OK, gents, in the FWIW worth department, I’m posting my dos centavos on the newly arrived XPA-5. I’m just an average Joe and I don't claim to be a knowledgeable reviewer (actually, this is my first) but I will do my best to convey my impressions. I liked another person’s recently posted review structure so I will generously borrow from his. Apologies to him in advance.
PACKAGING: I’m as strong as they come for a guy my age but it took great effort to remove the amp from the double box. I agree it would be helpful if the bottom foam has access slots for your hands. My outer box was in fine shape. I recently had a lower back issue so I strongly suggest anyone in this position receive assistance in getting it out. I was stupid and didn’t and because the amp is so large and well packed, it’s a little awkward getting it out.
CUSTOMER SERVICE: What can I say that hasn’t already been said? Emotiva is first rate with their customer service. Once I removed the behemoth from the packaging and rested from the effort (my lower back was busy cursing my very existence) I merely ran an extension cord and plugged her in, no wires etc, and experienced what others recently had with the static charge issue. Of course, I had no idea what it was, and I was a little pissed, but I remembered what 99.999% of the forum members have said about Emo’s customer service. I e-mailed the next morning and two hours later I had my solution.
ASTHETICS & BUILD: Bad ass, nuff said. Seriously, IMO the silver trim looks awesome, kind of reminding me of a Krell cousin. I’ve never owned a Krell but used to lust after the KSA-250. Of course, the XPA-5 is totally different but I can’t help thinking about that. Incredibly solid all the way around with no blotches or discolorations. The power cord is of average quality. I really don’t care, and I planned on upgrading it anyway.
FEATURES: As stated before, the back panel is well laid out and easy to make the necessary connections. I adore the front panel most especially the blue power button.
SOUND: For this post, I have solely focused on two-channel listening. My system is listed below. The front Polk’s are the RT800s and are about 9 feet apart, toed-in slightly to the listening position. From the very first track, there was an immediate and discernable improvement in the sound. When I first purchased the Yamaha DSP-A1 for the sum of $2800 (champagne finish) in 1999 – an astronomical sum back then – I was blown away by the improvement in dynamics from its predecessor, and old JVC integrated amp.
That same Yamaha sounded lifeless compared to the XPA-5 which gave me a larger soundstage and clearer delineation of instruments. The tired old Polk’s seemed to come alive as I played each song.
My first track was from Relaxin’ from the Miles Davis Quartet in SACD. One of Davis’s hallmarks was his incredible ability to accelerate his trumpet as forceful and as fast as anyone with laser-like accuracy, and this is one way I measure a speaker’s ability to handle high notes. In “I Could Write a Book,” Davis’ trumpet was crisp and clear. Polk’s are known for their tweeters but I never heard them like that before. The drums and percussion were tight and clean and the depth of the music was amazingly better.
The electric violin is an acquired taste, to be sure, and Jean-Luc Ponty is the undisputed master (in a very small field, I would guess) “Stay with Me” from A Taste for Passion created a dream like patchwork of impressive sound staging and well defined percussion. The XPA also handled the rapid changes in music with seemingly no effort at all.
For vocals, I opted for “Big Sky Country” from Chris Whitley’s Living with the Law. His voice was smooth and more natural sounding than before, revealing more subtle details and warmth. The focus in the entire track was improved with its plethora of background voices and large scale instruments.
Last, Eric Johnson’s guitar riffs – jaw popping on even the crummiest of speakers – are the stuff of legends, and with the XPA-5, the Polk’s were, in a word, sonorous. On Tones, the final solo on “Friends” was a haunting and mesmerizing experience, screaming with an explosive dynamics and an expanded sense of space. The Grammy nominated “Zap” is a tour-de-force guitar instrumental nothing short of phenomenal. With the trio of Roscoe Beck (bass), Tommy Taylor (drums) and Johnson, clearly the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. As I listened to this track (and the others) I felt at times transported to another place, another dimension. The music was that much different with the XPA-5.
In summary, the XPA-5 offered a level of clarity, focus, and transparency that I never heard before on my previous amp. The treble was very clear with great detail and the midrange had a powerful sense of lushness but also well defined. The lower notes were powerful, flat out tight and clean. Best of all, it makes me feel proud to own this amp. Kudos to the entire Emotiva team.
Allen, TX
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