Emotiva UPA-2 - Pulling Trigger in 24 HRs - Help Me, I'm Scared!

[blackraven]

Congrat's! Hope you get years of enjoyment from it.

[blackraven]

The space ship look of Emotiva gear is one thing I don't like, especially in a 2 channel system (where I much prefer a traditional look). For HT I wouldn't mind...

You can always buy some Van Alstine gear and get that 1970 Heath Kit look!

http://www.avahifi.com/

[audio amateur]

Europeans! Hmmmph!!!

lol, ya think?

[audio amateur]

You can always buy some Van Alstine gear and get that 1970 Heath Kit look!

http://www.avahifi.com/

I've always found those red power switches on the front plate to look pretty hardcore/unrefined

But hey, if you keep on going on about ava gear I may well pull the trigger some day!

[Ajani]

You can always buy some Van Alstine gear and get that 1970 Heath Kit look!

http://www.avahifi.com/

Think I'll pass on the VA looks...

[Ajani]

So you're just buying based on looks? I thought better of you, LOL.

Pretty Sound, Pretty Looks... as long as something is pretty, I'm happy... lol

Seriously though, I won't buy gear just cuz it's pretty, but it would take a lot to get me to buy something ugly (too many decent looking and sounding alternatives on the market)...

[blackraven]

I think if Frank VA made his gear all pretty like Emo that he would sell ton's more, but he's stubborn that way and is keeping costs down.

I really don't care for the VA look either. The Emo's look great!

[Ajani]

I think if Frank VA made his gear all pretty like Emo that he would sell ton's more, but he's stubborn that way and is keeping costs down.

I really don't care for the VA look either. The Emo's look great!

I wish he would update the looks too... I'd love to try one of his tube Pre-Amps eventually, but the look is just...

[audio amateur]

I think if Frank VA made his gear all pretty like Emo that he would sell ton's more, but he's stubborn that way and is keeping costs down.

Yeah, it looks like his gear offers a lot of bang for the buck. I hope he chooses to keep his prices down in the future.

[Ajani]

Yeah, it looks like his gear offers a lot of bang for the buck. I hope he chooses to keep his prices down in the future.

That's something I don't really accept. A product does not need to be ugly to keep costs down... A plain faceplate with a volume knob and a decent coat of paint will look nice to most persons... No need to go for even the pretty blue lights (which don't add much to the cost btw) or silver trim on the edges like Emotiva...

VA products could do with a simple makeover that would make them at least moderately attractive, without jacking up the prices...

[blackraven]

That's something I don't really accept. A product does not need to be ugly to keep costs down... A plain faceplate with a volume knob and a decent coat of paint will look nice to most persons... No need to go for even the pretty blue lights (which don't add much to the cost btw) or silver trim on the edges like Emotiva...

VA products could do with a simple makeover that would make them at least moderately attractive, without jacking up the prices...

Anjani, your way off base here. Those beautiful aluminum chassis' cost a lot. VA is a boutique business and does not have the high volume that other audio comapnies have that buy in bulk and keep costs down. VA builds each piece as the order comes in. It takes about 2 weeks to build a piece. I've talked to Frank about this. He know's that he could sell more with a fancier case but he is comfortable with his volume of sales and is not looking to get rich. He already has a huge following and does a lot of repeat business. Most of his customers are older and the bling is not important to them. Just read the audio circles forum. He states that he makes a comfortable living. I've been to his house and it's nothing fancy and a modest home where he build's his gear in his basement and things get shipped form there. FYI, he will be offering and new gold anodized face plate and chassis.

[Ajani]

Anjani, your way off base here. Those beautiful aluminum chassis' cost a lot. VA is a boutique business and does not have the high volume that other audio comapnies have that buy in bulk and keep costs down. VA builds each piece as the order comes in. It takes about 2 weeks to build a piece. I've talked to Frank about this. He know's that he could sell more with a fancier case but he is comfortable with his volume of sales and is not looking to get rich. He already has a huge following and does a lot of repeat business. Most of his customers are older and the bling is not important to them. Just read the aduio circles forum. He states that he makes a comfortable living. I've been to his house and it's nothing fancy and a modest home where he build's his gear in his basement and things get shipped form there. FYI, he will be offering and new gold anodized face plate and chassis.

I'm not talking about him going for an expensive Chassis... The existing chassis is fine... A simple change like a nicer coat of paint, removing the bright red industrial looking switches, and probably repositioning the knobs would make his gear look decent... He Doesn't need to make any major changes, just some minor cosmetic work....

The way his gear looks now is more about his own humble sense of style, than cost savings...

[blackraven]

I'm not talking about him going for an expensive Chassis... The existing chassis is fine... A simple change like a nicer coat of paint, removing the bright red industrial looking switches, and probably repositioning the knobs would make his gear look decent... He Doesn't need to make any major changes, just some minor cosmetic work....

The way his gear looks now is more about his own humble sense of style, than cost savings...

Agreed! His chassis' by the way are black anodized, no paint. Volume controls are motorized.

