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Submitted by
G
a Audio EnthusiastDate Reviewed: May 7, 2013
Bottom Line: Some years ago I bought my loudspeakers from Legacy Audio. I purchased the Focus 4 way towers, the Silver Screen center, and the Mist surrounds. I have been to many audio shows over the years, and they have held their own with speakers costing many times their price. If you have ever seen them, heard them, or tried to move them, you know. Hi-Fi gear is a lot like wine, many times price does not relate to the quality or value you get in return. Legacy regularly wins best of show awards at these audio conventions, and do it at much lower price points.
This brings me to Emotiva and their XPA-2 power amplifier. I think this product offers this kind of outstanding value all over again. Big name separate component manufacturers, have a lot to worry about with this new rival on the scene. To this day, I still cannot fully understand how they can offer so much for so little. When you look at the specs, listen to the music, and examine the monster build quality, I just don’t know how they do it!!!!!
My Emotiva XPA-2 amp arrived in August of 2012. I have waited until now to write a review because I wanted to make sure this thing was the real deal. Up until that time I was bi-amping the Legacy Focus’s with my top of the line Pioneer Elite AVR receiver. This would be considered a sacrilegious act in some audio circles - hooking speakers like this to an AVR. Very nice, but no real punch or definition by comparison. At once without any break in, detail was emerging from my speakers that didn’t exist before. To paraphrase what Emotiva says on their website; the beautiful thing about a great receiver is that it can drive and control the rest of the system just fine. Better than a lot of the high end pre-pro companies would want you to know. It can be a very versatile pre-pro, and it eliminates the need for more external amps, boxes, and cables. The pre-outs on the Pioneer easily permits the real heavy lifting to be done by the XPA-2 for the front left and right channels. This combo is amazing, and no receiver at ANY price can put out this kind of sound. The kind of punch, authority and control this reproduces is just on another level altogether. No more worries about clipping. The 500 watts per channel going into 4 ohm speakers that are 96db efficient become an enthralling avalanche of sound. Exhibiting clarity and realism unlike anything I have ever heard before in my system. Eight hundred measly dollars for this kind of amp, this kind of performance? Outrageous.
When I was researching this purchase I called Legacy for some advice. I found out that they are driving the home theater system in their showroom with an Emotiva XPA multi-channel amp. Probably not a coincidence, since both of these companies share a very similar marketing and distribution philosophy. I strongly suggest that you do not buy any new gear resembling high end until you’ve test driven the products from either of these two great companies!!!! Free delivery, money back guarantee, world class performance, great warranties, and happy loyal customers.
Used product for: 3 Months to 1 year
Duration Product Used: Audio Enthusiast
Product model year: 2010
Overall Rating: Value Rating:
Submitted by
earwaxxer
a AudioPhileDate Reviewed: April 30, 2013
Bottom Line: Lots of glowing reviews here. Its funny how many MMG owners have flocked to this amp! Add me to that group. I was in a bit of denial about how much good fast power those plannars 'enjoy'. I have had the MMG's for years and enjoyed them with much less power, but this is the ticket. This amp is just loafing in the process of cranking out some outstanding high dB sound scapes. Could not be happier. I also have tried ss and tube preamp stages, and tubes seem the best fit in my system. I would describe the XPA-2 sound as, 'mature, precise but not harsh or thread bare, quick, open, detailed yet harmonic and natural'.
