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Post by localnet on Jun 9, 2023 18:11:29 GMT -5
Simple question, upgrade from a first gen XPA-2 to the XPA-2 Differential series for $2000, is it worth it? And I have the money.
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Post by AudioHTIT on Jun 9, 2023 23:07:51 GMT -5
Simple question, upgrade from a first gen XPA-2 to the XPA-2 Differential series for $2000, is it worth it? And I have the money. First, just to clarify, are you comparing the current XPA-2 Gen 3 at $1199 vs the XPA-DR2 at $1899? In any case, I can’t tell you if it’s ‘worth it’ (no one but you knows that), but would have you consider your speakers. The XPA-2 gives you 300WPC, plenty to drive most speakers very well, but if your speakers want all the power you can give them (roughly double the XPA-2), and/or they have very low sensitivity (and you listen very loudly), maybe you’d enjoy the DR2 more. The differential circuitry is also of benefit, but the likelihood you’d hear that is low, more a case of wanting a very good amp, or the best amp they offer. Edit: Looked up your speaker specs, sensitivity is around 90dB, and power handling 200W (with 800W peak). So with 300W you could get them up to about 115dB (if they could handle it), with the DR2 you get them about 3 dB higher, though at that point the voice coils might be in the other room. Which is to say, either amp can drive your speakers very well, and will (IMO) sound pretty similar with those speakers. So probably back to very good (and more than enough), or the best. Edit 2: Just noticed you said ‘first gen’ XPA-2, if it’s still working well, I’d probably keep it, unless you just want something new. |
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Post by vcautokid on Jun 9, 2023 23:19:54 GMT -5
A couple deals here. The original XPA-2 was bonkers good. My Brother enjoys his to this day. Drives anything he connects to the XPA-2 Gen 1. It is not quite Full Differential Balanced like the DR amplifiers here are. They are balanced from input to output. They do not use summers, and phase splitters in circuit for the cleanest quietest way to get it done. As they say how you're going to hear is a you thing. But yes, DR is Emotiva's best foot forward in their current amplifier line up. There is lots to like. Plus as you already know Emotiva is totally solid on their power amplifiers especially.
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Post by localnet on Jun 10, 2023 8:54:22 GMT -5
A couple deals here. The original XPA-2 was bonkers good. My Brother enjoys his to this day. Drives anything he connects to the XPA-2 Gen 1. It is not quite Full Differential Balanced like the DR amplifiers here are. They are balanced from input to output. They do not use summers, and phase splitters in circuit for the cleanest quietest way to get it done. As they say how you're going to hear is a you thing. But yes, DR is Emotiva's best foot forward in their current amplifier line up. There is lots to like. Plus as you already know Emotiva is totally solid on their power amplifiers especially. Yep, the original XPA-2 first gen is what I am currently using. What has messed me up is the inclusion of the Venus II 12th DAC... Along with some work to both my network and electrical. I have everything dead silent. And that is where the DR2 grabbed my attention. The truly balanced inputs, which my current XPA-2 does not have. Then I was looking for detail, more detail, not so much loudness. The Venus DAC really changed how I hear the music, and was wondering, will the DR2 deliver that extra bit of detail and perhaps open the instruments up a bit in regards to separation? And when I installed my old XPA-2 back into the system, I did open the case up to inspect. She looks like new inside, very little if any dust, no board issues with glue, etc. I cleaned the top case on the inside, and there was not much there to clean. I gave her a good wipe down and plugged her in. The XPA-2 sounds much better than the Denafrips Thallo amplifier it replaced, more musical is the best way to describe, where the Thallo was a bit dry and reserved. I guess my question is, will the DR2 be more musical than my current XPA-2? Is it a worthwhile upgrade? On Edit: I have the Denafrips Athena preamp coming, I am currently using their Hades pre... Bottom line, I am running a truly balanced system, until I get to the old XPA-2... I am interested to hear the new Athena with the old XPA-2. Another reason I was thinking of the upgrade, to be truly balanced. Mike |
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Post by localnet on Jun 10, 2023 10:45:00 GMT -5
