The amps are still A/B but add in a hybrid class H. It runs on lower voltage rails until it sees a need then instantly switches to higher voltage rail. The other big change is the move to a SMPS power supply.
The change in gain was for a good reason. The original amps' gain was NOT the THX reference gain. What that mean is that when using it with many receivers or other brands of power amps, especially when using fairly high efficiency speakers such as Klipsch, is that the room correction software such as Audyysey could not compensate for the difference in gain between front and back or height speakers using the different brands of amp. Audyysey has a maximum of plus or minus 12 dB correction, so if the difference between the front and back or heights requires more than that amount of gain, it would just max out at 12 dB, resulting in the speakers not being correctly optimized. This happened to me using the big Definitive Technology towers as my rears. Also, with very efficient speakers, some users would get noise from the old amps due to the high gain. The current generation 3 amps now use the THX reference gain like most other amp manufacturers. Of course that means you would have to turn up the volume on your preamp with the new amps to get the same output as the old amp, but that doesn't mean the new amp puts out less power or is in some way inferior to the old amps.
I had an XPA 5 Gen 3 which I used to run the main 5 channels with may Yamaha RXA 3060. I then ordered an XPA 9 Gen 3 as a one box solution. The XPA 9 unfortunately was delayed and so whilst I was waiting for delivery, I saw a used XPA Gen 1 which I thought I'd purchase for use as a temporary stop gap until the XPA 9 arrived.... I was UTTERLY BLOWN AWAY by the power from the Gen 1 so much so that I not only sold the XPA 9 when it eventually arrived, I also emailed Emotiva to question their power ratings! I still have the Gen 1 till this day.
Gen 1 is their first impression on the market so it was build like TANK. Massive toroidal power supply with huge capacitors where as the new gen it look like they use transformer (cheaper and weight less in shipping) switch power supply. They may as well just go with class D with more attractive RMS watts per channels for movie goer and for music stay with A/B 2 channels amp or monoblock.
I returned the gen 3 DR2, the audiophile 2 channel amp. My gen 1 XPA2 simply sounded better, larger soundstage, no sterility. These new amps remind me of more Class D then A/B. I still use mine, it is paired with the Maggie LRS+ speakers and a PS Audio DAC/Preamp. I have yet to find anything better, I even returned the Parasound A23+. Emo for the win!
If you need to crank up the volume to accomodate the output mean you also increase distortion. I normally stay away from amp that use transformer instead of toroidal unless the amp is class D with purpose for only movie and to drive sub. They are cutting cost and it weight less in shipping. The hybrid power distribution being use in receivers for years. Hence, RMS are not all channels driven and only 2 channels. It BS how in emotiva forum where room admim telling their switching PSU is more reliable than the old toroidal. I own a rotel 1095 which bought new nearly 20 years ago and still kicking like new.
Hi, Thinking of buying the xpa 3 Gen 3 , i have now the XTZ edge A2-300 amp for my Sonus Faber venere 3.0. What Would u say the sound character is on the emotiva. Harsh or warm? Have a nice day
Emotiva is neutral and doesn't color the sound. Which should be good fit for you as Sonus Faber tend to be warm in sound. I also run Wyred4sound and Crown in my other setup . Will say the Wyred4sound is pretty neutral as well while the Crown is harsher in the top end and while it gets loud due to the power output it doesn't sound as pleasant to me. Those pro amps are designed for output and less refinement.
I own the XPA-2 gen 2 and it’s dead quiet. I have it powering Klipsch RF-7 ll speakers and I wouldn’t trade it in for any thing else. I’m not a fan of the new gen 3 Emotiva amps.
Better get into being a fan because thats what they are all going to be in the future. Even Miller welders have made this switch and they are the best welders there are. It's better tech and uses less power.
@@kaneda7katsuragi I have listened to the difference. I can say the Gen 2 will souind better thats why i deleted my previous comment. As of now the Monolith is the best sounding Amp for the money that you can buy new. Thats what i went with.
@@muddyriverdogz My comment was directed to I am puzzleman - Has this person actually sat down and listened to this specific amp or just go "if its not (insert brand) = must be crap".... I don't get snobbery on audio equipement.
@@kaneda7katsuragi I have listened to them. The Gen 2 will be closer to the Monolith in sound than the Gen 3 but the Monolith is the better Amp out of all of them. Built buy ATI. Thats the black and white of it.
The amps are still A/B but add in a hybrid class H. It runs on lower voltage rails until it sees a need then instantly switches to higher voltage rail. The other big change is the move to a SMPS power supply.
