Just bought one of these Emotiva amps.

[ORC]

Emotiva Audio XPA-2 Two Channel Power Amplifier

It was so inexpensive, I just had to try it out. Holy Crap!!! It sounds so awesome driving my Manley ML10's. VERY neutral sounding, slightly forward, gobs of headroom and power.

My other 2 amps are Krell KSA 250, and Bryston 4b. Here's how I think they compare:

Bryston, slightly more colored sound, than Emotiva, a touch more inner detail, not nearly as much clean headroom as Emotiva, less forward presentation.

Krell, definately more color, it makes everything sound "pretty," good power, very laid back presentation, certainly the easiest to listen to, certainly not the most musically acurate of the three.

As for the Emotiva? Nice. Really F#$^i'n NICE. I have no clue as to how they can design and build an amp this good for so little dough.

Next, I'm going to buy a pair of the XPA 1 Monoblocks for my Legacy's. 500 watts rms into 8 ohms each, 1000 into 4 ohms, for under 2K a pair.

Really good stuff folks!

[Teddy Ray]

Ive been bragging on them left and right, glad someone is finally discovering em!

[Axelrod]

i have an xpa-2 driving my proac studio 100s. i've never been happier with my monitoring.

[strdsk]

Proving once again that price isn't necessarily indicative of quality!

[joeaudio]

Excellent. I love bang for the buck products.
Reminds me of Rotel RB-1090. Sadly discontinued.

[jackthebear]

Originally Posted by joeaudio

Excellent. I love bang for the buck products.
Reminds me of Rotel RB-1090. Sadly discontinued.

Still have my old Rotel amp Joe.....definitely a goodin'!!

[manman]

Price: $799 for an amp sounds like its consumer quality. may be im wrong.

[ORC]

Originally Posted by manman

Price: $799 for an amp sounds like its consumer quality. may be im wrong.

You are.

• Number of Channels: 2
• Topology: Fully Discrete, Dual Differential, High Current, Short Signal Path Class A/B
• Power output (all channels driven):
  500 watts RMS @ 4 ohm (0.1% THD)
  300 watts RMS @ 8 ohm (0.1% THD)
• Power Band Response: 20 Hz to 20 kHz with less than .05db deviation at rated power

• Broadband Frequency Response: (-3db): 5Hz to 150kHz
• Amplifier Gain: 32db
• Signal to Noise Ratio:
  1 watt: >91db
  Full Power: >110db
• Input Impedance:
  Unbalanced - 23.5kohms
  Balanced - 33kohm
• Transformer Size: 1,200VA
• Secondary capacitance: 45,000uF
• Output Devices: 12 per channel
• Size: 17” W x 7.75” H x 19” D
• Weight: 75 lbs (89 lbs boxed)

FEATURES:

• Fully protected from all fault conditions
• Soft start circuitry
• External trigger turn on
• Soft touch power switch
• 4RU chassis w/ solid milled aluminum faceplate
• IEC power inlet, 120/230 VAC configurable
• Output design: Triple Darlington with On output stages
• Differential Drive: Dual Differential input
• Types of inputs: Balanced (XLR) and Un-balanced (RCA)
• Display type: Digital status indicators

* Specifications subject to change without notice.
* Additional notes:</STRONG> Glass epoxy pc boards, 1% resistors, metal film capacitors, soft start circuitry (does not have a current spike on start up).
* Modular channel design for greater channel separation, auto rail detection relays for automatic voltage selection. The unit also has switches for turning the metering and/or the status LED's on or off.

[sfoote]

I had read an audiophile review that described a high noise floor on the Emotiva. Have you experienced that versus the Krell and Bryston?

[MASSIVE Master]

No need for another amp currently, but bookmarked for future reference...

[ORC]

Originally Posted by sfoote

I had read an audiophile review that described a high noise floor on the Emotiva. Have you experienced that versus the Krell and Bryston?

Yeah, I read that review as well, before i bought the amp. It was concerning the noise floor of the balanced inputs.

It was either written by a hater, or an idiot. The xpa-2 is dead quiet,
especially when using the balanced in. It is definately quieter than the Bryston 4b st, and the Krell ksa 250.
Probably the most noise free amp I've ever owned, and I've owned quite a few.

The secondary capacitance rating is a misprint. The actual value is 120,000 uf. The amp also draws 1500 watts of power from the AC socket,
so i would reccomend a dedicated 30 amp line for the amp if possible. Also, the amp uses an IEC power cable without a ground to prevent
ground loop hum. When using the balanced ins, the amp grounds through the component driving the amp, In my case a Lavry DA10. It just sounds
outstanding.

[sfoote]

I love gearslutz forums. Thanks for that feedback.

[manman]

Based on 0.1% distortion specificaitons its pretty good, but they measured it at

300 watts,

but how much is it at 150 watts?

Does anybody know bryston 4b specs?

