XTZ Sound Edge A2-300 Stereo Amplifier Review. BETTER Than Crown Amps?
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 9 ก.พ. 2025
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► XTZ A2-300 EDGE AMPLIFIER REVIEW
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XTZ is a superb Swedish, high quality manufacturer! The bang for buck is off the chart. I recently purchased the 10.17 Edge subwoofer (replacing my 14 year old XTZ W10.16) and are completely blown away by it!! Insane build and sound quality for the price. Going to order one more 10.17 and two Edge A-2 300 for my LCR frontstage on a Marantz Cinema 50.
Yo guys I just got mine - this little guy packs a punch! I've been sitting here dialing up test tracks with a big grin on my face. That there is VASTLY more power available than my AVR was obvious from the get go. The sound is so much more visceral. More muscular, feeling it in my chest and ass like never before. Bass drum hits - night and day difference. So much more fuller sounding. And the mids and highs have a nice effortless dimensionality. I think I underestimated how truly transformative having abundant clean power on tap can be, even at the relatively low volumes I listen at. My Polk Signature S55 have never sounded better. This inexpensive, compact, nice looking little amp has leveled up my system and the more I warm it up/break it in (about an hour now) it seems to keep sounding better! Cheers for the review Andrew! Get this amp!
Excellent review. I am running for 2 years now XLS -2502 Drive Core Amps bridged at 2.4 Kilowatts per channel @ 2 ohms on a ribbon array and drivers. Valve preamp full differential, trust me, no hiss or noise of any kind coming from the speakers. I have Carver Cherry 180 amps. Love both and listen to them equally. The crown amps are true to the source material and I here upper frequency extension non colored or rolled off, very taut and articulant bass. Deep sound stage. If you can use full range of the preamp and turn the gain down. Gain is designed for amp level matching from the source, use it correctly and it will pay dividends, if not you will hear noises and hiss and artifacts robbing you of micro detail.
Absolutely Bang-On!!!
I just bought One. Im so happy i did! It is really great! Very impressed with it. For the money, you cant beat it
Big fan of class D amp... more power smaller package Highly highly efficient .. much less heat..longevity ..fantastic overhead sound stage..dynamics..clarity ..shoot I can go on and on and on
Dear Andrew,
Congratulations to Your presentation of the A2-300. I have two of them (in Mono mode) and they are very, very good sounding. First I had just one and then bought the second and got it tuned by Sven Boenicke - not technical modifications just mechanical, welding the current section instead of connectors and changed the Fuse to a better one (refine). Also I use Vovox Textura as mains cable. Wtih this modivications it sounds very much better then unmodified. I did comparisons with about 10 Listeners and for all it was obvious that the modified is sounding better. I used the amps with differernt Preamps (iphone - Marantz SC-8 - DNM3CSIX - Custom Made tube Preamp) the sound with the tube preamp is outstanding and just wonderful.
I replaced the big DNM PA2B (mono Amps made by Denis Morecroft) and I am very happy.
Hello, where did you buy the fuse? And at what gain you recommend to use the knob? Thanks in advance.
Faultless review. Very descriptive and entertaining to watch! Thank you
I bought an Edge, and it sounds great. Very nice sound stage. I like the sound of my system. My system keeps making me say WOW. Say Hi to Katie Bear.
I bougth a Crown XLS 1002 and this XTZ Amp to compare them with my primare i22 om my SA mantra 70 speakers - the Crown hostely cannot compete. The Edge A2-300 sounds better than the primare (but is only 1/3 the price), which is also better than the Crown. The Crown is a very good value, but nowhere near the other two. Take it from an acoustic engineer of the University that hatched the icepower startup.
Not many people have financial resource to buy 3 amp to make comparison.
very good and logical presentation.
No meandering, no hesitation. No repetition
clearly well prepared
and demonstrate good knowledge.
No unnecessary playing with camera angles.
Fantastic audio recording.
Which is hallmark for someone talking about to audiophiles.
( I find it ridiculous someone doing hifi BUT can't record audio properly)
well done. TOP MARKS.
Hi all, have two of them, one driving a pair of Canton A45, the other a pair of the smaller A45BS. I can confirm every single word Andrew said. The Edge ist superdynamic, effortless and merciless neutral. For me it does exactly what an amp should do. Reason for my rather strange setup ist that in the front, I do not have the space to move the floorstanding A45 a little away from the walls, but in the rear I have. So I put the BS in the front in the corners and compensate the fr/re distance difference with a miniDSP and a 4ms delay and the volume with the XTZs' gain controls. One of the main reasons I chose them. Room linearization and DA conversion done with a Behringer DEQ2496. This setup simply creates a totally immersive soundstage, If you sit in the sweet spot, you feel "on stage". Being able to point at the Instruments. As Andrew says at the end of every episode, you are the only one ... Greetings from the home of XTZ.
I just upgraded my AVR and front speakers from Yamaha 473 to Denon 4500H and B&W M1s to B&W 603s and HTM6 and wow... What a differ nice. And lots of people recommended to get 2nd amp to power either the 2 or 3 front channels and take the load from Denon. I was looking at some classic amps like Emotiva, Musical Fidelity, NAD etc but then this XTZ and this specifically this video caught my eye and I got really interested. Anyway, I ordered one of these and it's coming tomorrow. I'm very excited and will let you know later what I think of this interesting amp. Thanks for great video and good tip.
Martin Bušek update?? :)
David W I'm very VERY HAPPY. It really made a huge difference and I couldn't belive it when I played first. Tune. I can recommend this amp to anyone. Honestly. Very very happy.
Ordered this amplifier to be paired with a valhalla tube pre-amp, can't wait to see what this amp does with my KEF LS50's
Should be good. Happy listening!
@@andrewrobinsonreviews I just received the amp, and what a difference it makes, I don't have my subwoofer attached anymore because of the super tight bass my KEF's suddenly deliver. My old amp was the denon AVR-1513 in direct mode 80 watts into 8 Ohm, 110 into 4 Ohms, but even with A - B testing the XTZ has way more tighter bass and clearer sound overall ! It's even visible with the amount of movement in the bass cone of the LS50. Thank you for this video, it totally changed my setup in a good way :)
@@meijboomm I've been searching for a few weeks to see if this exact setup would pair well so thanks for posting your experience, now I can finally pull the trigger on this amp!
