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Emotiva UPA-2 VS. Acurus A250
This is a head to head challenge and one of them is staying home, the other - well tata.
You all should know the specs of the UPA-2 so here are the specs for the A250.
A250 Specifications
MSRP - $995 in 1992.
power output 8 ohm - 250
power output 4 ohm - 350
thd 0.06%
s/n ratio 110dB A Weighted
input sensitivity 1.2 volts for full output
1,000 VA toroidal transformer
Pic of guts :
So you may be looking at these specifications and thinking this should be matched up against the XPA-2, but I'm not. Reason being? I paid $325 for it - used (local pickup). I paid $324 (shipped) for the UPA-2. The UPA-2 is clearly the underdog here; So let's let them rumble for a permanent seat in my home. I was getting really tired of hearing how everyone was using this amp for surrounds; I wanted to hear a review with it powering mains. So this is going into the living room where I use 2 channel only.
So If I'm to do this review properly, let's discuss associated equipment.
Source - Dell E1505 laptop > Flac > ASIO > E-MU 0202 USB > AudioQuest Turquoise
Speakers - Wharfedale Diamond 9.6 (200wpc MAX / 6 ohm / 90dB)
Let's start off with the Acurus A250.
It's built like a tank, solid 35lbs, it's got I'm mean written all over it. I hook everything up and decide to let her warm up a bit.
Fourplay - Chant
I've seen this used a lot in reviews so I decided it'd be a good place to start. The first thing I notice is the Bass. I mean wow does this thing kick out the power, it slams and vibrates things it shouldn't. I quickly closed the door to our guest room to protect the fish! Great Bass extension, just powerful. The soundstage I noticed was only WIDE not deep, so a linear soundstage. The imaging was OK. I felt the amp was veiling some of the sound, it was hard to put my finger on it. The amp was very fast and very accurate; it had no problem eating whatever was thrown at it. I felt the highs were bright (NOTE: this brightness came down considerably after about an hour of listening; I guess it needed more warm up time).
Big Bad Voodoo Daddy - Mr. Pinstripe Suit
I've heard this song through a friend's Mirage OM-9's and those made me feel like I was at the concert; those speakers are amazing so hearing them through the Wharfedale's is almost a disappointment because it doesn't have that magic those OM-9's did. Especially when using the A250 the linear soundstage was just not doing it for me; overly forward sounding and 2D. They did image well; but just not the best I've heard. I'm really hoping the UPA-2 will get closer to the OM-9's in soundstage.
Eagles - Hotel California
Who doesn't know this song? Really? It's a classic and boy did the A250 deliver. Some notes - Big Bass, accurate guitar reproduction, has a musical sound good decay, good channel separation, again wide soundstage but not deep. Overall - I really liked turning this song UP and man did this thing just keep going. The more volume I gave it, the more it just hammered out the music. I really began to worry about the UPA-2 - wondering will it be able to take me to this level?? Read ON!
I think that's enough for the A250 through out various other songs the notes were pretty much the same tune; so let's move on to what you are all waiting for the UPA-2.
After a day of listening to the A250 I felt comfortable to swap in the UPA-2. It arrived very well packaged, was thinner than the A250 - but longer(phsyically). I got her all hooked up and ready to roll.
Fourplay - Chant
I immediately noticed a thinner sound than the A250 - the bass wasn't as authoritative. But I expected this it's half the power! It certainly wouldn't be fair to expect it to slam out the bass as much. Not to say it didn't have any Bass, it was a more average amount actually. However, what happened next was well - my speakers sounded completely different - in a good way. Can you say musical? Fresh? Vibrant and OMG DETAILS what I was missing all along was solid channel separation. The whole time with the A250 I kept thinking - man I need a new DAC, this just isn't cutting it with crisp clean details; then I plug in the UPA-2 and BAM there they are, it was like the veil was lifted off the speakers and I was there jamming with the guys. It was the sound I was after - the welcome to my room, care for a drink guys? No. then keep jamming! The highs were more neutral, the mids just OPENED up like a can of worms that were begging to come out.
Whoever said all amps sound alike? You'd change your tune if you A/B'd these. I guess that THD means something?
Big Bad Voodoo Daddy - Mr. Pinstripe Suit
The soundstage was just as wide (if not wider), but hot damn deeper. I'm sure it's not the deepest these speakers can go (XPA-2 anyone?); it sounded worlds closer to the OM-9's (although not quite there). The musicality and dynamics + details was the win for this underdog.
Eagles - Hotel California
Yes Yes Yes - That's all I needed to hear, crisp clean pure signal to speakers. The soundstage again went deep and wide. The channel seperation was huge. A blast in the midrange again with the detail. Almost as though I was hearing the music for the first time. The bass again wasn't as hard hitting or present - but all those lovely nuances were shining without being harsh. The darkness the A250 left was like Gandalf shining in victory at the end of the Two Towers. I have seeen the light and it's name is Emotiva!
It's incredible how these engineers put this amp together and sell it for $300. Are they nuts? For this price and quality, it's nothing short of an astounding performer. Glad they did - because it's awesome.
If I had to summarize - the Acurus A250 would be a more clubbing type amplifier, big sound / bass - will get your foot thumping. Reminded me of thursday nights at Rutgers college - party time type music that served up a great sound for bumping and grinding - beer drinking good times and nobody cares how the music SOUNDS. It was also brutal to expose poorly recorded tracks - older music with less than super ADC's left a lovely hiss.
The emotiva UPA-2 is the audiophile, I want to hear the nuances - the details, I want to expose what the musician intended and make it sound foot tapping good and make you smile music.
FS - Acurus A250 (note: I sold this on craigslist and was gone within the hour)
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