XPA-1 vs. XPA-2 / 5

[honk]

Hi,

I tested the XPA-1 against the XPA-2 in my front setup.

The XPA-1 sounds more relaxed, voices appears clearer, a slightly metallic layer that I got with the XPA-2 / 5 is gone now.

The differ is big enough, that a combination of XPA-1 and XPA-2 for the frontchannels is not that homogeneous like the XPA-2 and XPA-5 combo before. Voices that are panned between center and r/l speakers tend to break up.
For me, the audible discrepancy between XPA-1 and XPA-2 is much bigger than between the XPA 2 and the XPA 3/5.

So...if you are in highend no compromise HT amping, idle power consumption is no issue, and you hear lots of music BDs / SACDs, go with 3 XPA-1 for l/c/r, you'll get a impressive system that is not easy to beat (if at all).

For watching movies 'only', the XPA 2 / 5 combination is a real alternative, they fit pretty good and the coloration of sound is nearly equal. You achieve a balanced, forward sounding / high stage.
They also appears to be louder / more brutal - even when the reference level is the same as with the flawless working XPA-1, which is sonically a class of it's own.

Again: The XPA-1 sound is more subtle, the stage comes out of the deep but lacks of the 'acoustical turbo' that the XPA 2/5 offers.
It is the amp for gourmets, champagne and white truffels, where the multichannel-amps are more like BBQ and cold beer (on a sunny summerday).

Both is desireable and unmatched in the right situation, but complete different worlds like caviar and liquid smoke sauce. You don't want to mix it up.

[LuisV]

Interesting review... or should I say perspective and findings... thanks...

[elvis]

Interesting comments.

I intend to make a detailed comparison of the mono-blocs vs. multichannel gear one of these days...

[honk]

Oh, I forgot: The amps are running on a Onkyo 5507 (no audio EQing), connected via XLR. Speakers are cone-types with optimized impulse response and good dynamic.

[Hammie]

Honk,

I appreciate your review here. Very timely for my potential 2010 upgrade scenario.

I am venturing into a similar situation. I currently have an XPA-5, but I am considering some dedicated amps for my front two speakers. I was considering XPA-1's for the fronts and using the XPA-5 to bi-amp my center and then do surround duties. Would you recommend, based on your experience, a Pair of XPA-2's in order to bi-amp the fronts?

Although I probably do more music listening (90/10), a majority is background while I work. In regards to critical listening, my HT and audio is probably 50/50.

So, in conclusion, you found the XPA-2 was a better sonic match to the XPA-5, correct? Or do you still stand by the XPA-1 recommendation?

[honk]

Hi Lou,

I can't tell you what way you should choose, but biamping is critical, the crossovers in the box often drift when they are seperated by 2 amps. So I never used this option.

I hear a lot music BDs, (E,W&Fire ; Heart in Seattle ; Iron Maidon Flight 666 ; pure audio classic BDs etc.), and I want a identical frontamping and the best possible sound. For me this will be 3 XPA-1s if nothing unforeseen happens till february.
What, if I can only afford the actual setup, or my governance is against 2 more monos? With no doubt, I'll be really happy with the XPA-1/2/5 combi that I own.

Give the XPA-1 a chance and listen how the amp works in your chain. I guess it's a nobrainer to use XPA-1s for the mains and multichannel XPAs for center and effects, as long you want to hear stereo music in reference quality with your mains. For watching movies only, the soundcoloration is not a real matter.
And don't forget, I slag on a extreme high level when I talk about a mismatch between XPA-1 and 2/5, and it's also possible to get different results with other speakers (harsh hornspeakers or average designed cone-speakers can minimize the benefit of the monos dramatically), problematic room conditions, source....other ears ;-)

[honk]

Jan 1, 2010 12:02:53 GMT -5 elvis said:

Interesting comments.

I intend to make a detailed comparison of the mono-blocs vs. multichannel gear one of these days...

We are waiting

[uopdrmark]

still waiting...

[wowfactor]

Great! Now I want to have a barbeque...Go figure!

[Indycolts]

+1

[truwarrior22]

My XPA-1 is more forward sounding then the XPA-3. I asked when I ordered it and they said it would be pretty much seamless. Which I would have went with the XPA-1 now, but didn't want to bother with the shipping back, etc. My rear surrounds sound really good now though ;D

[SeattleHTGuy]

I went with 3 XPA-1s across my L/R/C. In addition, I am powering my Surrounds and DSX Wides with 4 of the 5 channels of an XPA-5 and have the Receiver I am using simply powering the little used Rears. I have owned the system for some time and play it most every night. I do not have experience with the XPA-2 but thought it justified to comment.

The three XPA-1s upfront plus good nearly matching fronts of which my center has two slightly smaller bass units as opposed to my L/R's duals. Here's, my thoughts. I get a perfectly matching blended front stage with what I would describe as dead silent and effortless power. The XPA-1s are just quick to react and really seem limitless in clean power delivery. The XPA-5 is pretty much just goofing off most the time but when I crank a full 9.2 DSX Wide movie at near reference level, there is quite a bit of volume/content going to the surrounds and wides. I feel the XPA-5 does a great job and in my configuration, match the XPA-1s just fine.

I agonized over going with a smaller amp for the center or L/R but am pleased with the 3 big guns up front. At first listen, I did feel the XPA-1s were a bit brighter than my previous B&K Receiver but in retrospect, it may have just been an adjustment to the fast and very upfront sound the XPA-1s provide. Over the last couple of months I have lit up the lights on all 3 front amps and have experienced no distortion of any type and even when played loud, no ear fatigue of any kind. Wife fatigue.... a little bit. IMHO a great amp should not color sound, have far more reserve than required and drive my somewhat (not insanely but somewhat) difficult mains. I must very openly say that neither the XPA-1s or my B&W fronts have ever been sent to the limits of their potential volume. My ears would give out before I get to the Amp Red Zone. My speakers love power, the amps deliver but my head is merely mortal. Ears can only desire so much sound.

So, If you can afford both the spare change and space/weight requirements of so many amps..... I believe strongly that the 3 XPA-1 plus an XPA-5 (or even the new UPA-5) is an excellent way to power your system. Weird as it may seem, for a 7.1 system, 3 XPA-1s and an XPA-4 may work great (Dang they don't make a 4). Oh wait, isn't an XPR-7 just around the corner? That would be sweet.

[Deleted]

Feb 2, 2010 2:02:12 GMT -5 SeattleHTGuy said:

Wife fatigue.... a little bit

Wife fatigue...... ;D Very nice feedback on your system's power performance, SeattleHTGuy. Thanks ;D

[SeattleHTGuy]

Yep, Chuckienut, She is about to drop kick me. Too many changes, too fast for her. All I have left is two ceiling speakers, a fairly complex temperature controlled rack venting sytem and a lot of Harmony Programming. My PC, Emotivas, Denon and misc stuff throws too much heat in to the media room and we are upgrading the ventilation to seal it all off.

I also picked up 4 dual packs of the speaker end kits from Emotiva. Very slick little guys and they will work perfect on my somewhat unattractive speaker lines into the XPA-1s and 5. Plus the dang blasted gap between terminals is a bit of an effort to span. I'm hiding the back of the cabinet and only swing it out late at night to add the truly frivolous speaker bling. The Mrs is ex-phone company though and therefore admires some good wire dressing. (I'm not one to really spend big dollars on cable). I'm all for good quality, decent gauge and that's about it.

Also, hanging in out in downtown Issaquah as I type this; thinking about actually working....