XPA-2 Reviewed in the August 2008 issue of AffordableAudio.org
The bass, slam, and dynamics are the best I’ve heard in my system. And you’ll never hear a single note of sloppy bass
with the XPA-2. In fact, the bass is tighter than a g-string on a fat girl. Quite frankly, in my 13’ x 20’ room, the music
sounds bigger than it should. Due to the added breadth of the stage, studio recordings have a live characteristic to
them. And live recordings actually sound more live, if that makes any sense. In terms of the imaging, it’s like a guided
missile as opposed to a laser point. In other words, the image within the soundstage is broader, but well controlled.
With vocals, you’ll hear more nuances in the voices; there’s a depth, even in female vocals,
which typically isn’t captured
in most systems.
XPA-5 reviewed in the March 2008 issue of AffordableAudio.org
...highly recommend the XPA-5 to anyone who is either contemplating home theater separates or is looking to upgrade his existing multi-channel amplifier.
I’m not going to lie – I had wanted to review the Emotiva RPA-1 amplifier even before it hit the market. The cool looks, the power, the build quality, and the price – all of these factors appeared to be consistent with the qualities that readers of Affordable Audio can appreciate in an audio component.
Besides, everybody who sells amps thinks their products are the best in their price range. I wanted to know firsthand if a ridiculously low priced, high quality amp could actually sound as good as Emotiva says it does.
As a reviewer, I "need" things. Test equipment, a modicum of writing
ability, and an opinionated mind. A lack of consideration for other's
feelings with my opinion helps as does a stockpile of products upon which
to heap my love or loathing (depending). Occasionally, I "need" new
equipment. I need it like a crack addict needs a fix. Like a Krispy Kreme
"needs" to be next door to a Jenny Craig. Like a politician needs a cause
no matter how little they believe in it.
Well, I had a couple of speakers
coming in for review and I noticed that they were a little inefficient and
perhaps could have benefited from external amplification. Being the
dutiful reviewer I am, I gave Emotiva Audio a call to see if they could
help me out with my looming problem. Dan Laufman decided that what I
needed was a good two channel amp to put these speakers through their
paces. He was right, I did need that. I needed it bad.
Emotiva Audio has been making a name for themselves as the answer to
the question "can I afford separates"? Well, yes you can, if you buy them
from Emotiva. To my mind there are three levels of receiver purchases,
<$300, $300-$1200, and $1200+. If you are new to home theater you're
looking at a sub-$300 purchase. Most people can't fathom spending any more
than that. Once you break that barrier, you're looking at a mid-level
receiver for someone that recognizes the benefits of sinking a little more
into their receiver including increased functionality, configuration
options, connection types, and more.
After about $1200, you get into the
realm of separates and flagship receivers. This is for your serious user
that either has a lot of money or looking for quality amplification and
processing for a very high end system. For many, many years you couldn't
find a set of separates under $2000. Emotiva Audio killed that notion when
they introduced their $899
Ultra Theater Series. Now they are taking on the high-end two-channel
crowd with their Reference Audio
Series.
What do you get when you cut the price of the DMC-1 by almost 67% off its original retail price, upgrade the cosmetics and add HDMI functionality? The Reference Theater Series MMC-1. For those seeking solid performance, with a high WAF, the Emotiva MMC-1 A/V processor paired with the matching IPS-1 7CH power amp is a killer combo.
Combine this with Emotiva’s excellent customer support and aggressive trade up deal on their processors, and you’ve choice for your next separates solution just got that much easier. Full Review
Emotiva Reference Theater Series IPS-1 Amplifier Review
From its excellent sonic characteristics, to its no-nonsense build quality, fit and finish, Emotiva has once again demonstrated via the IPS-1 that you don’t have to break the bank to get quality electronics that rival many of the more well known brands at a fraction of the cost. Your ears and your wallet with certainly thank you.
Emotiva RSP-1 Stereo Preamplifier and RPA-1 Stereo Power Amplifier
Home theater electronics companies selling directly to consumers are nothing new. Outlaw Audio, Oppo, and Emotiva, among others have been using this business model successfully for several years to "cut out the middle man" and offer high performance products at lower prices.
Introduction:
A couple of years ago, I had an epiphany of sorts. After years of
lusting after and owning several japanese a/v receivers with tons of
features and DSP modes, I was ready for something different. I suddenly
knew exactly what I wanted, or maybe more precisely, what I didn't want. I
wanted clean power, excellent build quality, and maybe most of all,
simplicity.
I measured a maximum output from the module of 210 watts RMS into 8 ohms. That is 5% above specification. Each module is completely independent of the others, so your output will only be limited by the voltage drop from your AC socket.