Used product for: More than 1 year
Duration Product Used: AudioPhile
Product model year: 2010
Overall Rating: Value Rating:
Submitted by
huber13
a AudioPhileDate Reviewed: March 11, 2013
Bottom Line: After a long and drawn out search I finally decided on trying out an XPA-2 to use for my front channels, a pair of B&W N-803 II's. I was using an older Outlaw 750 rated at 165 X 5 wpc @ 8 ohm and it is still a good amp but has a little bit of harshness to it when the volume is turned up. I did some modifications to the 750 that helped improve dynamics, (I replaced the 14 ga AC chord with 10 gauge 20 amp shielded wire & internal wiring to 10 gauge). The XPA-2 offers almost twice the power per channel, 300 wpc @ 8 ohm.This is probably the best purchase I have made to improve the sound, except for the 803's, that I have heard in my hometheater system. The dynamics and clarity are just outstanding, the bass is vastly improved, quicker and with more control, and the trebble is die for! Very open yet focused sound stage and is very clean when playing at high volume levels, I have never heard my system sound this good. I am currently using an Integra DHC 9.8 pre-pro, OPPO BDP-95, Directv HD DVR, & Velodyne Optimum 12 sub and a Panasonic 55" plasma HDTV run through a Panamax 5400 line conditioner, Emotiva XPA-1 for my computer audio server (sounds better than most CD's), the Outlaw 750 which now runs the Bi-amped B&W LCR-6 II center and B&W 705 surrounds, run through an APC H series line conditioner and the XPA-2 for the 803's. In reading about the XPA-2 it has it's power conditioner/ surge protection built in and is recommended to plug straight in to a wall outlet which it is. Both power conditioners and XPA-2 have their own dedicated 20 amp lines run with 10 Ga. solid copper to silver plated Cryo treated hospital grade AC outlets using 3 Pangea AC-9 SE power cords for the amp and conditioners and Pangea AC-14 SE for all components. I am using balanced connectors from my pre-pro to the XPA-2 and RCA unbalanced for the Outlaw's L&R channel to bi-amp the center, and the surrounds run normal, using Douglas Interconnects along with CRL silver plated copper speaker wire, all have been Cryo treated. All I can say is try one out, I'm totally impressed with the sound quality. By the way, this amp can be set up to run as a 1000 watt mono block, one for now 2 for later! This one's a no brainier!
Used product for: Less than 1 month
Duration Product Used: AudioPhile
Product model year: 2010
Overall Rating: Value Rating:
Submitted by
chris
a Audio EnthusiastDate Reviewed: February 27, 2013
Bottom Line: I simply can't imagine doing any better for the price.
My friend has one it it competes with my hafler dh 500.the difference is day and night sound like the mark levinson 335 when i use to have Tons of power... very detailed, musical and well made. .
Used product for: More than 1 year
Duration Product Used: Audio Enthusiast
Product model year: 2010
Overall Rating: Value Rating:
Submitted by
Scott Salvato
a Audio EnthusiastDate Reviewed: February 8, 2013
Bottom Line: This is plain and simple. What started as an innocent step back into my youth by wanting a 2 channel system with a turntable. I have been in the consumer electronics business since I was 18 years old which puts my total near 30 years. I don't pay retail, I have numerous relationships that allow me to get the best consumer electronics and a fraction of their cost, sometimes below dealer cost.
I started by calling a friend of mine who hooked me up at wholesale for a new Marants 2 channel receiver and turntable. I wanted the receiver because it had a phono input and sub out. I was sitting on some old Infinity speakers I had when I was their rep and and RBH subwoofer. Hooked it up and viola, I was hooked.
Next step was the case of the mores.. After reading numerous reviews about the Magnepan MMG speakers and their return policy I jumped in. After hooking them up, breaking them in, moving them hundreds of times I became a bit obsessed and disappointed. No problem, I have preamp outs and someone I know can get me a Parasound PSA 2125.. Much better but still not what I was expecting.
I read a few reviews on the XPA-2 and knew what needed to happen. I always know that you can't have enough power regardless of your listening style so I took the plunge. I'm now digging my system with no regrets. Because of the wonderful experience I've added the USP-1 and ERC-2 and now my systems sings. I think I'm finally content. For now..because Magenpan and Emotive and an upgrade path I keep eyeballing.
My Marantz/ Infinity system is now being used in my bedroom.
Used product for: 3 Months to 1 year
Duration Product Used: Audio Enthusiast
Product model year: 2010
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