Post by 0pter0n on Jan 12, 2010 17:14:48 GMT -5
My purchase of the XPA-3 was not planned. I had recently bought an Emotiva UPA-2 to drive the front speakers, while my Acurus Mondial 100 handled the center and real channels. I had been delighted with the UPA-2: it was a distinct upgrade compared to the previous Parasound HCA-500 and, I believe, a terrific value at the price.
However, when the Acurus started emitting an intermittent warbling noise, I was in serious trouble. There just aren't many good audio repair technicians around these days. And when the owner of one of the top audio dealers in Philadelphia told me he didn't know of anyone in whom he had confidence, I decided to replace the unit. Looking around, it turned out that 3 channel amps are disappearing from the market. There were a few used units on Audiogon starting at around $500 - not terribly encouraging, considering that there would be no protection against later issues. I then decided to check the forums at Emotiva to see what might be around. No sooner had I gotten to the home page when I saw that the XPA-3 was on sale for $519 + shipping. It didn't take long to decide to try one out.
As is well documented here, this is a large, heavy unit and I was delighted to be able to get it to fit on the bottom of my just deep enough shelving unit. I decided that I would run the center and front speakers with the XPA-3 and move the UPA-2 to do the rears. Having gotten it on a Friday, I spent Saturday morning getting it in place and doing some test listening. However, when I played a test video, it became evident that the center channel was dead, despite the cheerful blue light. Monday morning, I called Emotiva, spoke with Nick and the replacement shipped that afternoon.
Back in business by Thursday, I got it hooked up and started listening. Following a valuable suggestion in a conversation with Vince at Emotiva, I decided to try moving the Klipsch's* around. And it didn't take too long to make me appreciate what it was I had purchased. A change of position of a couple of inches was immediately apparent. Changing cables was noticeable. In brief, what the XPA-3 offers is an upgrade that allows you to hear much more of what the other parts of your system are doing. And it does this at a reasonable price!
I had become somewhat disenchanted with the sound-stage cast by the Klipsch positioned where they had been for a few years. Listening to a variety of other speakers (Ohm F2, Aperion 5T, Totem's, etc., didn't help: I could get a better sound-stage, but the bass response just wasn't there or, when it was, as with the B&W 683's, the overall sound just didn't encourage me to listen to music hour after hour.
But adding the XPA-3 to the Klipsch's (now in a near field position) made everything better. At the beginning of the 1998 Colombia release of "A Little Night Music" there are several notes on a piano joined by what turns out to be a quintet. I can now hear that the two male voices are positioned well forward of the three female singers, who are on risers, with the piano slightly behind the left side male. In what is, in my opinion, the finest performance ever of a saloon song, Bill Miller's piano accompaniment to Sinatra's "One For My Baby" is clearly revealed with all of its tasteful choices against the just slightly hoarse sound of Sinatra's voice. As Vince put it: "The Emotiva amps are 3-dimensional."
In short, I want to hear every recording I own all over again and then I want to, every so often, move things around just a little or change something just to hear what happens. (While video is less important to me, the combination of the XPA-3 and the ERM-1 center channel provides effortless clarity and dynamic range.) Clearly, the XPA-3 has added future years to my enjoyment of my system. Up until now, this kind of experience with a piece of equipment was limited to those people with dramatically more money to spend than I have. The value factor that Emotiva has brought to the marketplace is admirable and deserves all of the praise, and more, that it has received. If you have been wondering about the XPA-3, just try one - even if your budget exceeds the cost. You will be amazed!
* The Klipsch KG-4 was produced up until the early 90's and its sound bears very little resemblance to the current model line, apart from the Legacy models which were also designed by Paul Klipsch.
