Summary: I have been in audio since I was 14, as a mater of fact I use to work in a highend audio store at that age, and I have own several different power amps through the years, and after using the XPA-2 I can see why all the real high end magazines shy away from doing a review of this companies equipment. This is a great sounding amp I originally bought the XPA-3 which is not too shaby I am currently using it for the rear and center channel. However, when I turned on the XPA-2 to my Snell type B's I stated hearing all kind of small minute details in the background that I have never heard before, and it was not just the highend, the low end was outstanding, I ended up turning my subwoofer down from +3 to -5. This amp has got to be the biggest bang for the buck since the Phase Linear 400. For those that think you have to spend an arm and a leg to buy a quality amp, give the XPA-2 a try, I am sure you too will be a believer. By the way this thing is definitely not a lightweight, neither in power or weight. It weighs a hefty 70+ pounds and the power output is (300@8) (500@4) or MONO (1000@8). This amp has the gut's and the glory to boot. Since I hooked this amp to the system, I have been listening to all the old favorites, and they all seem to sound better.
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Summary: When I decided to buy a new set of Polk LSI9's I realized my current Denon AV-3808CI was not going to be able to power the 4 Ohm load. After a lot of reading on different audio forums I kept seeing posts raving about Emotiva amps, a brand I've never heard of. When I saw what the amps were selling for I was mighty suspicious. I kept digging, sure I'd find something that would put me off. I didn't. I called several times and talked with Vincent and learned my best bet would be to use the 2-channel amp for the front Polks and let the Denon do the other 3. Later I could get a 3-Channel Emotiva to take the load off the Denon. My last setup was a Pass Labs Aleph, Audible Illusions L1 and Von Schweikert VR4. I was never very happy with that setup. For all the money I spent it just never met my expectations. To be honest, I was expecting to be dissppointed with the Emotiva. I just wasn't ready for what the amp delivered. The Emotiva blew me away with sound that is detailed, clean and dynamic. After listening to a few dozen CD's I'm still blown away by the quality of this amp. How can this much less expensive setup put a grin on my face every time I listen. One word of advice after this experience, READ THE FORUMS. I've never before had a piece of Audio equipment so thoroughly exceed my expectations!
Summary: I COMPARED A EMOTIVA XPA-2 TO A PARASOUND HCA 2200. THE TWO HEAVY WEIGHT AMPS PERFORMED IMPRESSIVELY. THE PARASOUND HAS A SMOOTHNESS IN THE MIDS WITH STRONG BASS AND GOOD DETAIL. THE EMOTIVA HAS NEUTRAL MIDS AND STRONG BASS. AND GOOD DETAIL. BOTH AMPS HAVE LOTS OF POWER.
I USED A SONIC FRONTIEIRS L1 PREAMP AND CAMBRIDGE 500 CD . SOUND CHOICE CUSTOM 3-WAY
SPEAKERS WITH A 12' WOOFER AND BIAMPED TWO 15' SUBWOOFERS WITH A QSC 3002 AMP.
THE EMOTIVA DROVE THE SPEAKERS WOOFERS TO THEIR LIMIT OF 10 MM EXCURSCION DURING A
LISTENING TEST TO A CHRIS DUARTE INSTRUMENTAL. THE EMOTIVA HAS THE BEST AUTHORITY IN THE BASS AND IT SOUNDS VERY GOOD. I THINK THE EMOTIVA XPA-2 IS THE BEST VALUE IN AUDIO HISTORY.
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I owe debt to the founder, employees, and manufacturers of Emotiva. Their XPA-5 has single handedly blown me away! The price is a scoff. They are giving you people great musical and home theater amps.
The XPA-5 has belittled all my previous amps and receivers.
First it beat a B&K AV5000. A B&K amp as powerful as the XPA-5 would cost $2200+ and if B&K hasn't gotten alot better in the sound quality respect, the Emotiva amp would embarrass it. Not just beat it but kick its rear. B&K wasn't that bad even, especially in bass, the highs were grainy and unclear.
It blows away a Pioneer Elite VSX-52TX. This receiver took me away from ever buying any other Pioneer Elite Receiver. Pretty much turned my stomach to receivers altogether. It originally listed at $1000. It's real value is as a processor only. The amp section wasn't worth hearing.
It beat out a Yamaha receiver I never liked. Power from the Yamaha was impressive but sound quality was horrible. I'll never gamble again on a Yamaha.
So how does the Emotiva XPA-5 sound?
Very neutral amplifier. SPEAKERS: INFINITY BETA 50 and BETA C360 which have been a bright speaker.
