New Emotiva 2-channel amp coming soon...

[Early B.]

Emotiva unveiled the new pics of its XPA-2 today. This amp is gonna be killer. Weighs 75 pounds!!! Price is only $799. Here are a few specs:

250 x 2 into 8 ohms
500 x 2 into 4 ohms
1000 watts bridged into 8 ohms

THD 0.007
S/N >100db
Broad band frequency response; 10 to 120K Hz (-3db)
20 to 20K Hz (0.2db)
1600va transformer
120,000uf of secondary capacitance
Glass epoxy boards
1% resisters
Soft start circuit (will not have a high current spike on start up)
Balanced and un-balanced inputs

Should be available in a few weeks. Pre-orders are being taken right now.
Pics can be found here: http://emotiva.com/xpa2.gallery/photos.html

Damn! I'm gonna have to re-consider my upgrade plans. This amp needs to find a cozy place to sit in my house.

[Mike Reeter]

That's some pretty big numbers for that kinda money...Like the looks also.

I know you'll be the first on the block to own one,looking forward to your review.

[Early B.]

I know you'll be the first on the block to own one,looking forward to your review.

Well, I'd love to place my name on the waiting list for this one, but I gotta wait until the funds are flowing again.

I currently have the LPA-1. I'm thinking of keeping it and going with an XPA-2 for the fronts. Alternatively, I can get an XPA-5 to replace my LPA-1. ($799; 5-channels with 200 wpc). But before I pull the trigger, I'd like for a few early adopters to speak about the differences in sound quality between the XPA-2 and the XPA-5. Some people have already indicated their desire to order both amps as soon as they are available which is supposed to be sometime this month.

[WilliamM2]

I'm also eagerly awaiting some feedback on the XPA-5. Looks like a steal. Although I don't really need another amp.

[wingnut4772]

That's some pretty big numbers for that kinda money...Like the looks also.

I'll say. I was surprised. I am curious to see what the feedback will be on this one.

[villock]

Here is the link for XPA-5 photos http://emotiva.com/xpa5.gallery/photos.html. Reserved mine yesterday, eagerly awaiting its arrival.

[pearsall001]

That puppy has the same specs as my Krell...hmmmmmmmmmmm. Very interesting. The reviews should be interesting as well.

[Face]

It looks promising.

[unbridled_id]

"That's some pretty big numbers for that kinda money".

I don't see Nad, B&K, Adcom, Rotel, Vincent, Odyssey, Parasound,or Cambridge offering something along these lines for that kind of price. Parasounds A-21 has similar figures but for $1999. I wonder how they can do it, I understand their internet direct pricing but...
My rack can only hold up to 50 lbs maybe that is why I am being skeptical.

[heiney9]

Looks nice on paper and in the pics. I'm a bit suspicious to offer those kinds of numbers for that price. I wonder what the topology is? If this turns out to be a nice sounding piece then they will sell a lot of those for $799. I just won't believe it until I hear something about it from an experienced reviewer or actually hear one myself.

[joeparaski]

That is a sweet looking amp......except........why can't some companies offer nice big VU meters and rack mounting as an option? Macintosh has VU meters but they also have an out of reach (for me) price tag. There doesn't seem to be many choices to build a modern system with that option. Are we VU meter aficionados limited to vintage gear for our VU fix?

Joe

[heiney9]

That is a sweet looking amp......except........why can't some companies offer nice big VU meters and rack mounting as an option? Macintosh has VU meters but they also have an out of reach (for me) price tag. There doesn't seem to be many choices to build a modern system with that option. Are we VU meter aficionados limited to vintage gear for our VU fix?

Joe

You answered your own question VU meters, while being extremely inaccurate, are a retro vintage item, not modern.

H9

[cfrizz]

I agree H9! Even Outlaw doesn't sell them that low.

Looks nice on paper and in the pics. I'm a bit suspicious to offer those kinds of numbers for that price. I wonder what the topology is? If this turns out to be a nice sounding piece then they will sell a lot of those for $799. I just won't believe it until I hear something about it from an experienced reviewer or actually hear one myself.

[nebborjk]

The LED On/Off switches would be a nice feature to have.

[Mike Reeter]

Looks nice on paper and in the pics. I'm a bit suspicious to offer those kinds of numbers for that price. I wonder what the topology is? If this turns out to be a nice sounding piece then they will sell a lot of those for $799. I just won't believe it until I hear something about it from an experienced reviewer or actually hear one myself.

I don't know squat about the inner workings of an amp. but this thing has a buttload of big caps and a respectable sized power supply.

I for one will also be patiently waiting for solid reviews...I guess Emotiva has a money back return policy?

[Early B.]

Looks nice on paper and in the pics. I'm a bit suspicious to offer those kinds of numbers for that price. I wonder what the topology is? If this turns out to be a nice sounding piece then they will sell a lot of those for $799. I just won't believe it until I hear something about it from an experienced reviewer or actually hear one myself.

Well, based on my experience with Emotiva, I suspect this amp will be a giant killer. I reviewed their RPA-1 2-channel amp ($699; 200 wpc) a few months ago and it was exceptional sounding for the price. And the build quality was as good as amps costing three times more. I was so impressed with this amp that I purchased their HT gear and look forward to being a long-term customer.

