Emotiva XPA-DR2 Gen 3 - Better than Gen 2? - Part 1 - Differential Reference amp count now at 7
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- Опубліковано 5 вер 2024
- Emotiva XPA-DR2 Gen 3 - Better than Gen 2? - Differential Reference amp count now at 7
Rounding out the Ripewave Audio Reference Home Theater system with two new Emotiva XPA-DR2 Gen 3 Amplifiers to power the side and rear surround channels for a total of 7 External Differential Reference Amplifier channels - all ear level speakers powered in our 7.2.4 configuration.
For this part I we provide initial subjective listening feedback vs Emotiva XPA-1 Gen 2 mono blocks - we were surprised at what we heard. Next step will be to continue the listening test and perform REW measurements before placing them in their target location at the back of the room to power side and rear surround speakers.
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I recently went with 3 DR1’s for my LCR and was very impressed. I am powering RF7-III’s and the RC-64 III . Previous amplification was a Monolith 2X for L&R and Bi-amping off the Yamaha MX-A5200 for the C.
This is good feedback to hear. Klipsch speakers typically don’t require loads of power like my inefficient Polk speakers do. However, you still found merit in using the Emotiva DRs. Perhaps not for the sheer amount of Watts but the other sonic benefits. Very interesting. Also your pervious amps were also good performers and the DRs were still that much better. -Jon
I bought the XPA 7 Gen 3. Unfortunately I am at the beginning of getting divorced and have halted my HT room for now. Hoping to get back to it in 2025. Sucks that my RMC1 and JVC NX5 are going to be sitting in their boxes until then. Thanks for all you do Jon.
Take comfort in knowing these will be there as a strong foundation when you rebuild. -Jon
I have 1 basx A3, and 2 basx a4s,I can't wait to get the dr3
If you do - I would like feedback on the DR3 vs the BasX models you have. Good luck! -Jon
Don't forget to use 220vac input option for faster power supply recovery time on the gen3.
Great point. I realized last night that I neglected to mention the full range power supply as auto-switching to the line voltage received. The fact that 220 improves the sound something I forgot altogether-Jon
I picked up the Emotiva XPA-5 GEN3 paired with a Marantz SR-7013 driving Sandy Gross Definitive Tower fronts BP7001 & rears BP7002 towers with a PolkR400 Center. The Emotiva IMO runs clean zero noise comes out of speakers 🔊 when idle.....movies & video games 🎮 🕹 awesome music 🎶 🎵 kicks a$$
David - Glad to hear that the Emotiva XPA-5 GEN3 is working well for you. The Definitive Towers are not too unlike Polk given that Sandy started at Polk. Your BP7001 and BP7002 towers I believe are about the same early 2000s vintage as my Polk lsi15s but yours have powered bass so the XPA-5 doesn't have to work as hard on those. Thanks for sharing -Jon
@Ripewave Audio man does time fly by it seems like yesterday I was unboxing all those towers. I also dropped BP7006 towers in the Master Bedroom to hear them being called vintage is crazy 🤪 those were pretty cutting edge for their time and they still sound fantastic. I have been eyeing the Martin Logan XT F100 line of late however tough to justify when the BP's keep kicking. I know they say Emotiva is a poor man's Amp they as in high end audiophile folks but to me the Emotiva Amp do exactly what they are supposed to do and most AMPS are overpriced.
I believe strongly that great amplifiers and speakers can stay great for decades with some repairs later in life - like dry rot on cones and aging capacitors.
The new Martin Logan towers in white look like an array of ceiling speakers when the grills are on-Jon
@Ripewave Audio 100% a lot like weapons which is true take care of them and they can be generational.....Do u have your equipment synced to Power Conditioners? I hear pros and cons but I'm in ThunderStorm territory. With my Towers I have plugged straight into the wall as the Definitive Tower manual directly states this.
I have stayed clear of power conditioners.
you could use one for the left and right keep one monoblock for the center, and use the other one and the 2 monoblocks in the back channels.
