New Emotiva UPA-1 mono-block 300 watts/4 ohms - $299

[kexodusc]

Here's some links concerning Emotiva amps and XLR. You can have XLR inputs and outputs but no have the internal balanced circuitry. maybe it was the ERC-1, but it would be odd for them to not have a true balanced CDplayer with true balanced amps to hook up too.

http://forum.blu-ray.com/pre-pro-sys...thread-88.html

Thanks BR. That doesn't really clear much up on the issue, but safe to say Emotiva and other companies like Rotel, NAD, etc should all be doing a better job of specifying how much of the paths in their gear remain balanced. Too many companies getting accused of this...

[RoadRunner6]

Here is a post from Vincedog3 on the Emotiva forum form back in December. He has recently been hired on the Emotiva staff.

Quote;

"...............« Result #3 on Dec 23, 2009, 5:33pm »
P.s. the Architecture of the XPA-2 and XPA-1 are different. At the input for instance the XPA-1 is quad differential and also it is fully balanced. As from the website
FEATURES:

• True Differential Reference™ design.

• Fully balanced quad differential input stage.

The XPA-2 is Dual Differential, and the balanced input is summed. You get the benefit of common mode noise cancellation, but the XPA-1 is fully balanced.

I heard both the XPA-1 and the XPA-2 both are great amps, but the ease and clarity of the XPA-1s make me want them................"

I also read that that the UPA-1 was not fully balanced.

[Glen B]

Thanks BR. That doesn't really clear much up on the issue, but safe to say Emotiva and other companies like Rotel, NAD, etc should all be doing a better job of specifying how much of the paths in their gear remain balanced. Too many companies getting accused of this...

IMO, equipment having balanced inputs/outputs with other internal stages being single ended IMO is not dishonest as long as the manufacturer does not claim the gear is full differential when its not. Therefore, the manufacturers have no "better job to do". When gear is full diferential, usually the manufacturer will state this clearly. I would hope that anyone who is insistent on having gear that has full differential circuit topology would do their homework.

Differences in topology may boil down to a matter of personal taste. I have the option of runing my gear balanced or unbalanced. I have tried both, and while neither stand out as being superior, I do find a slight difference in the sonic presentation between the two, and prefer the sound of the balanced connections (I did try identical brand and length cables, and level matched). That said, I could happily live with RCA connections if I were forced to.