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Emotiva equipmet, how good is it?

I don’t have a big budget but need to start making a decent listening system. I have a couple of options open to me for some equipment. All used since I seem to be able to get a better bang for my buck. Wanted to know what people thought, but of course I know opinions don’t matter as much as my ears so just let me know if you have used or heard either of these pieces. Or if you think something is similar toss it out there.
XPA-100. I have a chance to get 2 for just over $500PT-100. Around $200
Someone also suggested I simplify and just buy a new Yamaha A-S801 Integrated Amplifier
Looking at using my current speakers which are Dali Ikon6 and I also have Totem Dreamcatchers. Oh and the room is about a 11 x 16. And yes I saw the opps in the title but it won’t let me fix the spelling of Equipment.

Thanks for your thoughts.
schwantner
maplegrovemusic's avatar
maplegrovemusic
1,113 posts
 
@arctikdeth . Where have you been ? Haven’t seen you post in the last year . You still using the Carver Sunfire amp ? Whats your current setup ?
schubert
7,386 posts
 
I got rid of my Odyssey and replaced with a Van Alstine  450 which sounds better and he has FAR better service .
stereo5's avatar
stereo5
6,254 posts
 
I had an Emotiva XDA dac.  It was the brightest and thinness sounding piece of crap I ever heard.  You get what you pay for.  The worst were the very bright and ugly led’s. It could burn holes in your eyeballs.  Never again, I got conned
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hk_fan
416 posts
 
I echo the sentiments here.  All the Emotiva stuff I've heard is mid-fi at best.  Bright, tinny and hollow.

It's funny how many people will chase "giant killers"... every few months there's a new one to empty their wallets when they would be better off to invest in quality gear and enjoy it rather than chase the bargain.
ljgerens
152 posts
 
My experience with the Emotive DACs has been very positive. Not at all bright or thin sounding. I purchased 3 Emotiva XDA-1 DACs about 8 years ago for my 3 systems. I had them for over 3 years and during that time compared them to other DACs at similar prices but preferred the Emotivas. I replaced the XDA-1 with 3 XDA-2 DACs about 5 years ago and have been using them since. The XDA-2 was a definite improvement over the XDA-1 with a fuller, richer, warmer sound and the resistive ladder volume control so it could be used as a DAC and preamp. I would characterize the XDA-1 as neutral to slightly bright and the XDA-2 as neutral to slightly warm. Over the last few years I have auditioned several DACs costing 5 to 6 times the price of the XDA-2, but I preferred the XDA-2.

Regarding the blue LEDs, they have a dimmer button so they can be dimmed to barely noticeable. In fact the LEDs on my other components are brighter than the dimmed Emotiva LEDs.
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