Emotiva Audio RPA-1 Stereo Amplifier Review
Emotiva Audio RPA-1 Stereo Amplifier
Summary
- Product Name: RPA-1
- Manufacturer: Emotiva Audio
- Performance Rating:
- Value Rating:
- Review Date: June 30, 2007 20:00
- MSRP: $ 699
- Specifications
-
Dual mono block design
Extremely low residual noise floor
Dual high current toroidal power transformers
Enhanced Emotiva EPM power module topology
200 watts RMS per channel into eight ohms
350 watts RMS per channel into four ohms
1Hz – 80kHz bandwidth
THD+N - .015%
Convection cooling
Analog VU meters
12VDC trigger input
Balanced XLR and unbalanced inputs
Tiffany style RCA inputs
High-quality, high current binding posts
Panel dimmer
Milled multi-element floating wing faceplate with indirect cobalt blue illumination.
Dims: (HxWxD) 6” x 18 7/16” x 16 7/16"
Weight - 60 lbs.
Pros
- Price
- Performance
- Looks
Cons
- None
Introduction
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.
Recent Forum Posts:
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etpfonehome posts on November 26, 2007 21:50
Right when I get the OK from the wife to buy the RPA 1 noticed it was out of stock and now it does not even show up when you click on the "buy" link.
Any one have one to sell?
Any one have one to sell?
snapper62 posts on October 09, 2007 22:54
Lonnie at Emotiva and I have exchanged emails trying to sort out the problem with the volume and we tracked it down to an aggressively tightened clamp on the volume stem itself; the little things will get you every time. Problem solved, backup unit returned, and yes, it still sounds great.
A note about working with Emotiva: when we connected, we worked very well together and it is a rare manufacturer that will not freak out when you mention cracking the case; indeed I solved the issue with their support and a screwdriver....
A note about working with Emotiva: when we connected, we worked very well together and it is a rare manufacturer that will not freak out when you mention cracking the case; indeed I solved the issue with their support and a screwdriver....
mattburk posts on August 30, 2007 19:43
any more updates on the rpa1?
yshostak posts on August 22, 2007 18:44
Thank you for this great review. How would RPA-1's amplifier stage compare with Marantz PM-11S1's amplifier stage? Although these are two different beasts, amp. vs. integrated amp. and 200W vs 100W output, I wonder if anyone could comment on sonic quality differences of these two.
Adam posts on August 04, 2007 22:07
Well; crap... I was going to order the Emotiva Audio RPA-1 this week but now I am afraid to...
Great review but now it looks like there may be a lot of trouble to deal with. What's a guy to do?
Greg, I can understand your hesitation based on the posts in this thread. However, I think that you'll do fine giving them a chance.
The first unit that I received had some sort of problem with it. The folks at Emotiva were all very nice, and they sent me a replacement unit along with a return shipping label for my original unit. There was no request for me to send mine back first, and there was no hesitation in their offer to send out a replacement. My only snag with them really boiled down to an issue with their e-mail system/response in that it cost a few days in getting this resolved. Talking to them on the phone was easy (but wasn't always possible because of my job and the time difference). They did initially forget to ship me out the unit after saying that they would, but like I said in my other post, forgetting something can happen to anyone.
My new unit arrived and was a brand-new, factory-sealed unit. They didn't open it up before hand to do anything that I can tell. Both of the units that I received had the exact same items in each box. The new one appears to be in perfect condition (honestly, better condition than the first - although the first one was completely acceptable), and it isn't exhibiting the issue that first made me think something might be wrong with my other unit - namely, that the standby power draw was several Watts. Of course, I'll be using this new one and will find out if anything is wrong with it, but I'm completely confident that Emotiva will make it right if I do have any problems.
Again, if you're really interested in it, I'd say give it a chance.
Great review but now it looks like there may be a lot of trouble to deal with. What's a guy to do?
Greg, I can understand your hesitation based on the posts in this thread. However, I think that you'll do fine giving them a chance.
The first unit that I received had some sort of problem with it. The folks at Emotiva were all very nice, and they sent me a replacement unit along with a return shipping label for my original unit. There was no request for me to send mine back first, and there was no hesitation in their offer to send out a replacement. My only snag with them really boiled down to an issue with their e-mail system/response in that it cost a few days in getting this resolved. Talking to them on the phone was easy (but wasn't always possible because of my job and the time difference). They did initially forget to ship me out the unit after saying that they would, but like I said in my other post, forgetting something can happen to anyone.
My new unit arrived and was a brand-new, factory-sealed unit. They didn't open it up before hand to do anything that I can tell. Both of the units that I received had the exact same items in each box. The new one appears to be in perfect condition (honestly, better condition than the first - although the first one was completely acceptable), and it isn't exhibiting the issue that first made me think something might be wrong with my other unit - namely, that the standby power draw was several Watts. Of course, I'll be using this new one and will find out if anything is wrong with it, but I'm completely confident that Emotiva will make it right if I do have any problems.
Again, if you're really interested in it, I'd say give it a chance.
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