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Post by teedub21 on Feb 11, 2010 19:42:39 GMT -5
I'm currently using the USP-1 with an RPA-1. My speakers are rated at 92.5dB/1w/1m. I find that at 9:00 the USP-1 seems to plays slightly lower than the RSP-1. I haven't measured the SPL at my seating position though. What amp are you using and what is the gain of it? Using it with an XPA-5 amp until my UPA-1's get here for my 2 channel system. |
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Post by bigred7078 on Feb 11, 2010 21:06:31 GMT -5
I previously owned the RSP-1, but I could never fully enjoy it because I did not have a great CDP or turntable. I now own the USP-1 and i'll tell you what, this little pre-amp rocks the house!!! I loooove it! Now that I have a TT, i'm able to take full advantage of a pure analog path and it's just amazing. It is sooo clean with a extrememly quiet noise floor. The HT bypass is just a GREAT feature. I'll soon be getting a new sub (Rythmik F12SE) which is known for its incredible musicality, so with the USP-1 having a sub output its a perfect matchup  The only con's I see with the unit are... 1. There is no way to NOT use a sub in 2-channel if you want to utilize HT bypass. 2. No dimmer 3. The unit MUST be on for HT bypass to be active. 4. No tone controls None of these really effect me but I thought I would help make it clear for potential buyers. Overall this unit rocks my freakin socks off!  |
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RPA-1 man
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Post by RPA-1 man on Feb 11, 2010 21:10:47 GMT -5
bigred,
I agree with you that the USP-1 rocks the house. I also noticed that the noise floor is extremely low, basically non-existent.. I also find the music really opens up. The horizontal soundstage is incredible. Emotiva has done it again.
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Post by RPA-1 man on Feb 11, 2010 21:12:15 GMT -5
Nice TT you have there as well.
Hey! Where's the RPA-1? I don't see it in the picture.
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Post by bigred7078 on Feb 11, 2010 21:13:33 GMT -5
bigred, I agree with you that the USP-1 rocks the house. I also noticed that the noise floor is extremely low. I also find the music really opens up. The horizontal soundstage is incredible. Emotiva has done it again. Quick question. I know you owned the RSP-1 for quite awhile. When you made the change, was it the same, better, or ehhhh. Like I said, I "once upon a time" owned the RSP-1, but that was a few years ago now so I can't really compare it. |
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Post by bigred7078 on Feb 11, 2010 21:17:23 GMT -5
Nice TT you have there as well. Hey! Where's the RPA-1? I don't see it in the picture.   |
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Post by RPA-1 man on Feb 11, 2010 21:17:45 GMT -5
Some may hate me for saying this but
1) I find the soundstage to be wider.
2) The noise floor is lower. With rhe RSP-1 idling I could hear a slight hiss from the tweeters. No hiss at all with the USP-1.
3) I find the USP phono stage is quieter as well.
4) I believe the USP is a little forward in it's presentation though compared to the RSP
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Post by RPA-1 man on Feb 11, 2010 21:21:52 GMT -5
I'm willing to bet that your system sounds pretty damn sweet bigred.
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Post by sanjaygolf on Feb 11, 2010 21:24:05 GMT -5
Some may hate me for saying this but 1) I find the soundstage to be wider. 2) The noise floor is lower. With rhe RSP-1 idling I could hear a slight hiss from the tweeters. No hiss at all with the USP-1. 3) I find the USP phono stage is quieter as well. 4) I believe the USP is a little forward in it's presentation though compared to the RSP Blasphemy! |
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Post by RPA-1 man on Feb 11, 2010 21:27:52 GMT -5
Some may hate me for saying this but 1) I find the soundstage to be wider. 2) The noise floor is lower. With rhe RSP-1 idling I could hear a slight hiss from the tweeters. No hiss at all with the USP-1. 3) I find the USP phono stage is quieter as well. 4) I believe the USP is a little forward in it's presentation though compared to the RSP Blasphemy! Don't hate me. Could just be system synergy and room acoustics at work. |
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Post by bigred7078 on Feb 11, 2010 21:30:58 GMT -5
Some may hate me for saying this but 1) I find the soundstage to be wider. 2) The noise floor is lower. With rhe RSP-1 idling I could hear a slight hiss from the tweeters. No hiss at all with the USP-1. 3) I find the USP phono stage is quieter as well. 4) I believe the USP is a little forward in it's presentation though compared to the RSP Thanks man. Don't be afraid to speak your mind It's just part of the natural process in this hobbies "circle of life". I'm willing to bet that your system sounds pretty damn sweet bigred. I enjoy it , thanks rpa1man |
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Post by RPA-1 man on Feb 11, 2010 21:33:35 GMT -5
I don't mean to put down the RSP. It is a freakin' sweet pre. In fact it was hard to part with it. A sad day indeed.
I'm experimenting while waiting for the XSP-1 to arrive. Can't wait.
What were you using before the USP-1 and how would you compare the two?
