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Post by bardx86 on Aug 27, 2022 11:24:46 GMT -5
Hi,
I'd like for a little input from the community. I current have 2 UPA-1s that are now running a pair of revel F208's upgraded from a pair of CM8s. I just added the C208 center and its currently on AVR power. My first thought was to add another UPA-1 for the center but started to look at new amps. I really like the XPA HC1s and thought about getting 3 of them but I'm not sure I can fit them in my rack. So then I started looking at the XPA-3. My question is moving to the new XPA line add anything over my UPA-1 stuff? Should I just add another UPA-1 and be done with it as it will fit in my rack? Is going from a mono block setup to a multi channel XPA going to be a noticeable difference in imaging, separation, or added cross talk?
Thoughts?
Thanks in advance,
Brad
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Post by vcautokid on Aug 27, 2022 11:48:26 GMT -5
From a voicing stand point that really is the easy way the UPA-1 is it. Since it is out of production, you have to find these used of course. Also Emotiva just introduced the new BAS-X Monoblock too. Same virtues. Nice beefy linear power supply like your UPA-1s and in a form factor similar to your UPA-1s. The UPA line has always been a favorite of mine. The more reachable of what Emotiva was about. I think the BAS-X continues the goodness of the UPA today. The HC-1 is an entirely new way of doing amplifiers compared to BAS-X. It is inherently more expensive to get there but with the narrow form factor in some custom applications make it very attractive. It definitely is not the typical 17 wide 2RU thing the BAS-X and the UPA family would be. Width may not be a challenge but depth might depending on your setup. Amplifiers and Speakers are where I see Emotiva really shine. Amplifiers especially. They done it a long time well. My brother enjoys the XPA-2 I used to have to this day. I followed Emotiva Audio since 2006 or so. Preamplifiers and Amplifiers is how I discovered them. I sold Hifi in Los Angeles, and a customer brought in an Emotiva Preamplifier and he said I had to hear this. I loved it, and have been with Emotiva ever since. Everything I have Emotiva? Nope. But what I do have, it is most satisfying. My BAS-X A2 my latest is doing great in a bi-amp setup in my home office home theater setup. Summary. You can't go wrong with any Emotiva amplifier. It comes down to applications, associated gear and speakers, and other factors, but most importantly, your expectations.
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Post by bardx86 on Aug 27, 2022 12:03:54 GMT -5
Well I guess what im trying to understand is, are the newer XPAs better sounding than UPA? Will I lose something moving from mono blocks to multi channel amps?
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Post by vcautokid on Aug 27, 2022 12:12:42 GMT -5
Monoblocks by the virtue of not sharing the power supply, no crosstalk as it is a Monoblock is the holy grail of audio. If I could support all Monoblocks I would be there already. The UPA and BAS-X family and the HC-1 make it easy without killing your budget. Bang for the buck these are tough to beat.
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Post by vcautokid on Aug 27, 2022 12:14:31 GMT -5
The UPA is founded by the XPA DNA. The current XPA family evolved from the foundation of XPA/UPA for instance.
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Post by vcautokid on Aug 27, 2022 12:15:06 GMT -5
Also what was learned from XPR.
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Post by bardx86 on Aug 27, 2022 12:26:59 GMT -5
The UPA is founded by the XPA DNA. The current XPA family evolved from the foundation of XPA/UPA for instance. Ya I understand that but has there been an improvement in the new XPA sound? |
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Post by bardx86 on Aug 27, 2022 12:33:00 GMT -5
Monoblocks by the virtue of not sharing the power supply, no crosstalk as it is a Monoblock is the holy grail of audio. If I could support all Monoblocks I would be there already. The UPA and BAS-X family and the HC-1 make it easy without killing your budget. Bang for the buck these are tough to beat. So I understand mono blocks ideally would be best but reading online a lot of folks say stereo vs mono blocks is a bit overblown. Since ive only ever has the mono blocks I was curious if I would notice a difference in using a 3 channel amp vs my current mono blocks. |
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Post by pallpoul on Aug 27, 2022 12:52:08 GMT -5
I have used both and preferred the XPA-3. I am using the XPA-3 Gen-3, to power my R/L/C, and sound is powerfully awesome.
