Emotiva XPA-3 vs Adcom GFA 585

Avigatorx

TOOLFORLIFEFAN wrote: »

Well I finally got a new amp Adcom GFA 585, and I have been putting it up against the Emotiva XPA3 in 2 channel mode the last couple of days.

I've been a long time lurker, but have recently become a bit more interested in getting the best performance out of my RTi 12s, so have been doing some research on amps.

I am curious how old the adcom amp is. I believe another poster mentioned it was out of production.

The reason I am wondering is, I have read in a few places that amps are like a fine wine and they get better with age. If true (and please, feel free to correct me if I'm mistaken), wouldnt that explain a more rich sound using a 10 year old adcom (or older) versus a 1-2 year old Emotiva?

Great review btw:)

heiney9

No not really, the difference in sound is in the design, implementation and parts used. The Adcom 585 is approx 18-20 years old. Things were probably built better back then as a general rule, but that's just a general statement.


H9

jimmydep

I have an Emotiva XPA-5 and a Sunfire Cinema Grand 200x5, I am currently doing a head to head comparision of the two, right now the Emotiva has a clear edge over the Sunfire.
The Sunfire has a very detailed, powerfull, laid back sound that's a little light in the high end, whereas the Emotiva is very dynamic, up front, detailed with a much better high end and a very powerfull bass line.
While I enjoy both (mostly compared in two channel listening), with LSI speakers which are already alittle laid back to begin with, the Emotiva seems to be a better match.......The Sunfire may be better suited for a brighter speaker.

As my 23yr old daughters musician freind (who was actively involved in the comparison) stated "Listening to the Sunfire is like making love with a rubber on"...........I didn't think it sounded that bad.

So right now I have the Emotiva XPA-5 bi-amping the Front channel. and the Sunfire on rear surround and 2nd zone duty.

I think the Emotiva is an excellent choice and it can hold it's own against any of the amps in the $1000 to $3000 price range.

Just my humble opinion.

Jimmy

megasat16

jimmydep wrote: »

As my 23yr old daughters musician freind (who was actively involved in the comparison) stated "Listening to the Sunfire is like making love with a rubber on"...........I didn't think it sounded that bad.

I mean no disrespect to your daugther's musician friend but let me guess, he plays hard rocks or r&b? These guys likes dynamics over anythings. Boom...Boom...Shakala....

I don't have both of the amps you mentioned but I appreciates your contributions. I think the problem with younger man these days is that they'll take dynamics over sound quality or bass over the details.

LessisNevermore

megasat16 wrote: »

I mean no disrespect to your daugther's musician friend but let me guess, he plays hard rocks or r&b? These guys likes dynamics over anythings. Boom...Boom...Shakala....

I don't have both of the amps you mentioned but I appreciates your contributions. I think the problem with younger man these days is that they'll take dynamics over sound quality or bass over the details.

Any more sweeping generalizations you can make here?:mad:

Maybe since he's a musician, he's more familiar with what real instruments sound like up close, and what he heard from one amp sounded more like that, than the other.

Myself, and the many other musicians I know-care more about detail and accuracy, than imaging and other phase trickery. Getting all of it together on a recording, is a bonus of course.

megasat16

LessisNevermore wrote: »

Any more sweeping generalizations you can make here?:mad:

Maybe since he's a musician, he's more familiar with what real instruments sound like up close, and what he heard from one amp sounded more like that, than the other.

Myself, and the many other musicians I know-care more about detail and accuracy, than imaging and other phase trickery. Getting all of it together on a recording, is a bonus of course.

Less, Relax! I got to know too. What kind of musician he is. There are all sorts of musicians, you know? Some are talented and some aren't. And then, there is the kind of music they play.

I was once tried to be a musician but I didn't have talent in creating music. But I have good ears to appreciate music what others had made and I know what equipments can bring back the recorded music back to the listeners as close as possible.

Rest assured, no generalization meant but younger man (which I once was) tended to care more about boom...boom...boom than the details. It's not meant for the musicians (it's meant for the younger man).

I am interested in what you play also. I also would like to Jimmy to chime in about his daughter's musician friend.

jimmydep

megasat16 wrote: »

Less, Relax! I got to know too. What kind of musician he is. There are all sorts of musicians, you know? Some are talented and some aren't. And then, there is the kind of music they play.

First let me say I take absoultly no offense to anything anyone say's.

Just a little history, In 1977 to 1981 I was co-owner and operator of a Recording studio in Northern NJ. We had a brick and mortor location but we specialized in mobile recordings, mostley at bars and clubs in NJ and NYC.
I took care of the buisiness end and was more a set-up man\gofer for my partner who was the REAL sound engineering genuis (RIP Audio Andy), but I did my fair share of mixing also.
So based on my prior expieriences I think I have a decent ear for the true quality of music

As far as my daughters friend he is a drummer and he plays a mean bass guitar. His band (the name eludes me right now) plays a mix of pop with classic light rock and wedding type music. I know he has some classical musical training. Absolutly no RAP!!!! And he's a great kid, he's an animation artist and his work aired on a Superbowl commercial (the one with the scarecrow on the electrical wires).

Please don't think I'm trashing any of the other excellent amps that other Polkies are recomending. I just wanted to make the point that for a very reasonable price the Emotiva is IMO a very good sounding amp and worthy of a listen.

Jimmy

cnh

Thanks Jimmy,

I think we need to cool down some of the pros and cons on this. Recently, at Nadams get together we heard a number of speakers with a number of amps. Some sounded good with one and bad with another and others sounded good with the amp that sounded bad on a different set! Though I knew this was certainly possible...hearing was believing.