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Post by bigred7078 on Feb 11, 2010 21:45:27 GMT -5
I don't mean to put down the RSP. It is a freakin' sweet pre. In fact it was hard to part with it. A sad day indeed. I'm experimenting while waiting for the XSP-1 to arrive. Can't wait. What were you using before the USP-1 and how would you compare the two? This is my first pre-amp since the RSP-1. I recently got into vinyl and I decided I needed a pre-amp  I was using the multichannel inputs on my Marantz, which sounded good at the time...that is until I got the USP-1. The USP-1 sounded so much more real and open. I also am waiting on the XSP-1, but I would definately like to hear more about it first. I wonder if they will upgrade the MM/MC phono section at all? |
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Post by RPA-1 man on Feb 11, 2010 21:50:03 GMT -5
Time will tell.
I am really enjoying the USP in the interim though. Once again Emotiva gives me a reason to rediscover my cd collection.
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Post by RPA-1 man on Feb 12, 2010 6:53:02 GMT -5
Some may hate me for saying this but 1) I find the soundstage to be wider. 2) The noise floor is lower. With rhe RSP-1 idling I could hear a slight hiss from the tweeters. No hiss at all with the USP-1. 3) I find the USP phono stage is quieter as well. 4) I believe the USP is a little forward in it's presentation though compared to the RSP Blasphemy! sanjaygolf, I suppose it could be psycho acoustics that makes me think the soundstage is wider, but the noise floor levels at idle are for certain. That is very important to me and I do listen very closely for it whenever I get any new or used gear. With the volume control at minimum on AUX 2 input with no source attached I could hear hiss from a few inches from the tweeter with the RSP. I could not hear the hiss from my seating position which was a good thing. With the USP I hear nothing with my ear on the tweeter. As far as the phono stage is concerned I took a measurement with an SPL meter at 3" from the tweeter and at full open volume the USP phone stage was 3 - 4db quieter than the RSP. It's not a lot but it is noticeable. Maybe the USP has 3db less gain.  I don't know. I believe I've read that the USP has the same phono stage as the RSP but I can't find that post right now. Maybe someone can verify this for us. I know some members or RSP owners may disagree with my findings but I'm just telling it like I hear it. If memory serves me correctly, the RSP did have a slightly more laid back sound which is a good thing. Than again, maybe psycho acoustics at play again. |
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Post by TUBEHEAD EL34 on Feb 12, 2010 19:37:10 GMT -5
I previously owned the RSP-1, but I could never fully enjoy it because I did not have a great CDP or turntable. I now own the USP-1 and i'll tell you what, this little pre-amp rocks the house!!! I loooove it! Now that I have a TT, i'm able to take full advantage of a pure analog path and it's just amazing. It is sooo clean with a extrememly quiet noise floor. The HT bypass is just a GREAT feature. I'll soon be getting a new sub (Rythmik F12SE) which is known for its incredible musicality, so with the USP-1 having a sub output its a perfect matchup The only con's I see with the unit are... 1. There is no way to NOT use a sub in 2-channel if you want to utilize HT bypass. 2. No dimmer 3. The unit MUST be on for HT bypass to be active. 4. No tone controls None of these really effect me but I thought I would help make it clear for potential buyers. Overall this unit rocks my freakin socks off! ![]() i245.photobucket.com/albums/gg73/bigred7078/Vinyl/Nice review. I noticed you are using an emotiva stereo amp as well. Have you A-Bed it with your 3 channel amp? Do you use the usp-1 with the 2 channel amp? |
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Post by sanjaygolf on Feb 12, 2010 20:45:22 GMT -5
I was just kidding when I said that. I guess I should've put a smilie emoticon in there. I'm sure the USP-1 is a great amp and I'm pretty sure if I got one I couldnt tell a difference. If there was a way to dim the lights then I'd be all over the USP.
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Post by RPA-1 man on Feb 12, 2010 22:23:20 GMT -5
I was just kidding when I said that. I guess I should've put a smilie emoticon in there. I'm sure the USP-1 is a great amp and I'm pretty sure if I got one I couldnt tell a difference. If there was a way to dim the lights then I'd be all over the USP. It's cool! No worry. I have an update to what I stated in my earlier post. I discovered why the soundstage seemed to be wider. I had recently been playing around with the crossovers in my speakers. During a listening session late this afternoon I noticed that during some guitar passages that there seemed to be some cancellation going on. I tried it in MONO mode and the sound did not center between the speakers. I knew that wasn't right. I narrowed it down to the midrange drivers using trial and error. So I pulled out one of the mid drivers and reversed the leads. Now when I pressed the MONO button the sound centered. Turns out I inadvertently reversed the polarity of one of the midrange drivers at the crossover board. DOH!! I fixed my error and now the soundstage is more like what I was hearing from the RSP-1. MY BAD!! You can kick me now.  ;D |
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I was using the multichannel inputs on my Marantz, which sounded good at the time...that is until I got the USP-1. The USP-1 sounded so much more real and open. 
I don't know. I believe I've read that the USP has the same phono stage as the RSP but I can't find that post right now. Maybe someone can verify this for us.
;D