Emotive XPA2 Gen 3

[WineOfTheVeins]

Personally, within limits, I am more confident on the build solidity of a heavier amplifier. Of course, there are advantages to lightness if the product is to be frequently moved around. Another advantage is cheaper shipping charges. I am not implying anything here, but a serious manufacturer should not sacrifice on the quality of components by building lighter gear.
The heavier stuff most often gives to so many people including myself that feeling of having a more seriously built product, often without any valid reasoning behind it.

Agreed. Heat sinks, transformer quality, chassis quality, all that comes into account. I'd rather an amp that takes two people to move, manufacturers who are trying to save costs and say that making it lightweight is a bonus, really is a downside. Usually SMPS amps are substantially lighter.

 

[TechHDS]

WineofTheVeins,

I have a XPA-5 1ST GEN, it's about 6 years maybe a lil more age going strong. I was looking into Outlaw and Monolith amps before I pick up my XPA-5 used. I don't know enough about amps with switching power supplies and it is the reason I went with the XPA-5. Plus Emo prices have jumped up substantially on the XPA amps if it wasn't for the killer deal I got on that 1st gen amp I would have gone new with Outlaw or Monolith.

 

[jinjuku]

Personally, within limits, I am more confident on the build solidity of a heavier amplifier.

Why? It's easier to dislodge a 16 lb transformer than a 16 ounce transformer. It's easier to secure a 16 oz transformer than a 16 lb transformer.

I am not implying anything here,

Actually I think you are.

but a serious manufacturer should not sacrifice on the quality of components by building lighter gear.

They don't.

The heavier stuff most often gives to so many people including myself that feeling of having a more seriously built product, often without any valid reasoning behind it.

That's confirmation bias at work.

 

[Verdinut]

Why? It's easier to dislodge a 16 lb transformer than a 16 ounce transformer. It's easier to secure a 16 oz transformer than a 16 lb transformer.



Actually I think you are.






They don't.

That's confirmation bias at work.

Many manufacturers have done it by adding more channel amps and more whistles to their AVRs and have sacrificed on the quality and adequacy of the power supplies with resulting ACD low power outputs!

 

[jinjuku]

Many manufacturers have done it by adding more channel amps and more whistles to their AVRs and have sacrificed on the quality and adequacy of the power supplies with resulting ACD low power outputs!

We are talking about amps here. Not AVR's. Please realize that Class D amps and other efficient and weight savings amplification were the domain of Pro Audio and NOT boutique audio outfits.

Instead of a 1200lb rack for the road touring companies could have a 250lb rack for the road. With all the harsh conditions road handling entails.

 

[Verdinut]

We are talking about amps here. Not AVR's. Please realize that Class D amps and other efficient and weight savings amplification were the domain of Pro Audio and NOT boutique audio outfits.

Instead of a 1200lb rack for the road touring companies could have a 250lb rack for the road. With all the harsh conditions road handling entails.

I agree with you with the fact about the weight savings idea which originated with the pro audio manufacturers.
They succeeded very well in reducing the weight of their products with innovation circuits and modified chassis construction etc, and this without sacrificing the performance or reliability.

As already stated, many boutique audio manufacturers have followed the weight reduction trend, but some as you know, also took the opportunity to cut corners with resulting decrease in the performance of their products. It's not a new fact. KEF have been making very good speakers but they have been putting electrolytic caps in their passive crossovers in the past, I guess, maybe to have more competitive prices. I don't know if they still do. I am sure they are not the only ones to have done this. Every loudspeaker expert knows that the values of electrolytic caps change with time and this screws up the filter frequencies, frequency response and the detailed rendition of the music program.

IMO, we normally obtain more precise and detailed info from pro audio manufacturers which most of us who have read the specs on their products can appreciate. Unfortunately, we cannot come with such positive opinion on the info provided by several audiophile product manufacturers. For instance, both Parasound and B & K publish THD figures at 1 kHz only. The THD could be 6 or more times higher at lower and higher frequencies. This is why I like to see serious test bench reports from AH, Sound & Vision and other good magazines which have reliable testing equipment to help in making the right acquisition.

 

[WineOfTheVeins]

I agree that trying to make things lighter and cheaper is not the way to go. It even says that on Emotiva's site. Weight and cost were in mind. Don't be sacrificing those things! Yeah you have the old gen which is probably a tank. Not sure if I trust the new ones, and I don't want to buy someone's used gear either, who knows how well they've taken care of it.
I think a beefy amp, that has a beefy transformer with good laminations and we'll winded, will outperform a switching supply with less noise and interference. Slapping a cheap transformer in with no chemical treatment, cheap insulation, no laminations or anything to offset the losses, hum, eddy currents, emf, etc. might be a bad product, but same with a cheap SMPS with no filtering technology. But if you put enough effort, quality and care into each of them, you can make either great products. Problem is, that costs money, and most companies aren't willing to go that extra mile, even for the consumer willing to spend for that quality. I still think that a well built transformer core (toroidal specifically) design will beat a well built SMPS design, just because of the law of electricity. Until I see hands-on that they've mastered the art of SMPS, including the life expectancy of them, I'll stick to what's TT&T.

I do really like the specs and looks of the Monolith. That will be my next stop if I am not impressed with my Anthem STR.