Update on those 2 Crown 2502 amplifiers that I bought.
First of all, I sent one of them back. Two 2502s in bridged mono was way overkill.
Now for the one that I kept, I have the gain knobs set at noon, I am using balanced xlr in out of my Emotiva XDA differential reference dac/preamp.
There is a slight hiss in my tweeters but it is barely audible. I can't even detect it from my listening position which is about 2 meters away.
How does it sound?
Amazing.
It is extremely neutral but not cold or clinical. It's a rich, full-bodied neutral.
It has an immense amount of headroom on every speaker that I've thrown at it and because of this it has great control of my speakers from top-to-bottom.
The bass is tight and slams as it should, the mids/highs actually have a lot of finesse which was a pleasant surprise. It is not harsh or fatiguing in any way.
I am getting proper imaging and soundstage as well so no problems there either.
I have settled on using it with my Wharfedale Jade 7s. These speakers also have a very rich, natural, uncolored sound so they match very well. Overall this is a very balanced and engaging system. From the treble to the bass everything has impact and detail.
Every amp that I have owned before this has been either class A or AB. This amp has completely changed my perspective on class D and has gone to the very top of my "easy recommendations" list. I was a little concerned about the analog-digital-analog conversion in the Crown for the digital dsp and bandpass filters but my ears hear no negatives from that.
4.5/5 stars. I wish the tweeter hiss was a bit quieter but that is really a nonissue.
AWESOME update, so glad you're liking what you're hearing. Yes, running them in mono is overkill for 99% of users. The subtle hiss is THE ONLY issue I have when recommending the Crown amps to people, but if you turn the gain down a bit it's easily silenced, or minimized to the point where it becomes a non-issue. So glad you're enjoying the experiment!
@@andrewrobinsonreviews I, too, enjoy Crown 2502's because of your prior recommendation and my system sounds better than ever. Granted, they're driving a pair of SVS Ultra Towers, but I liked them more than other options I heard, so maybe I'm just crazy. I've said this before, but it bears repeating that if it wasn't for your unconventional perspectives, I would've never known that near-endgame amps existed at such low prices. Thanks for doing what you do, Andrew!
I just a bought a 1502 and I don't know why I waited so long. Another one is on my list 😄
@@MrWslindsay Even among the high-value XLS DriveCore 2 series, that is probably the best bang for the buck. If I'm being honest, I probably didn't need the 2502, but nitpicking and overdoing it is sometimes part of the hobby. Excellent choice, how are you liking it?
@@simontse1171it's my first "pro amp" so.. that being said I like the authority it takes with any speaker I throw at it. I have an old Adcom GFA 7000 that I use in a secondary system most recently. I think the the Adcom is a tiny bit weightier, in the low end (I could be wrong) but I'm not complaining. The Crown is just there waiting...as if saying what are you going to throw at me next.? It always packs a punch. I need to spend more time with it as far as critical listening is concerned. Haven't really gotten to know the amp entirely yet. I'll have to wait to see how it performs longevity wise as well but it should be fine under the likings of Harmon. But as a first time purchase I was impressed. I couldn't imagine the power that you're using although it may translate to increased dynamics. I'm already afraid of blowing something up. Set mine at 12 o' clock as well and left it lol. Happy listening
Thanks so much for this info. I didn't know about this manufacturer or the Crown, so you opened my eyes and ears to new options.
I've got nearfield monitors that use ICEpower modules and AMT-tweeters. They sound really fast, clear, detailed, and absoslutely neutral at all volumes. Hypex nCore based amplifiers are also very impressive.
The NC400 modules are out of this world and very affordable for the performance they provide.
To say you don't like Class D these days is basically saying you don't care about pristine, true-to-source music reproduction. Sure, they are not as warm, fuzzy and harmonically rich as tubes, so if that's to your taste or fits better with your music preferences or gear, you should stay away from the "cold", "digital" and "analytical" nature of Class D. If you want a beefy sound, go for Class A or A/B.,
I don’t think Class D amps are cold. Them not not be as rich per se or warm but they’re not that analytical either. Just truer to the source in many respects.
@@andrewrobinsonreviews Yes! That's exactly what I meant. There are tons of prejudices about Class D, and the current generation of amplifiers has done away with most of them. They are thouroughly enjoyable and audiophile in every way.
We are in 100% agreement! Cheers and have a great day!
@@andrewrobinsonreviews They're not harmonically dense period. Think synthesizer versus piano.
As an owner of 2 class A /B amps I found this video very informative. As I am currently in the market for a Class D amp. Thanks Andrew.
Thank you for watching!
Hey bud great review, I would love to see something like this but for pre-amps, so one could match one of these amps. Keep up the great work!
I just got the XTZ Edge and am looking for a matching preamp too. Now using the Blusound Node 2i as preamp, but like to get more out of both. Anyone tried some preamps?
@@larsv6144 Schiit Freya+ is what I’m using with mine. Couldn’t be happier at this point
@@Steveh817 I tried the Schiit Saga+ in the meanwhile and liked it a lot. However, I got the testing bug since I had to stay home more often due to Corona lockdown and travel restrictions. So I tried several speakers (XTZ 99.25 LCR, Quad S2, Triangle Borea BR03, Quad Z2) and ended up with the Quad Z2. To get a bit more out of those I got the Musical Fidelity M5si integrated amp (no dac) which sounds great. I sold the Saga+ but I still have the XTZ Edge. I like to get the Musical Paradise MP 701 MK2 pre amp for the XTZ Edge and experiment with tubes as well. But yes, I really liked the Saga+ with the XTZ and can only imagine that the Freya+ is a lot better (they say the Musical Paradise MP 701 is at that level or even a bit better). Happy listening and testing.