The change in gain was for a good reason. The original amps' gain was NOT the THX reference gain. What that mean is that when using it with many receivers or other brands of power amps, especially when using fairly high efficiency speakers such as Klipsch, is that the room correction software such as Audyysey could not compensate for the difference in gain between front and back or height speakers using the different brands of amp. Audyysey has a maximum of plus or minus 12 dB correction, so if the difference between the front and back or heights requires more than that amount of gain, it would just max out at 12 dB, resulting in the speakers not being correctly optimized. This happened to me using the big Definitive Technology towers as my rears. Also, with very efficient speakers, some users would get noise from the old amps due to the high gain. The current generation 3 amps now use the THX reference gain like most other amp manufacturers. Of course that means you would have to turn up the volume on your preamp with the new amps to get the same output as the old amp, but that doesn't mean the new amp puts out less power or is in some way inferior to the old amps.
great points and comment. thanks for sharing
I had an XPA 5 Gen 3 which I used to run the main 5 channels with may Yamaha RXA 3060. I then ordered an XPA 9 Gen 3 as a one box solution. The XPA 9 unfortunately was delayed and so whilst I was waiting for delivery, I saw a used XPA Gen 1 which I thought I'd purchase for use as a temporary stop gap until the XPA 9 arrived....
I was UTTERLY BLOWN AWAY by the power from the Gen 1 so much so that I not only sold the XPA 9 when it eventually arrived, I also emailed Emotiva to question their power ratings! I still have the Gen 1 till this day.
Gen 1 is their first impression on the market so it was build like TANK. Massive toroidal power supply with huge capacitors where as the new gen it look like they use transformer (cheaper and weight less in shipping) switch power supply. They may as well just go with class D with more attractive RMS watts per channels for movie goer and for music stay with A/B 2 channels amp or monoblock.
I returned the gen 3 DR2, the audiophile 2 channel amp. My gen 1 XPA2 simply sounded better, larger soundstage, no sterility. These new amps remind me of more Class D then A/B. I still use mine, it is paired with the Maggie LRS+ speakers and a PS Audio DAC/Preamp. I have yet to find anything better, I even returned the Parasound A23+. Emo for the win!
Many thanks for taking the time and making the effort to share all this great info.
Very good, ill be searching for a gen 1 now.
I decided to scrap the idea of getting a Emotiva and got a Anthem instead.
Why ? You want a 20 year old amp with leaking caps ?
Who said it was 20 years old? Anthem still makes high quality amps and processors.
@@bassproable I would go with the Monolith.
emotiva xpâ dr3 le meilleur son grand ampli
Interesting video. Its too bad they got rid of their holiday sales... saved a couple hundred on a xpa gen 2 (new) years ago.
I saw them on sale on Amazon once but those days are gone as they don't even sell through Amazon anymore
It’s a AB amp with a switching H power supply
If you need to crank up the volume to accomodate the output mean you also increase distortion. I normally stay away from amp that use transformer instead of toroidal unless the amp is class D with purpose for only movie and to drive sub. They are cutting cost and it weight less in shipping. The hybrid power distribution being use in receivers for years. Hence, RMS are not all channels driven and only 2 channels. It BS how in emotiva forum where room admim telling their switching PSU is more reliable than the old toroidal. I own a rotel 1095 which bought new nearly 20 years ago and still kicking like new.
why did you add a fan to the emotiva no reason too
Hi,
Thinking of buying the xpa 3 Gen 3 , i have now the XTZ edge A2-300 amp for my Sonus Faber venere 3.0.
What Would u say the sound character is on the emotiva. Harsh or warm?
Have a nice day
Emotiva is neutral and doesn't color the sound. Which should be good fit for you as Sonus Faber tend to be warm in sound. I also run Wyred4sound and Crown in my other setup . Will say the Wyred4sound is pretty neutral as well while the Crown is harsher in the top end and while it gets loud due to the power output it doesn't sound as pleasant to me. Those pro amps are designed for output and less refinement.
yes audyssey should always be run after changing your equipment
My gen 2 Xpa 5 weighs 72 lbs
Its an xpa 5 gen 1 worth 450$?
Yes.
You can't feel quiet, it has to be heard, better yet measured.
I own the XPA-2 gen 2 and it’s dead quiet. I have it powering Klipsch RF-7 ll speakers and I wouldn’t trade it in for any thing else. I’m not a fan of the new gen 3 Emotiva amps.
That's good to hear, Klipsch are typically sensitive and tend to pickup everything so you must have nice clean power source
Better get into being a fan because thats what they are all going to be in the future. Even Miller welders have made this switch and they are the best welders there are. It's better tech and uses less power.
@@muddyriverdogz I’ll believe that when I see it. Welders and sound system are not the same.
@@bphilbac They both amplify.
@@muddyriverdogz 😂😂😂
китайщина
Amp sound quality not very good, all about power. A cheap amp
have you listened to it?
@@kaneda7katsuragi I have listened to the difference. I can say the Gen 2 will souind better thats why i deleted my previous comment. As of now the Monolith is the best sounding Amp for the money that you can buy new. Thats what i went with.
@@muddyriverdogz My comment was directed to I am puzzleman - Has this person actually sat down and listened to this specific amp or just go "if its not (insert brand) = must be crap".... I don't get snobbery on audio equipement.
@@kaneda7katsuragi I have listened to them. The Gen 2 will be closer to the Monolith in sound than the Gen 3 but the Monolith is the better Amp out of all of them. Built buy ATI. Thats the black and white of it.
@@muddyriverdogz I'm confused; are you 'I am puzzleman'?