Warning! Emo Love inside!

ROHfan
ROHfan Posts: 1,014
edited February 2014 in Electronics
So I ordered an XPA-3 Gen 1 refurbed from Emotiva for $500. It was part of their "secret warehouse sale." I just got the amp from UPS today and when I unpacked the box I was delighted to see that not only did they send me a Gen 2, but the amp was also BRAND NEW! I cannot find a single blemish anywhere.

Anyways, it replaces a UPA-200 and I can't believe the difference in sound quality. It's not louder, per se, but it seems to have more "punch" and "dynamics." I know Emo doesn't have tons of friends here but I have to hand it to their outstanding customer service.
TV: 65" Samsung QLED 4K
Fronts: Energy RC70 --- Center: Energy RC-LCR
Front Heights: Polk RC65i --- Rears: Polk RC85i --- Sub: Power Sound Audio XS15
Pioneer VSX-1120K --- Parasound HCA-1000A --- Oppo BDP-103
Vincent Audio SA31 preamp --- Teac UD301 DAC
AIYIMA Tube T7 preamp --- Nobsound 12AX7 tube preamplifier
Post edited by ROHfan on
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Comments

  • danz1906
    danz1906 Posts: 5,144
    edited February 2014
    Congrats!
    Linn AV5140 fronts
    Linn AV5120 Center
    Linn AV5140 Rears
    M&K MX-70 Sub for Music
    Odyssey Mono-Blocs
    SVS Ultra-13 Gloss Black:D
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  • FTGV
    FTGV Posts: 3,649
    edited February 2014
    Lol like the thread title.Enjoy your new purchase.
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  • zane77
    zane77 Posts: 1,696
    edited February 2014
    Great score, enjoy!
    Home Theater
    Onkyo PR-SC5508 Sharp LC-70LE847U
    Emotiva XPA-5 Emotiva XPA-2 Emotiva UPA-2
    Front RTi-A9 Wide RTi-A7 Center CSi-A6 Surround FXi-A6 Rear RTi-A3 Sub 2x PSW505
    Sony BDP-S790 Dishnetwork Hopper/Joey Logitech Harmony One Apple TV
    Two Channel
    Oppo 105D BAT VK-500 w/BatPack SDA SRS 2.3 Dreadnought Squeezebox Touch Apple TV
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  • B Run
    B Run Posts: 1,888
    edited February 2014
    Congrats man, new gear is always fun!
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  • vulcan
    vulcan Posts: 91
    edited February 2014
    Congrats on the new gear!
    Polk Audio SDA 1C, Klipsch Legend KLF 20, Klipsch Chorus II
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  • heartystatue
    heartystatue Posts: 329
    edited February 2014
    That's an excellent price for sure. I am thinking of adding the XPA-2 for my HT project. 700 bones. Congrats on the purchase.
    HT: LSI15, LSIC, LSIFX, Emo XPA-3:biggrin: Onkyo TXNR809, Sony BDP-S500, PannyDMP-BDT320, MIT S1 SC. Mit 73842dlp
    2ch: SDA-SRS 2.3 Fully modded. BAT VK500 w/batpak, BAT VK5I, Essence HDACC.
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  • WLDock
    WLDock Posts: 3,073
    edited February 2014
    You are not the first to note improvements in the Gen 2 products. Come on man, 400-660 watts or new amp for $500, who gives a rats **** what others think. Be happy in your own skin! Enjoy it. Nothing wrong with having $500-$50,000 amp choice options out there.
    2.2 Office Setup | LG 29UB55 21:9 UltraWide | HP Probook 630 G8 | Dell Latitude | Cabasse Stream Amp 100 | Boston Acoustics VS 240 | AUDIORAX Desk Stands | Mirage Omni S8 sub1 | Mirage Omni S8 Sub2
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  • Toolfan66
    Toolfan66 Posts: 17,243
    edited February 2014
    WLDock wrote: »
    You are not the first to note improvements in the Gen 2 products. Come on man, 400-660 watts or new amp for $500, who gives a rats **** what others think. Be happy in your own skin! Enjoy it. Nothing wrong with having $500-$50,000 amp choice options out there.