@@larsv6144 Initially was trying to keep costs in check but so far have spent more on different tubes to play with sound. What a rabbit hole this is. Being stuck at home in combination with watching way too many TH-cam videos has gotten expensive. It’s fun and I suspect it won’t end with this current gear setup. The wife looks at everything and checks how much I’ve spent so far. I would like to try out other gear because I don’t understand how much better things can get. I too have the Bluesound Node 2i as a streamer only. Enjoy the journey
Great review! I have used this amp for about 4 months now, driving my Tannoy Stirling GRs and it sounds great. As preamp I use a quite ordinary Marantz surround receiver (the HUB in my living room).
I use a receiver also all though it's a Pioneer Elite that also uses ICE modules. Did you notice a big increase in sound quality going from the internal amps in your receiver to Edge amp?
@@contemporaryhomeaudio Just to chime in. I own an Onkyo RZ 830 AVR ( well built amp) connected to my XTZ as a preamp and i noticed a significant upgrade in sound. Not that my Onkyo is bad. I did like the music from my Onkyo. But The XTZ just makes it sing way better. A real difference which I thought wasnt possible initially.
@@rsmeshramesh6914 that's good to hear, thanks
Just ordered one! Thanks for the review. Jumped on this amp now, since it's $100 off at $409. I'd been looking for months at amps to power my mains via my AVR's L/R preout. Both because I don't believe my speakers are getting adequately powered for music by the Yamaha Rx-a780 (I think I hear some clipping, bass drum hits sometimes fall flat) and also because I want to hook up Atmos height speakers.
Glad this model finally came up in my search - XTZ Sound seems to be pretty far under the radar. I'd looked at other amps under 5 bills, Emotiva Basx A2, which would have been good but it's MASSIVE, the 15.5" depth in particular while not a deal breaker was not ideal. Looked at Crown (ugly as sin, not fit for my living room plus they are reputed to be noisier/more distortion), Niles (not really audiophile, more like an outdoor or whole home sound solution), DIY kits (eh, not really seeing the value, and I'm lazy) and was going to stretch the budget for a Schiit Vidar until they went and raised the price by $100.
Eagerly anticipating the Edge A2-300's arrival. I've read up on A/B vs. D amps but I've not experienced the sound differences first hand, so it should be interesting. My AVR's internal amps are A/B, as far as I could determine. Cheers, thanks for all the great reviews.
Oh you're in for a treat. I'm not knocking your avr but external amps are a huge step up regardless of topology.
@@JC-lk3oy Knock away! :-) Finally got the A2-300 (UPS botched the first delivery) - it's a MASSIVE step up. I was pleased to find that I correctly diagnosed the shortcoming I was hearing in my system - not enough power! With more juice from this amp the bass extension is soooo much greater, more attack, music is just more powerful, projects out into the room much more, more feeling of the room being charged or pressurized with sound. And the sweet soundstage, bags of detail, silky smooth treble. Some people badmouth class D but I'm not seeing where this is valid - at all! Bags of clean, noise-free power, detailed, holographic, flawless sound in an amp that is much, MUCH more compact, efficient, cool running, and economical. Class D baby! - there's ZERO inherent downsides to this topology. At one point class D may have been inferior to class A/B but those days if they existed are clearly in the past.This amp straight up trounced my class A/B Yamaha AVR rated @ 95 wpc.
My gosh, you're really good at this!
I have a peachtree amp and preamp set up next to my decware torri and enjoy them both. You cant get much different then that. The decwares texture and believability are out of this world and the peachtrees muscle and convenience is very attractive! I can drive any speaker i want with the pechtree and never have to worry about running out of power.
Love Decware (former owner myself)
Excellent review. You're hitting all of the important points and with comparisons that make sense. When I got punched in the face with covid-19 in 2020, I had to sell my Bel Canto stack in order to get by. To date, nothing else made my Magneplanar 3.7is sound so good. Really made them get up and dance. Now I'm slowly getting back on my feet, and this amp looks like a good match for my Maggies. I'm thinking that I'd pair this with a preamp that leans slightly towards a bit of midrange bloom because, hey - that's what I like. I'm open to ideas from the reviewer and this forum.
Now this is what I'm talking about right here. Very interested in this one. And the Crown too. Basically any reasonably priced, decent sounding, and somewhat powerful Class D amp really. Still wondering why no one has made one with the TI TPA3255/3251/3250 series yet? Been hearing for a long time that Allo is making mono blocks out of one of them (3255 I think?). We'll see?
And I held off on the Emotiva's (Class D mono blocks). They looked great, and went on sale a while back. But after much research. I found quite a few people who were complaining about the high end. Saying it was harsh, and what not. Scared me off. Still wondering if that was a mistake, or smart? Either way. I totally agree that Class D sound is where it's at, if you're on a budget.
And if anyone who's reading this wants an idea of what that sound is like, but doesn't want to spend a few hundred. Check out the Allo Volt series of amps. I have the Volt+ Stepped Attenuator myself. Not built for the long haul, but I think most people will be very surprised at what they hear for about US$100.
Hi Andrew, I really appreciate your honest down to earth reviews. I just ordered the A2-300. I am on the brink of ordering the rest of the chain: a Bluesound Node streamer - Schiit Modi Multibit DAC - Schiit Vali 2+ tube preamp - A2 300 poweramp (just ordered) - Kef R3 speakers. The Schiits are to add a bit more 'natural sound' and as a decent headphone amp for my Hifiman Arya. What are your thoughts on this setup? Is there anything you would change without adding a lot more cost?
tube preamp def helped with my rp600ms with this amp and clean streamer+dac
I use the A2-300 together with my Marantz NR1711 and Pioneer Speakers S-71K. I enjoy this system very much, considering the costs for this system. Greetings from Germany
Hi, did anyone try it with a tube preamp an which one would you recommend? Thx…
bro, the unit arrived earlier today (delivery from Sweden only took 3 days from the time i made the purchase). I had been listening to it for about an hour now. it took my new system in the study room to another level! I have a pair of Bowers and Wilkins 606's, the matching center, the 8" sub, and Denon x4500h. I was still using the Crown xls 1002 until this morning. soon as the XTZ arrived, I sanitized it and immediately hooked it up. pop, jazz, classical all sound sweet and detailed with it.
thanks again for the recommendation. 👍
Good to hear
Excellent no BS review. Thanks!