As others have said synergy is an issue here....what matches up with what...and frankly it's a bit mysterious. You can't necessarily predict it before hand. But I do respect the opinion of individuals with a 'musical' ear. I have a bit of one myself and don't really understand how one can 'evaluate' nuances without either some training in music or at least the ability to play by ear. But hey, hearing and performing are also two very different abilities, so it is possible that one can hear but not 'act' or create! So even this is open to question.

Oh well, the debate will, I'm afraid, continue.

cnh

jimmydep

cnh wrote: »

Thanks Jimmy,

I think we need to cool down some of the pros and cons on this. Recently, at Nadams get together we heard a number of speakers with a number of amps. Some sounded good with one and bad with another and others sounded good with the amp that sounded bad on a different set! Though I knew this was certainly possible...hearing was believing.

As others have said synergy is an issue here....what matches up with what...and frankly it's a bit mysterious. You can't necessarily predict it before hand. But I do respect the opinion of individuals with a 'musical' ear. I have a bit of one myself and don't really understand how one can 'evaluate' nuances without either some training in music or at least the ability to play by ear. But hey, hearing and performing are also two very different abilities, so it is possible that one can hear but not 'act' or create! So even this is open to question.

Oh well, the debate will, I'm afraid, continue.

cnh

But the most important thing is "how it sounds to you".

Unfortunatly we can't all run out and buy 4 or 5 amps for comparision you just do the best you can.

Don't get hung up on the equiptment just enjoy the music...

Thanks cnh


Jimmy

megasat16

jimmydep wrote: »

First let me say I take absoultly no offense to anything anyone say's.

Just a little history, In 1977 to 1981 I was co-owner and operator of a Recording studio in Northern NJ. We had a brick and mortor location but we specialized in mobile recordings, mostley at bars and clubs in NJ and NYC.
I took care of the buisiness end and was more a set-up man\gofer for my partner who was the REAL sound engineering genuis (RIP Audio Andy), but I did my fair share of mixing also.
So based on my prior expieriences I think I have a decent ear for the true quality of music

As far as my daughters friend he is a drummer and he plays a mean bass guitar. His band (the name eludes me right now) plays a mix of pop with classic light rock and wedding type music. I know he has some classical musical training. Absolutly no RAP!!!! And he's a great kid, he's an animation artist and his work aired on a Superbowl commercial (the one with the scarecrow on the electrical wires).

Please don't think I'm trashing any of the other excellent amps that other Polkies are recomending. I just wanted to make the point that for a very reasonable price the Emotiva is IMO a very good sounding amp and worthy of a listen.

Jimmy

Thanks for chiming in, Jim! I appreciates you are taking no offense. Honestly, I didn't mean any either. I just have to know what musician he is so I can honestly gauging what kind of taste he has in music.

I think he is great kid having many talents. As far as the review is concerned, I think it's a fair assessment you made and it's well received at my end.

James

LessisNevermore

megasat16 wrote: »

Less, Relax! I got to know too. What kind of musician he is. There are all sorts of musicians, you know? Some are talented and some aren't. And then, there is the kind of music they play.

I was once tried to be a musician but I didn't have talent in creating music. But I have good ears to appreciate music what others had made and I know what equipments can bring back the recorded music back to the listeners as close as possible.

Rest assured, no generalization meant but younger man (which I once was) tended to care more about boom...boom...boom than the details. It's not meant for the musicians (it's meant for the younger man).

I am interested in what you play also. I also would like to Jimmy to chime in about his daughter's musician friend.

Sorry mega, guess I should have used a different smiley...:o It was the only line, that was typed in frustration, the rest was not. I'm guilty of generalizing/stereotyping at times, too.

I play drums, and I'm a hack on everything else I pick up. A dabbler, if you will.:D

Thanks for clarifying, Jimmy. I may have some mixing questions for you, if you don't mind.

jimmydep

LessisNevermore wrote: »

Sorry mega, guess I should have used a different smiley...:o It was the only line, that was typed in frustration, the rest was not. I'm guilty of generalizing/stereotyping at times, too.

I play drums, and I'm a hack on everything else I pick up. A dabbler, if you will.:D

Thanks for clarifying, Jimmy. I may have some mixing questions for you, if you don't mind.

I'll try to help, it's been a long time and we were using all analog equiptment.

Jimmy

LessisNevermore

jimmydep wrote: »

I'll try to help, it's been a long time and we were using all analog equiptment.

Jimmy

I'm all digital, but my questions are relevant to both realms.
Thanks very much. I sent you a pm.

mdaudioguy

heiney9 wrote: »

The 585 was new in 1988 retail was around $1K. Used they sell for around $500.

Not sure on the Emo never looked it up.........no need to.

I doubt very much the XPA 2 would be that much different than the XPA 3 despite what Emo states about it being better for 2 ch.

H9

I'm admittedly not an expert here, but since I have both of the Emo's you mentioned, I feel I can at least toss in my two cents...

To me, the XPA-2 clearly sounds better... fuller, richer, punchier. The XPA-2 seems to get more out of my RTi10s than when I drove them with the XPA-3. I've listened to better speakers, and I'd have to say that this amp definitely helps me squeeze the most out of these speakers. A lot of folks say these speakers are best used for HT, but I've become very satisfied with them for music since adding the XPA-2. That's pretty much the totality of my impression - no extensive reviews and comparisons here...

Is it "that much better"... who knows, but for the difference in price, I'd have to say that it probably is.:)

boston1450

Boom Boom Shakala...... ROLMAO this thread is funny

ken brydson

boston1450 wrote: »

Boom Boom Shakala...... ROLMAO this thread is funny

From 5 years ago? Can I have some of what you're drinking?

boston1450

I apologize Ken. I read these old threads & the comments me laugh. No disrespect on anyone on thread