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Emotiva Audio RPA-1 Stereo Amplifier Review

The Emotiva RPA-1 offers one of the best values in reference quality amplifiers out there. Beautiful, powerful, and bulletproof, if this amp isn't on your father's day/mother's day/birthday/Christmas wish list, it should be. To date this is the best sounding, best performing Emotiva amplifier we have had the pleasure of reviewing. You may not need an amp this powerful, but don't lie to yourself, you want it. You know you do.

The All Channels Driven (ACD) Amplifier Test

Can Your Amp Truly Deliver What It Claims? Just how valid is the ACD test most home theater publications use to measure amplifier power? This article cuts through the nonsense of this hotly debated (and often misunderstood) topic.

Recent Amplifier Reviews

First Look: Emotiva XPA-2 Stereo Power Amplifier
by Gene DellaSala — last modified February 04, 2008 07:58

Emotiva has given new meaning to the words high end, high power, high value amplifier with the introduction of their new XPA-2. This baby is armed to the teeth with electronic goodies, weighing in at around 75lbs and boasting a 1600VA transformer and over 60,000 uF of power supply capacitance. The Emotiva, XPA-2 is specified to deliver 250wpc into 8 ohms / 500wpc into 4 ohms with both channels driven and a whopping 1000 watts bridged. All of this comes at a meager asking price of $799! This appears to be the real deal folks and we are simply dying to do a formal review. In the meantime, check our our initial impressions.

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First Look: Genesis Reference Amplifier
by Tom Andry — last modified January 02, 2008 09:18

Genesis Advanced Technologies showed off their Reference-series Amplifiers finally in production. The solid state Reference Amplifiiers are touted to have a "tube-like" sound and are upgradable. The Genesis Reference Amplifier is custom-configured and built to order.

First Look: Pass Labs XA.5 Series Amps
by Clint DeBoer — last modified January 02, 2008 08:21

Sometimes you just see a very cool-looking product - or suite of products. We focused in on Pass Laboratories who introduced the impressive-looking XA.5 Series Power Amplifiers at the 2008 International Consumer Electronics Show, next month in Las Vegas. Their motto is "Designed for audiophiles by lifelong audiophiles". It's a good tagline, and the prices are unquestionably targeted towards audiophiles.

First Look: Axiom Audio A-1400-8 Power Amplifier First Look
by Gene DellaSala — last modified October 10, 2007 18:14

Axiom Audio unveiled their new 8 channel A-1400-8 1400 watt power amplifier at the Audioholics State of the CE Union Event in Clearwater Beach Florida on October 6th, 2007. With the release of this new proprietary switching amplifier, they are attempting to reach out to a new segment of the consumer audio field. According to Axiom Audio, the A1400-8 digital amp assigns power when and where required, regardless of how many channels (up to eight) are connected to the system, making it an ideal amplifier for dynamic sources encoded in Dolby TrueHD and other high definition entertainment standards. We certainly heard no dynamic limitations caused by the amplifier in their demo room despite the enormous SPL levels that were being produced.

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Pro Review: Emotiva Audio RPA-1 Stereo Amplifier Review
by Tom Andry — last modified July 01, 2007 09:04

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Pro Review: Marantz PM-11S1 Integrated Amplifier Review
by Clint DeBoer — last modified June 15, 2007 07:49

I drive a simple vehicle. It's a 2003 Jeep Liberty and I like it a lot. If I were offered the opportunity, however, to test drive a Hummer or Porsche Carrera - I'd do it in a heartbeat. Why? Because I'm not likely to fork out that kind of money in my lifetime and it's occasionally nice to see "how the other guy lives". The Marantz PM-11S1 is my Porsche Carrera this month. At a price tag of over $4k I'm not going to be able to afford to keep this baby in my reference system for long, but it is a superb machine with all the styling of a European sports car. It's the kind of product you don't want to leave fingerprints on and will find yourself taking extra time to install it into your system - not because it can't be manhandled or take the abuse, but because - like a fine work of art - you don't want to diminish its beauty in any way.

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Pro Review: Emotiva Reference Theater Series IPS-1 Amplifier Review
by Gene DellaSala — last modified June 01, 2007 07:52

From its excellent sonic characteristics, to its no-nonsense build quality, fit and finish, Emotiva has once again demonstrated via the IPS-1 that you don’t have to break the bank to get quality electronics that rival many of the more well known brands at a fraction of the cost. Your ears and your wallet with certainly thank you.

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Pro Review: Emotiva Ultra Theater Series LMC-1 & LPA-1 Review
by J. Walker Clarke, Jr. — last modified May 01, 2007 08:30

After years of lusting after and owning several Japanese A/V receivers with tons of features and DSP modes, I was ready for something different. I suddenly knew exactly what I wanted, or more precisely, what I didn't want.

Pro Review: Thule Audio PA350B Multi Channel Amplifier Review
by Gene DellaSala — last modified February 21, 2007 16:19

We have had the good fortune of testing some of the industry’s best multi-channel amplifiers. If you are from the camp that all amps sound the same, then don’t waste your time reading another amplifier review. The truth is, most amps sound similar if they: a) have wide enough bandwidth, b) low enough noise floor, c) are not driven beyond their linear operating region, and d) are capable of sourcing enough steady state power without clipping dynamics to satisfy your listening needs. The question remains however, “what is good enough”?

Pro Review: Onix Melody SP3 Tube Integrated Amplifier Review
by David Waratuke — last modified April 29, 2006 20:00

Onix is one of several brands exclusively distributed through AV123, and manufactures both loudspeakers and electronic components, such as CD players and integrated amplifiers, for sale through the site. The Melody SP3 is intended as a high value product aimed at budget minded Hi Fi enthusiasts who dream of esoteric gear but are grounded by simple economics.

Pro Review: Emotiva MPS-1 Seven Channel Amplifier Review — by Gene DellaSala — last modified May 22, 2005 20:00

Pro Review: Onix A-120MKII Integrated Amplifier Review — by Gene DellaSala — last modified April 19, 2005 20:00

Pro Review: Integra Research RDA-7.1 Review — by Gene DellaSala — last modified March 08, 2005 19:00

Pro Review: Sherbourn 7/1250A Amplifier Review — by Gene DellaSala — last modified February 13, 2005 19:00

Pro Review: Rotel RMB-1095 Amplifier Review — by Clint DeBoer — last modified December 16, 2004 19:00

Pro Review: Parasound Halo A 51 Amplifier Review — by Ken Stein — last modified October 19, 2004 20:00

Pro Review: Parasound Halo A 21 Amplifier Review — by Ken Stein — last modified October 19, 2004 20:00

Pro Review: Rotel RA-1062 Integrated Amplifier Review — by Gene DellaSala — last modified May 09, 2004 20:00

Pro Review: Sherbourn 5/1500A 5-channel Amplifier Review — by Gene DellaSala — last modified June 14, 2003 20:00

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Featured Reviews

Document Actions

Emotiva Audio RPA-1 Stereo Amplifier Review

The All Channels Driven (ACD) Amplifier Test

Recent Amplifier Reviews

Amplifiers