From my understanding, the reason they can sell their gear so inexpensively is because they design the gear, then have it manufactured in their own plant in China and sell direct on-line, so there are no middle men.

[heiney9]

From my understanding, the reason they can sell their gear so inexpensively is because they design the gear, then have it manufactured in their own plant in China and sell direct on-line, so there are no middle men.

I hear ya, I try real hard not to let price influence my perception, but it can be an indicator of where the "buck" stops so to speak. Wouldn't it be great if this was the 2nd coming of something like the original Adcom 555.

I've read some user reviews on the RPA-1 and it seems to be a mixed bag. I don't hold personal reviews to highly unless I know the person's tendencies and experience's in the audio arena.

This is good news for us midfier's because if it turns out to be a decent sounding product, that's a very good and reasonable $$$. I'd still like to know a little bit more technically about it and the topology involved. Is it discrete or it a module type amp, etc.? Typical class AB or G or H or some other hybrid?

H9

[Early B.]

I'd still like to know a little bit more technically about it and the topology involved. Is it discrete or it a module type amp, etc.? Typical class AB or G or H or some other hybrid?

Good questions. It's A/B. More specs are forthcoming; they haven't been posted on the Emotiva forum yet, but once they do, I'll post them here.

[heiney9]

Since the RPA-1 is class H, I'm guessing the XPA-2 will be also. That right there explains why it's a lot more cost effective. Looking at the exterior of the XPA-2 having no external heat sinks leads me to believe this as well.

Personally I'm not a fan of class H or G products in general but, again I'll try not to let that color my perspective.

H9

[Sami]

Seems like all their amplifiers, with the low end LPA-1 being the only exception, are class H. LPA-1 is class A/B. I'd wait a little while but then again, they do have 30 day money back policy if you don't mind eating the shipping costs in case you don't like it.

Should make a nice priced piece in the used market later on.

[jazzisnumberone]

Cleans lines and a simplistic look. I like the way it looks. Not alot of clutter.

[Gizmo99]

I am in for one. Pre ordered!

[GV#27]

Emotiva unveiled the new pics of its XPA-2 today. This amp is gonna be killer. Weighs 75 pounds!!! Price is only $799. Here are a few specs:

250 x 2 into 8 ohms
500 x 2 into 4 ohms
1000 watts bridged into 8 ohms

THD 0.007
S/N >100db
Broad band frequency response; 10 to 120K Hz (-3db)
20 to 20K Hz (0.2db)
1600va transformer
120,000uf of secondary capacitance
Glass epoxy boards
1% resisters

Thats impressive for the money if it happens to sound good. With those ten output transistors per channel it appears to be a class A/B output stage.And with that massive toroidal transformer and lots of filter capacitance that looks like a big linear power supply and not a class H or G multi voltage PS.

[ledhed]

Emotiva keeps impressing me. I'll most likely go to them when I get the cash, whenever that is

[heiney9]

Thats impressive for the money if it happens to sound good. With those ten output transistors per channel it appears to be a class A/B output stage.And with that massive toroidal transformer and lots of filter capacitance that looks like a big linear power supply and not a class H or G multi voltage PS.

I'm betting it is just like RPA-1 and is class H. The RPA-1 has all the big torroids and dual mono design, ect, etc. but it's still class H. To build a 200w/ch class AB would require much better heat sinking and IMO a quality unit couldn't be built at that price point. We'' just have to wait and see ;)

[GV#27]

A class AB would require much better heat sinking

The 3rd pic of the chassis with the top off shows a fairly substantial heat sink for each channel.
Edit.If they are as big as they appear and the bias is set at a reasonable level then that looks to be enough sinking(for A/B operation).

and IMO a quality unit couldn't be built at that price point.

Im sceptical as well,but if it sounds half decent then great!good on them.

That PS certainly has the appearance of a big linear supply but maybe it is a class H.A class H PS would not need that big of a tranny.

[joeparaski]

You answered your own question VU meters, while being extremely inaccurate, are a retro vintage item, not modern.

H9

Are you saying that Macintosh amplifiers, that cost as much as a car, and have big blue VU meters, are NOT accurate? Besides, how accurate do they have to be anyway?

Joe

[heiney9]

Are you saying that Macintosh amplifiers, that cost as much as a car, and have big blue VU meters, are NOT accurate? Besides, how accurate do they have to be anyway?

Joe

LOL Joe, VU meters are not accurate doesn't matter if they are in a McIntosh or not. They are kind of cool to watch but the way they measure sound level is pretty rudimentary. Wasn't meant as a dig just a fact. :)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VU_meter

H9

[Early B.]

I'm betting it is just like RPA-1 and is class H. The RPA-1 has all the big torroids and dual mono design, ect, etc. but it's still class H. To build a 200w/ch class AB would require much better heat sinking and IMO a quality unit couldn't be built at that price point. We'' just have to wait and see ;)

Heiney --

According to Lonnie at Emo headquarters, the amp is class A/B.

[heiney9]

Heiney --

According to Lonnie at Emo headquarters, the amp is class A/B.

Then we have confirmation, thanks :)