 is fully balanced and is more powerful. I have one and it is an amazing amp. I wouldn’t dream of suggesting anything but a monoblock but if I had to, I’d definitely go with the DR-2 ! It is a very very good fully balanced differential amp.plenty of power and separation. |
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Post by odedia on Sept 20, 2020 12:05:00 GMT -5
My left XPA-1L amp has been acting up for a long time (audio is occasionally lost and then comes back again). Tried to repair it locally, no one was able to figure out a problem. I assume you have tried all the usual fault finding techniques. Swapped the amps around, swapped the power cables, swapped the speaker cables, swapped the interconnects, swapped the speaker etc. I often get requests to fix power amps and by far most frequently it's not the amp that is the problem. Cheers Gary Yes, I double checked all of that, definitely a specific amp is the issue. Thanks. |
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Post by odedia on Sept 20, 2020 12:08:13 GMT -5
Sounds like you are a mono block guy, but I’ll throw out a suggestion for the DR-2 amp over two HC-1 amps. The DR-2 is fully balanced and is more powerful. I have one and it is an amazing amp. Thanks for the suggestion. Seems to be using SPMS as well for power? Honestly if I could listen to it before deciding I might give it a try but returning a product from overseas is a huge hassle. |
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Post by davidl81 on Sept 20, 2020 12:52:14 GMT -5
Sounds like you are a mono block guy, but I’ll throw out a suggestion for the DR-2 amp over two HC-1 amps. The DR-2 is fully balanced and is more powerful. I have one and it is an amazing amp. Thanks for the suggestion. Seems to be using SPMS as well for power? Honestly if I could listen to it before deciding I might give it a try but returning a product from overseas is a huge hassle. Yeah I get it. I went from a XPA-2 Gen 2 to the DR-2 (so linear to switching) and it’s not missing anything and paired with the RMC-1 is amazing. Just compared to the HC-1 I would go DR-2 all day over the HC-1. |
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Post by odedia on Sept 20, 2020 13:05:12 GMT -5
Now you got me wondering about two XPA-DR1 Monoblocks  |
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Post by leonski on Sept 20, 2020 19:38:20 GMT -5
Emotiva will fix it for a set fee of $250 (may be $200... going from memory) I even had it under warranty when the issue started and I spoke with Emotiva, but shipping it to the states and then back (+ taxes) makes it too expensive. Plus they might not even find a problem, and they only do "component-level repairs", which if I understand correctly means they don't have spare parts. Thanks everyone for their thoughts. I'll search eBay for used XPA-1Ls. In the meantime I hooked up my old XPA-3 Gen 1, it is not bad (although one output has a slight "circuit" noise that's only audible when no sound is playing). NOTHING proprietary in that amp. I think 'component level' means they change out bad parts for new. Except for circuit boards and chassis, everything IN that amp should be findable. Well, maybe NOT the transformer, but than you got bigger fish to fry... What they might NOT find is a bad / cold solder connection. And amp coming and going make me think along those lines. |
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