Emotiva XPA-5 Good? Bad? Maybe?

[bigred7078]

Why? You got a problem with that? Why do you frequent an audio forum in the first place? Don't you like to learn and discover the true value of some audio products?

You don't have to join if you're not interested, you're FREE to please as you wish.
But this should be quite interesting, so I'll recommend you to stick around for your own benefit and the benefits of others too, including myself.
That's why we love our hobby in the first place.

Regards,

Bob

huh? my point was that topic has been beaten to death

 

[haraldo]

Any XPA-1 owners out there?

How do XPA-1 compare to a bridged XPA-2?

 

[ParadigmDawg]

Me getting into this would consist of looking up threads that Chris(WmAx) wrote and you can do that search yourself...

Oh heck...I will get you started. Look here and then search for more if you are interested.
http://forums.audioholics.com/forums/showthread.php?t=51411&highlight=PRO+AMPS&page=2

Shoot! I'm ready. With the entire enchilada por favor amigo. Objective comparisons, price value, technical specs, quality of the parts, etc.
I'm all ears.

Bob

 

[bigred7078]

Any XPA-1 owners out there?

How do XPA-1 compare to a bridged XPA-2?

Most of the XPA-1 owners i know previously had the XPA-2 and greatly prefer the xpa-1.

The XPA-2 in bridged mode is not really stable below 8ohms. Where the XPA-1 is completely stable way down into the 2ohm range. The XPA-1 is also a a true differential balanced amp, unlike the Xpa-2. XPA-1's also have TONS more available headroom.

 

[lsiberian]

lol lets not get started on that debate...

There is no need for debate. Of course an ep1500 has more power than an XPA-5, but for this application I think an XPA-5 might be better suited. The XPA-5 has 5 channels and XLRs(no idea on the quality). pluse it's a lot simpler and probably a better choice for a person that has no desire to use DCXs and other fancy gadgets. Plus I think they look very nice. I might get a XPA-3 someday for the fronts.

Anyone used one of these with a DCX 2496. I'd like to know how well they interface together.

PDawg posted a very useful forum. If you want to get smarter just search Wmax's name in the forum. I've learned most of what I know about this hobby from him. Read that thread and then you'll know.

He's tested everything he says too.

 

[croseiv]

I give the XPA-5 two thumbs up (three if I had a third one). I'm stunned at how well it sounds (makes my fronts sound). They sound like a different system, well the center is different, but the LR mains sound great. I can tell a pretty big difference in the punchiness and dynamics (much, much improved over the VSX-1015).

 

[bigred7078]

PDawg posted a very useful forum. If you want to get smarter just search Wmax's name in the forum. I've learned most of what I know about this hobby from him. Read that thread and then you'll know.

He's tested everything he says too.

I never said he didn't post useful information, nor did i say i disagreed. I just didnt think this was the place to get into that kind of discussion. Im quite familiar with pro-amps and amps, im just in the camp that prefer the traditional amp over a pro-amp.

 

[Adam]

I give the XPA-5 two thumbs up (three if I had a third one). I'm stunned at how well it sounds (makes my fronts sound). They sound like a different system, well the center is different, but the LR mains sound great. I can tell a pretty big difference in the punchiness and dynamics (much, much improved over the VSX-1015).

Awesome! I'm glad that you're happy with it. I notice a nice improvement when I added a stereo amp to my VSX-1015. I only noticed it at louder-than-normal volumes, but it was quite nice at those volumes.

Looks like I need to get another Ultra and a big TV to keep up with the Joneses.

 

[Lordoftherings]

You are so subtle in your opening line ,thats why I come here such friendly peoples,one must be very careful in their actual wording so as not to come under the scrutiny of all the real audioholics,I guess.

I know what you mean, but my tone was very friendly, because I knew who I was speaking to, a nice fellow (Steve) that I met in the Marantz SR6003 thread, from his mini review.
Plus, if you go past the first line, you'll see that it was with comprehension, respect, humor, response, higher learning, compassion, dedication, amability and deepest regards.

In any Forum, it is important to read between the lines and fully understand the true meaning, but you already knew that.
Also the fact that I am French, is sometime tricky for me, if you know what I mean.
Anyway, I am extremely friendly, as long that nobody touch that wrong button. Then, I'll say things straight up, without any consequences at all.

Cheers,

Bob

Note: I appreciate your truthfulness, I'll try to phrase it more friendly next time. All the people in this forum deserve it at the very least for their gentleness. But be assure that my true meaning was with the utmost respect.

 

[Lordoftherings]

huh? my point was that topic has been beaten to death

Hi Steve,

Lol. I knew that, I did not intend to restart an already discussed subject, I was only putting some emphasis on the prior poster through your post for more information that could have been renewed.

Lol. I'm quite impulsive sometimes, but I'm all peace and love discussions.

Best regards,

Bob

 

[Lordoftherings]

Me getting into this would consist of looking up threads that Chris(WmAx) wrote and you can do that search yourself...

Oh heck...I will get you started. Look here and then search for more if you are interested.
http://forums.audioholics.com/forums/showthread.php?t=51411&highlight=PRO+AMPS&page=2

Lol. Thanks mate for the link, I will surely visit it and read it. I do appreciate your "Oh heck", that's very cool and positive.

And I like your username too, I own several Paradigm speakers, so I don't have any choice but to love you.

Thanks again amigo for that link, I need to keep update with the latest.

Regards,

Bob

 

[Lordoftherings]

Im quite familiar with pro-amps and amps, im just in the camp that prefer the traditional amp over a pro-amp.

