Marantz MM8003 or Emotiva XPA-2 + XPA-5 ?

[Seth=L]

^ I totally agree. I've compared the Lexicon ZX-7 with another amp of similar wattage ratings and the sound of the Lexicon just blew me away. I can't even begin to describe it! It was so liquid, seducing and the transparency was clearer than air. And yet it added so much warmth and energy to my speakers, it was like nothing I've ever heard!

Indeed, that faceplate made all the difference.

All I have to remember is the Lexicon BD-30 and I know the value I'd be getting if I purchased a Lexicon amplifier.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

Indeed, that faceplate made all the difference.

All I have to remember is the Lexicon BD-30 and I know the value I'd be getting if I purchased a Lexicon amplifier.

Lexicon is NOT about value.

No, no, no.

Lexicon is about great sounding products with pretty aesthetics.

I mean c'mon, wouldn't you rather have the face of Lexicon instead of Emotiva?

But Lexicon is not about value and bang-for-your-buck.

 

[Seth=L]

Lexicon is NOT about value.

No, no, no.

Lexicon is about great sounding products with pretty aesthetics.

I mean c'mon, wouldn't you rather have the face of Lexicon instead of Emotiva?

But Lexicon is not about value and bang-for-your-buck.

I don't even think that Lexicon makes great looking gear.

Companies that I think make great looking or solid looking gear would be Rotel, Krell, Mcgonigal, Mark Levinson, Halcro, Teac (Reference & Esoteric). There are plenty others, but Emotiva and Lexicon are not among them. As far as solid feeling I'm sure the Emotivas and Lexicons are fine in this regard.

I liked Lexicon better when their rebadges were Brystons instead of ATIs. Granted, ATI is probably far more cost effective and has more effective power output per dollar. They are incredibly rigid designs to be sure and I understand completely why they chose them.

 

[JJMP50]

As you can see in my sig, I'm an Emo owner and very happy. As far as style is concerned, the last time I visited a high end store they had a Classe rack set up powering some B&W Diamonds. Way above my pay grade but that was a handsome rig. Oh and yea, they sounded pretty nice as well.

 

[j_garcia]

As for the appearance aspect:

The black end caps make it look a lot cleaner and more meanacing

 

[Frans]

Wow, j_garcia, that does look awesome! Nice work!

 

[Seth=L]

It's not the end pieces that bother me, it's the Emotiva logo/emblem thing. The chrome button just looks tacky. A frosted depressed button void of sillynice would be much more appealing.

Their amplifiers are not the worst offenders though, it's their preamps that drive me insane with their overlly cheesy looks.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

I don't like the end caps at all. I would just completely remove the end caps.

Wouldn't that save everyone $40?

 

[avliner]

That's exactly what I did with mine

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

That's exactly what I did with mine

MUCH BETTER!!!

Great minds think alike.

 

[Mike Ronesia]

My wife doesn't care as much about aesthetics as you guys do. That being said if I buy a new car I always debadge it right away. If they want we to drive around with advertising on my car they need to pay me.

The aluminum bars work fine for me and I built a cabinet to tie in with them, but I did tone down the power button lights on mine.

 

[tutuan]

Thank you all for the comments. The current holiday sales at Emotiva helped me to make decision easier. I can get XPA2+XPA5 for $1,418 free shipping. What a sweet deal. Man, i can tell those amps are real power, the total shipping weight for two amps is 178lbs!!! Can't wait.

Now I'll get the Pioneer VSX-32 for the preamp and I believe I have hit the sweet spot of pre-pro/amp combination. Thank you all.

 

[nball]

It's not the end pieces that bother me, it's the Emotiva logo/emblem thing. The chrome button just looks tacky. A frosted depressed button void of sillynice would be much more appealing.

Their amplifiers are not the worst offenders though, it's their preamps that drive me insane with their overlly cheesy looks.

Their logo needs help too. That said, once they take that path, watch the value change at the expense of scaling of business.

 

[GranteedEV]

Thank you all for the comments. The current holiday sales at Emotiva helped me to make decision easier. I can get XPA2+XPA5 for $1,418 free shipping. What a sweet deal. Man, i can tell those amps are real power, the total shipping weight for two amps is 178lbs!!! Can't wait.

Now I'll get the Pioneer VSX-32 for the preamp and I believe I have hit the sweet spot of pre-pro/amp combination. Thank you all.

*receiver/amp combination

 

[jinjuku]

It's not the end pieces that bother me, it's the Emotiva logo/emblem thing. The chrome button just looks tacky. A frosted depressed button void of sillynice would be much more appealing.

Their amplifiers are not the worst offenders though, it's their preamps that drive me insane with their overlly cheesy looks.

Maybe you can get Lexicon to re-badge Emotiva guts... It will be in your price range at that point then.