eMOTIVA as a brand | Stereophile.com

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Submitted By: kdad92

member

Location: Delaware

Joined: Dec 9 2011

Posts:

eMOTIVA as a brand

Posted: December 11, 2011 - 9:22am

does anyone have any experience or advice on Emotiva products? i am researching an entry level integrated amp. i looked at the CA Azur 550, the Marantz 5004, and the NAD 316beee. I have been advised that as a first timer getting into Hifi, Nad would be a Great start. but in my research, i came across a company called Emotiva. they are offering their Usp-1 and Upa-2 for just over 600.00. Most of my music is digital and Emotiva has a Xda-1 which is basically a dac/preamp thingamajig? Anyway, my question is, as someone on a limited budget who want to break into Hifi, is Emotiva a way to do this? Are Emotiva products decent? and does anyone know if you can use the Xda-1 as a preamp with the Upa-2 amp as a computer based stereo? thanx.

Submitted By: commsysman

senior member

Location: SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA

Joined: Apr 4 2006

Posts:

Emotiva

Posted: December 11, 2011 - 9:59am

I have yet to HEAR any of their gear, but the comments I have seen here and on other forums

by owners have been generally quite positive.

The prices are certainly incredible. The USP-1 preamp has a lot of amazing features for the price,

including balanced outputs. I don't know of any preamp offhand for under $1000 with all those features.

The UPA-1 mono amps are only $300, and if the stuff sounds even halfway decent, that would be a hell of a

system for under $1000.

The XDA-1 has no analog inputs, which wouldn't work for most of us, but if all of your sources are digital,

it might be what you need.

Submitted By: jackfish

senior member

Location: Western Wisconsin

Joined: Dec 19 2005

Posts:

I have the Emotiva

Posted: December 13, 2011 - 7:07am

USP-1 preamp, two Emotiva UPA-1 monoblock amplifiers and an Emotiva ERC-1 CD player feeding Magnestand modified Magnepan MMG loudspeakers and a Rythmik F12 subwoofer. Emotiva is quality gear at an affordable price. The XDA-1 would be a wonderful start for a computer-based music system.

If your sources are all digital then an XDA-1 will serve as a preamp and DAC. If you want to add a turntable then it would not be the best choice. It appears that the UPA-2 has sold out, so you would be left with the XDA-1 and a pair of UPA-1 amplifiers for $847. Those components would do a pair of $3000 loudspeakers justice.

If you have fairly sensitive speakers there is also the 60 wpc Emotiva mini-X a-100 stereo amplifier for $199.

Submitted By: JIMV

member

Joined: Jan 31 2008

Posts:

I own an old set of Emotiva

Posted: December 12, 2011 - 10:03am

I own an old set of Emotiva monoblocks traded for used...these also work as my preamp in my vinyl system (Thorens 171, Ortohon 2M Blue, Grant Fidelity tube buffer,Parasound zphono and Maggie MMG's). I REALLY like the setup. For well under $1500 (careful shoping and a demo or two) I have a vinyl setup that produces the best sound I have in my living room. Far better than the Onkyo/Toshiba/Audio Alchemy/shared MMG setup I use for digital.

I would highly recommend Emotiva for the audiophile on an real world budget.