True. Albeit, I lose consistency up front. Perhaps I shouldn't worry about such subtle differences. Thanks for the suggestion. -Jon
@@ripewave This may be a little convoluted, but if you find that slight inconsistency across the front too distracting, you could move that inconsistency to the least distracting point in the surround back, which sees the least amount of action. Put one 2 channel amp on the left and right like before, put one channel of 2nd 2 channel amp on the center channel, put the other channel on one of the surround backs. Put one mono block on the other surround back and put the last 2 on the side surrounds. Like a bit convoluted, but that way you would have the same type amps across all three fronts. And if the amps are all near each other in the AV stand it would be just a matter of switching around the interconnects
All possibilities- thanks for those suggestions. I am going to continue to test on the A/B switch a while longer with REW measurements to fully appreciate their differences before deciding.
The expensive path would be to bi-amp the front with three XPA-DR1s on the high side
In my mind too is the Emotiva GEN 3s have been out since 2016. It is possible that a GEN 4 line is in the works. Pure speculation- class D possibly?
Fun hobby isn’t it.
So my next upgrade(does it ever end!) is two add additional 2 channels of amplification for RL tower speakers for stereo or 2.1 listening. Current A/B 7 channel amp provides 300 watts 2 channels driven (230 watts all 7 channels driven). I have a 7.1 setup so what would become 2 xtra channels to be used for outdoor speakers. My main L/R speakers are Aperion Audio 3 way - 4 ohm tower speakers. I love the sound but noticed a huge sound difference when converted from old Onkyo AVR (110 watts) to current Aperion 7 channel power amp. All this is managed by a Emotiva RMC 1-L processor. So given the significant sound improvement to 2.0 and 2.1 channel music listening when I upgraded from old Onkyo to the separates - long way to ask if it is reasonable to experience even better sound going with the Emotiva mono blocks or the XPA-DR@ Gen 3 power amp based on much more headroom power? Yes I do listen to my music rather loud.
The amps you have seem to be decent. The Emotiva mono blocks will have more headroom. If you are feeling your current setup is a bit lacking, it could be needing a little more power, which Emotiva will deliver. But I wouldn’t get unless you feel there is a need. -Jon
Thanks man. I have a bAs-x a300. I’m actually gonna get me the DR2. I’m about to drop 1,800 on it. So I’m doing a bit of research. My a-300 sounds amazing but I need something with way more power. Hopefully this will work.
Let me know if you moved forward with the upgrade and if the improved technology can be heard. -Jon
@@ripewave Yes! I’ve been listening to this amp for about three months I believe. I’ve had it connected to a few different pre-amps. You can definitely hear the power. The speakers I’m using are Some klipsch reference 820f towers. They are super sensitive but with the extra power. They sound superb. Very pronounced mids, mid highs, almost to much high end. I have a klipsch sub running with it also. I have a pt-100 preamp. It’s ok. I’ll give u another update when I get the schitt freya+ tube amp. But yeah I’m enjoying it. Definitely worth the price
Batman! good hiding spot...lol great video!
You are first to notice. I feel my A/B/C switches need a name like "Super Bat Comparitor" - Jon
would you consider pairing XPA DR2 3 with a of B&W 801 D4's?
The B&W 801 D4s are very nice speakers costing considerably more than the Emotiva XPA DR-2 Gen 3 amplifiers. They would preform well and could drive those speakers, but are they nice enough for that type of speaker - not sure if they are. If they are, you save some money on the amps. -Jon
I have the emotiva BasX MR1 reciever and I didn't get a birth certificate with it. Was I supposed too?.
Not sure if they deliver with BasX series. They do with the RMC-1 and XPA-DR products. It should be needed for proof of purchase - just something interesting. Some display on their theater wall. -Jon
add h-c1 from emotiva monoblock
It would be good to see how close the Hc-1 comes to my XPA-1 monoblocks. -Jon
Those switching power supply lacks dynamics.
I haven’t experienced a lack of dynamics with this one - I was A/B switching yesterday between this model with the SMPS and the prior generation with the toroidal power supply and they are very close. -Jon
Certainly true how something that sounds great can sound pale once faced with a stronger competitor.
I may case I am intentionally trying to match across all channels for my inhouse system so I can review components against a common reference point. I believe I will find those I like more, and less then what I have as reference. -Jon
I guess I need to find a way to test out Parasound and Arcam. I have some contacts at Parasound and asked them directly how the Parasound amplifiers would compare to my Emotiva XPA-1s. He gave me a vague answer - I guess he preferred not to offer an opinion. -Jon
So many specs were wrong....
Did I misrepresent the specifications? Was it me or the values Emotiva publishes you are challenging? -Jon