Listening Room: 9 x 16 x 9 (listening lengthwise)
Rotel CD855 CD Player
NAD T-163 Pre/Pro
Front /Center Amp: Emotiva UPA-2
Rear Amp: Emotiva UPA-2
Fronts: Klipsch KG-4 (1986)
Rears: Acculine A-1 (2008)
Center: Emotiva ERM-1
Sub: Dali S 1.2
However, when the Acurus started emitting an intermittent warbling noise, I was in serious trouble. There just aren't many good audio repair technicians around these days. And when the owner of one of the top audio dealers in Philadelphia told me he didn't know of anyone in whom he had confidence, I decided to replace the unit. Looking around, it turned out that 3 channel amps are disappearing from the market. There were a few used units on Audiogon starting at around $500 - not terribly encouraging, considering that there would be no protection against later issues. I then decided to check the forums at Emotiva to see what might be around. No sooner had I gotten to the home page when I saw that the XPA-3 was on sale for $519 + shipping. It didn't take long to decide to try one out.
As is well documented here, this is a large, heavy unit and I was delighted to be able to get it to fit on the bottom of my just deep enough shelving unit. I decided that I would run the center and front speakers with the XPA-3 and move the UPA-2 to do the rears. Having gotten it on a Friday, I spent Saturday morning getting it in place and doing some test listening. However, when I played a test video, it became evident that the center channel was dead, despite the cheerful blue light. Monday morning, I called Emotiva, spoke with Nick and the replacement shipped that afternoon.
Back in business by Thursday, I got it hooked up and started listening. Following a valuable suggestion in a conversation with Vince at Emotiva, I decided to try moving the Klipsch's* around. And it didn't take too long to make me appreciate what it was I had purchased. A change of position of a couple of inches was immediately apparent. Changing cables was noticeable. In brief, what the XPA-3 offers is an upgrade that allows you to hear much more of what the other parts of your system are doing. And it does this at a reasonable price!
I had become somewhat disenchanted with the sound-stage cast by the Klipsch positioned where they had been for a few years. Listening to a variety of other speakers (Ohm F2, Aperion 5T, Totem's, etc., didn't help: I could get a better sound-stage, but the bass response just wasn't there or, when it was, as with the B&W 683's, the overall sound just didn't encourage me to listen to music hour after hour.
But adding the XPA-3 to the Klipsch's (now in a near field position) made everything better. At the beginning of the 1998 Colombia release of "A Little Night Music" there are several notes on a piano joined by what turns out to be a quintet. I can now hear that the two male voices are positioned well forward of the three female singers, who are on risers, with the piano slightly behind the left side male. In what is, in my opinion, the finest performance ever of a saloon song, Bill Miller's piano accompaniment to Sinatra's "One For My Baby" is clearly revealed with all of its tasteful choices against the just slightly hoarse sound of Sinatra's voice. As Vince put it: "The Emotiva amps are 3-dimensional."
In short, I want to hear every recording I own all over again and then I want to, every so often, move things around just a little or change something just to hear what happens. (While video is less important to me, the combination of the XPA-3 and the ERM-1 center channel provides effortless clarity and dynamic range.) Clearly, the XPA-3 has added future years to my enjoyment of my system. Up until now, this kind of experience with a piece of equipment was limited to those people with dramatically more money to spend than I have. The value factor that Emotiva has brought to the marketplace is admirable and deserves all of the praise, and more, that it has received. If you have been wondering about the XPA-3, just try one - even if your budget exceeds the cost. You will be amazed!
* The Klipsch KG-4 was produced up until the early 90's and its sound bears very little resemblance to the current model line, apart from the Legacy models which were also designed by Paul Klipsch.
Listening Room: 9 x 16 x 9 (listening lengthwise)
Rotel CD855 CD Player
NAD T-163 Pre/Pro
Front /Center Amp: Emotiva UPA-2
Rear Amp: Emotiva UPA-2
Fronts: Klipsch KG-4 (1986)
Rears: Acculine A-1 (2008)
Center: Emotiva ERM-1
Sub: Dali S 1.2
These were my favorite speakers for a long time. Ah, memories... 