Never heard of this amp until now. Very interested in this to power my Klipsch RP-8000fs. Great review.
It’s a great amp for sure!
Jordan.. how do you like your 8000s? I'm planning to upgrade my older Klipsch towers soon
@@dsonyay they're pretty fantastic for the price. I listen to just about all music genres and they play them all very well. Had them for about a year and have been only driving them with a Denon AVR. Looking to change that soon.
@@djJK17 i have Emotive gear and Rega Turntable.. they go well with Klispch
@@dsonyay
Luv my 8000 Klipsh complete rp Klipsh /Denon 4500/waiting for edge to pair to f8000s let Denon drive the 9.2
Edge arrived 3 days
Hi all, I always like Andrews reviews and I own an XTZ Edge. My experience with the amp is similar. I love the neutral, dynamic sound, the control in the bass, the auto power-on function and the compact size.
Another killer feature for me is the gain control. Since I often listen at low volumes I had severe problems with volume controls of integrated amps:some work uneven at low levels and small changes produce big leaps in the volume (esp. with remote control).
With the Edge I was able to adjust gain so that volume control on my pre-amp works exactly as I prefer it.
This is early Andrew
..he is so straight ahead and PBS docuseries about it. He is night and day now...bruh is alive and in the zone on his content now. Even his patented 'Robinson Pause' effect is not even in these vids. Having Kristi on had made a world of difference in the show now.
I can highly recommend combining the XTZ Edge A2-300 directly with a Bluesound Node 2i, which in such a configuration acts as a combined streamer/preamplifier. The sound quality with Tidal is simply amazing.
My Dynaudio Contour 3.0 floor speakers, accustomed to being 'serviced' by a highly acclaimed six-year-old high-end integrated amplifier around 10x the price of the Edge (no name mentioned..), simply play better than ever when powered directly from the Edge/Node 2i combo. It should of course not be that way!
Don't get me wrong. It sounds really good when the Node 2i is connected to the integrated amplifier. But the sound is in every way just far, far better with the Edge/Node 2i combo, which has surprised me a lot.
With the Edge/Node 2i it is no longer 'just' HiFi - but 'music' with depth, width, height and warmth on a level, that I have not heard before.
The set-up is by the way super-easy and you use the gain-adjustment (important feature) on the Edge to optimize the interface between the Node 2i and the Edge. There is by the way recently introduced a dedicated remote-controller (a bit expensive) to the Node 2i, which make it super-easy to navigate, adjust volume etc. without reaching for your mobile.
Hi,,is this combo really working? I was wondering about to combine exactly these two components.
It works brilliantly with my Dynaudio Contour 3.0 speakers with Tidal HiFi (MQA) as music-source. When you have made the gain adjustment on the XTZ (depending on speakers used and your prefered max. volumen), you can control the volume-setting through the BlueOS app running on your mobile or tablet etc. Very simple and straightforward.
The only 'problem' is, that you don't have the flexibility to add other sources (SACD/CD, Blu-Ray etc) like in a traditionel preamp.
But if you are looking after a high-quality 'integrated' compact streaming/amplification solution, I think you must pay a lot more money to get anything that betters this combo significantly. Better spend some more money on loudspeakers.
@@larskristiansen7735 Thank you for your reply,,wow,, You have some really nice speakers,,dynaudio are great, but unfortunately out of my reach financially. Maybe down the road in the future.
At the moment I have the Dali Oberon 7, mid-fi level but really nice sounding. To this moment I'm using a small integrated amp (50wpc) + node2i ,, I'm not saying that it's bad, but I feel that something is missing,,perhaps they want a little bit more power,,
I really like the blueOS functionality, was thinking to get a powernode 2i (because it is small, all-in-one system), but im not sure if it'd be any better than my current setup.
Basically, all my music listening is 100% streaming, tidal,,so I don't need to have the mentioned input options.
One more thing, do you know, that if I connect my xbox to the node2i (via optical), and use it as a DAC, would it be possible to change volume the same way as on streaming? Sorry, I'm pretty new to this))
Thanks once again for your help,, appreciate it,,
I am sorry, but I have no knowledge about xbox and the audio-possibilities with this gaming-platform. By the way - I disagree with you about calling your Dali Oberon 7, "mid-fi level". I have not heard the Oberon 7, but I have a friend, that owns a pair of the slightly smaller Oberon 5. They are absolutely great sounding speakers.@@frantisekfurstenceller9453
@@larskristiansen7735 Oberon 5 are a big surprise despite the size,,the 7 have just bigger scale,,I love them,,,I think that I need to contact bluesound support and ask them this specific question,, anyway,,thank you
Great review! Your adopted sign-off, which I fully encouraged since before you decided to tag it, is all that matters. Class A,B,C OR D becomes mute depending on the "mix" of the system you have. And only a Felix Unger or Adrian Mono would be overly concerned about fingerprints and a light show of dust. Moving right along, I'd like to conclude with......Mr. Real, not an imposter, Andrew Robinson! Thanks!
Thank you for watching!!!
I have an XLS1002 and love it. This XTZ having an auto on feature would be really nice for the home audio integration.
I leave, or left my Crown amps on 24/7 to get around the lack of an auto on switch or function. Now that the Edge is here and has this capability, it’s welcomed.
Andrew Robinson that’s what I do now. It sits on 24/7. Haven’t put my kill o watt on it but I can’t imagine it draws much sitting idle with all the lights and screen off
It doesn't.
Think that it might be nice amp but would like to hear it next to the Crown's.The XLS amps from Crown give not only more juice for the dollar but the high low pass make it great especially driving a rig where a sub will be inserted
I have both. I’ve talked about Crown amps extensively on this channel. Thank you for watching.
I have both too. the XTZ just arrived this morning and I am determined to return the Crown xls 1002. level of clarity and quality in sound both go up a notch with the XTZ. thanks to Andrew's recommendation.
