UPA-5 vs XPA-5 - My Opinion

[bfisher]

So I am the proud new owner of a UPA-5 (and already owned a XPA-5) - so it seemed like a good idea to do a shootout ;D

Background:
- speakers - ERM-6.3s. I only tested 2 channel audio - I didn't want to take the time to do all 5
- sub - Elemental Designs A5-350
- Processor - LMC-1
- Music - streamed from my music server, all MP3s at 320kb. All very loud...

• Duke Ellington and Count Basie (First Time) - Battle Royal
  
• Pink Floyd (Momentary Lapse of Reason) - On The Turning Away
  
• Stevie Ray Vaughn - Tin Pan Alley
  
• Lady Gaga - Bad Romance
  
• Shakira - She Wolf
  
• Joss Stone - Right to be Wrong
  
• Blues Traveler (Bastardos) - Amber Awaits
  
• Talking Heads - Once in a Lifetime
  

- I do not consider myself an audiophile. I appreciate quality sound but I'm not an expert. I haven't listened to $20k speakers. I can't tell you what it means when reviewers say it's "light and airy" (or whatever). I'm on the high-side of average joe - I want clean and clear. I want no extra noise. I want to be swept away into the music.

Test:
- I moved my main L/R speakers from my XPA-5 to 2 channels of the UPA-5.
- I queued up a bunch of music and started listening. Thankfully my wife joined me so it wasn't just my opinion.
- After the music finished, I moved the speakers back to the XPA-5 and listened to the music again
- I did not tell my wife which amp I started with. She assumed it was the XPA-5.
- I had the LMC-1 set on the same volume for both amps so there would be no differences.

Thoughts during testing:
UPA-5
- Wow - this thing is a fricken beast. Damn it's hard to get it in my room.
- Wow - if you don't look at the label, you can't tell the two amps apart from the front. (the XPA-5 leds are a bit brighter)
- the back connectors aren't as nice as the XPA-5. Cheaper plastic. Just RCA inputs, no XLR (not that I use them anyways).
- (Duke/Basie) - Wow! (I thought that alot) This amp is awesome! Some of the trumpets were a bit bright, but I think that's the recording. This amp swings!
- (Pink Floyd) - Holy @#$% this amp is quiet. Pristine intro. Gorgeous
- (SRV) - goosebumps. I love SRV and this amp doesn't disappoint
- (Gaga) - uck. Muddy. Way too much bass and mid-bass. Probably the song. Even my wife wasn't thrilled with it (although she still danced to it). Her voice was clear, but the music was mush.
- (Shakira) ahh - now that's better. I can picture her singing and dancing to this song. Nice and clear.
- (Joss) - Wow - goosebumps. What a voice. And clear and strong. The amp rocks
- (Blues Traveler) - what a great tune most have never heard. Clear and powerful.
- (Talking Heads) - swept away... this amp rocks!

My wife agreed - this amp is awesome. The only song that didn't sound great is Lady Gaga and I expect it's mixed for dance floors - not home theaters.

I then went back into my closet and swapped my inputs/speakers back to the XPA-5. Started the music over.
- (Duke) - Wow, sounds just like the UPA-5. Very pleased with both.
- (Pink Floyd) - Hmmm... this is even better. How?? I can't tell but it's even more amazing!
- (SRV) - holy @#$% - this is even better. I comment to my wife "you know, I think I like this amp better". I see my wife's face go grim and she says she agrees. (Remember, she thinks this is the UPA-5 and she heard the XPA-5 first... so she's worried I overpaid for the XPA-5).
- (gaga) - wow, it's better. Still crap... bloated in the middle, but gaga's voice is crystal clear and sharp. I can pick out some of the individual crap making up the muck
- (Shakira) - Wow - this is awesome. Wife says "I definitely like this one better but I don't know why"
- (Joss) - wife says "yep, this is better by a little bit, but don't know why. I'm sorry your more expensive amp isn't as good". I told her that it's the XPA-5 she likes better. I finished the other songs myself

Summary:
The UPA-5 blew me away. It was awesome. I was absolutely stunned by it.

And then I plugged in the XPA-5 and it got even a little bit better (although I don't know how to describe it).

I believe the UPA-5 is better than any AVR out there (I used to have a high-end Yamaha AVR and a Pioneer Elite AVR before I found Emotiva). I believe it is as good as most high-end amps. Unless you have an even higher-end amp to A/B with, I can't imagine anyone would not be pleased with it.

I believe the XPA-5 is even slightly better than that. If you consider yourself a true audiophile, or just want the best and money isn't as important - this is the amp you want.

