Emotiva XPA-2


I've heard this called mid fi crap and no better than mass market junk.My ears say different.And yes i clean them using this stuff called auro and pluck the hair out.Unlike some folks giving their opinions.
Having owned very expensive amps,Krell 300s,Pass x-350,Counterpoint NP220,the list is almost endless.The Threshold T series 100,200 and 400 were in my system.The McCormack upgraded DNA-1 lasted about two days,along with Belles Ref.Sorry Dave.Granted, everything comes down to synergy.
Thats why we try this then that,regretting the bad choices we make and the massive amounts of money we waste in the process.
Call me waxing nostalgiac but my sonic memories of Marantz recievers are pretty good.Folks we get caught up in the BS.Trust your ears,to hell with opinion.Doesn't matter.I got this amp that sounds great and I plan on installing better fuses etc.
Heres the rub as soon as you say some positive stuff the cost doubles and then other less well to do folks find it out of reach and in a crowded expensive market,So maybe its better to say ,"everyones right it is a POS,then smile and turn the volume up".I can afford something costlier as fortunes have it.Perhaps all those naysayers are using SS pres.Personally i loathe SS preamps,I had the Pass Aleph p,Threshold T2 i believe it was along with fet-10 and a few others.Folks get a Manley shrimp,or BAT or Arc or VTl 2.5 even or any of those others like CJ 17ls.
soundsgood05
Okay, Emotiva has a newer DAC now. I suppose I'm a little hard on them, I've been quite happy with the ERC-1 cd player from Emotiva, I just wasn't impressed with the XPA amp with my speakers.
I came VERY close to buying a Modulus 3 15 years ago.
I could not handle twin volume controls...and once I heard and compared the phono section in the 565 Adcom, I was sold on it for less money.
Still, the Audible Illusions represented itself quite well.

It reminded me of a milder AR.
Just got an XPA-2. Changed out the power cord to a Cullen Crossover cord. OMG, what a difference. Anyone that says power cords don't matter, have to be crazy. The sound stage just exploded,and the instruments were better focused. Had my inlaws over and they said they couldn't tell where the speakers were. Music everywhere. I love it!
I have an XPA-2 with kirksaeter silver line 220 speakers. I generally run music from an Apple TV thru a Stello dac into an Emo pre/pro. I also have a rythmic F12 sub. I am considering a tube preamp for a little warmer sound. Do any of you have some suggestions? Budget is up to $2k.