+1. Same for me, I use audio amps for home audio, guitar amps for my guitars, and pro-amps for the discotheques or the striptease clubs.

Same for car CD players for my car, and home CD players for my home.

Same for a ghetto-blaster for the beach or at the park.

Same for my MP3 player anywhere but at home.

Sorry I don't mix things up. I guess I'm like you, Steve.

 

[haraldo]

Most of the XPA-1 owners i know previously had the XPA-2 and greatly prefer the xpa-1.

The XPA-2 in bridged mode is not really stable below 8ohms. Where the XPA-1 is completely stable way down into the 2ohm range. The XPA-1 is also a a true differential balanced amp, unlike the Xpa-2. XPA-1's also have TONS more available headroom.

Thought a bit about getting a pair of XPA-1, don't think less of that now....
(opaaaa, my 1900 post)

 

[sawzalot]

Awesome! I'm glad that you're happy with it. I notice a nice improvement when I added a stereo amp to my VSX-1015. I only noticed it at louder-than-normal volumes, but it was quite nice at those volumes.

Looks like I need to get another Ultra and a big TV to keep up with the Joneses.

You could always go to the Joneses when Mr Jones is at work and watch his TV, make Mrs. Jones very happy .

 

[Lordoftherings]

Thought a bit about getting a pair of XPA-1, don't think less of that now....
(opaaaa, my 1900 post)

+1 Way to go bro!

Two of my very favorite films of all time are by the excellent director Giuseppe Tornatore: "Cinema Paradiso" and "The Legend of 1900". Great cinematography by Lajos Koltai and great musical score by Ennio Morricone on "1900". A not to be miss Masterpiece of pure Cinema Art form, both of these films. I highly recommend "The legend of 1900".

Happy 1900 score.

Bob

 

[lsiberian]

so I don't have any choice but to love you.

Be careful you might stir up jealous feelings

France is a lovely country can't wait to see it again. Crepes. Oh my they are good.

 

[Lordoftherings]

Be careful you might stir up jealous feelings

France is a lovely country can't wait to see it again. Crepes. Oh my they are good.

Lol. Isiberian, please read between the lines, not ON the lines...

France? What Frances' got to do with it?

Crepes? On top of my Onkyo 805?

Are sure you meant France? Or was it Quebec (tourtieres and poutines)?

 

[ParadigmDawg]

I too use a consumer amp for my my speakers but a pro amp for my sub. For kicks, I ran my mains with the pro amp for a bit and was really impressed with what a 300 buck amp could do. No sonic signature what so ever and would drive the heck out of my speakers.

If I had to sum it up, I would say that the pro amp, my MPS1 and my Rotel all drove the speakers the same, I could not tell any difference in them.

If you want an inexpensive amp, go pro. The hassle is with setting up a system to turn it on and off, doing a fan mod and all the power cords if running more than 2 speakers.

If you want to go consumer, EMO is hard to beat price wise. I had unresolved issues with mine and will not buy anymore products from EMO.

If money is no object, get a Bryston. -or- if you are somewhere inbetween, like me, find a used Rotel...

Oh....and I like the toast you guys make....

+1. Same for me, I use audio amps for home audio, guitar amps for my guitars, and pro-amps for the discotheques or the striptease clubs.

Same for car CD players for my car, and home CD players for my home.

Same for a ghetto-blaster for the beach or at the park.

Same for my MP3 player anywhere but at home.

Sorry I don't mix things up. I guess I'm like you, Steve.

 

[Lordoftherings]

I too use a consumer amp for my my speakers but a pro amp for my sub. For kicks, I ran my mains with the pro amp for a bit and was really impressed with what a 300 buck amp could do. No sonic signature what so ever and would drive the heck out of my speakers.

If I had to sum it up, I would say that the pro amp, my MPS1 and my Rotel all drove the speakers the same, I could not tell any difference in them.

If you want an inexpensive amp, go pro. The hassle is with setting up a system to turn it on and off, doing a fan mod and all the power cords if running more than 2 speakers.

If you want to go consumer, EMO is hard to beat price wise. I had unresolved issues with mine and will not buy anymore products from EMO.

If money is no object, get a Bryston. -or- if you are somewhere inbetween, like me, find a used Rotel...

Oh....and I like the toast you guys make....

French toasts, ya, with a hole in the middle and fry an egg in it.

Or "La cabane a sucre" in Quebec, with real maple syrup with snow, with your bacon, with beens, with eggs, with mashed potatoes, with crispy crepes, with your girlfriends...

Bryston! Now you're talking...Best warranty in the business, directly from Quebec. Same as Anthem, Paradigm, Image, Mirage, Energy, PSB, etc.
Best processors for bass under your couch is made in Quebec too.
Lexicon, Apogee, EMM Labs, best sound engineers and audio programs, recording studios, etc...
Well we're good, but we ain't better than the Germans, the Sweedish, the Frenchs, the Italians, the Americans, the Britishs, etc...

It takes all type of people from all different countries to make a total World.

 

[WmAx]

Anyone used one of these with a DCX 2496. I'd like to know how well they interface together.

People typically run into noise problems using a high sensitivity XLR input on an amp like the XPAs from Emotiva because they lack any input trim controls. Most pro amps have trim controls. The DCX outputs fairly high signal level, and combining this with a non adjustable high senitivity XLR inputs is a recipe for noise(which I have received several complaints about via email and PM). With normal pro amps (that have trims) however, I have never encountered a noise issue.

-Chris