Emotiva XPA1 Monos vs ATI AT3002

[Docks]

If you look at those hypex NC400s they appear to have better specs than the
XPA1, AT3002 and the Anthem P2.
I could solder up and build my own NC400 monos, that would be neat, especially considering the SNR.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

If you look at those hypex NC400s they appear to have better specs than the
XPA1, AT3002 and the Anthem P2.
I could solder up and build my own NC400 monos, that would be neat, especially considering the SNR.

Are there any 3rd party measurements to confirm or just their words?

One thing I noticed is that their voltage gain is around 25dB-26dB, while most amps are 28dB-34dB. Why not make the gain the same as most amps?

 

[Irvrobinson]

One thing I noticed is that their voltage gain is around 25dB-26dB, while most amps are 28dB-34dB. Why not make the gain the same as most amps?

26-27db is what most high-end amps provide. HT amps meant to work with el-cheapo AVRs that can't drive much more than 1v are the ones that provide 32db of gain. Note how the ATI amps provide only 28db through the balanced inputs, and then jack up the gain through the RCAs, which is mostly what most HT equipment uses.

 

[MosesMalone]

I have no doubt ATI amps are of the same quality and provides the same sound as their "higher end" Levinson, Lexicon, etc amps, and for much cheaper. Too bad they're butt ugly though, they look more like industrial power amps.

 

[slipperybidness]

I have no doubt ATI amps are of the same quality and provides the same sound as their "higher end" Levinson, Lexicon, etc amps, and for much cheaper. Too bad they're butt ugly though, they look more like industrial power amps.

Their beauty is on the inside

 

[jinjuku]

Are there any 3rd party measurements to confirm or just their words?

One thing I noticed is that their voltage gain is around 25dB-26dB, while most amps are 28dB-34dB. Why not make the gain the same as most amps?

They could be a bit more sensitive to input voltage...

 

[Adam]

For the two Emotiva amps that I own, the fit and finish are really quite good. The build quality of the chassis are great, IMO. Say what you want about where they are made - the mechanical aspects are well done. As someone who's taken them apart, I should know. The sonic performance has also been good. My issue has been in the quality of some of the electrical components (and how the company treated it...but that's for another time).

My first RPA-1 failed within minutes and sent a very loud surge through my speakers. Didn't please me, for sure, but I know things happen. My second RPA-1 hasn't had any issues like that, although the transformers have gradually gotten louder. Not too bad, though. Overall, I've been happy with it.

My IPS-1 uses seven individual toroidal transformers, one for each channel. It also has a transformer to handle power for system operations. The quality of most of those transformers has bothered me, as they generate their own hum (even in standby mode, so I manually turn it off and on with my main system). It's loud enough that I can easily hear it from where I sit, even during quiet passages in movies. If it wasn't for that, I'd love the amp. However, that issue has really bothered me, and I certainly regret spending over $1000 on it. If I had an equipment closet, though, I'd probably never notice it and would be happy.

To put my comments about sonic performance in perspective, I'm using speakers in the $600/pair (retail) range. So, I know that I'm not a high end user, but I've never been unhappy with the performance of the amps.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

I have no doubt ATI amps are of the same quality and provides the same sound as their "higher end" Levinson, Lexicon, etc amps, and for much cheaper. Too bad they're butt ugly though, they look more like industrial power amps.

And I bought the ATI amps because they look tough and awesome - like a tank or Hummer.

I prefer that Bryston, Vincent, ATI industrial tough muscle look. It is brute force, muscle manly power, not sissy girly flashy looking amps.

So I guess it depends on your personality.

 

[MosesMalone]

The ATI's don't have the brutish look of a Bryston or Krell, appearance wise i'd say it's closer to a Ford F-150. They look something like portable air conditioners that would be made by Sharper Image.

Anyways, i'd rather go with a Parasound Halo for the money. Much sleeker and designed by the brilliant John Curl.

 

[jinjuku]

Anyways, i'd rather go with a Parasound Halo for the money. Much sleeker and designed by the brilliant John Curl.

I just got rid of both my 'Brilliant John Curl' Parasounds after I put a $179 Crown XLS 402D into the rack. There are a lot of great engineers at a lot of companies.

 

[PENG]

I just got rid of both my 'Brilliant John Curl' Parasounds after I put a $179 Crown XLS 402D into the rack. There are a lot of great engineers at a lot of companies.

Very funny but I agree with you. People drop names like Toole, Dr. this Dr. that or engineer that, like you said there are a lot of great engineers...... Amps is a mature products that does not need rocket scientists, PhD in engineering etc. to make them transparent and near distortion free.

 

[jinjuku]

Very funny but I agree with you. People drop names like Toole, Dr. this Dr. that or engineer that, like you said there are a lot of great engineers...... Amps is a mature products that does not need rocket scientists, PhD in engineering etc. to make them transparent and near distortion free.