Which is clearer Bryston or this Emotiva?

[Teddy Ray]

Originally Posted by manman

Based on 0.1% distortion specificaitons its pretty good, but they measured it at

300 watts,

but how much is it at 150 watts?

Does anybody know bryston 4b specs?

Which is clearer Bryston or this Emotiva?

They are equals in every way. Build quality, sound, reliability...only difference is price.

[ORC]

Read em and weep.


http://emotiva.com/specs/XPA-2%208ohm.pdf

[Mr Phil]

Originally Posted by ORC

Read em and weep.


http://emotiva.com/specs/XPA-2%208ohm.pdf

Can someone translate for me...

[ORC]

Sure. these are the actual results from test measurement into an 8 ohm load.

Power Output Per channel 265 watts

Gain per channel 32.5 db

THD at full power .02 %

Frequencey deviation from 20hz to 20 khz .064 db

Signal to noise ratio: 110.5 db

[manman]

THD at full power .02 %

Not bad at all, awesome for $800 price

[lucey]

Teddy maybe you or someone could do a shootout between this and the Parasound Halo A23. Similar price. More gain, less watts, w. the A23. Similar specs. Does the Emotiva ever run Class A? Or all AB? The A23 is 2.7W Class A.

I'm selling the A23 as a match with the Sonics Anima SE to mixers and I'd be interested in the A/B but can't take the time for it.

Please PM if interested.

[ORC]

I love those Halo amps!!!

[Thomas W. Bethe]

Originally Posted by ORC

Yeah, I read that review as well, before i bought the amp. It was concerning the noise floor of the balanced inputs.

It was either written by a hater, or an idiot. The xpa-2 is dead quiet,
especially when using the balanced in. It is definately quieter than the Bryston 4b st, and the Krell ksa 250.
Probably the most noise free amp I've ever owned, and I've owned quite a few.

The secondary capacitance rating is a misprint. The actual value is 120,000 uf. The amp also draws 1500 watts of power from the AC socket,
so i would reccomend a dedicated 30 amp line for the amp if possible. Also, the amp uses an IEC power cable without a ground to prevent
ground loop hum. When using the balanced ins, the amp grounds through the component driving the amp, In my case a Lavry DA10. It just sounds
outstanding.

It draws 1500 watts all the time or at peak. Since it is running Class A/B and not Class A I assume that is at peak output of 500 watts. If it is all the time it is going to be an expensive amp to have in a studio plus the cost of extra AC. Krell and Mark Levinson both had class A/AB amps and both needed high current AC power wiring. Is this amp made here in the US or in China?

[ORC]

It draws 1500 watts with both channels at peak power. I bet my Krell ksa 250 draws nealy that at idle, it makes a great space heater.

The Emotiva I would suppose is assembled overseas. No way anyone could
build an amp of this quality for so little dough in the US.

5 year transferable warranty btw.

[Teddy Ray]

Yes, the factory is in China. They do have a 3rd party "overseer" firm that ensures that the factory conforms to Emotiva's standards. 9 out of 10 chinese products are junque, but Emotiva amps are the real deal. Id put them up against any of my bryston amps any day of the week.

[wafflesomd]

Meh. Ep2500 is what $270? Put out more wattage at lower distortion levels. Probably sounds exactly the same.

[kjg]

does anyone know about price and availability in Europe?

thanks!

[Teddy Ray]

Originally Posted by kjg

does anyone know about price and availability in Europe?

thanks!

they do business in Europe.

you can email for a quote. the price is similar across the board.

[ORC]

Originally Posted by wafflesomd

meh. Ep2500 is what $270? Put out more wattage at lower distortion levels. Probably sounds exactly the same.

bwahahahahahahahahahahahahahh!

[kjg]

Originally Posted by Teddy Ray

they do business in Europe.

you can email for a quote. the price is similar across the board.

thank you.

[Bubbagump]

Originally Posted by lucey

Teddy maybe you or someone could do a shootout between this and the Parasound Halo A23. Similar price. More gain, less watts, w. the A23.

Based on a quick look at specs alone not including wattage, it seems the Parasound wins out. Strangely, they don't offer specs on slew rate, damping, cross talk and some other specs which I think are kind of bread and butter power amp specs. If the Bryston is any indicator, the Parasound beat it on specs too. At least the one poster considered it a winner sound wise over the Bryston too.. I am very careful to state that on specs it won as we all know a tube amp with a "bad" THD spec can often sound better than the Chinese crap with "great" THD specs.

[ORC]

I think the Parasound Halo A21 would be a better amp for comparison, as it is 250 wpc. I would expect the A21 to win out, but not by much, certainly not by enough to justify paying 3 times more than the Emotiva.

I've got a big Krell, and Bryston sitting right here. The Emotiva has deeper tighter low end than both. It is also a much faster amp. It is more neutral sounding, making it ideal for mixing and mastering. IMHO