Alternative for Emotiva XPA-2 Amp

[jinjuku]

Thanks.. Bit high for my bank account.. Got to sell more stuff for these. I have the wants of a Porsche and the budget for a VW..

Pull the trigger on the P3500S. Amazon Prime and if you don't like it send it pack postage paid by Amazon.

I just sent back a Finger Print scanner with door relay. I shipped it back on 2/20 and had my account refunded by 2/28. Piece of cake.

I think you will like it however same as I think you will like the Parasound or ATI if you can get it at your budget. At least the Yamaha will be a bit below your budget.

Make sure to get some RCA to XLR's from Amazon while at it.

What major city are you near? Craigslist is always worth a shot.

 

[Alex2507]

The 2200 IMO is one of the best deals in 2 channel stereo, I own a usp1 too, also a nice unit...

Audiogon had a 2200 for sale pretty cheap along with some other piece of gear ... crap, just looked, it's 2100 and here's the link:

https://app.audiogon.com/listings/solid-state-parasound-classic-2100-toss-in-a-mf-v-link-ii-24-96-2014-02-04-preamplifiers-98258-lake-stevens-wa

OP, what do you want to spend to begin with? Can you handle a little fan noise? How about the Yammy pro jobs? What's happening here? Amps? Pre-amps? Used gear okay? I like getting local used stuff.

This here was on my radar for awhile:

https://app.audiogon.com/listings/solid-state-aragon-4004-mark-2-2013-04-03-amplifiers-11757-lindenhurst-ny

For a while I had a B&K ST-2140 from the local used market for $200.

B K Components St 2140 High Performance Power Amplifier Made in USA | eBay

I drove some mains and then some subs and then gave it to a friend to drive his mains. I got my 200 bucks worth and then some.

 

[Alex2507]

Pull the trigger on the P3500S. Amazon Prime and if you don't like it send it pack postage paid by Amazon.

Amazon.com : Yamaha P3500S 2x550-Watt Dual-Channel Power Amp Bundle with Two 33-Foot 16-Gauge Speaker Cables and Polishing Cloth : Power Amplifiers : Musical Instruments

Buy something!

Sell something!

 

[slipperybidness]

Did you try feeding your XPA-2 with the HK3490 via it's stereo outs?

You could try feeding the HK with the USP-1.

This way you get to try all your combinations.

I'm a firm believer that anyone can make any audio component, purposefully alter it's response, and market that difference.

When it comes to a Pre-amp you have to consider it's function. It's one of convenience in that it's meant to make it easy to access all your sources.

So think about this: When you purchase a Pre-amp what you are basically doing is trying to purchase the one that does the LEAST AMOUNT OF DAMAGE to the sources you have plugged into it. This is of course assuming critical vs casual listening.

I get a laugh every time I hear about someone espousing the merits of a Pre-amp as it pertains to sound stage, imaging, depth etc. A pre-amp can not do any better then the source connected to it. And ideally it should, in theory, do nothing at all.

If you take a look at my setup I don't even have a pre-amp. It's straight from my sound card to amp to speakers.

You will find the saying "a perfect preamp is a straight wire with gain". Meaning just that, a wire, it neither adds nor subtracts from the source.

 

[walter duque]

You will find the saying "a perfect preamp is a straight wire with gain". Meaning just that, a wire, it neither adds nor subtracts from the source.

I have not heard that term "straightwire pre amp in years". I had the VSP Labs Gold Edition, best pre-amp ever, at least that I have owned.

 

[jinjuku]

Ok That is awesome on so many levels.

 

[ImcLoud]

Audiogon had a 2200 for sale pretty cheap along with some other piece of gear ... crap, just looked, it's 2100 and here's the link:

https://app.audiogon.com/listings/solid-state-parasound-classic-2100-toss-in-a-mf-v-link-ii-24-96-2014-02-04-preamplifiers-98258-lake-stevens-wa

.

Thats what I have the 2100, sorry, the 2200 was the 2 ch amp?

 

[walter duque]

Ok That is awesome on so many levels.

It's the unit on top by the floyd flag, sitting on top a DBX dynamic range expander, also there are 2 Gold Edition amps on that rack and a couple of SAE amps. I don't want you to think that I am just talking. I always did like Floyd. Got a great deal on them when they merged with Video Concept. Pre-amp and 2 top of the line power amps $700.00. Also a pair of ESS speakers (small, but they did sound great)

 

[mike c]

i used to have
4 Behringer A500's (3 of them hissed a bit, only audible from a few feet from the speaker's tweeters)
2 Behringer EP2500's (see my signature on how to reduce fan noise)
1 Yamaha P2500S (loved it for the looks and how the fan isn't always on)

still have
Rotel 1066 (used for pipe in music)
Rotel 1077 (unhooked it and put it in storage to make some rack space)

what i'm trying to say is, it's fun to "upgrade" ... but really, i never heard a difference in SQ. that's why i could part with most of these.

 

[walter duque]

i used to have
4 Behringer A500's (3 of them hissed a bit, only audible from a few feet from the speaker's tweeters)
2 Behringer EP2500's (see my signature on how to reduce fan noise)
1 Yamaha P2500S (loved it for the looks and how the fan isn't always on)

still have
Rotel 1066 (used for pipe in music)
Rotel 1077 (unhooked it and put it in storage to make some rack space)

what i'm trying to say is, it's fun to "upgrade" ... but really, i never heard a difference in SQ. that's why i could part with most of these.