Simple question, upgrade from a first gen XPA-2 to the XPA-2 Differential series for $2000, is it worth it? And I have the money. First, just to clarify, are you comparing the current XPA-2 Gen 3 at $1199 vs the XPA-DR2 at $1899? In any case, I can’t tell you if it’s ‘worth it’ (no one but you knows that), but would have you consider your speakers. The XPA-2 gives you 300WPC, plenty to drive most speakers very well, but if your speakers want all the power you can give them (roughly double the XPA-2), and/or they have very low sensitivity (and you listen very loudly), maybe you’d enjoy the DR2 more. The differential circuitry is also of benefit, but the likelihood you’d hear that is low, more a case of wanting a very good amp, or the best amp they offer. Edit: Looked up your speaker specs, sensitivity is around 90dB, and power handling 200W (with 800W peak). So with 300W you could get them up to about 115dB (if they could handle it), with the DR2 you get them about 3 dB higher, though at that point the voice coils might be in the other room. Which is to say, either amp can drive your speakers very well, and will (IMO) sound pretty similar with those speakers. So probably back to very good (and more than enough), or the best. Edit 2: Just noticed you said ‘first gen’ XPA-2, if it’s still working well, I’d probably keep it, unless you just want something new. Thank you for the reply. The volume level is not a concern, I can rattle the windows with my current first generation XPA-2. As far as a comparison, my old first gen to the DR2 is what I am after. And, my system is fully balanced until I get to my XPA-2, which is another question, going fully balanced vs my current unbalanced state, will there be a marked improvement? I have found a few threads on here that attempted to do some comparisons, but they quickly went off track and no conclusions were ever followed up with. I am surprised there are so few, if any reviews of this particular DR2 amplifier. |
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Post by davidl81 on Jun 10, 2023 12:14:28 GMT -5
I went from a Gen 2 XPA 2 to a DR-2. Let's be honest you are not going to hear a huge difference, but the DR-2 is dead silent and I find it to have a little more detail than the XPA-2 it replaced. Also runs significantly cooler if that matters to you at all. You have a 30 day trial on the DR-2 so if you don't like it you are just on the hook for shipping.
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Post by localnet on Jun 10, 2023 14:12:32 GMT -5
I went from a Gen 2 XPA 2 to a DR-2. Let's be honest you are not going to hear a huge difference, but the DR-2 is dead silent and I find it to have a little more detail than the XPA-2 it replaced. Also runs significantly cooler if that matters to you at all. You have a 30 day trial on the DR-2 so if you don't like it you are just on the hook for shipping. Thank you for the reply. I just received the Denafrips Athena preamp, really opened up my old XPA-2, I think I will just keep her for now. And I have everything dead silent here, you can hear nothing, black is BLACK. Spent much time upgrading electrical and the network to kill any noise, and it worked. |
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Post by localnet on Jun 10, 2023 14:49:57 GMT -5
Just an update: This Denafrips Athena preamp, just arrived today, has brought the XPA-2 to life. The Athena with the Venus II 12th R2R DAC have me hearing things in recordings I thought I knew very well. Even background noise in the recordings is coming through, which had me nervous, thinking my Model 5's were damaged, or there was something amiss in the gear. Nope, it is the recordings. I am streaming from the Pi2 Mercury V2 streamer via i2s. The detail is just scary good. I think I will keep the old XPA-2 for now. She is performing flawlessly.
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Post by audiosyndrome on Jun 10, 2023 19:44:13 GMT -5
👍👍 on the Athena.
Russ
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Post by Boomzilla on Jun 10, 2023 22:04:33 GMT -5
When the time DOES come to replace your amp, don’t write off the BasX amp. I think it sounds better than the Gen. 3 X-series amps!
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Post by vcautokid on Jun 10, 2023 23:25:17 GMT -5
I think BAS-X is the real deal for everyone where the XPA or DR is not necessary. Choice is a beautiful thing.
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Post by localnet on Jun 13, 2023 21:55:08 GMT -5
Well, the DR2 will be here Thursday. I am excited to say the least. I have thirty days to evaluate, so we shall see or hear what happens.
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vega
Minor Hero
Posts: 30
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Post by vega on Sept 22, 2023 19:53:59 GMT -5
Congratulations on getting the new amp! How do you like your DR2? I’m very curious about this amp. I currently have just the BassX A2
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