Which Amp and Why

[ahblaza]

Hey guys, I need an additonal amp like a whole in the head but decide on two. It will be driving a pair of BS's @ 6 Ohms that could dip to 5-4 Ohms. These are the two I am considering.
UPA-200 | 125W x 2 | Emotiva Audio | High-end audio components for audiophiles and videophiles, spanning 2-channel music systems, as well as 5.1 and 7.1 home theaters. Products include multichannel amplifiers, stereo amplifiers, and monoblock amplifi

ATI AT602 Two Channel x 60 Watt Amplifier -B-Stock (120V) - Featured

I think I can get the ATI for $50 less than the asking price.

Thanks for the time.

Cheers Jeff

 

[ImcLoud]

Hey Jeff, thats a no brainer go for the emo hand down... I would go with an apa150 over the ati if you want to save money....

 

[j_garcia]

+1 The ATI will no doubt handle those speakers, but we're talking about doubling your wattage between them.

 

[Irvrobinson]

I own an AT602. It's built to the same quality level as my AT3000, which is to say impressive. I'm not so impressed with Emotiva quality. One indicator - the ATI weighs more naked than the Emotiva does boxed. (Don't listen to that other guy just because his name is Irv.)

 

[j_garcia]

I own an AT602. It's built to the same quality level as my AT3000, which is to say impressive. I'm not so impressed with Emotiva quality. One indicator - the ATI weighs more naked than the Emotiva does boxed. (Don't listen to that other guy just because his name is Irv.)

If they were receivers, that might matter more to me. Unless that is all transformer in this case, I can't say I'd call it a good way to compare these two. Even if it IS all transformer, that ATI still won't hit 125W @ 8, though as mentioned, it almost certainly won't even blink at driving those speakers.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

ATI in a heartbeat. I use my AT6012 to power my Linkwitz Orion & dual RBH SX-1010N 4 ohm subs.

The Audio Critic also reviewed the AT6012, and it was stable down to 1 ohm on the PowerCube. At 1% THD, it was 85watts into 8ohm & 137watts into 4 ohm.

 

[Irvrobinson]

If they were receivers, that might matter more to me. Unless that is all transformer in this case, I can't say I'd call it a good way to compare these two. Even if it IS all transformer, that ATI still won't hit 125W @ 8.

I actually think the difference between these amps will be inaudible, so i'd make the decision just on build quality, hence my net weight comment. I also like the fact that the AT602 is dead silent through the speakers I have connected to it (JBLs); I don't know about that Emotiva amp.

 

[ahblaza]

Thanks Guys,
I'm still torn, I talked with Nick at EMO and he will give me the sale price on the XPA-200, with credit I have I can get it for $367 delivered. But I still like the ATI, especially for the build quality. I also love my XPA-3 though. My XS30's will be here tomorrow, pallet (270 lbs.)
Thanks

 

[KEW]

My XS30's will be here tomorrow, pallet (270 lbs.)
Thanks

I like the way you just kind of slipped in that "stealth gloat".
Congrats on a pair of what look to be extremely kick-A$$ musical subs!

 

[KEW]

I guess I might offer my 2 cents on your amp choice.
If you are certain the ATI is enough power, I would call ATI and confirm it is made in the USA as stated in this link (and the classic audio says all ATI amps are made in the USA, but not under the 602 ad copy?)
AT602
If it is built in the US, that would clinch it for me.

Other considerations:
1) 7 year warranty for ATI - 7 years strikes me as a company that is especially proud of their designs/products (they would probably sell fine at 5 years warranty). I expect any amp I buy to last an easy 15 years, but given the way some people will load it, I think it matters.
2) Heat build up - I don't know which would run cooler. maybe someone here knows? This would really be worth investigation if you plan to put it somewhere where ventilation might be less than ideal.
3) Output devices - The relevance is over my head, but I find it a little troubling that Emotiva does not specify the number of "output devices per channel" as they do for their other amps. You might call and ask. ATI does specify "High-current, bi-polar output transistors with active bias circuits result in effortless operation."

But, again, the big caveat is does the ATI produce enough power. Nothing can compete with EMO for watts/$. Once you get into their higher XPA series, they start adding refinement while maintaining the watt/$ advantage! The old UPA-2 model specified output devices (triple darlington design, IIRC), so I keep getting hung up on it's omission on the UPA-200.

