Secrets' Emotiva XPA-1 review

mmadden28
mmadden28 Posts: 4,283
edited January 2009 in Electronics
In case anybody is interested, a review of Emotiva's Differential Reference Monoblock amplifier, the XPA-1 , has just been posted at Secret's of Home Theatre and High Fidelity.

xpa1_close_script.jpg
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xpa1-back.jpg[/QUOTE]
____________________
This post is a natural product. The slight variations in spelling and grammar enhance its individual character and beauty and in no way are to be considered flaws or defects.

HT:Onkyo 805, Emotiva XPA-5, Mitsu 52" 1080p DLP / polkaudio RTi12, CSIa6, FXi3, uPro4K
2-chnl : Pio DV-46AV (SACD), Dodd ELP, Emotiva XPA-1s, XPA-2, Odyssey Khartago, LSi9, SDA-SRS 2 :cool:, SB Duet, MSB & Monarchy DACs, Yamaha PX3 TT, SAE Tuner...
Pool: Atrium 60's/45's
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  • bigred7078
    bigred7078 Posts: 477
    edited January 2009
    sa-sa-sa-seeeeeexy :)
    Pro-ject RM-9.1 w/ Grado Sonata 1 -> USP-1 -> RPA-1 -> Vienna Acoustics Mozart Grands
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  • leroyjr1
    leroyjr1 Posts: 8,785
    edited January 2009
    MMadden28, the xpa1 mono's must be in your future.
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  • bigred7078
    bigred7078 Posts: 477
    edited January 2009
    ^ hm the future must be now... hehe
    Pro-ject RM-9.1 w/ Grado Sonata 1 -> USP-1 -> RPA-1 -> Vienna Acoustics Mozart Grands
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  • mantis
    mantis Posts: 17,323
    edited January 2009
    This company builds beautiful gear. Even if it didn't sound good, I would be interested in looking at it
    Dan
    My personal quest is to save to world of bad audio, one thread at a time.
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  • Emlyn
    Emlyn Posts: 4,637
    edited January 2009
    An excellent and balanced review!
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  • SolidSqual
    SolidSqual Posts: 5,218
    edited January 2009
    Emotiva is great, but if you have really sensitive speakers like me, the high gain will raise your noise floor and become a nuisance if you are sensitive to that kind of thing.

    I never owned the XPA-1, but I have owned the XPA-2. The dynamics were the best my system had ever seen at the time.
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  • kuntasensei
    kuntasensei Posts: 3,263
    edited January 2009
    I gotta stop reading stuff about Emotiva. That UPA-7 keeps calling my name!
    Equipment list:
    Onkyo TX-NR3010 9.2 AVR
    Emotiva XPA-3 amp
    Polk RTi70 mains, CSi40 center, RTi38 surrounds, RTi28 rears and heights
    SVS 20-39CS+ subwoofer powered by Crown XLS1500
    Oppo BDP-93 Blu-ray player
    DarbeeVision DVP5000 video processor
    Epson 8500UB 1080p projector
    Elite Screens Sable 120" CineWhite screen
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  • mmadden28
    mmadden28 Posts: 4,283
    edited January 2009
    leroyjr1 wrote: »
    MMadden28, the xpa1 mono's must be in your future.

    Already got a pair on New Years Eve :cool:;)

    And No I haven't really had a chance to play with them yet :( but I did get them out of the box :D:rolleyes:, well OK one is still in the plastic :o
    ____________________
    This post is a natural product. The slight variations in spelling and grammar enhance its individual character and beauty and in no way are to be considered flaws or defects.

    HT:Onkyo 805, Emotiva XPA-5, Mitsu 52" 1080p DLP / polkaudio RTi12, CSIa6, FXi3, uPro4K
    2-chnl : Pio DV-46AV (SACD), Dodd ELP, Emotiva XPA-1s, XPA-2, Odyssey Khartago, LSi9, SDA-SRS 2 :cool:, SB Duet, MSB & Monarchy DACs, Yamaha PX3 TT, SAE Tuner...
    Pool: Atrium 60's/45's
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  • mmadden28
    mmadden28 Posts: 4,283
    edited January 2009
    Emlyn wrote: »
    An excellent and balanced review!

