Emotiva LPA-1, 7 channel amplifier

[Rich-n-Texas]

I don't recall the last time I was this focused on a discussion forum topic. I'm a few tequilla shots and such into my Friday night now but I have to say Kex that this amp is just what the doctor ordered. For a LOT of us. That aside, putting your thoughts out here is much appreciated.

What stuck out was...

I swear the male vocals on the Rotel are a bit closer to me than in the LPA-1. Not better or worse, but as I crank the volume it's like the Rotel pushes vocals foward, the LPA-1 keeps em centered.

After I set all speaker levels with the SPL meter and then played a DVD-A, the vocals were *in my face*, despite the fact that they'd loose volume. Maybe there would be a good compromise here for me with the Emotiva.

I have no reservations saying this amp is better, and more practical solution than buying 3 separate used Rotel/Adcom/NAD stereo amps to connect to a receiver (like I was doing), and I can't imagine any typical $1000-$2000 receiver packing as much power and sound quality into the box.

Bang for the buck, bang for the buck, bang for the buck... I'm all about bang for the buck!

I was told this model is expected to jump $200 in price because production costs have increased...any fence sitters might want to act quickly.

RIGHT!

[kexodusc]

Sounds like a good bang for the buck for sure. When you were comparing did you use the Yamaha receiver as preamp with all amps? Most of your review sounded real good the only point that gave me pause was when you thought the Rotel was a bit more lively. All the demos of Rotel always struck me as them being very laid back. So if the Emo is more so, it wouldn't be the amp for me.

Good point Mr. P - Yammie used as pre-pro with all amps, but when comparing the Rotel I kept the Emo plugged into the Yammie (mostly) instead of pluggin it into the Rotel, so there is the element of different pre-amps I guess. "Laid back" isn't how I'd describe my Rotel though it wasn't as in your face as the Adcoms. Lively might not have been the best word for me to use, but I struggle with using airy, sibilant or whatever other adjectives I could think of. It was as though a veil was lifte---never mind.

I think a lot of amp impressions have a big variable in them - speakers. Pretty sure the inductance, capacitance etc are a lot different from one model to the next so all bets are off on how an amp might respond. And one man's laid back is another's man's__________ .

This thing sounds surprisingly good, better than most would need for home theater. I could see a lot of people buying those mid-level $400-$500 receivers with pre-outs, some video switching, all the latest codecs, (Yamaha RX-V663, Denon AVR-1908, etc) and beefing them up with an amp like this for performance unheard of for $1000 or so and never looking back.

My Yamaha has a 500 watt power supply unit. The LPA-1 has a 1500 watt jobber in case you want to plug your dryer into it.

[Rich-n-Texas]

...My Yamaha has a 500 watt power supply unit. The LPA-1 has a 1500 watt jobber in case you want to plug your dryer into it.

One word...
Does it suck as much juice as a 1 ton compressor?

[L.J.]

Kex you da freakin' man. Thanks for the excellent review!

[Mr Peabody]

You mean, does it suck as much juice out of the wall as Rich sucks out of his lime while shooting his tequilla.

[kexodusc]

You mean, does it suck as much juice out of the wall as Rich sucks out of his lime while shooting his tequilla.

Bah dum bum!

[Rich-n-Texas]

You know how much limes cost 'round these parts nowadays Mr. P.?

[GMichael]

Great review Kex!
I'm glad to see that you are happy with your new toy. Not only for your enjoyment, but also for my possible upgrade. It's good to see that this unit delivers so much for so little. If and when the time come that I can upgrade, I will not hisitate to jump on this model.
Thanks!
Now, go back and listen some more.

[Mr Peabody]

You know how much limes cost 'round these parts nowadays Mr. P.?

How much? You go it straight? I can handle Tequilla in a Margarita but I tasted it straight a couple times and it didn't taste like something that humans should be putting in their mouth.

Well, back on track, sort of, anyone know when Emotiva will be putting out an updated processor? A place here in town says the Marantz stuff should be hitting in June.

[kexodusc]

Well, back on track, sort of, anyone know when Emotiva will be putting out an updated processor? A place here in town says the Marantz stuff should be hitting in June.

A lot of companies, including some of the big receiver makers, are waiting on the latest Cirrus logic chip that's been delayed and has received some press in the audio world.
I think Marantz uses them too. Sometime this summer is my guess, probably July/August. Emotiva suggests it may be a bit earlier.

I think the big receiver companies will get the bulk of the first batch orders.

[f0rge]

wow that's a really sweet review. almost makes me wish i would have swung for a cheaper receiver along with this amp instead of what i ended up getting. oh well i wanted to move away from seperates, so i'm sticking by my guns

[Mr Peabody]

The Denon should have preamp outputs in case the urge to add a power amp should strike. That's all Kex did was add the amp to his existing receiver.

[Rich-n-Texas]

Hello folks - just purchased my first Emotiva piece. Why? I gotta know if the if the reality matches the hype, to be honest. The last think I need is another amp .
But if I only bought what I needed that'd be no fun. So I snarfed me one of the B-stock LPA-1 amps for my HT. Figure now's as good a time as any.

