Post by localnet on Jun 16, 2023 19:09:23 GMT -5
I am simply loving this amplifier! I have had a few amps through here, and have always gone back to my old girl, my first generation XPA-2 due to my speakers... I have been eyeballing the XPA-DR2 since it came out, but I read a few disparaging remarks, well one from a not to be named website (ASR),and held off. I bought other more costly amps, that did nothing for me. Back to my XPA-2... I keep her under the bed, never know when you need to break the glass. I broke the glass quite often.
Well, I recently upgraded my gear, I bought the Denafrips Venus II 12th R2R DAC and their flagship Athena preamplifier. The Athena weighs more than my new XPA-DR2 if you can believe that. The Athena was the game changer, that old XPA-2 was not cutting the mustard anymore... The Athena opened everything up, etc... The old XPA-2 was holding me back. I looked at other amps, in the $4000+ range, and then I found one really positive review of the DR2, and one video on YT. The other reviews, and there were many, trashed the DR2 for some dip in the sound signature or power supply (ASR). Well, those folks never even auditioned the DR2! I discovered that after doing a bit of digging. Or "Drilling Down", as we used to joke in the patch (Oil Field). Dan should really address this, as it is costing Emotiva sales. And I can say that with authority. That was a total hit piece.
I have honestly been looking at this amplifier since it came out, but because of that one website review (ASR), and I am a member, I since avoided everything Emotiva in regards to amps, and even told friends to avoid with the new designs due to that website. And I have owned quite a bit of Emotiva gear over the years, their 8.3 towers, center and bi-pole surrounds, my step-son still owns them. A few of the smaller amps, the XPA-3 that I sold to my buddy, and my XPA-2, along with various other bits. But that one review, held me back for roughly two years, and had me not recommending Emotiva amps. One review, that is all it took. And I drank the kool aid!
Back to the DR2...
This amp is so musical, the soundstage, the musical instrument separation is simply the BOMB! This is a solid 2 channel amplifier that I would put up against amps that cost twice as much. The sound is huge, the headroom is something I will never experience as all of my gear is Zero Gain. This is one killer amplifier for the money, and if you do not like it, you have 30 days to audition and send it back.
I received DR2 yesterday, brought it in and then a three hour long thunderstorm hit... I went to bed, awoke at 0300, unboxed and hooked her up. The first hour was rough, and then she started to loosen up... I have been listening to her since I arrived home at around 1430 hours, and she simply sounds AMAZING as she breaks in. At first, the bass was a bit muddy and boomy, that is gone. There was a bit of smearing in the instruments, that is gone, the instrument separation is so much better than my old XPA-2, the sound is musical, you want to tap that toe, swing that booty! This is one very dynamic amplifier to say the least. Dan hit this one out of the park!
If you are on the fence in regards to this amp, due to that one negative review, just like I have been for the past two years, take a shot, you have 30 day! She burns in quickly. I can only imagine how she sounds in a few weeks.
If anyone that is reading this can pass a message on to Dan, tell him to start promoting this amplifier, send it out to some reviewers and see what happens. This is a hidden gem in my book, no matter what the nay sayers say...
Seriously, there is no bump or interference in the power supply folks. It may show up on the ASR equipment, but it is not audible in the least. Give the XPA-DR2 a serious look
Dan, if you read this post, refute that BS and promote this amp. Two Channel is making a serious comeback, many of us have abandoned the HT and going purist, promote this amplifier, and I say this as a small business owner. That clown did some serious damage. .
Mike
Well, I recently upgraded my gear, I bought the Denafrips Venus II 12th R2R DAC and their flagship Athena preamplifier. The Athena weighs more than my new XPA-DR2 if you can believe that. The Athena was the game changer, that old XPA-2 was not cutting the mustard anymore... The Athena opened everything up, etc... The old XPA-2 was holding me back. I looked at other amps, in the $4000+ range, and then I found one really positive review of the DR2, and one video on YT. The other reviews, and there were many, trashed the DR2 for some dip in the sound signature or power supply (ASR). Well, those folks never even auditioned the DR2! I discovered that after doing a bit of digging. Or "Drilling Down", as we used to joke in the patch (Oil Field). Dan should really address this, as it is costing Emotiva sales. And I can say that with authority. That was a total hit piece.
I have honestly been looking at this amplifier since it came out, but because of that one website review (ASR), and I am a member, I since avoided everything Emotiva in regards to amps, and even told friends to avoid with the new designs due to that website. And I have owned quite a bit of Emotiva gear over the years, their 8.3 towers, center and bi-pole surrounds, my step-son still owns them. A few of the smaller amps, the XPA-3 that I sold to my buddy, and my XPA-2, along with various other bits. But that one review, held me back for roughly two years, and had me not recommending Emotiva amps. One review, that is all it took. And I drank the kool aid!
Back to the DR2...
This amp is so musical, the soundstage, the musical instrument separation is simply the BOMB! This is a solid 2 channel amplifier that I would put up against amps that cost twice as much. The sound is huge, the headroom is something I will never experience as all of my gear is Zero Gain. This is one killer amplifier for the money, and if you do not like it, you have 30 days to audition and send it back.
I received DR2 yesterday, brought it in and then a three hour long thunderstorm hit... I went to bed, awoke at 0300, unboxed and hooked her up. The first hour was rough, and then she started to loosen up... I have been listening to her since I arrived home at around 1430 hours, and she simply sounds AMAZING as she breaks in. At first, the bass was a bit muddy and boomy, that is gone. There was a bit of smearing in the instruments, that is gone, the instrument separation is so much better than my old XPA-2, the sound is musical, you want to tap that toe, swing that booty! This is one very dynamic amplifier to say the least. Dan hit this one out of the park!
If you are on the fence in regards to this amp, due to that one negative review, just like I have been for the past two years, take a shot, you have 30 day! She burns in quickly. I can only imagine how she sounds in a few weeks.
If anyone that is reading this can pass a message on to Dan, tell him to start promoting this amplifier, send it out to some reviewers and see what happens. This is a hidden gem in my book, no matter what the nay sayers say...
Seriously, there is no bump or interference in the power supply folks. It may show up on the ASR equipment, but it is not audible in the least. Give the XPA-DR2 a serious look
Dan, if you read this post, refute that BS and promote this amp. Two Channel is making a serious comeback, many of us have abandoned the HT and going purist, promote this amplifier, and I say this as a small business owner. That clown did some serious damage. .
Mike
