Emotiva build quality, objectively?

[LongTermDefTechOwner]

Hi all, this is my first post. I did some Google searching but couldn’t find a specific response to my question. If I missed it, please point me in the right direction.

I’m looking to buy a 2-channel power amp. I won’t bore you with the usual question about which one is “best”. I fully understand that is very subjective and best answered by me. However, I want to ask about a characteristic that can be determined objectively: build quality and component quality.

My choices are more or less down to Emotiva XPA-DR2 Gen3, Anthem MCA-225, and NAD C275BEE.

The rest of my system is an Anthem AVM-60 and Definitive Technology Mythos STS. It is a 7.2 surround system, but forget the remaining 5 channels for now — I have decided on an Emotiva XPA-5 Gen3 for those. This is just for my stereo music listening.

Of the amps I listed, what do you think of their relative build qualities and component qualities? Does Emotiva cut any corners on these relative to the other more expensive (per watt) amps?

Thank you.

 

[Forsooth]

No experience with any power amp, but I'm kinda in the market myself in that price category and I'm looking favorably at the Parasound A23. I'd be interested if you ruled this brand out and, if so, why. (Just to get more information.)

 

[LongTermDefTechOwner]

Not at all, thank you for pointing me to that. I wasn't aware of it.

 

[KEW]

Heck, I couldn't answer that question for the gear that I currently own!
It works as it should, nothing is flopping around loose inside, so I guess it is well built!

That said, from my career in manufacturing, I am a fan of having management, design, and manufacturing close to one another so they have great communication and can respond to each other's needs. Close by and no language barrier is a good thing!

For that reason, I feel better about my "made in Japan" Denon AVR-4520!

I believe Emotiva now has their manufacturing in Tennesee and assume the assembly plant is not far from the design location (if not the same). I don't know where the Anthem and NAD are manufactured.

However, I am still a little wary that Emotiva's new owners philosophy of quality vs profit may not be the same! Obviously, when Emotiva was started it was about establishing a name/reputation; but when a second party buys a company there are lots of questions of whether they are looking at a "long game" (reputation is critical) or "short game" (milk the previous reputation while selling cheaply made products for maximum profit, then flip). As long as Lonnie is still designing their amps (I think he is),it is safe to assume they have not gone very far down the latter path.

I would be looking at ATI if I held build quality at a premium. They have casually and consistently been building solid amps (both for other nameplates as well as under the ATI label) and are run like a proper business without a ton of "we have magic" BS!

 

[Verdinut]

Hi all, this is my first post. I did some Google searching but couldn’t find a specific response to my question. If I missed it, please point me in the right direction.

I’m looking to buy a 2-channel power amp. I won’t bore you with the usual question about which one is “best”. I fully understand that is very subjective and best answered by me. However, I want to ask about a characteristic that can be determined objectively: build quality and component quality.

My choices are more or less down to Emotiva XPA-DR2 Gen3, Anthem MCA-225, and NAD C275BEE.

The rest of my system is an Anthem AVM-60 and Definitive Technology Mythos STS. It is a 7.2 surround system, but forget the remaining 5 channels for now — I have decided on an Emotiva XPA-5 Gen3 for those. This is just for my stereo music listening.

Of the amps I listed, what do you think of their relative build qualities and component qualities? Does Emotiva cut any corners on these relative to the other more expensive (per watt) amps?

Thank you.

It would be interesting to have some answers before being able to make a solid recommendation.

Why do you need such high powered amplifier? What is the size of your room and the distance from listening position to your speakers? What SPL do you listen to your music at? Can your speakers require and handle that much power?

Why do you insist on getting an audiophile amplifier? Professional audio amps are cheaper and some are as acoustically transparent as any audiophile amp and at a lower price. However, they don't have the same appealing looks. I could recommend you some should you be open to the idea.

 

[Steve81]

Does Emotiva cut any corners on these relative to the other more expensive (per watt) amps?

The main thing has been their switch from a linear power supply to switch mode. There is nothing necessarily wrong with this if the implementation is done well, and the measurements I've seen seem to indicate that the performance of their Gen 3 amps is up to par. OTOH, if I were in your shoes, I'd probably be taking a hard look at this:
https://www.monoprice.com/product?p_id=15595
Saves a few bucks, clean/understated look, and it packs plenty of juice to drive your Def Techs to ear bleeding levels. You can see a review of the 7ch version here:
https://www.audioholics.com/amplifier-reviews/monoprice-monolith-7-channel-amplifier-review
And the measurements are actually for the 2ch version.

 

[KEW]

Professional audio amps are cheaper and some are as acoustically transparent as any audiophile amp and at a lower price.

You forgot to mention better build quality!
Pro Amps have the additional design parameter of needing to survive life on the road. I suspect that they get tested on a shaker table to ensure they won't have shorts/faults if they take a hit (or drop) as well as environmental testing to insure they won't overheat if they are used for an outdoor concert in the Arizona summer.
If your amps get a reputation for breaking during handling or overheating in the middle of concerts, you might as well close your doors and go home!

 

[LongTermDefTechOwner]

Sure, I can answer those questions.

My listening room is a dedicated room in my home. Dimensions are 23'x16'6"x9'. There are no windows or glass, but two solid-core doors at the back of the room. The room is rectangular (no odd recesses or anything).

The seats are about 11'-12' into the long dimension of the room.