Because of my speakers sonic signatures I still had to bump down the highs (4k, 8k, 16k), upper bass(125,250), and thanks to the Infinity PS-12 sub being such a low hitter I turned down the 40 hz band. 40 lowest the rest even. Boosted bands 60, 500, 1k, and 2k. All are within 5 db. 1k is set highest the rest even.
Clearly, the xpa-5 is a more musical amp than I've ever heard. Also the biggest, most ruggedly built, heavy, and pleasing to look at. I'd predict this amps real value stands 5 times what it costs. Easily 3 times it's humble costs. I don't know of any true competition Mark Levinson and Bryston are way out of price range, even used ones you have no guarantee of.
Emotiva has won this war and made me a true believer in their products. If you can't believe this is true you ARE missing out or way overpaying.
HT is well rounded too. Obvious to me, if the music is handled smoothly well, movies, given enough power, can sound enjoyable at least. The XPA-5 sounds silky smooth and exciting on movies. Well detailed and superb vocals, male and female. The bass is low, quick and precise. The only muddy bass now is from my stand alone powered subwoofer, which is hardly needed and hardly used anymore.
The only bad things I can say about the XPA-5:
*Give it a grace 30 hours of break in period. At first, I thought all the money went on looks and the weight must have just been the use of heavy materials. The sound is bright at first but in time it all smooths out.
**Input jacks are somewhat weak and fragile. The only weakness I feel Emotiva needs to relook. Be sure to unplug connections before moving the XPA-5 any at all. I already pulled a input jack out of it's hole. Emotiva quickly replaced the amp and assured me they would take care of me.
***A very complex set of protection triggers. My dual headed rca's are getting crosstalk, interfering with the signal quality and the amp shuts down. Be sure to use single headed rca's or have some on hand just in case your cheaper connects have signal interference.
"My dual headed rca's are getting crosstalk" Of this review, this is the biggest information for me. I actually have an XPA-5 on the way. Should be here tomorrow. Will be using single cable RCA connectors.
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Summary: So let me preface this review with a couple of notes. First I'm not a professional reviewer, work for Emotiva, or a scientist. I'm not using scientific measurements, only my subjectivity. I listened to cds that I am very familiar with and have been listening to for years.
I used a YBA CD2 as the trasport/dac, a Meitner PA6 as the preamp, Cardas neutral reference cable, and JM Lab Focal Electra 905 speakers.
The XPA 2 bests the Meitner STR50 I have owned for 6+ years in many ways.
Dynamics have much more impact. I have never heard the bass like that before. The bass was also more distinct and more coherent, not heavy but right. The highs were not harsh at all like I experienced from time to time with the Meitner. Also, the recordings I listened to had new life in them and sounded very exciting. Some cymbal crashes were startling and I actually said "wow". The Meitner always sounded very lifeless to me in comparison. Also, the speakers seemed 'faster', or had a better tempo, with that extra power - they could reproduce sounds more quickly. The decay was also more satisfying. It has more viceral impact and is less laid back than the Meitner.
The soundstage widened and the instruments were very well placed left to right with a nice front to back stage as well. All the sounds were separate from each other and placed in their distinct places.
The imaging was fantastic with voices dead anchored in the center. The Meitner was more washed out and blurred where the XPA was unwavering. All sounds were in the space they should be without any muddiness. There seemed to be greater resolution, detail, and separation with the cds I played.
Overall, I'd have to say that the XPA 2 is downright exciting. It is neutral and does not color what I was listening to. It has a low noise floor and ran silently. It has injected new interest in my music library! I highly recommend it. I have listened to Classe, Krell, Bryston, amongst others and the XPA 2 comes mighty close to that level of SQ. It has power to explore the depths of any music and yet maintain an intricate feeling of detail even when there are complex musical passages.
I had an extended 2 channel listening session last night with a new YBA preamp I bought (YBA 2), YBA cd player and the XPA 2. Talk about transparent and neutral. The soundstage was fantastic, the imaging was superb, and I kept saying "alright, just one more track". Gotta love that XPA 2
Now I'll have to see what it will do in my HT setup...
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The XPA 2 is downright frightening with HT. I ran my NHTs full range to experiment and wow, what an incredible difference. The bass from that amp is staggering. It added so much visceral impact to the experience, not to mention detail. There wasn't a hint of strain, or harshness with any of the material. The sound quality is excellent. The Emotiva's neutrality speaks for itself. The XPA 2 is definitely a keeper.
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