    Yeah, I only wish he was able to do a comparison with the XPA-2. I think he compared mostly with the RPA-1 IIRC.
    ____________________
    This post is a natural product. The slight variations in spelling and grammar enhance its individual character and beauty and in no way are to be considered flaws or defects.

    HT:Onkyo 805, Emotiva XPA-5, Mitsu 52" 1080p DLP / polkaudio RTi12, CSIa6, FXi3, uPro4K
    2-chnl : Pio DV-46AV (SACD), Dodd ELP, Emotiva XPA-1s, XPA-2, Odyssey Khartago, LSi9, SDA-SRS 2 :cool:, SB Duet, MSB & Monarchy DACs, Yamaha PX3 TT, SAE Tuner...
    Pool: Atrium 60's/45's
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  • heiney9
    heiney9 Posts: 25,412
    edited January 2009
    One line I got a huge kick out of.....................

    Unlike some “statement” amps by other manufacturers that are mostly empty inside, the XPA-1’s chassis is absolutely crammed with components.

    What a stupid thing to say. Crammed with components doesn't mean anything except it's has lots of parts in the signal path and is complicated, not that it plays or sounds better.

    The one cool thing is the "differential" part of the design rather than just using the 2 half's of the amp in a typical "bridged" output type of design.

    Kudos for the price point and the apparent build quality. I am suspect that perhaps this reviewer (as he stated in the first paragraph) is a fanboy. Still if it sounds 1/2 as good as he states it looks like a very good piece and great price.

    H9
    "Appreciation of audio is a completely subjective human experience. Measurements can provide a measure of insight, but are no substitute for human judgment. Why are we looking to reduce a subjective experience to objective criteria anyway? The subtleties of music and audio reproduction are for those who appreciate it. Differentiation by numbers is for those who do not".--Nelson Pass Pass Labs XA25 | EE Avant Pre | EE Mini Max Supreme DAC | MIT Shotgun S1 | Puritan Audio PSM136 Pwr Condtioner & Classic PC's | Legend L600 | Roon Nucleus 1 w/LPS - Tubes add soul!
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  • Face
    Face Posts: 14,340
    edited January 2009
    I still can't get over those binding posts.
    "He who fights with monsters should look to it that he himself does not become a monster. And when you gaze long into an abyss the abyss also gazes into you." Friedrich Nietzsche
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  • heiney9
    heiney9 Posts: 25,412
    edited January 2009
    Face wrote: »
    I still can't get over those binding posts.

    Yeah..............those would be a HUGE PITA!!
    "Appreciation of audio is a completely subjective human experience. Measurements can provide a measure of insight, but are no substitute for human judgment. Why are we looking to reduce a subjective experience to objective criteria anyway? The subtleties of music and audio reproduction are for those who appreciate it. Differentiation by numbers is for those who do not".--Nelson Pass Pass Labs XA25 | EE Avant Pre | EE Mini Max Supreme DAC | MIT Shotgun S1 | Puritan Audio PSM136 Pwr Condtioner & Classic PC's | Legend L600 | Roon Nucleus 1 w/LPS - Tubes add soul!
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  • RutgersFTW
    RutgersFTW Posts: 458
    edited January 2009
    That's madness.
    Currently listening to:

    Marantz SR5004
    Sony BDP-S370
    Apple TV V2
    Audio Technica AT-LP120
    Mirage CMD-5 x 5
    Bic H-100
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  • Hawkeye
    Hawkeye Posts: 1,313
    edited January 2009
    I would think if a person is going to drop 2K the LED/meters not being in cal would not pass it off as ok. Only for show? Come on give me break.

    I'm not sure what Wireworld Speaker cables he is using but I'd be upset to have to send in a 1K+ cable to be reterminated at my cost.

