Adcom GFA 555SE vs. Emotiva XPA-2

DMara

Thanks, cnh and H9 I'll try that in two weeks when my entertainment center arrives (and I ordered it last October :mad:).

apphd

DMara, There are lots of posts on this in Emo's forum. From doing a quick scan I see that many use PWR conditioners and many do not. The staff at Emo claim all the protection needed is built in, and recommend not using any conditioners or surge protection with their amps. They feel the limiting factor of these devises has more of a negative impact on their amps and is not needed. Like many things audio, there is plenty of opinion on both arguments.

http://emotivalounge.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=amps&action=display&thread=9594&page=1

heiney9

apphd is right there is a whole other debate on whether power conditioners help or hinder components. You have the answer to your specific question about whether or not it can be done, which it can.

The next debate is whether it will hinder or help performance. Every component and every conditoner are different.

I use an APC H15 and it does a very good job and I notice no negative side effects and I'm running a higher end, hard running amp and I'm very anal about critical 2ch listening. Just like cables.........YMMV as to whether your amp(s) will benefit by being plugged into a power conditioner.

H9

SolidSqual

heiney9 wrote: »

apphd is right there is a whole other debate on whether power conditioners help or hinder components. You have the answer to your specific question about whether or not it can be done, which it can.

The next debate is whether it will hinder or help performance. Every component and every conditoner are different.

I use an APC H15 and it does a very good job and I notice no negative side effects and I'm running a higher end, hard running amp and I'm very anal about critical 2ch listening. Just like cables.........YMMV as to whether your amp(s) will benefit by being plugged into a power conditioner.

H9

When I owned a pair of XPA-2s, I noted in the warranty contract that extraneous power conditioning will likely void the manufacturer warranty. Also, Emotiva says they've repaired several units that have melted down due to issues the amps have with external conditioning.

heiney9

SolidSqual wrote: »

When I owned a pair of XPA-2s, I noted in the warranty contract that extraneous power conditioning will likely void the manufacturer warranty. Also, Emotiva says they've repaired several units that have melted down due to issues the amps have with external conditioning.

Sounds like a real quality product :rolleyes:. Sorry, but I fail to see how an amp can malfunction from being plugged into a power cond. Of course there are some pretty lousy conditoners out there.

To the OP, follow the manufacturer's instructions and if I were you I'd get the info straight from Emotiva and not from the Polk fourm.

H9

SolidSqual

heiney9 wrote: »

Sounds like a real quality product :rolleyes:. Sorry, but I fail to see how an amp can malfunction from being plugged into a power cond. Of course there are some pretty lousy conditoners out there.

To the OP, follow the manufacturer's instructions and if I were you I'd get the info straight from Emotiva and not from the Polk fourm.

H9

Here you go Mr. Smarty Pants . . .

http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?t=70905&highlight=power+conditioning

It has a max output of just over 2000 watts and given the efficiency losses of the amp stage and power supply it could draw as much as 2800 watts.

We don't recommed that any of our amps be run through a power conditioner. They all have power conditioning, over voltage, under voltage, surge protection and such build in and it is designed to allow maximum performace from the amp. We currently have an amp that just came in for service and it is very appearant that it was run on a power conditioner and the regulators on each modules were highly stressed and one of the modules has melted completely.

Please do not put any of the amps on a power conditioner.

http://emotivalounge.proboards.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=amps&thread=2012&page=1

Straight from the manufacturer.

heiney9

Didn't mean it in a smart way, but the whole thing sounds like a lot of puffery to me. I have owned amps capable of far more output both sustained and instantaneous and never had an issue or a warning from the manufacturer. Emotiva amps are not special in this regard.

Again, not bashing at all, just discussing what I think is an overblown manufacturer's statement to cover all their bases for a poor design.

The OP should follow whatever recommendation the manufacturer suggests.

That is all I'm going to comment on

H9

SolidSqual

heiney9 wrote: »

Didn't mean it in a smart way, but the whole thing sounds like a lot of puffery to me. I have owned amps capable of far more output both sustained and instantaneous and never had an issue or a warning from the manufacturer. Emotiva amps are not special in this regard.

Again, not bashing at all, just discussing what I think is an overblown manufacturer's statement to cover all their bases for a poor design.

The OP should follow whatever recommendation the manufacturer suggests.

That is all I'm going to comment on

H9

Good deal. Wasn't offended. Agree with your position.

rcrook317

emotiva says to plug directly into wall .......id do 1 or the other but not both.
sure others are more knowledgable on this

kuntasensei

I wouldn't focus too much on that. My Samson 1000 also had a note that it should be plugged directly into the wall.

bigred7078

TroyD wrote: »

Overkill? Can you REALLY have too much power?

BDT

sure...

In an incredibly small room with highly sensitive speakers

Hilbert

For what it's worth, towards the end of my XPA-5 period I bought a PS Audio Q Quintet and plugged the Emo into it, and it sounded much smoother, sweeter, quieter than previously when it was plugged into the wall.

I've always suspected Emo's opposition to conditioners is based on fear that their budget-minded customers will plug their amps into $30 Monster/Radio Shack power strips, which I suppose might cause a problem.

hearingimpared

Regardless of who makes the amp, I would never plug an amp into anything but directly into the wall outlet. To much current limiting going on in conditioners and forget about surge protectors. To hear the difference is sobering.

heiney9

hearingimpared wrote: »

Regardless of who makes the amp, I would never plug an amp into anything but directly into the wall outlet. To much current limiting going on in conditioners and forget about surge protectors. To hear the difference is sobering.