The interesting thing to really keep in mind is that a company like Crown has a much deeper engineering bench than a company like Parasound. They both make good products.

For my particular scenario the Parasounds were hissing out of the tweeter (XLS dead silent) and the Crown simply had more head room.

I am actually not running any more consumer name plates. I sold my Adcom, Parasounds, Carvers. I will say this for the stuff I sold: I made $$ on every piece.

 

[slipperybidness]

The interesting thing to really keep in mind is that a company like Crown has a much deeper engineering bench than a company like Parasound. They both make good products.

For my particular scenario the Parasounds were hissing out of the tweeter (XLS dead silent) and the Crown simply had more head room.

I am actually not running any more consumer name plates. I sold my Adcom, Parasounds, Carvers. I will say this for the stuff I sold: I made $$ on every piece.

I suppose that puts an end to the parasound vs. crown blind test bet...

 

[jinjuku]

I suppose that puts an end to the parasound vs. crown blind test bet...

Yep. Three years running and no one showed up to walk away with free Parasound gear.

 

[Irvrobinson]

Very funny but I agree with you. People drop names like Toole, Dr. this Dr. that or engineer that, like you said there are a lot of great engineers...... Amps is a mature products that does not need rocket scientists, PhD in engineering etc. to make them transparent and near distortion free.

I agree for vanilla Class AB amplifiers, but for other flavors I have to respectfully disagree. Some features took real innovation. For example, dynamic, predictive bias level adjustment to minimize power consumption while pushing the crossover to Class B mode to much higher current levels. Or perhaps sophisticated protection circuits that don't degrade sound quality. Both of these of features - and I've just pulled two examples out of my ear - took basic innovation, sometimes multi-generational evolution, and not all amplifiers have them even now.

And I think it is reasonable to argue that getting Class D amplifiers practical for full-spectrum audio did indeed take some folks that probably did focus on research, as some PhDs do.

 

[jinjuku]

I agree for vanilla Class AB amplifiers, but for other flavors I have to respectfully disagree. Some features took real innovation. For example, dynamic, predictive bias level adjustment to minimize power consumption while pushing the crossover to Class B mode to much higher current levels. Or perhaps sophisticated protection circuits that don't degrade sound quality. Both of these of features - and I've just pulled two examples out of my ear - took basic innovation, sometimes multi-generational evolution, and not all amplifiers have them even now.

And I think it is reasonable to argue that getting Class D amplifiers practical for full-spectrum audio did indeed take some folks that probably did focus on research, as some PhDs do.

With you there...

Lab Gruppen's Digital Look Ahead tracking is slick. Crowns Class I in the MacroTech lineup is another really great technology.

 

[PENG]

I agree for vanilla Class AB amplifiers, but for other flavors I have to respectfully disagree. Some features took real innovation. For example, dynamic, predictive bias level adjustment to minimize power consumption while pushing the crossover to Class B mode to much higher current levels. Or perhaps sophisticated protection circuits that don't degrade sound quality. Both of these of features - and I've just pulled two examples out of my ear - took basic innovation, sometimes multi-generational evolution, and not all amplifiers have them even now.

And I think it is reasonable to argue that getting Class D amplifiers practical for full-spectrum audio did indeed take some folks that probably did focus on research, as some PhDs do.

Okay I fully agree we can respectfully agree to disagree, or disagree to agree. No doubt R&D continues in the solid state world to push for better specs, smaller sizes and lower production cost electronic components, but for audio amplifier circuitry there isn't much secrets or high techs in any class, be it A, B, C, D, A/B, G, H or whatever. Ask Krell, McIntosh, Bryston, Parasound, Anthem if they still collaborate with post Docs in reputable universities. Also, people can and perhaps do get innovative all the time in tweaking those circuitry but they would likely be more to do with for the sake of doing something new, different, but not theoretically better because this mature technological product has long past the point of diminishing return. I would trade my 6 new old Bryston for a 12 year old high end Krell, Mc any day as long as they are in top working condition just as an example.

 

[Irvrobinson]

Ask Krell, McIntosh, Bryston, Parasound, Anthem if they still collaborate with post Docs in reputable universities.

I would guess they never did, especially Krell and McIntosh. Or Parasound, they use John Curl.

 

[PENG]

I would guess they never did, especially Krell and McIntosh. Or Parasound, they use John Curl.

That's one reason why I have quite a bit of faith in Chris of Audyssey, he's a PhD in engineering himself, and from what I heard, he continues to work closely with the University. I believe in team work, especially in high tech R&D.

 

[Irvrobinson]

I believe in team work, especially in high tech R&D.

On this point, I couldn't agree more...