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Emotiva XPA5 Gen 1

Hi, I am a newbie here and also in the world of music. I started a stere system last month, Just bought a pair of Klipsch R28F and a sub. I only listen to music and now use a Onkyo TX-8555 for Stereo. I would like to have a power amp and use the Onkyo as a Preamplifier. There is a local guy has a Emotiva XPA5 Gen 1 wants to sell it for me for $400. My question is: should I buy it ? Or should I buy 2 channel amp only for stereo music? This gets me to another question: I saw ClassDAudio has A 2 channel amp, 250wpc, for over $500, is it a good amp and should buy it instead of the Emotiva?

Please hepl me! 

Thanks in advance for your help! 
justinpham2012
justinpham2012 OP
23 posts
 
Thank you so much for all your help and inputs. I feel like I learned something new about music world. So my only purpose now is for stereo music, I will not buy the Emotiva XPA 5, and will look in to Parasound, Class D Audio and other Amps 2 channel. I like to buy separately amp and pre amp so I can upgrade later on. 
justinpham2012 OP
23 posts
 
Oh! Recently, there is a local guy has a Niles SI-2125 and wants to sell it for $200. Is it a good amp? And if it is, is it a good deal? Should I go for used one or new one? 
craigl59
307 posts
 

Have the XPA-5 Gen 2 amp and have been using it for 3 years; it is excellent. You can switch from 5 to 2 channels with a pre (use the XMC-1 myself) and it makes going from movies to music effortless.

If you mainly/only listen to music I would recommend you stick with a stereo setup; the XPA-5 is not necessary for this. Most music is mixed for stereo and you get a better soundstage with two speakers and channels. Even a subwoofer will interfere with low bass imaging (2 are much better).

auxinput
2,920 posts
 
Niles is a company that makes distribution amps (such as 8 or 10 channel amps) for multi-room audio.  It is probably an okay amp, but nothing special.  I would probably assume that it isn't any better than your Onkyo 2-channel receiver.
slbenz
39 posts
 
Having owned an Emotiva XPA-5 and now a Class D Audio SDS-470, the 470 is far superior in air, detail, imaging and overall sound balance than the XPA-5. As another person said, it is a bit bright and probably is not a good match with your Klipsch. When I owned a set of Klipsch Heresy II's, I ran them with a Parasound HCA-1205 amp. Smoother sounding than the Emotiva that I had. For me, the Class D Audio is the best sounding Class D amp that I have owned. Even better sounding than my Wyred4Sound ST-250 or Rotel Class D amp. 
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