 

[fuzz092888]

Build quality is huge in my book. Take a look at my threshold S/300e. Rated at a measly 150 WPC @ 8, but it'll drive the Phil's to kingdom come. I doubt many other 150 WPC amps are capable of 10 amps continuous, 80 peak, or have a torrid spec'd at 700VA, but is capable of running at double that continuously. I take higher build quality any day.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

Has anyone measured the xpa200? We know Audio Critic measured the AT6012 (12ch version of the 602) to be 85watts/8ohm, 137watts/4ohm @1% THD.

And I know the AT6012 is made in California (confirmed).

And the fact that ATI makes amps for Lexicon, Theta, Cary, B&K, and "most amp companies in North America" also counts.

 

[slipperybidness]

Well, if you already have an Emotiva amp, then why not go ATI to diversify your gene pool?

Then you can tell us which is better.

 

[Steve81]

Has anyone measured the xpa200?

I've not seen any beyond Emo's own test data with their Audio Precision Analyzer. Per that info, it's capable of delivering in excess of 100W 8 Ohms/ 200W 4 ohms with 0.1% THD+N, presumably at 1kHz. I purchased one recently, and I'm at least satisfied with the build quality.

Edit: Also, AFAIK, it's basically meant to be a marginal upgrade to the old UPA-2, with a beefed up transformer and more secondary capacitance.

 

[Adam]

Then you can tell us which is better.

Yeah, Jeff. Stop thinking only of yourself.

I vote for ATI, but you know that I'm not totally objective.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

Well, if you already have an Emotiva amp, then why not go ATI to diversify your gene pool?

Then you can tell us which is better.

Yes. I believe in diversification.

Only problem is, once he has the AT602, it might cause INCEPTION in his mind and he may think that he wants to have all ATI amps in his system and it was all his idea.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

Yeah, Jeff. Stop thinking only of yourself.

I vote for ATI, but you know that I'm not totally objective.

I'm completely objective. Who's ATI? I don't even know who they are. Do they make Radeon graphics cards or something?

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

I've not seen any beyond Emo's own test data with their Audio Precision Analyzer. Per that info, it's capable of delivering in excess of 100W 8 Ohms/ 200W 4 ohms with 0.1% THD+N, presumably at 1kHz. I purchased one recently, and I'm at least satisfied with the build quality.

Edit: Also, AFAIK, it's basically meant to be a marginal upgrade to the old UPA-2, with a beefed up transformer and more secondary capacitance.

I'm in the camp of "All Amps Sound ........", so I believe Emo will sound great also.

I also think a $259 delivered Crown XLS1000 amp (215wpc 8 ohms, 350wpc 4 ohms) will sound great. As will most amps.

Amazon.com: Buying Choices: Crown XLS1000 Power Amplifier with integrated PureBand Crossover System and PeakX Limiters

But I mean ATI......Lexicon........Mark Levinson.........Theta......... You get the picture.

Wow, I didn't realize Emotiva sells on Amazon too.

http://www.amazon.com/Emotiva-UPA-200-2-Channel-Amplifier/dp/B008O3AJLU

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=bl_sr_electronics?_encoding=UTF8&field-brandtextbin=Emotiva&node=172282

 

[KEW]

Edit: Also, AFAIK, it's basically meant to be a marginal upgrade to the old UPA-2, with a beefed up transformer and more secondary capacitance.

I think you may be mixing that up with the XPA-200 which is an upgrade to the UPA-2.

Emotiva offered the following explanation on the UPA-5 vs UPA-500. I think it is reasonable to assume parallelism for the upa-2 vs upa-200.

The UPA-500 and the UPA-5 differ in their construct in that the UPA-5 used individual amplifier modules per channel as the UPA-500 does not. The UPA-5 has a bit more power and authority over the UPA-500. The UPA-500 really comes into its own on more efficient speaker designs
like a Klipsch or B and W speakers for instance. Also the UPA-500 is less expensive then the UPA-5 was. With the UPA-5 it was based on
the XPA architecture. The UPA-500 is a whole new design.

To me saying an amp comes into its own with more efficient speakers is a "backwards complement".

 

[Steve81]

I'm in the camp of "All Amps Sound ........", so I believe Emo will sound great also.

I find it gets the job done in my system well enough, at least IMO. Of course, the speakers I paired it with aren't the most difficult to drive either.

I also think a $259 delivered Crown XLS1000 amp (215wpc 8 ohms, 350wpc 4 ohms) will sound great. As will most amps.

The only gripe I have there is the aesthetics, which is why I wrote it off. Of course, depending on one's taste, you could make that argument about Emo as well.

But I mean ATI......Lexicon........Mark Levinson.........Theta......... You get the picture.

Yes, I know, you like shiny things like Kimber Kable Badges