Not all Joe, but I agree people need to decide for themselves. I have my Aleph plugged in and it actually gives a slightly darker background and no issues with current limiting that I have found.

But, all conditoners are different and not every component will operate the same plugged into a conditioner.

H9

hearingimpared

heiney9 wrote: »

Not all Joe, but I agree people need to decide for themselves. I have my Aleph plugged in and it actually gives a slightly darker background and no issues with current limiting that I have found.

But, all conditoners are different and not every component will operate the same plugged into a conditioner.

H9

Do you mean blacker backround as in lower noise floor or darker sound to music?

heiney9

hearingimpared wrote: »

Do you mean blacker backround as in lower noise floor or darker sound to music?

Lmao, I meant blacker background as in lower nosie floor. Sorry, no coffee at the time of that post.:).

Hilbert

At the moment, all my stuff---TV, cable box, blue ray player, cd player, amp, sub, and preamp---are plugged into the ps audio quintet, and the quintet is plugged into some sort of ps audio conditioning wall plug. It sounds fine, no problems yet. Maybe I need to play my tunes louder.

The power in this area is said, by IT guys at work among others, to be "dirty", meaning maybe not very sinusoidal in some fashion. So conditioning is maybe of more benefit here than in most parts of the country.

jinjuku

SolidSqual wrote: »

Here you go Mr. Smarty Pants . . .

http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?t=70905&highlight=power+conditioning



http://emotivalounge.proboards.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=amps&thread=2012&page=1

Straight from the manufacturer.

Bob Lee (an engineer at QSC) has pointed out that most amps will have their own power conditioning built right in.

hearingimpared

heiney9 wrote: »

Lmao, I meant blacker background as in lower nosie floor. Sorry, no coffee at the time of that post.:).

Ahaaa! Coffee, the great grey matter rebooter.:D

jimbo1960

I just bought a pair of LSI9's along with an Emotiva XPA-2. I wanted to thank the people in this forum who recommend the Emotiva amp. I was really skeptical until I started listening. I was blown away by how good the LSI9's / XPA-2 combo is. Next I want to add an Oppo BDP-83SE for my 'giant killer' system.

cfrizz

Congratulations Jim & Welcome to Club Polk!

rcrook317

DMara wrote: »

Question: my APC S15blk power conditioner is listed with "Output Power Capacity 900 Watts / 1500 VA --- Max Configurable Power 900 Watts / 1500 VA." Is it OK for me to plug both Emo XPA-5 and XPA-2 to it?

emotiva recomends plugging directly into wall.They have built in surge protectors so no worry there.Opinions may vary but i read on the emo lounge that certain conditioners can cause the amp to not reach its full potential.

My whole setup is running thru a monster power strip while my amp has a "pangea AC-9" running straight into the wall.

should check the pangea out,theres a thread on it here so you can get info on it.Its thick as hell and as far as i can tell seemed to give alil boost to the emo....

hearingimpared

rcrook317 wrote: »

emotiva recomends plugging directly into wall.They have built in surge protectors so no worry there.Opinions may vary but i read on the emo lounge that certain conditioners can cause the amp to not reach its full potential.

My whole setup is running thru a monster power strip while my amp has a "pangea AC-9" running straight into the wall.

should check the pangea out,theres a thread on it here so you can get info on it.Its thick as hell and as far as i can tell seemed to give alil boost to the emo....

Just an added thought . . . Emo recommends plugging the amp directly into the power outlet coming directly off the breaker box. This is excellent advice as most conditioners or surge protectors will limit the current being demanded by a power amp. I've been plugging power amps directly to the wall for years and I think you will find it the general consensus here.

If you feel the need for power conditioning and/or surge protection there are many companies that provide such strictly designed for power amps.

Ric5811

hearingimpared wrote: »

Just an added thought . . . Emo recommends plugging the amp directly into the power outlet coming directly off the breaker box. This is excellent advice as most conditioners or surge protectors will limit the current being demanded by a power amp. I've been plugging power amps directly to the wall for years and I think you will find it the general consensus here.

If you feel the need for power conditioning and/or surge protection there are many companies that provide such strictly designed for power amps.

I know my Belkin has outlets set up for power amps, specifically for the high current draw.

I didn't have sound degradation, I had sound improvement. But that is in my situation only, I am sure it varies for everyone.

hearingimpared

Ric5811 wrote: »

I know my Belkin has outlets set up for power amps, specifically for the high current draw.

I didn't have sound degradation, I had sound improvement. But that is in my situation only, I am sure it varies for everyone.

I'm sure but like I said make sure it has been designed specifically for power amps. . . apparently yours is.:)

Ric5811

hearingimpared wrote: »

I'm sure but like I said make sure it has been designed specifically for power amps. . . apparently yours is.:)

Yeah, it's fun to watch the draw when I crank the Carver up!:D

hearingimpared

Ric5811 wrote: »

Yeah, it's fun to watch the draw when I crank the Carver up!:D

Do your lights dim?:D

Ric5811

hearingimpared wrote: »

Do your lights dim?:D

Savannah goes dark! It's like the scene in NL Christmas, when Griswald fires up the Christmas lights on his house..:D

hearingimpared

Hahaha!!!

scoobygt68

My lights dim, but I have way too much stuff on my breaker. Added a XPA 5 couple months ago and actually added a dedicated circuit for just it and my sub.