In my home theater I have a Yamaha receiver, that was connected to a couple of Adcom GFA-535 amps, and Rotel RB-950 and an AudioSource Amp One A (a little gem I found in a pawn shop that isn't out of place among the rest of my amps). I said "was connected" because I sold my Rotel last week to downsize my inventory for the impending residential move.

I have a NAD 3020 integrated, Rotel RA-1070 integrated (main stereo rig) and just sold a NAD 3140 recently as well. (My hobby is speaker building so these amps all get some use around the house)

One of my Adcom's died this weekend. Cost of repair more than I could buy one for used.
I'm no stranger to amps have also owned Marantz, Harman Kardon, and Arcam amps in the past.
Anyway, you guys seem pretty convinced by all this Emotiva stuff. A trusted friend of mine loves his Emo gear and I respect his opinion. Wish he lived closer so I could hear it for myself, but sometimes you gotta take a leap of faith. Guess we'll know soon enough.

Gotta say, the staff were friendly and helpful over the phone - I live in Canada but that was no problem. Big thanks to Jennifer and Cathy.

See ya around.

The bold text indicates spelling and grammar errors (Not a good first impression there buddy )

Time to come clean Penguin guy... "So I snarfed me one of the B-stock LPA-1 amps for my HT."

If I understand my lingo correctly, B-stock means reconditioned. So you paid < $500 right? I read around on their site some and apparently there aren't any B-stock LPA-1's left, but the advertised price on it's profile page says $500. so is that the price for a brand new one?

[kexodusc]

If I understand my lingo correctly, B-stock means reconditioned. So you paid < $500 right? I read around on their site some and apparently there aren't any B-stock LPA-1's left, but the advertised price on it's profile page says $500. so is that the price for a brand new one?

$499 brand new. I miracled myself into a slightly better deal with a B-stock unit, merely as a function of good/bad timing. I'll fess up now, I was eyeballing the thing for awhile, but the amp dying pushed me to shop. The B-stock sale prompted me to buy now, rather than later.

B-stock can mean anything from repaired to returned to scratch and dent, etc. I've bought most of my gear as B-stock, floor demo, or used.

In this case I saved $100 off the retail price, but it comes with the very same 5-year warranty.

It came out of the box, clean, polished, no sign of prior use and not a scratch on it. If there's a b-stock sale again (or for any product from a reputable vendor) I say jump on it.

[GMichael]

Link. I need a link!

[Rich-n-Texas]

Welp, that puts it at the same price as the PS3 in June. Should I start another thread entitled: LPA-1 vs PS3 - Which would YOU buy?

The only problem I see with that amp is the fact that it weighs a hefty 63 lbs. so it would have to go on the bottom shelf of my audio cabinet, behind the door. That's okay though... it is RATHER ugly.

[Rich-n-Texas]

Link. I need a link!

What?

[GMichael]

What?

LINK?!

[Rich-n-Texas]

Oh. Okay. Sorry.

[L.J.]

Rich you tracking people down now. And correcting their spelling. This is why I go with different screen names now.

BTW, the sales over.

[kexodusc]

Welp, that puts it at the same price as the PS3 in June. Should I start another thread entitled: LPA-1 vs PS3 - Which would YOU buy?

Depends on priority. I intend to own both by August.

The only problem I see with that amp is the fact that it weighs a hefty 63 lbs. so it would have to go on the bottom shelf of my audio cabinet, behind the door. That's okay though... it is RATHER ugly.

I actually put it on the 3rd shelf of my rack. After a few hours I noticed the shelf leaning a bit. Half way through the night I woke up all nervous it would crush my XBox 360 and cable box and put it on the bottom shelf.

It is heavy. It is nice.

[Rich-n-Texas]

Did you get your link GM?

I actually put it on the 3rd shelf of my rack. After a few hours I noticed the shelf leaning a bit. Half way through the night I woke up all nervous it would crush my XBox 360 and cable box and put it on the bottom shelf

That's funny. I'd probably do the same thing.

Rich you tracking people down now.

I'm a cyberstalker. It's what I do.

And correcting their spelling.

I didn't start it. Somebody else started it.

.This is why I go with different screen names now.

So exactly how long have you been going with different screen names L.J., PS, Lex, Edward/Hershon, DJ?

[audio amateur]

After a few hours I noticed the shelf leaning a bit. Half way through the night I woke up all nervous it would crush my XBox 360 and cable box and put it on the bottom shelf.

It is heavy. It is nice.

haha sounds like me
I don't find it paritcularly ugly either.

[kexodusc]

haha sounds like me
I don't find it paritcularly ugly either.

The online pics really don't do it justice. My wife always complimented the Rotel's clean, but reserved silver looks as being the least ugly of all my gear, but even she thinks the LPA-1 looks "ok". That's as good as I'll ever get from her.

Her least favorite is the BFD of course.

It's the best looking piece of electronics I've ever owned, mostly because it's not littered with logos and knobs, and doesn't try to be too much or a lifestyle piece. Less is more here.

The more I spend time with this thing, the more impressed I am. I cannot believe these guys can sell this thing for this cheap. Thank you China! I demoed a GFA-7607 a few years back and I'm glad I didn't pay $1500 for it then.

[Mr Peabody]

Rich, I have two words for you, MASTERCARD, I guess that's actually one word isn't it, oh well, two syllables