Is that 1066 a pre-pro??

 

[sawzalot]

i used to have
4 Behringer A500's (3 of them hissed a bit, only audible from a few feet from the speaker's tweeters)
2 Behringer EP2500's (see my signature on how to reduce fan noise)
1 Yamaha P2500S (loved it for the looks and how the fan isn't always on)

still have
Rotel 1066 (used for pipe in music)
Rotel 1077 (unhooked it and put it in storage to make some rack space)

what i'm trying to say is, it's fun to "upgrade" ... but really, i never heard a difference in SQ. that's why i could part with most of these.

I followed your fan mod on the Behringer 2500 to the t and my amp is deadly silent, no noise at all and it is definitely a beast.

 

[mike c]

Is that 1066 a pre-pro??

no, an RMB1066 multichannel amplifier

60w x6 or 180w x3 < love the flexibility on this one

 

[Jeff R.]

I run my crown XLS 1500 at 2 ohms and powering a pair of 10" subs. I have never heard the fans running. Maybe they do maybe they don't. I don't care because I can't hear them.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk - now Free

 

[sharkman]

I'm only talking about two channel non AVR preamps...

LOL! Matthews, as you no doubt have realized by now, asking for advice on a forum can really open a can of worms. Take the Emotiva back, trade up the Emotiva, it's the USp-1, it's the speakers, it's the room, there is no difference, pro amps all the way(repeated about 50 times) Parasound, NAD, Rotel, what was the question again?

You're going to have to perhaps organize your thoughts. You've decided to strike Emotiva off the list. You've decided that the Harman Kardon sounded better than your Emotiva products. I'd say, whenever you get the Emotiva amp back fixed, sell it and sell the USP-1 and start over. Nobody wants to believe that the Harman Kardon sounded any different than the Emotiva, but just trust yourself and your instincts. Take your time and don't allow yourself to feel pressured by anyone.

 

[Alex2507]

Thats what I have the 2100, sorry, the 2200 was the 2 ch amp?

For me 2200 was a typo.

Nobody wants to believe that the Harman Kardon sounded any different than the Emotiva

I did ask about the xo slopes! *pats self on back*

It's possible that the H/K has the 12 db slope allowing for the sub to play higher frequencies thereby overshadowing the mids and highs causing the Emo to sound brighter comparatively.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

Hook me up on how to get 50 off. I'm in for that kind of deal. Either PM me or.

PM sent.

 

[jinjuku]

LOL! Matthews, as you no doubt have realized by now, asking for advice on a forum can really open a can of worms. Take the Emotiva back, trade up the Emotiva, it's the USp-1, it's the speakers, it's the room, there is no difference, pro amps all the way(repeated about 50 times) Parasound, NAD, Rotel, what was the question again?

You're going to have to perhaps organize your thoughts. You've decided to strike Emotiva off the list. You've decided that the Harman Kardon sounded better than your Emotiva products. I'd say, whenever you get the Emotiva amp back fixed, sell it and sell the USP-1 and start over. Nobody wants to believe that the Harman Kardon sounded any different than the Emotiva, but just trust yourself and your instincts. Take your time and don't allow yourself to feel pressured by anyone.

It's a can of worms. I like playing around with different gear, I unabashedly have the DIY bug. When it comes to the electronics side of stuff there isn't as much voodoo as there is a misunderstanding about how things go together.

Alex pointed out the X-cross over slopes and how they are going to effect system response and therefore perceived sound. That sort of information helps one evaluate vs just throwing darts until they hit that 'Synergistic' combination.

I hope the OP can get the XPA-2 sorted either way to his satisfaction. I also hope that he can put himself in a place to try the ATI, the Parasound, the Yamaha, and Crown.

One thing I know with my setup is I have it locked down to the point that I know when I swap out a component the rest of the variables are going to stay locked and that my evaluation will be untainted (that and an Omni-mic and volt meter). That is the fun part of the hobby for me personally.

You should see the machinations I went through with the my 2.0 PC alone far as PSU and EMI/RFI emissions. I certainly learned a ton just in that regard.

 

[ematthews]

Big Update........ Emotiva has stepped up and helped me out in a big way. They are taking care of my issues. I want to give a big thanks to their team and everyone here for letting me vent...
Emotiva went above and beyond my expectations... Service like this is hard to find.. Sometimes all it takes is being nice the whole time and finding the right person to speak to. Thanks Emo

 

[Adam]

Service like this is hard to find.

Including with them. I'm glad that you gotten taken care of.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

Big Update........ Emotiva has stepped up and helped me out in a big way. They are taking care of my issues. I want to give a big thanks to their team and everyone here for letting me vent...
Emotiva went above and beyond my expectations... Service like this is hard to find.. Sometimes all it takes is being nice the whole time and finding the right person to speak to. Thanks Emo

All it takes is coming here and letting us recommend alternatives to Emotiva.

It works every time.

Looks like EMO prevented another defection to ATI (or another brand).