Please consider doing a review of the Schiit Vidar - love your work!
Thanks for your review! I 've just bought the XTZ Edge and I very impresive with the detaliled sound. My current speakers are Chario Silverette 100 tower . I thinking to change them. How it will be match with the Klipch Heresy? And with the Magnepan LRS? Both are very differents but they seem very attacive...Thanks for your channel.
Did you try any of your considered combinations?
This amp has been around for 2 years already? I live in Germany and this amp isn't new at all? I've heard great things about this amp.
Nice review! I wonder though if having such a neutral amp is that much of a problem or something expected... isn’t it the preamplifier that should give the sound signature that we are looking for? Could we match a tube preamp if we want a warmer sound or would it fight the “acuity”of the amp?
Just ordered it for my JBl L150. Thanks for the review, i am looking forward to the device😁
How did it pair up?
@@JuanGarcia-kv7yv Marvelously, the Soundstage is so much wider, and the Bass now Packs a big Punch :)
Great video! Always like your input. Bought this amp and plan to use it with the Luxman L-110 as it's amp instead of the builtin amp. I like the gain knob. I am going to try it with the Nodi 2i streamer for a week as a integrated amp. Should be fun.
Hey
I have a pair wharfedale diamond 12.4 will xtz edge a2-300 be a good class d amp for these ?
I have seen your review of both and I thinking about to try the edge
Great detail, good work, thanks!
Hi Andrew,
Thanks for the reviews, I have a pair of vintage Pioneer's HPM-1100 speakers and I'm using a rebuilt vintage Phase Linear 400 AMP that is giving me some headaches and I think is time to let it go.
My first option was the Emotiva Bass ax2 as it is a class AB amp but measuring my custom made shelves on my living room it'll be too big for them so I was thinking about this XTZ A2-300 but I've never listened a class D amp before (at least not a "real" amp yet).
My biggest fear (apart of the amp sounding very much different to a class AB) is to hear that "hiss" when the amp is powered on but no music playing that I really hate. My Phase Linear (when it works) seems to be off when no music is playing and also I love the dynamic range on it.
Sadly I have to order them from the site and import them to my country so I don't have the option to hear it. Any advice?.
Thanks again for your reviews and sorry if I misspelled something (English is not my main language)
Cheers from Bolivia!
Very thoughtful and thorough. You have a very professional presentation.
I’d like to try this with my Emotiva PT100 preamp. It has a nice dac, decent analog resistor ladder volume control and most important for my ears tone controls. Oh and a remote.
It would likely pair very nicely with that preamp.
Andrew Robinson I love your channel. Thanks for your efforts. I let the commercials play all the way through, no skips 💰hopefully you make few bucks for your efforts!
I sincerely appreciate that, truly I do. Have a great day!
I have that preamp as well for the exact reasons you stated plus remote control over the balance, I'm a sound stage guy. And the A-150. However, also got the Elac Unifi UB5's which are power hungry and A-300 would have been a better choice. But for sure this would be a great choice for that preamp and I am considering this for my "post recession" upgrade...
Will consider this amp for sure. Good review.
Thank you for watching!
Idk, just got a Crown XLi1500 for $180 shipped. 900w for $189. The thing is a beast! It probably weighs 40 pounds! Can't wait to get it wired up so my 12" subs can breathe!
I dont think you talked about sound difference between this XTZ and crown XLS drivecore 2. Can you please elaborate the differences other than aesthetics?
I thought the same thing. I felt "Andrew" didn't really answer the question on the title of the video. He kinda just went around the question. Im intrested on which amp is better not which amp is easier to live with. Its all about the sound "Andrew". .
How does XTC sound on a XTZ? I need to know these things if I'm going to buy one
Thinking that this amp might be a good pairing for my JBL 4312SE 70th Anniversary edition, 90db 6 Ohms. Would use the Cambridge CXA80 with tone control as my preamp. Currently using the CXA80 as preamp with my Mcintosh MA252 but JBL could use more power. Will report back soon, thanks for the review.
Great review. Interesting compare might be a couple of more expensive ICE based amps like PS audio/Parasound to this, maybe with a couple of different pre amps put into play - (commented below on suggesting Jungson or Schiit) - Perhaps testing the scenario of buying a budget power amp to max out on a pre for the same budget as a top brand ICE based unit?
Schiit Freya might be an interesting single pre as switchable twixt tube/passive/SS
Also interesting compare (don't think this has been done...) is a budget ICE to hypex ncore based amp. (their kit, or maybe Nord)
Potentially some uncharted waters?
I've done extensive ICE to hypex comparisons while helping in the development of new amplifiers for Emotiva some years ago. My takeaway on that versus match is this, ICE is to hypex what Coke is to Pepsi. It's all going to come down to personal choice (as with anything, but maybe more so here). But maybe I'll do it again now that it has been a few years. Thanks for sharing!
Hi Andrew. I've watched this video along with Thomas Stereo,s review a few times now with great interest and wondered what a pair of XTZ'S acting like monoblocks would sound like coupled to a valve pre amp like say a Prima Luna Evo 400? What's your thoughts and do you think that it may introduce a slightly warmer top end sound, which I tend to like.
What amp do you think would be the best match to buchardt s300, xtz edge a2 300 or emotiva basx a300? Thankfull for your opinions? //B
For sound quality most likely yes, but not nowhere near when It comes to Power output
Great review. Any preamp recommendations to pair with this amp?
I have one two issues with this Power amplifier,(1) the power supply cable sometimes have issues as it does sit comfortably in the socket, (2)changing songs causes a noise in speakers, apart from that i appreciate the sound, needs a good preamp.
It is a pity that we do not have a review where we can see the charactersitics of the sine waves on the oscilloscope of the Crown DriveCore 2 Amps... I understand it is an 'upgrade' on your typical Class D, but it would be nice, and informative, to see some of that low level pr0n....
Just bought the NAD M27 poweramp. Man that is good! Class D 7ch 180w pr channel. I was amazed how small it was i size, and not hevier than the Nad C275 i reecently had.
