Which amp to choose?
- Thread starter highend64
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I would go with the Emotiva... the GFA-5802 is old and will likely need a recap- those this have soo many output devices that can go bad too (looks like 32 from this pic:
Ditto.
Thanks for all the response. I heard a 5802 a while back and honestly it really sound good but something was not right in the bass region. I was not sure if it need a recap or it was a bad synergy. Later was replace with a 545ll and the bass sounded right. Actually had better articulate bass and slam. After said that, I am familiar with the 5802 but not the XPA-2.
The Emotiva is a Class D amp. Many use Emotiva amps for Home Theatre rather than two channel stereo (they have modules that can be added to run more speakers- a buddy of mine uses an XPA Gen 3 with 5 channels for his theatre)
@highend64 , not sure what your budget is, but you may want to consider picking up a Parasound A21, or for less an HCA-2200 MK2. Make sure its the Mark 2 version and not the mark 1. Both should be sonically better than the two amps you are considering. Good luck.
What I read is the the gen 2 amps have discrete components and is the typical class A/B where the gen 3 has the modules.
I while back there was a HCA-2200 but the mk1 version but it turned out it was sold.
I have several Parasound amps and you can't go wrong with any of them. I have: New Classics 2125 V2 and 2250 V2, and Halo A21+ (2 each, and they are brutes) and a Halo A23+ which is a sweet medium powered160 WPC.
The smaller HCA series are pretty much the equivalent to the modern New Classics line (especially the 275 wpc NC 2250 V2), and the HCA 2200 II is similar to a HALO A21, but any HCA 2200 II amp would be a pretty old (last built in 1997) and will eventually need a recap. The last of the smaller HCA units were built in 2004. I would buy the best of the new ones you can afford and play it worry free for 20 years.
Parasound also has a "Zone Master" line of class D amps that are priced between the NC and Halo lines.
The smaller HCA series are pretty much the equivalent to the modern New Classics line (especially the 275 wpc NC 2250 V2), and the HCA 2200 II is similar to a HALO A21, but any HCA 2200 II amp would be a pretty old (last built in 1997) and will eventually need a recap. The last of the smaller HCA units were built in 2004. I would buy the best of the new ones you can afford and play it worry free for 20 years.
Parasound also has a "Zone Master" line of class D amps that are priced between the NC and Halo lines.
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That is probably correct - I know for sure the Gen 3 are class D, and IMO are better suited for home theatre use, not as good for 2 channel stereo (my subwoofers use built in class D amps).
The Emotiva site disagrees. I have heard one in a nice 2ch set-up and it was great
"The XPA-2 Gen3 is a fully modular audio power amplifier with a high-efficiency switch mode power supply (SMPS), independent, fully discrete, dual differential, high current, short signal path Class A/B amplifier modules, Optimized Class H™ power supply topology, and microprocessor-controlled fault protection."
So class H, not D... still not the same as the old school stuff which I prefer. You have to have a lot of reserve power capacity built into a class D / H amp to power transient peaks, so a 50 or 100WPC class D or H would run out of juice just when the music gets interesting
For example, my Monitor Audio W-12 subwoofer has a 500 watt class D amp to power it and my cheapy Polk 12" sub has a 400 Watt class D amp
For example, my Monitor Audio W-12 subwoofer has a 500 watt class D amp to power it and my cheapy Polk 12" sub has a 400 Watt class D amp
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