I currently have the UPA-5 connected to my USP-1 and my ERM-1s in my office - and it's awesome.

edit: adding an image

[SteveB]

Thanks for taking the time to do the comparison. I have an XPA-5 and was toying with down grading to a UPA-5 and putting the money difference towards a USP-1. That won't be happening :-)

[bfisher]

... but make sure you get a USP-1. I love mine!

[Spiky]

I'm a little confused over all the comments about great sound when testing with...MP3?? These amps must be even better than I thought.

[bfisher]

Hey - if you can hear the difference of lossless vs mp3 at 320kb - you are better than me. I've tried many times and unless I'm doing a direct A/B switch - 320kb sounds pretty damn good to me. As noted above "I do not consider myself an audiophile" and why it's "my opinion". Next time you take the time and do the review since you obviously have much more sophisticated ears than I do.

[Porscheguy]

Thanks for this!! So my question for you is..........

If you auditioned these two amps at the local HT store, which one would you buy considering price/performance and the $250.00 more for the X?

And for instance, if you gave the XPA-5 a score of 100, what does the UPA get?

Best!!

[Porscheguy]

Feb 6, 2010 23:57:41 GMT -5 bfisher said:

Hey - if you can hear the difference of lossless vs mp3 at 320kb - you are better than me. I've tried many times and unless I'm doing a direct A/B switch - 320kb sounds pretty damn good to me. As noted above "I do not consider myself an audiophile" and why it's "my opinion". Next time you take the time and do the review since you obviously have much more sophisticated ears than I do.

I have to confess, I've taken a couple of really well recorded CD's, Diana Krall, Fourplay and a David Benoit CD and dumped the into iTunes and played them through my system from my iPod.

I have hard time telling the difference between the two. If I had to critique, I'd say that the iPod ACC files lacked little "air and clarity" compared to the CD. For casual listening, iPod and iTunes is perfectly acceptable and IMHO, for rock it makes no difference based on the rock material I've listened to.....

[bfisher]

If the XPA-5 was a 100, I'd give the UPA-5 a 100 unless I heard the XPA-5 immediately before/after Honestly, the UPA-5 was an awesome amplifier - I was thrilled when listening to it.

If I did an A/B switch like at a store, I could hear the slight difference - and the XPA-5 being a 100 would give the UPA-5 a 98.

If I was buying amps for my theater (which if you've seen the pics, I spent hundreds of hours and many thousands of dollars on) - I would buy the XPA-5 without hesitation. It's a small price to pay to know I have the best (well, I guess 7 XPA-1s would be the best, but that's not going to happen for me). For any other room in my house - the UPA-5 would probably be my first choice - blows away anything else out there and I don't have to have the absolute best I can afford.

[Nemesis.ie]

As Bruce has the same speakers + an AT screen like I have and I have an XPA-5 too, this might be a good review to compare to my 3 x UPA-1s when they arrive.

I don't think I have any of those songs though. ;-)

BTW, a track I like for testing is ZZ Top - "I need you Tonight" lots of different stuff in there.

AC/DC is good too as there is usually lots of stuff far left/right plus the vocals tend to be on the muddy side, so if you can hear them well, you know you have good gear/well set up.

[bfisher]

I'd love to hear your assessment of 3 UPA-1s vs an XPA-5 for your fronts. I think many of us are wondering the same thing

[Nemesis.ie]

With luck I will have them in a couple of weeks and I'll try to get some testing time, might be tricky with birthdays and visits coming up though.

I might even get around to some photos!

[Porscheguy]

Well, my UPA-7 is goin' back and I'm gettin' an XPA-5......

Haven't figured out what I'll do to power the patio speakers, maybe that Dayton amp or the new Emo one whatever that is.....

I wish someone made decent wireless powered speakers..........

[devani]

nice....there's a difference and it's good enough for me

[patrick]

I notice you also have a UPA-2 and I have been wondering how the UPA-2 compares to the UPA-5 for 2 channel listening?

I currently have a USP-1 and UPA-2 and love the sound when listening to my ERC-1, but I'm also using my AVR for the other channels and I will need another power amp when I replace the AVR with a UMC-1. If the UPA-5 sounds as good as the UPA-2 for 2-channel then I'd be happy, otherwise I would have to consider an XPA-3 or XPA-5.

[bfisher]

I admit I didn't test the UPA-5 vs UPA-2. Now they are in two different rooms with 2 different speaker set (ERM1s vs ERM6.3s) If I find a good excuse to do a comparison I'll let you know... however I can state without hesitation that I'm totally satisfied with all 3 amp combos (UPA-5, UPA-2, and XPA-5).

[patrick]

Thanks for that, I have a been very happy with my UPA-2 and I'm sure the UPA-5 would be great also but an XPA-5 is remains a temptation.