Hi Andrew, thanks a lot for your reviews which I recently discovered.
I have a question...
I recently sent a post on a Martin Logan owner community, as I'm one. I asked how I could improve the sound of my gear, which already sound nice, but lacks a bit of bass and spacialization.
I own a pair of vintage ML Aerius I running on a Atoll IN100SE and a Bluesound Node1. I'm listening to Spotify and internet radio's, mainly for jazz and classical.
Several users answered I have to add a sub, but I don't like the idea and have no room for it.
Others answered that a good class D power amp would be the best match.
My only experience with D class amp is the small FX Audio running with my Kef iQ30's in my office which sounds great!
I was wondering which one between XTZ Edge A2-300 or Crown XLS1502 would suite's the best with my ML (or do you have another idea?).
I would begin using my Atoll as pre-amp, but could go later on with a tube pre-amp.
Thanks in advance for your advice.
Andrew just finished your review on this amp and I am intrigued. I was looking at the Sprout 100 also. What would be 2 or 3 recommendations for a preamp that would sound good or shall I say not color the sound with this unit?
I have a Crown xls 1002 already driving my Elac uni fi uf5. Was curious about the sound floor difference between these two amps. Can't stand it on the Crown. Is the XTZany better since you said the sound is the same. So $160 difference
Zero noise with XTZ.
Curiously pondering 2 of these or Emotiva xpa-3? That's 4 channels vs 3 and $200 difference.
XTZ sounds more detailed in my humble opinion.
Hi James, what preamp are you using for connecting to the Crown?
I have observed that a good preamp makes a huge difference when it comes to Crown XLS amp's audio sonics.
Hi Andrew! Great review! Keep going! Will You recommend this amp to drive the atc scm 7? Do You believe is a good match?
Took delivery of A2 300 Friday. I'm reading the very positive comments. My question is for any owners, did you find a long break in period? So far lots of power for sure. The overall sound to me is cooler, less detail than my the Linn amp I have. I was not prepared for this. I like a sound leaning to brighter, than warm , soft. I'm a professional musician, I've played Live music for 60 years. I'm not terribly disappointed, but hoping after a week or 2 it will open up more. #2. Has anyone tried different power cords and heard a difference? Thank you
I have had this since just before this review. I don't find it to be warm but maybe the slightest bit rolled off on the top end. I used it with Elac Uni-fi uf5's and then it sounded warm but that's the speakers. On Klipsch RP600M's it was detailed and borderline bright. On my open baffle Lii audio F15's this amp sounds pretty neutral but these speakers don't go over 15khz. I've tried changing the power cord on it but haven't noticed a change. It throws an fantastic, detailed, 3d soundstage, and that's what I love about it.
@@JC-lk3oy ain't this fun hahaha I switched back to my Linn LK 140 which I find is and has been a very musical amp. This is my opinion. If you ever speak to someone who owns Linn equipment they know what I am saying. There is something different and special about Linn gear. They have a magic to them. I do not want to driff off into outer space. I find both amps very CLOSE. I will switch back to the A2 300 either tonight or tomorrow and see what my impressions are after going back to the LInn which I have owned for 4 years. I know the sound in my brain very well. For 400.00 I think it's a keeper either way, it is VERY good. It's also more powerful. I am "hi-passing" at 80hz with a single Mundorf Cap. it's killer, and the amp only "sees" 8- hz and above.
@@Michiganman08 Yeah, this is a hobby that keeps on giving lol. I've heard people say great things about Linn amps. I will say try to leave the XTZ in for a couple weeks so your brain can adjust to it too. For me at least new equipment takes a while to get used to. For the price the XTZ is absolutely insane, but there are definitely better amps out there.
Which preAmp would u recommend to pair with the XTZ? My budget is below 1k for the preamp.
Another reviewer who really loved this amp paired it with a Schitt Freya +, but that is $900 on it’s own. If you’re looking to go low price, I’d check eBay for a Parasound preamp. You can get them for $200 - $500. Great sound for very little money. Just my opinion.
You should go with a integrated amp instead they give you more for the money
How do you have your gain set on this amp? I know on the Crown somewhere around about 3/4 of the way up (3 o'clock) worked pretty well but not really sure how to set the gain on this one.
Full on. I didn’t integrate it with the Crown, so I didn’t need to adjust the gain on the Edge to try and match the two.
@@andrewrobinsonreviews Not sure I understand. I'm going from the pre-amp out of a Rotel 1520 directly into the XTZ. When I did the same thing from the Rotel to the Crown, I set the Crown's gain on both channels to about 3 o'clock. The XTZ also has a gain knob on the back but I'm unsure how to set. I know you use a Marantz AV receiver as a preamp, what do you set the gain to on the XTZ?
Hi. I am using KEF Q750 with marantz SR6013. Will this XTZ edge a2-300 be good match?
Hi, I've a question for Andrew or anybody else willing to help me^^;
I have a pair of B&W DM6 in really good shape but I don't have an amp anymore... Any advice for choosing an amp to power up the old ladies? what king of power do I need to make them dance?
Thanks for your review. Class D is a new consideration for me. I own ribbon tweeter speakers and am wondering if this amp, paired with a Parasound Pre amp would work. I've read mixed opinions regarding Class D and ribbons on tweeters compatibility. Does anyone have experience or strong opinions regarding this combo? My other consideration is a Class A/B Iota set up which also has great reviews.
Thanks @@patrickalphenaar. I have been buying stuff on-line without the ability to hear it unless I go to stores selling mass market and on the other hand, stores selling hi end expensive gear. So I take your experience being able to audition it to heart. This Class D option is a new one to me! I was one who viewed it as cheap digital watts until viewing this and other vids on the subject.
Hi Andrew, Thanks for the review, I have a pair of vintage HPM-1100s with a Phase Linear 400 that is failing and as I really love the amp i'm planning to let it go, (tired of fixing it from time to time), Do you think this one is a good choice?.
People say I'm "downgrading" due the Phase Linear 400 is a Class A and I'm by far no expert on the matter but I fear not getting the same sound from my beloved HPM's
Thanks for the advice in advance!