[frenchmon]

As I'm sure many of you aware, I'm a cheap @$$hole and am hence always on the lookout for a good deal to get my HiFi back on track... I contacted Emotiva and got a quote to have a UPA-2 delivered to me... I plan to pull the trigger tomorrow...

Any last words of advice or warning from Emotiva users??? (I know their are several of you on this forum)... I figure $300 is a good way to test the Emotiva waters without making a serious investment, so I can always upgrade to something ridiculous from them later on if needs be...

I will be buying a pair of Revel Concerta F12s to mate with the UPA-2 shortly...

My Benchmark DAC1 will serve as DAC and Preamp....

Wow...congrats....I very interested in your review Ajani....I wanting to know if the Emotiva has a soft side, and if not, how much the Benchmark is needed. I listened to Concerto 12's When I lived in North Carolina and they where connected to Marantz Reference...great combination.

frenchmon

[frenchmon]

Not much available locally... But Revel is one of my favorites from back when I lived in Toronto... My first choice would have been Monitor Audio, but they're not available here and would be way too expensive to order...

Other options from another local dealer (appears we have only 2 in Jamaica) are PSB, Paradigm and Definitive Technology... I have yet to be impressed by Def Tech or PSB and I have never heard Paradigm... Oh yeah, my preferred dealer also has KEF, but I didn't think too much of the KEF IQ90s I heard...

I think you would like Paradigm Studio or Signature series if you like Monitor Audio.


frenchie

[frenchmon]

I hope I end up as happy with my purchase as this guy:

http://emotivalounge.proboards.com/i...ay&thread=9036



I rather doubt the Emotiva would be the equal of a Krell (I'm hoping it will be up to Rotel Level - it should be based on direct sales) but I would love to be as happy with my purchase as that guy...

Well lets just hope the Emotiva has some emotion and tonal abilities....if not then the Benchmark may do the job.

frenchmon

[frenchmon]

My Revel dealer has the Concerta line paired with a nice big Marantz AVR in their demo room. Something with a 8 in the model name.

They really sound nice with that setup. Not sure you need a ton of watts to get good sound from the Revels.

From experience the Rotels mate very well with the Revel sound as i've owned a few. Revels are very revealing speakers so it makes finding a good amp match difficult.

I've used everything from a huge NAD amp to $100 AVRs and each sound totally different with my F30s.

Good luck on your search.

Is your dealer over in Cary at Advanced Audio? When I Lived in Durham/Raleigh/Cary I use to visit Advance Audio. That's where I listened to the Revels pared with Marantz Reference. I also use to love to go over to Audio Advice....man they had some stuff....I loved the Wilson Watt Puppies. And then there was Audio Design and Expert Audio off of Glennwood who had all the Krell, Dali, and Cary Audio you could handle...Don't remember any Hi Fi shops down in Chapel Hill, besides, that's where you went to go girl looking over at UNC....oh how I miss North Carolina.

frenchmon

[frenchmon]

Dayuuuum.... A setup this puuurty almost tempts me to toss the Computer Audio and start listening to CDs again:

How about this one?



And using Usher B-718 Tiny dancers.



I betcha those Dancers got the sound nice and warm.

[Ajani]

How about this one?



And using Usher B-718 Tiny dancers.



I betcha those Dancers got the sound nice and warm.

Why do I suspect that the most expensive component in that setup is the electronics stand?

Looks Sweet though!!!

[frenchmon]

Why do I suspect that the most expensive component in the setup is the stand?

Looks Sweet though!!!

Close but I think its the Dancers...then the stand.


frenchmon

[winston]

Ajani" I think the UPA-2 maybe out of stock until late this march" which could be April??!!
so there is some waiting

[Ajani]

Ajani" I think the UPA-2 maybe out of stock until late this march" which could be April??!!
so there is some waiting

Yeah, that's what's on the site, but the Emotiva rep I placed my order with (via e-mail) says they'll be back in stock and shipping early next week... So hopefully I won't have too long a wait...

[Ajani]

I think you would like Paradigm Studio or Signature series if you like Monitor Audio.


frenchie

I always imagined I might (the descriptions of their sound seems like what I'd like)... But since I can get one of my 2 favorite brands here, I'd rather play it safe than risk ordering the Paradigms and not being happy with the sound (we generally don't get the same wonderful return policies here as in the US - especially if I special order items)...

Besides, the Concerta F12s will be the best choice for my listening room (even if they are the least stylish looking) and I worry that pairing potentially bright Paradigms with potentially bright Emotiva might be too much...

[Ajani]

Well lets just hope the Emotiva has some emotion and tonal abilities....if not then the Benchmark may do the job.

frenchmon

Hopefully it does, if not I may go back to what I was initially thinking of ordering:

http://grantfidelity.com/site/Grant_...ocessor_buffer

A Grant Fidelity Tube Buffer... I actually got a quote for shipping (3 KG) on that one yesterday (sadly their express shipping fees are higher than the ones for the 40LB Emotiva Amp - they really should switch to FedEx)

[dr bud]

That looks awsome!I don't know how emotiva stuff sounds but i personally love the blue lights!Don't know why so many people don't like the looks.