UPA-1 reviews to come...

[teedub21]

You could probably sell the XPA-2 on Audiogon for enought to buy two UPA1's and have a little cash left over!

[eksu]

Got my UPA-1's one day earlier than expected.

First impression is very good. Natural, detailed and good dynamic.

Here are my babies.

[Nemesis.ie]

Jealous - mine only got cleared today as it is an "economy" (hah!) service. So I hope they will arrive tomorrow - only 2 days late.

[twilkins]

Stayed home sick ?? today. Playing vinyl of The Who Live at at Leeds. The UPA-1's are doing an incredible job. This has always been known as one of the best live albums ever produced. The UPA-1's have put The Who in my family room. Glad they're about 30yrs younger than they were on the Super Bowl. Outstanding, and very musical. For HT the UPA-1's work very well with my XPA-5 handling the surrounds and center.

[strindl]

what is that thing sitting on the top shelf between the UPA-1 and the Panasonic component? It appears to have two analogue meters on the front and I can almost make out a Logitech logo. I see your Integra has a "squeezebox" as a source input...is that a new fangled squeezebox receiver?

[kellys]

One thing I have noticed is that this board often (mostly always) focuses on how much power is available for the high end of the dynamics. I personally feel that equally important is how the amplifier handles the low end of the dynamic scale as well. In this regard, the amplifier measures a little higher than average at levels below 1 W. We have heard that the UPA-1 is detailed and laid back, but I am assuming that this is at higher levels; I am interested to know how this amplifier sounds at low volumes. Any comments?

[SteveB]

I've only had a short time with my UPA-1's but, I can say without hesitation this amp is FANTASTIC! It sounds awesome at ALL volume levels. I listened at low volume, my "normal" listening volume and at what I would call high volume (85db) and it just sounded awesome. I like them better for 2 channel than my XPA-5. Smoother and cleaner on the highs, no fatigue. The big difference I heard in my short listening time was in the mid range. Much more detailed and clearer. I can't really say about low end. I'm using ERM 6.2's. I'm glad I bought a pair. I think they're fantastic!

[briank]

Hey Kellys, I wondered this as well after reviewing the specs and before i picked up my amps, so I checked the low volume SQ the first day. Long story short, "no worries", it sounds just as awesome at low to very very low listening levels as it does cranked up. no audible distortion whatsoever, just crystal clear sound. This amp is one clean, detailed and musical sounding amp at any volume level.

[edoggrc51]

Feb 23, 2010 17:21:42 GMT -5 strindl said:

what is that thing sitting on the top shelf between the UPA-1 and the Panasonic component? It appears to have two analogue meters on the front and I can almost make out a Logitech logo. I see your Integra has a "squeezebox" as a source input...is that a new fangled squeezebox receiver?

+1

What is that?? Looks cool.

[strindl]

+1

What is that?? Looks cool.

I don't even know what it is, but I want one. I'm thinking that may just be a squeezebox touch. They have not been released yet in the US I don't believe. Those meters on the front are the same thing you can use on the logitech squeezebox transporter. They look like analogue meters but are actually recreated meters on a multifunction LCD screen.

The best of both worlds...LCD longevity and reliability but they still look like analogue meters.

It's really early in the morning in Norway now...all the Norwegians are still sleeping. We'll have to wait until he wakes up to find out for sure.

[zarthaz]

Its a Squeezebox Classic set to display VU meters via the Squeezebox software settings.
Display can be set to display a variety of things, this one is set to VU meters, that's all.

PS, Upa-1's looking good, am waiting on my quote to ship 3 to here in Australia

[eksu]

That's correct zarthaz, it's a Squeezebox Classic.

[jutta]

Feb 24, 2010 3:45:09 GMT -5 zarthaz said:

Its a Squeezebox Classic set to display VU meters via the Squeezebox software settings.
Display can be set to display a variety of things, this one is set to VU meters, that's all.

PS, Upa-1's looking good, am waiting on my quote to ship 3 to here in Australia

Any chance of a heads up on the quote for the three when you receivce. Would like to add these to the front end of the system

[doct89]

I have 2 UPA-1's hooked up to B&W 683's with Canare 4s11 cable bi-wired. I am waiting on my Sony Str-Da777es to arrive from home for use as a preamp, so i am using my Macbook Pro as a pre for now. I am experiencing signifigant hissing/noise from both speakers in this setup, but i am pretty sure that it is from my laptop and cheap cable between laptop and amps. Aside from that, these sound amazing. Before, the 777es was struggling at loud volumes, but the UPA's power them very easily. The soundstage is amazing, it sounds as if i have a center channel as well.
The only thing that bothers me is that when stacked, the bottom UPA-1's top metal deflects allitle, but returns when the top unit is removed.

[strindl]

Feb 24, 2010 3:45:09 GMT -5 zarthaz said:

Its a Squeezebox Classic set to display VU meters via the Squeezebox software settings.
Display can be set to display a variety of things, this one is set to VU meters, that's all.

PS, Upa-1's looking good, am waiting on my quote to ship 3 to here in Australia

I never knew the sb classic had that feature. I saw it on the transporter and loved it though...but that cost 2 grand. Maybe the new squeezebox touch will offer it and I can upgrade one of my duet receivers. The touch also handles 24 bit 96 khz music files.

[asterisk *]

hi everybody ,

Does anyone feel the UPA-1's match well or sound different when using a XPA-3 or XPA-5 for center and surrounds ? Or would a third UPA be a better idea for center ?

I guess you would have to find yourself saying they sound different while just enjoying a movie or whatever and not just criticaly comparing the actual difference.

[Nemesis.ie]

I have the XPA-5 for surrounds and UPA-1s - the integration is seemless - the tonal qualities are very similar (they should be, they use the same board) - the difference in the UPA-1 is sound stage and depth (3Dness). I have 3 x UPA-1s up front, I must update my sig too.

[twilkins]

Feb 26, 2010 13:52:52 GMT -5 asterisk * said:

hi everybody ,

Does anyone feel the UPA-1's match well or sound different when using a XPA-3 or XPA-5 for center and surrounds ? Or would a third UPA be a better idea for center ?

I guess you would have to find yourself saying they sound different while just enjoying a movie or whatever and not just criticaly comparing the actual difference.

I have the UPA-1's for L/R and the XPA-5 for surrounds and center. I have not noticed any difference in HT sound from when I used just the XPA-5 for the entire HT. I didn't think I would. I bought the UPA-1's for the difference they provided in 2 channel stereo. Not to say that for HT there's no difference, but it would be very subtle.

[Nemesis.ie]

Interesting, I wonder is it because I have a UPA-1 for centre too or what, but for HT I am hearing a MUCH more detailed and 3D sound stage than with the XPA-5.

[soulrider4ever]

It seems most of you who are chiming in have bookshelf speakers being powered by the UPA-1, which I'm guessing you also have some kind of crossover in place. Any owners running towers that can comment on bass and dynamics??