    Gordon
    2 Channel -
    Martin Logan Spire, 2 JL Audio F112 subs
    McIntosh C1000 Controller with Tube pre amp, 2 MC501 amplifiers, MD1K Transport & DAC, MR-88 Tuner
    WireWorld Eclipse 6.0 speaker wire and jumpers, Eclipse 5^2 Squared Balanced IC's. Silver Eclipse PCs (5)
    Symposium Rollerblocks 2+ (16)Black Diamond Racing Mk 3 pits (8)
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  • brettw22
    brettw22 Posts: 7,623
    edited January 2009
    Price-wise, I've been thinking about getting the XPA-5 and XPA-3 as well as the UMC-1 (releasing soon). I really like the look of them, but I am a bit hesitant to purchase sight unseen/sound unheard.....
    comment comment comment comment. bitchy.
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  • leroyjr1
    leroyjr1 Posts: 8,785
    edited January 2009
    mmadden28 wrote: »
    Already got a pair on New Years Eve :cool:;)

    And No I haven't really had a chance to play with them yet :( but I did get them out of the box :D:rolleyes:, well OK one is still in the plastic :o



    What kind of speakers are you going to run with those mono blocks?
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  • bigred7078
    bigred7078 Posts: 477
    edited January 2009
    mantis wrote: »
    This company builds beautiful gear. Even if it didn't sound good, I would be interested in looking at it

    haha thats funny :D
    Pro-ject RM-9.1 w/ Grado Sonata 1 -> USP-1 -> RPA-1 -> Vienna Acoustics Mozart Grands
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  • SEH
    SEH Posts: 91
    edited January 2009
    Hawkeye wrote: »

    I'm not sure what Wireworld Speaker cables he is using but I'd be upset to have to send in a 1K+ cable to be reterminated at my cost.

    You could probably bi-wire using the existing terminations. Run -- on one wire and ++ on the other... and remember to pair the leads correctly when you get to the speaker.

    Of course, then you'd have $2k+ cable coming from your $999 amp...
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  • Midnite Mick
    Midnite Mick Posts: 1,591
    edited January 2009
    Face wrote: »
    I still can't get over those binding posts.

    Why would they do that? You have to pretty much use lamp cord wire....weird.
    Modwright SWL 9.0 SE (6Sons Audio Thunderbird PC with Oyaide 004 terminations)
    Consonance cd120T
    Consonance Cyber 800 tube monoblocks (6Sons Audio Thunderbird PC's with Oyaide 004 terminations)
    Usher CP 6311

    Phillips Pronto TS1000 Universal Remote
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  • SolidSqual
    SolidSqual Posts: 5,218
    edited January 2009
    Midnite Mick wrote: »
    Why would they do that? You have to pretty much use lamp cord wire....weird.

    Or custom wire . . . which most any high-end or custom wire manufacturer can do. Perhaps they just assumed people who would be interested in their reference amp would be running custom wire.
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  • heiney9
    heiney9 Posts: 25,412
    edited January 2009
    SolidSqual wrote: »
    Or custom wire . . . which most any high-end or custom wire manufacturer can do. Perhaps they just assumed people who would be interested in their reference amp would be running custom wire.

    Hi end amp....................where, not in this thread. I know of many many other higher end amps that have std speaker terminal width, so I'd say probably not the case of having "custom" speaker cables made.

    I'd call it an oddity.
    "Appreciation of audio is a completely subjective human experience. Measurements can provide a measure of insight, but are no substitute for human judgment. Why are we looking to reduce a subjective experience to objective criteria anyway? The subtleties of music and audio reproduction are for those who appreciate it. Differentiation by numbers is for those who do not".--Nelson Pass Pass Labs XA25 | EE Avant Pre | EE Mini Max Supreme DAC | MIT Shotgun S1 | Puritan Audio PSM136 Pwr Condtioner & Classic PC's | Legend L600 | Roon Nucleus 1 w/LPS - Tubes add soul!
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  • Face
    Face Posts: 14,340
    edited January 2009
    What if you already have fancy custom wire?

    IMO, that was a huge mistake on their part.
    "He who fights with monsters should look to it that he himself does not become a monster. And when you gaze long into an abyss the abyss also gazes into you." Friedrich Nietzsche
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  • Midnite Mick
    Midnite Mick Posts: 1,591
    edited January 2009
    Maybe they plan on introducing their own custom speaker cables.
    Modwright SWL 9.0 SE (6Sons Audio Thunderbird PC with Oyaide 004 terminations)
    Consonance cd120T
    Consonance Cyber 800 tube monoblocks (6Sons Audio Thunderbird PC's with Oyaide 004 terminations)
    Usher CP 6311