I listen to (95% classical, orchestral and chamber primarily) music about 80% of the time, and watch movies about 20% of the time. (The remaining 5% of music is rock music along the lines of Dire Straits, and blues.)

I do not listen very loudly. Although I'm in my late 50s, my hearing is very good and I'd like to keep it that way. I try to listen at about the same volume as I experience in the middle of the Kennedy Center/NSO auditorium, which I try to attend several times a year (I usually sit around row W, if you are familiar with the space).

Perhaps power is not what I need as such, but dynamic headroom.

I am not averse to room equalization such as Anthem ARC, but I'd rather have the room behave as well as possible before I resort to touches of equalization.

At the moment, I am asking specifically about build and component quality, mostly because I find the discussions about amplifier sound qualities to be tedious. I'm not saying I think all amps sound the same, I'm saying even if they don't, talking or writing about their sounds isn't very productive in my opinion.

 

[LongTermDefTechOwner]

By the way, I'm asking this question only here at the Audioholics forum, not any others. After much forum lurking, I find the philosophy of posters here closest to my own in terms of practicality and useful advice. Thanks.

 

[DIY Junky]

If I was to start over I think I would go with Outlaw Audio http://www.outlawaudio.com/products/5000.html They reviewed this amp here and gave it rave reviews https://www.audioholics.com/amplifier-reviews/outlaw-5000 I know its 5 channel amp but I like 4 speakers for music

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

I thought I was a long-term DefTech owner too - until I wasn't. LOL.

I would get the Monolith 200x7 amp for $1600.

If you must have fully balanced then get the Outlaw or ATI 200x7 amps for higher price.

Also check for pre-owned ATI amps on Craigslist, eBay, Audiogon.

 

[Verdinut]

In answer to your question, based on the additional info you've just supplied, a 200 watt/ch is amply sufficient for your speakers and will provide enough power for dynamic peaks. You don't need any more than that.
Steve81 recommended that you have a look at the Monoprice Monolith 2 amp. As an audiophile amp, it's the best value in it's price range and it is a reliable product built by ATI. I wouldn't hesitate in suggesting it too.
OTOH, if you wish to know more about a reliable pro audio amp. I recommend without any reservation the QSC DCA 1222, which is also a Class A/B amplifier using a switching power supply. This amp also has a power rating of 200 w/ch @ 8 ohms and it will even drive up to four 8 ohm speakers connected in parallel, which many audiophile amps cannot handle. This product isn't cheap as it retails at over US$900, but you can get it for $769 from a few cinema equipment suppliers in California.
I am actually using three such DCA 1222s to bi-amp the 3 front channels of my home theater. They are completely neutral and transparent and you cannot blow them!
QSC Audio is an American firm which was founded more than 50 years ago. All the Cineplex theaters across North America use their amplifiers, DSPs and speakers:

https://www.qsc.com/cinema/products/power-amplifiers/dca-series/dca-1222/

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

If I was to start over I think I would go with Outlaw Audio http://www.outlawaudio.com/products/5000.html They reviewed this amp here and gave it rave reviews https://www.audioholics.com/amplifier-reviews/outlaw-5000 I know its 5 channel amp but I like 4 speakers for music

Too bad the Outlaw 5000 isn’t a 200x5 amp, instead of 120x5 amp.

 

[LongTermDefTechOwner]

I thought I was a long-term DefTech owner too - until I wasn't. LOL.

I would get the Monolith 200x7 amp for $1600.

If you must have fully balanced then get the Outlaw or ATI 200x7 amps for higher price.

Thanks -- off topic, but why did you decide to stop using DefTech?

 

[LongTermDefTechOwner]

In answer to your question, based on the additional info you've just supplied, a 200 watt/ch is amply sufficient for your speakers and will provide enough power for dynamic peaks. You don't need any more than that.
...

Thanks for the response. Very helpful.

 

[TechHDS]

Too bad the Outlaw 5000 isn’t a 200x5 amp, instead of 120x5 amp.

ADGT, if I remember Gene did a very nice review and posted specs from his test that amp is capable of a lot more power than what it’s rated, I believe around 180 X 5 @ 8 Ohms.

Mike

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

Thanks -- off topic, but why did you decide to stop using DefTech?

More than one factor, but I don’t think the main factor was sound quality because I thought my BP7000SC fronts and BP7001SC surrounds were pretty good.

The real reason was probably because I wanted to waste some money.

I would say all the DefTech bashing on every forum, DefTech inflates the specs, I didn’t like having amps inside the speakers, and the built-in subs weren’t as good as standalone subs.

 

[DIY Junky]

Too bad the Outlaw 5000 isn’t a 200x5 amp, instead of 120x5 amp.

Yes I like the build of the 5 channel over the mono amp http://www.outlawaudio.com/products/2200.html.. and the 5000 is underrated in power to begin with.. no fluffed numbers I do wish they made a beefy 200x2 amp like the 5000 indeed

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

ADGT, if I remember Gene did a very nice review and posted specs from his test that amp is capable of a lot more power than what it’s rated, I believe around 180 X 5 @ 8 Ohms.

Mike

I think continuous power was 140x5, dynamic power was about 200x5.

 

[Forsooth]

The real reason was probably because I wanted to waste some money.

Hi, AcuDefTechGuy. Welcome to our meeting.