At two thousand dollars for seven channels x 200 watts, the bench test results of the MPS-1 are so good, they are scary.
The Emotiva DMC-1 surround sound processor and MPS-1 multi-channel amplifier pair are big, bold, and beautiful. The extensive features and the solid performance that they offer are hard to beat at their price point. And they can even challenge products from the higher priced competitors.
If you are in the market for an SSP or an amplifier, you owe it to yourself to give these units a listen. No doubt, this pair offers an unprecedented value in surround-processor/multi-channel amplifier combination. Kudos to AV123.com for coming up once again with such wonderful products!
Read the entire review at Secrets of Home Theater and Hi-Fi by clicking the link below!
Emotiva MPS-1 - Best of 2005 @ Audioholics!
November, 2005
"The Emotiva MPS-1 is truly an excellent multi-channel amplifier regardless of price. It has an audiophile sonic signature and appearance to appease the serious music aficionado and home theater enthusiast, with enough power reserves to quench even the hardest partying crowds - the Colombians.
The MPS-1 is the first rail tracking amp I have heard that I really liked. I felt nothing in the sonic signature to be disappointing and never found it to be lacking in power. Its no-nonsense build quality and choice of heavy-duty parts makes it an unprecedented value. You get a sense of real pride of ownership with this product, not only because of its stellar sound quality, but also because of its most attractive packaging, form, fit and function. "
08/17/2005 Emotiva DMC-1/MPS-1 Review by Stereophile Ultimate -
Emotiva Emotions: When used together, the DMC-1/MPS-1 combination makes a strong sonic and visual statement. For videophiles accustomed to A/V receivers, the Emotiva combination could be a real ear-opener. Even for high-end audio regulars like myself, the Emotiva combo offers an attractive budget alternative to far more expensive components. Long on style, features, and performance, the DMC-1 and MPS-1 permit hobbyists on limited budgets to assemble an eminently satisfying home theater system.
The "Audiophile" experience. That term comes up a lot and it's hard to define what exactly makes up this somewhat mystical mojo so many strive for. Audioholics, in general, tends to harp on differentiating features, specifications, and measurable performance - but what about the sound? The experience? Well, the Emotiva DMC-1 is most definitely an Audiophile product, targeted towards audio aficionados who want the finest audiophile sonic performance coupled with a top-notch polished look to rival anything else available on the market.
What's the bar, then? Exceptional sound quality and solid integration into a high-performance A/V system - fit for both two-channel and multi-channel sound. This review will assume an audiophile target audience, with supporting gear that sits at a price and performance level commensurate with the DMC-1 pre-processor.
Emotiva DMC-1 Review by StoundStage AV - June 2005
I was fascinated by the DMC-1’s phono stage, so the first thing I tried was a six-eye Columbia pressing of Miles Davis’ Kind of Blue, to check the LP’s purity against the SACD and the gold Columbia CD. That gave me a pure analog input (albeit RIAA-filtered), analog 5.1 from an Integra DPC 8.5 universal disc player, and a carefully mastered CD.
My usual turntable is a Rega P-25 with a Rega Super Elys cartridge fed through a Musical Fidelity XLPS phono stage; my usual CD player is a pro model, the Tascam CD-RW4U. I’m very used to the sound of all three of these sources and discs across a number of different pre-pros. What I found was that the analog sources had slightly more grain through what I’d been using (the more-than-twice-the-price Bel Canto PRePro), while the CD sounded within a hair’s breadth as good as any other processor I’ve used.
The Emotiva MPS-1 is truly an excellent multi-channel amplifier regardless of price. It has an audiophile sonic signature and appearance to appease the serious music aficionado and home theater enthusiast, with enough power reserves to quench even the hardest partying crowds - the Colombians. The MPS-1 is the first rail tracking amp I have heard that I really liked. I felt nothing in the sonic signature to be disappointing and after the limiter fix, never found it to be lacking in power. Its no-nonsense build quality and choice of heavy-duty parts makes it an unprecedented value. You get a sense of real pride of ownership with this product, not only because of its stellar sound quality, but also because of its most attractive packaging, form, fit and function.
In situations demanding high power, quality sound on a budget, tight spacing requirements, and limited airflow, I can think of no better seven-channel amplifier than the MPS-1. While it's a bit more labor intensive to set-up than a typical all-inclusive design, its design execution is brilliant in terms of serviceability and upgrades. If one module should fail, the installer can simply replace it rather than take the entire system down. Should the end user require more channels of amplification, Emotiva will soon be releasing 100wpc stereo channel modules. This will allow for up to 14 channels of amplification in the same chassis or any permutation of 1CH and 2CH power modules depending on your needs. Very cool - literally!