    Would you trade your Halo for one??






    I didn't think so... LOL!!!!

    I have the XPA-3 in my HT rig, I have no regrets..
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  • WLDock
    WLDock Posts: 3,073
    edited February 2014
    Wait, read my sig again....Its says 2 ch dreaming! I don't even have EMO money sometimes with a wife and two kids...and the wife has not worked since we moved to Indiana for my job back in'12. Once she gets back on track then I might be able to answer that question! I would buy both and do my own comparison...thank you very much! :)


    ...But the answer might still be no. The HALO/Parasound is the one that I always wanted...in my whining voice. LOL!
    2.2 Office Setup | LG 29UB55 21:9 UltraWide | HP Probook 630 G8 | Dell Latitude | Cabasse Stream Amp 100 | Boston Acoustics VS 240 | AUDIORAX Desk Stands | Mirage Omni S8 sub1 | Mirage Omni S8 Sub2
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  • zingo
    zingo Posts: 11,258
    edited February 2014
    Congratulations on a very nice price. They're Gen 2 products sound like a good buy for the money from various reviews.
    Jake
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  • cfrizz
    cfrizz Posts: 13,415
    edited February 2014
    Congrats enjoy your system!
    Marantz AV-7705 PrePro, Classé 5 channel 200wpc Amp, Oppo 103 BluRay, Rotel RCD-1072 CDP, Sony XBR-49X800E TV, Polk S60 Main Speakers, Polk ES30 Center Channel, Polk S15 Surround Speakers SVS SB12-NSD x2
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  • PolkieMan
    PolkieMan Posts: 2,446
    edited February 2014
    good deal!!
    I am dying to try an XPA-2
    POLK SDA 2.3 TLS BOUGHT NEW IN 1990, Gimpod/Sonic Caps/Mills RDO-198
    POLK CSI-A6 POLK MONITOR 70'S ONKYO TX NR-808 SONY CDP-333ES
    PIONEER PL-510A SONY BDP S5100
    POLK SDA 1C BOUGHT USED 2011,Gimpod/Sonic Caps/Mills RDO-194
    ONKYO HT RC-360 SONY BDP S590 TECHNICS SL BD-1
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  • drummer86
    drummer86 Posts: 441
    edited February 2014
    Good buy for sure. While I've never heard one in person I certainly like the looks of those new XPA amps.
    Display: LG 47" LCD | AVR: Marantz SR5005 | BD: Panasonic BDT-210 | CD/SACD: Oppo 980 |
    Amps: Rotel RB-990bx | Marantz MA-500 | Speakers: Totem Mite : Totem Mite-C : RC60i | Sub: HSU VTF-2 MKIV

    HK AVR635 | Polk R30 | Sony DVD/SACD Player
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  • ROHfan
    ROHfan Posts: 1,014
    edited February 2014
    I recently became aware that it is actually the Gen 1 XPA-3. I was mistaken. Although it is brand new and sounds amazing, anyway, with the new Martin Logan EMs.
    TV: 65" Samsung QLED 4K
    Fronts: Energy RC70 --- Center: Energy RC-LCR
    Front Heights: Polk RC65i --- Rears: Polk RC85i --- Sub: Power Sound Audio XS15
    Pioneer VSX-1120K --- Parasound HCA-1000A --- Oppo BDP-103
    Vincent Audio SA31 preamp --- Teac UD301 DAC
    AIYIMA Tube T7 preamp --- Nobsound 12AX7 tube preamplifier
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  • moodyman
    moodyman Posts: 45
    edited February 2014
    ROHfan wrote: »
    I recently became aware that it is actually the Gen 1 XPA-3. I was mistaken. Although it is brand new and sounds amazing, anyway, with the new Martin Logan EMs.

