2. amps-preamps
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Looking to upgrade from Emotiva XPA-1 monoblocks

I am currently running 4 XPA-L1s bi-amped into a pair of Legacy Whisper HDs along with a Legacy Wavelet DAC. My main sources are an Emotiva ERC 3 CD transport and a Rega RP 6 turntable through a Moon preamp.

The Wavelet and the Moon pre are recent upgrades and have made a pretty big difference coming from a Yamaha RX-A 1050 receiver!

For the most part the system sounds pretty good. But lately I am starting to feel like the sound is a little edgy (if that makes sense).

I feel like I have exhausted the tools I have at hand, the Wavelet room correction/contouring, room treatments, cable upgrades etc. So, I am thinking new amps would be the likely upgrade to get that little extra out of my system.

Do I stay with a 4 monoblock setup? Could I move up to better stereo amps? Stay with bi-amping? Yada, yada, yada!

Budget wise I would like to stay under $6000.

I have been doing a lot of research, but thought I would throw it out here to get some input as well.

BTW...I will be attending AXPONA next weekend so any recommendations to explore are welcome also.

Sorry for the long post! 

tkn42
tkn42 OP
9 posts
 

It's kind of always been there. I heard these speakers at friend's house and was really impressed with them. I don't recall what he had on the front end at the time. Always buying and selling gear. That's how I ended up with them.

I will say the Wavelet is probably the biggest change since I have owned the Whispers. I live an hour away from Legacy and had them program it for the whispers specifically and it did smooth things out a bit.

I have been doing a lot of critical listening lately. Maybe it is just me!

I will check out the McCormick though. 

 

jastralfu's avatar
jastralfu
484 posts
 

If it’s always been there and you like your speakers you might try some tubes somewhere in the mix of components, like a tube pre with ss amps.  I don’t know what the McCormack sounds like or if it will take the edge off.  Listening preferences change as well.  I used to like a bit of brightness but that bothers me now and I prefer neutral to warm.

soix
10,187 posts
 

Sorry, I put the wrong link for the McCormack amp above. 🙄  Here it is…

https://www.usaudiomart.com/details/650201477-mccormack-dna-500/

fastfreight
945 posts
 

Hi @tkn42 ,  I had an Emotiva XPA 2 way back when and I would never call it edgy.  Dark is more what I heard.  Regardless, I would think the amplification could easily be much better.  For 6K I would look at a Coda stereo amp or Audionet Amp mono blocks.  You can always add more amps if you need them, but four in a stereo setup is likely overkill.  First find the sound you like, then decide if you need more of it.  My nirvana  started with Audionet Max amps and they blew away everything I had previously had in my home:  Emotiva XPA, Classe CA 2200 and 2300, Parasound, and Parasound Halo JC1 +.  The Audionet stuff is so fast, resolving, sparkly, full and rich, and non fatiguing.  Can't fault any tube amp recommendations, just not my cup of tea.  If you like smooth, and want SS, a Moon amp would pair well with your preamp.  But they are not as fast or resolving as Audionet, to me.

jeffbij
215 posts
 

@tkn42  -  Before dropping any $ right away, if you can borrow a few different amps, just to drop into your system for a day or two and hear what other possibilities sound like.  You might find that the edginess goes away, or maybe it doesn't.  As @jastralfu mentioned, it might be something else in the system you need to address. Either way, you will have a better idea of which direction you need to go.  (And you haven't spent any money to find out.) 

... just a nickels worth of advice...

- Jeff

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