    Phillips Pronto TS1000 Universal Remote
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  • dkg999
    dkg999 Posts: 5,647
    edited January 2009
    You can build a neat binding post extension out of coat hanger wire and duct tape! That'll solve the problem.
    DKG999
    HT System: LSi9, LSiCx2, LSiFX, LSi7, SVS 20-39 PC+, B&K 507.s2 AVR, B&K Ref 125.2, Tripplite LCR-2400, Cambridge 650BD, Signal Cable PC/SC, BJC IC, Samsung 55" LED

    Music System: Magnepan 1.6QR, SVS SB12+, ARC pre, Parasound HCA1500 vertically bi-amped, Jolida CDP, Pro-Ject RM5.1SE TT, Pro-Ject TubeBox SE phono pre, SBT, PS Audio DLIII DAC
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  • mmadden28
    mmadden28 Posts: 4,283
    edited January 2009
    leroyjr1 wrote: »
    What kind of speakers are you going to run with those mono blocks?

    For now? The LSi9's. I might try them out on the RTi12's though. Who knows what the future holds for speakers-at least I'll be ready ;):D My guess though is that I probably won't be able to discern a difference between the XPA-2 and the XPA-1's at this point. We'll see.
    dkg999 wrote: »
    You can build a neat binding post extension out of coat hanger wire and duct tape! That'll solve the problem.
    That's my plan :p:rolleyes:
    ____________________
    This post is a natural product. The slight variations in spelling and grammar enhance its individual character and beauty and in no way are to be considered flaws or defects.

    HT:Onkyo 805, Emotiva XPA-5, Mitsu 52" 1080p DLP / polkaudio RTi12, CSIa6, FXi3, uPro4K
    2-chnl : Pio DV-46AV (SACD), Dodd ELP, Emotiva XPA-1s, XPA-2, Odyssey Khartago, LSi9, SDA-SRS 2 :cool:, SB Duet, MSB & Monarchy DACs, Yamaha PX3 TT, SAE Tuner...
    Pool: Atrium 60's/45's
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  • leroyjr1
    leroyjr1 Posts: 8,785
    edited January 2009
    mmadden28 wrote: »
    For now? The LSi9's. I might try them out on the RTi12's though. Who knows what the future holds for speakers-at least I'll be ready ;):D My guess though is that I probably won't be able to discern a difference between the XPA-2 and the XPA-1's at this point. We'll see.


    That's my plan :p:rolleyes:



    Have you thought about some SDA's?
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  • mmadden28
    mmadden28 Posts: 4,283
    edited January 2009
    leroyjr1 wrote: »
    Have you thought about some SDA's?

    Have I thought about SDA's...(he said, with repeated sarcasm) ;)

    Of course, and I've never even heard them. The opportunities just keep slipping past me. I'm in deep caca right now anyway for getting the amps. I even stayed home to sign for them. Little did I know my Mother-in-Law would be there. I overslept and she signed for them, then blabbered to my wife that I bought more stuff.:mad::mad::mad:. Ya know she never would ave known :rolleyes:.

    Yeah I can't be bringing any behemoths in here right now. Of course if the right opportunity came along...;):rolleyes:
    ____________________
    This post is a natural product. The slight variations in spelling and grammar enhance its individual character and beauty and in no way are to be considered flaws or defects.

    HT:Onkyo 805, Emotiva XPA-5, Mitsu 52" 1080p DLP / polkaudio RTi12, CSIa6, FXi3, uPro4K
    2-chnl : Pio DV-46AV (SACD), Dodd ELP, Emotiva XPA-1s, XPA-2, Odyssey Khartago, LSi9, SDA-SRS 2 :cool:, SB Duet, MSB & Monarchy DACs, Yamaha PX3 TT, SAE Tuner...
    Pool: Atrium 60's/45's
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  • brody05
    brody05 Posts: 329
    edited January 2009
    I dont mind some lights but too many is a bit on the gimmicky side for me, I did look at these before deciding on the Verastarr and a lot of it came down to the lights, fussy.......probably but aren't we all a bit fussy with regard to our 'little affair' with our systems.
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  • brettw22
    brettw22 Posts: 7,623
    edited January 2009
    Except that you can turn the lights completely off and make them disappear.........simple.
    comment comment comment comment. bitchy.
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  • brody05
    brody05 Posts: 329
    edited January 2009
    brettw22 wrote: »
    Except that you can turn the lights completely off and make them disappear.........simple.

    I would like to have clipping lights just incase though but yeah, fair call.
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