I would encourage you to consider these bit.ly/39WvWDo or bit.ly/2PAhMOi if you are looking for a change. You'll find their reviews on the channel if you want more info.
I wonder how well XTZ Edge would pair with Wharfedale Lintons...
Does it make sense to add this amp to my Marantz SR5009 to upgrade the stereo sound and to power up the fronts when I watch movies (5.2 setup)? Front speakers are Q Acoustics 3050 towers. Would this be an upgrade?
I have no idea. You’d have to try it for yourself to be sure.
Had a SR5500 with an eAR302 Icepower amp powering a pair of Sonus Faber and after B&W CM1 and can recommend it! ;)
@@patrickalphenaar Like you, I Have an Onkyo too. An AVR RZ 830 connected to the XTZ as preamp. Certainly an upgrade. Not that the Onkyo is bad. I do like it. Just that the XTZ just adds a different dimension in terms of richer quality. Has your experience been similar? Your Onkyo is 4500 Euro? That must be pretty high end. Always liked Onkyo despite some reviews saying they are unreliable. On the contrary, I find them very reliable, doesnt get hot, and they add a lot of dynamism, good bass and smoothness to the music and works great for movies as well. Think Onkyo works great with XTZ as the added ICE power makes the Onkyo churn out even smoother, cleaner and richer tones. Bass is just so good. How is your experience?
Question for Andrew or anyone kind enough to answer. Will any integrated amp work as a preamp to the Edge or any other power amp? Or does the integrated amp have to have a specific type of out (pre-out?)?
Thanks!
You have to have a pre-out at a minimum if you want to connect the EDGE to an integrated amp or receiver.
If possible, please also review the XTZ 99 series floorstand and bookeshelf speakers. The EDGE will be better match with the 99 series.
Easy decision. Buy one for each channel/monoblocks. At $1000, that beats the Parasound 2350, the PS Audio,\ Stellar M7000, Wyred 4 Sound ST-750LE and the Legacy i.V7, all based on ICE modules.
That’s a big claim, you’ve heard them all?
No, but they use the same ICE chips. I have the 2350. 600 x 2.
Wow this amp is neat!! “Sounds better than it has the right to at the asking price”
Nice review! as a class D enthousiast, do you have an opinion about Hypex Class D amps/modules? They are also found in many branded products, just as ICE-power modules.
Love the review, I’m a now a new fan of your thoughtful comments. Even with your preference of class D amplification, I’d love to know your opinion / comparison of this amp to a class AB Monolith 2X. I searched you videos and don’t believe you’ve reviewed one, but if I am mistaken please point me in the right direction so I can view the video. Thanks
Glad you’re here. Haven’t reviewed the Monolith yet, but will look it up and see if it’s a good fit.
Another affordable class D amp is the Behringer A800, 400-watt per channel at 4-ohm device. How does it compare to XTZ and Crown drivecore amps?
Bought the A8001 month ago in Europe for 169 euros. OMG. I have a XLS1502 and ncore 250mp, and the Behringer is as good, but at what a price! Surprisingly price in Europe is almost half of U.S. price, which I never saw before.
So I bought 2 more for 151 euro each and free shipping. Very happy.
A, would high gain be the best setting for best performance using a preamp? Best, D.
Hi Andrew, first of all congratulations for your great content and chanel. I would like to ask for your advice on this. I have a Denon dra-800h, 100watts stereo reciever. Would you say I would benefit from adding the xtz to my system? I'm not looking for more output. I'm aware that 150 watts would only add 1.8 dB to the audio output, almost nothing. Thanks before hand.
Hi Andrew, I have, for several years, a ROTEL A11 integrated Amp with B&W 603 S2 speakers. I love the sound it gives, but I'd like to get more drive at low to mid volume. What do you recomend? [considering I live in Portugal] Thanks, J
I'd recommend the Buchardt amplifier that is coming soon with its ability to compensate for low listening levels.
Thanks for the great review. Do you think a passive-preamp (something like the shiit SYS or Tisbury passive) would work well with this amp ?
I have a SYS with my edge amp. It's great for desktop listening since I can switch from the PC audio to anything I want to plug in. I don't think it changes the sound much at all for my usage. But if you're listening to lossless flac all the time it might be different. I mostly stream at 320kbps max.
i have a crown xls drivecore amp on my klipsch speakers would the emotiva a300 or this amp xtz sound edge have alot less floor noise and if so am i sacrificing power for less floor noise at this price point?
These amps do have a lower noise floor on Klipsch speakers, yes. Are you sacrificing power? I don't know, I guess it depends on which XLS amp you have. You can always turn the gain down on the XLS amps until you don't hear hiss. Trust me, your Klipsch speakers don't need all the power your Crown amps can dish out so you're still going to be fine.
Andrew, would you recommend this amp to pair with a Marantz 7013? This AVR powers 9 channels, but processes 11. I am considering this to power my mains (front L/R), and allowing the 7013 to process the other 9 channels.
I have Denon 4500H which is basically same amp and together with XTZ edge powering B&W 603s and it sounds amazing.
@@mrmartinbusek Nice. And I'm guessing the 603s are your mains, so you're running the XTZ in the same manner I was suggesting?
@@visualvaccine7866 Exactly.
XTZ EDGE A2-300 is on sale for $409.....and the Emotiva BasX A2 can be had for $404 currently. Which unit is a better value right now?
I took a hard look at both, just ordered the A2-300. They're fairly equal in a value - both excellent values. For me honestly it came down to physical size. The XTZ will fit perfectly into my home theater space whereas I'd have to work to shoehorn the much larger Emotiva in - the 15.5" depth in particular was problematic. Otherwise, the XTZ is class D, the Emotiva is A/B but aside from that they are very similar in power and price and both were rated positively by Andrew and others. Fingers crossed that the A2-300 works well in my setup
@@ld8094 So how do you like the XTZ?