    Nothing against Emo products myself (I own an XPA-2)..but how do you know its brand new?? Having zero blemishes doesn't really mean anything except that the previous owner and Emo handled it very well.
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  • heartystatue
    heartystatue Posts: 329
    edited February 2014
    My thinking is doesn't matter new or not. it still comes with the 5 year warranty. If I had to say anything i would call it a demo model.
    HT: LSI15, LSIC, LSIFX, Emo XPA-3:biggrin: Onkyo TXNR809, Sony BDP-S500, PannyDMP-BDT320, MIT S1 SC. Mit 73842dlp
    2ch: SDA-SRS 2.3 Fully modded. BAT VK500 w/batpak, BAT VK5I, Essence HDACC.
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  • nooshinjohn
    nooshinjohn Posts: 25,420
    edited February 2014
    Congrats on the new toy. I don't think there really ever was a tone of Emo-hate here, but there is a bunch of dislike for the "Emoette". These would be the fanboy types that jump into a discussion of Mcintosh Vs. Pass Labs and insist that Emo is better than both at a tenth of the cost, and making that assertion after having never heard either of the two amps being previously discussed.

    Emotiva makes a solid product for what your intended use is. I would like to see a more in-depth review of your new toy in the future.
    The Gear... Carver "Statement" Mono-blocks, Mcintosh C2300 Arcam AVR20, Oppo UDP-203 4K Blu-ray player, Sony XBR70x850B 4k, Polk Audio Legend L800 with height modules, L400 Center Channel Polk audio AB800 "in-wall" surrounds. Marantz MM7025 stereo amp. Simaudio Moon 680d DSD

    “When once a Republic is corrupted, there is no possibility of remedying any of the growing evils but by removing the corruption and restoring its lost principles; every other correction is either useless or a new evil.”— Thomas Jefferson
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  • ROHfan
    ROHfan Posts: 1,014
    edited February 2014
    Noosh, will definitely do the review at some point. There was a time I would defend this amp against much bigger and more expensive amps but one thing I've learned here is that I don't know all that much about audio gear. For now, the amp is a good fit for me and I don't see the need to upgrade anytime soon unless I hit the lottery.

    And how do I know it's new? Why, it has that new-amp smell, that's how. :)
    TV: 65" Samsung QLED 4K
    Fronts: Energy RC70 --- Center: Energy RC-LCR
    Front Heights: Polk RC65i --- Rears: Polk RC85i --- Sub: Power Sound Audio XS15
    Pioneer VSX-1120K --- Parasound HCA-1000A --- Oppo BDP-103
    Vincent Audio SA31 preamp --- Teac UD301 DAC
    AIYIMA Tube T7 preamp --- Nobsound 12AX7 tube preamplifier
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  • F1nut
    F1nut Posts: 50,566
    edited February 2014
    You are not the first to note improvements in the Gen 2 products.

    This cracks me up. All those that thought the Gen 1 products were so good....better than the big names, which those in the know, knew was far from the truth. Then Emo comes out with the Gen 2, which according to just about everyone is better than the Gen1........Oh snap, that mud in your face doesn't look good.
    Political Correctness'.........defined

    "A doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a t-u-r-d by the clean end."

    President of Club Polk

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  • adabro
    adabro Posts: 212
    edited February 2014
    Congrats on the new hardware...
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  • ROHfan
    ROHfan Posts: 1,014
    edited February 2014
    DSkip wrote: »
    I'm starting to think we need some pics of that amp to verify you own it. You've got a lot of common sense for an Emo-owner. :eek: (I kid...)

    Lolz! That's something I've learned here...along with some humility.
    TV: 65" Samsung QLED 4K
    Fronts: Energy RC70 --- Center: Energy RC-LCR
    Front Heights: Polk RC65i --- Rears: Polk RC85i --- Sub: Power Sound Audio XS15
    Pioneer VSX-1120K --- Parasound HCA-1000A --- Oppo BDP-103
    Vincent Audio SA31 preamp --- Teac UD301 DAC
    AIYIMA Tube T7 preamp --- Nobsound 12AX7 tube preamplifier
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