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Post by bardx86 on Aug 27, 2022 12:54:03 GMT -5
I have used both and preferred the XPA-3. I am using the XPA-3 Gen-3, to power my R/L/C, and sound is powerfully awesome. Over the upa-1s? |
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Post by dougport on Aug 27, 2022 14:12:05 GMT -5
Monoblocks by the virtue of not sharing the power supply, no crosstalk as it is a Monoblock is the holy grail of audio. If I could support all Monoblocks I would be there already. The UPA and BAS-X family and the HC-1 make it easy without killing your budget. Bang for the buck these are tough to beat. So I understand mono blocks ideally would be best but reading online a lot of folks say stereo vs mono blocks is a bit overblown. Since ive only ever has the mono blocks I was curious if I would notice a difference in using a 3 channel amp vs my current mono blocks. The revel speakers you are using are relatively easy to drive at 88.5 db sensitivity into 8 ohms impedance and the center shows 89 db at 8 ohms so I doubt you would notice any significant difference |
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Post by garbulky on Aug 27, 2022 14:28:51 GMT -5
I vote for an XPA-3 gen 1 or gen 2. I used the UPA-2 for years and loved it. The UPA-1's sound nice and better but the older generation XPA range sounded better to me. Having said that, for most people amps will sound identical. If you are genuinely curious about monoblocks and want to do it cheap try the equivalent of a used Emotiva PA-1 which is a tiny balanced class D monoblock that sold at $300 and imo sounded nearly as good as an XPA-1 gen 2. The current XPA-2 gen 3 gives you better bass extgension than the UPA-1 and a sense of "quickness" very close to the XPA-2 gen 2. But unfortunately there was something off about the way it did the tone or overall sound. It was so off that I preferred even my Bas-X A-100 over it. The older generation of XPA gen 1 and 2 amps sounded better.
Keep in mind these are my subjective impressions. People haven't been able to reliably distinguish between amps in double blind tests and I can't distinguish between amps in a regular level matched comparison test. So take that for what's it's worth.
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Post by bardx86 on Aug 27, 2022 14:53:00 GMT -5
I vote for an XPA-3 gen 1 or gen 2. I used the UPA-2 for years and loved it. The UPA-1's sound nice and better but the older generation XPA range sounded better to me. Having said that, for most people amps will sound identical. If you are genuinely curious about monoblocks and want to do it cheap try the equivalent of a used Emotiva PA-1 which is a tiny balanced class D monoblock that sold at $300 and imo sounded nearly as good as an XPA-1 gen 2. The current XPA-2 gen 3 gives you better bass extgension than the UPA-1 and a sense of "quickness" very close to the XPA-2 gen 2. But unfortunately there was something off about the way it did the tone or overall sound. It was so off that I preferred even my Bas-X A-100 over it. The older generation of XPA gen 1 and 2 amps sounded better. Keep in mind these are my subjective impressions. People haven't been able to reliably distinguish between amps in double blind tests and I can't distinguish between amps in a regular level matched comparison test. So take that foo Perfect this is what I was looking for. I have been using mono blocks but I need a 3rd channel and space is limited. Not going class d tho just not my thing. I'll look for a gen2 I think. thanks! |
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Post by garbulky on Aug 27, 2022 18:04:57 GMT -5
I vote for an XPA-3 gen 1 or gen 2. I used the UPA-2 for years and loved it. The UPA-1's sound nice and better but the older generation XPA range sounded better to me. Having said that, for most people amps will sound identical. If you are genuinely curious about monoblocks and want to do it cheap try the equivalent of a used Emotiva PA-1 which is a tiny balanced class D monoblock that sold at $300 and imo sounded nearly as good as an XPA-1 gen 2. The current XPA-2 gen 3 gives you better bass extgension than the UPA-1 and a sense of "quickness" very close to the XPA-2 gen 2. But unfortunately there was something off about the way it did the tone or overall sound. It was so off that I preferred even my Bas-X A-100 over it. The older generation of XPA gen 1 and 2 amps sounded better. Keep in mind these are my subjective impressions. People haven't been able to reliably distinguish between amps in double blind tests and I can't distinguish between amps in a regular level matched comparison test. So take that foo Perfect this is what I was looking for. I have been using mono blocks but I need a 3rd channel and space is limited. Not going class d tho just not my thing. I'll look for a gen2 I think. thanks! You are welcome! Excuse my spelling mistake at the end, I wasn't trying call anyone a "foo" lol. I currently use an XPA-1 gen 2 and honestly it's utterly fantastic. One of the things I liked with an XPA-1 or XPA-2 is increase in "perceived" bass extension with my axiom m80 towers. With the UPA I felt that I needed dual subwoofers. With the XPA-1 gen 2, I don't need them - for my small living room. They also provide more subtle details and low volume quality than my UPA-2. The UPA-2 has a darker sound signature which is very pleasant similar to the UPA-1. But the XPA gen 1 and gen 2 amps are no slouch in a good overall sound signature. |
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Post by bardx86 on Aug 27, 2022 22:43:00 GMT -5
Perfect this is what I was looking for. I have been using mono blocks but I need a 3rd channel and space is limited. Not going class d tho just not my thing. I'll look for a gen2 I think. thanks! You are welcome! Excuse my spelling mistake at the end, I wasn't trying call anyone a "foo" lol. I currently use an XPA-1 gen 2 and honestly it's utterly fantastic. One of the things I liked with an XPA-1 or XPA-2 is increase in "perceived" bass extension with my axiom m80 towers. With the UPA I felt that I needed dual subwoofers. With the XPA-1 gen 2, I don't need them - for my small living room. They also provide more subtle details and low volume quality than my UPA-2. The UPA-2 has a darker sound signature which is very pleasant similar to the UPA-1. But the XPA gen 1 and gen 2 amps are no slouch in a good overall sound signature. Also thinking maybe a parasount a31. thoughts? |
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Post by bardx86 on Aug 28, 2022 17:10:13 GMT -5
You are welcome! Excuse my spelling mistake at the end, I wasn't trying call anyone a "foo" lol. I currently use an XPA-1 gen 2 and honestly it's utterly fantastic. One of the things I liked with an XPA-1 or XPA-2 is increase in "perceived" bass extension with my axiom m80 towers. With the UPA I felt that I needed dual subwoofers. With the XPA-1 gen 2, I don't need them - for my small living room. They also provide more subtle details and low volume quality than my UPA-2. The UPA-2 has a darker sound signature which is very pleasant similar to the UPA-1. But the XPA gen 1 and gen 2 amps are no slouch in a good overall sound signature. Also thinking maybe a parasount a31. thoughts? Whats your thoughts on the gen 1 vs gen 2? |
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Post by creimes on Aug 28, 2022 18:53:09 GMT -5
There is nothing wrong with the Gen 3 XPA amps if you were looking to consolidate to one amp, or the XPA-DR-3 if ya wanna get crazy haha.
Cheers,
Chad
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Post by garbulky on Aug 28, 2022 20:08:08 GMT -5
Also thinking maybe a parasount a31. thoughts? Whats your thoughts on the gen 1 vs gen 2? I haven't heard the Parasound. I prefer the pricing of the Emotiva products. I think both the gen 1 and gen 2 are good. Gen 2 is newer sothat's a good thing. Subjectively there are slight sonic differences between them, ones that I would have a hard time telling. If you want to get super particular the gen 2 XPA-2 sounded more relaxed and natural vs the gen 1, an overall refinement. But honestly they are both excellent. The main differences between gen 1 and gen 2 32db gain on gen 1. 29db of gain on gen 2 (slightly better) Marginal refinement in power supply for gen 2. Black trim aesthetics (some like the old silver trim). I like both. The five year transferrable warranty may still be in effect on gen 2 gear. XPA-1 gen 2 IS substantially different than the gen 1. It has the ability to go into high bias class A (60 watts) before transitioning when the power demand is higher to A/B to produce a massive 500 watts into 8 ohms. Since most speakers use only a few watts of power at most, the XPA-1 will be in class A the majority of the time in this mode. This ability can be reverted with a switch on the front to standard class mode (about 5 or ten watts) to give you a savings in power consumption and heat. The only fully balanced amps Emotiva produces in recent times are: Emotiva PA-1. gen 1 and gen 2: XPA-1, XPA-2. XPA-1L. gen3: XPA DR-1, DR-2, DR-3. The entire XPA series will accept XLR connections though regardless of its balanced capability. |
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