@@cglarsen26 Grrrr...I don't know! UPS marked it delivered last Monday...it was not. I've opened a claim with UPS. Awaiting the results. XTZ customer service has been pretty cool, they responded to my emails, promised to send another one out if UPS can't find this one. It's frustrating. I don't seem to have much luck with UPS. The RCA preout cables and biwire jumpers I need to hook up this amp are still sitting next to my AVR where I excitedly put them in anticipation, sadly gathering dust :-( If/when a A2-300 arrives at my door, I'll endeavor to report back. My AVR is rated @ 95 wpc and I biamped the speakers too, but I still feel like there's not enough juice. Bass drum hits fall flat, etc. Hoping that theory is correct and this is the amp that can provide more juice and bolster the sound quality. Hope to find out soon!
@@cglarsen26 I love mine. I've had it for a couple years now and it's the only piece left from my old system. The soundstage with this thing can be incredible with the right speakers.
Great stuff !
Hi Andrew - Please help me decide which trigger to pull. Crown XLS 2502 or XTC Edge A2-300 to power a pair of JBL Pro 4425 studio monitors (Compression horn and 12 inch driver, 91 Db sensitivity), I'm using a Pioneer receiver and a Carver amp, but the amp is on the way out and needs to be updated. So, the age old question, Crown or XTC Edge? Thanks!
@MAD GRUMPYMAN I ended up purchasing the Crown XLS 2502. All I can say is WOW! Completely transformed my listening experience. I had thought that any sonic quality deficiencies that I had been experiencing with the old Carver were simply due to my slightly damaged hearing (old dude) and questionable acoustics in my room.
However, the Crown made the 4425s come alive. When listening to my fave atmospheric, lush, album, Oceanic by Vangelis, I'm presented with a wall of sound. There is no discernible right, left, or middle, it's just a wall of rich beautiful sound.
The other major difference is dialogue in movies/TV has become crystal clear, never muddied.
So, I'm a happy guy. :)
@@christophercaleIm planning to purchase XLS 1502, do you think 2502 would be a difference? I am looking for sound quality + home theather. Front speakers Klipsch 8000f. And now I have to consider XTZ also :D
@@miroslav1845 I don't have any experience with the 1502, so I can't say. Based on the specs on Crowns website, it appears that the only difference is the power output. The 2502 has WAY more power than I care to feed to my speakers, so you may do very well with the 1502. Keep in mind, I'm running just a simple 2-way stereo system, no surround.
I do know, that after owning the 2502 for over 8 months now, I have zero regrets with my decision to purchase it. Every time that I crank up my favorite music, I pretty much am IMMERSED in a wall of sound. This amp is proof that you don't have to spend a bazillion dollars to have truly awesome sound.
You may not have the same results as I have had since no 2 systems or rooms are the same, but this has been my experience.
Hi Andrew, amzing review (as always btw)
I am doubting between this xtz and the emotiva basx a3.The latter would cost me +-100 more..
using a marantz sr6012.
speakers are kef q750(chosen with the help of your review😉)and q650c.
could you help me picking one?
Not sure if u have made the purchase. I have same setup kef q750 + xtz edge + marantz 6013. Kef is neutral and on top of it marantz + xtz smoothes the high frequency too much. Kefq750 works better with class ab amps.
Have you tried the amp with your magnepans? I wonder if it’d have enough juice for them
Never tried them with Maggies, but doubt it would be a good match.
@@andrewrobinsonreviews I know u said you're into d class amps. Are there any D class amp that you'd say would be good with them - without spending way too much?
Very nice, honest, informative video. Two questions. Do you blind test and where are the JBL's?
It's basically impossible for me to do a truly "blind" test of anything given that it's only me doing any of the testing and I have to setup said equipment and swap it, so I'm always aware of what is playing. But I do have a system in place to A/B compare things at either the touch of a button or with minimal delay and I ALWAYS level match and source match everything when I do this beforehand.
As for the JBLs, they're in a different room of the house which is part of a new series and special project I've never shared with you guys but will soon.
@@andrewrobinsonreviews Thanks Andrew for your consideration and integrity.
@@andrewrobinsonreviews ..that is good to know that you level/source match when comparing. Thumbs up !
Hi Andrew. Thank you for the excellent review of the XTZ. I recently got myself one and couldnt be more pleased. What you have captured in your review perfectly describes the sound signature of the amp; highly neutral, pristine clarity and openness, good neutral/balanced soundstage and tight focussed bass reproduction. All these at a great price point! Its a great amp indeed.
Hope you can give me some advise though. I own Klipsch 6000f speakers which are easy to drive at about 92db. I own an Onkyo RZ830 AVR. Now being really impressed with the XTZ in stereo mode, I am intending to get another and use them as monoblocks to drive each individual speaker. Now would this significantly enhance my sound quality as compared to having the XTZ powering my speakers in stereo mode? Or cause my Klipsch speakers are easy to drive, the XTZ driven as monoblocks may not make much of a difference to what I have now. Really appreciate your thoughts.
I tried monoblocks with my Rp600m's but not a noticeable improvement over a single amp
@@usadave Thanks for sharing David. Guess its not effective to use two of these then.
Did not quite answer the sound difference between the Crown and xtz
Fantastic, now you are really near of compleeting reviewing every amp i am looking at for using in my setup. Please, please, please try to get an IMG Stageling ST-1000D (2 channel) or ST-2000D (4 channel) amp which uses Pascal S-PRO 2 amps for an amazing pricepoint (between 350 and 650 €).
Never heard of those, but glad I’m reviewing amps you’re interested in!
Andrew Robinson they are professional audio equipment for the stage. The Pascal S-Pro2 amps in the cases are realy state of the art for class d amps with exceptional specs, nearly fantastic for their pricepoint. The were used in many hifi amps and the multichannel amps of storm audio as i know.
Andrew , how long does it take them to ship?, I ordered and paid for mine 10 days ago and still no news as to ship date. Thanks for any info you may provide.
This unit will not be going back!
@@heliergaston So, what's your take on it?
@@nox1cous654 I am using the unit to power the front channels in my home theater but i doisten to music much of the time in stereo only. Sound is very neutral out of my NHT c3. I do perceive an improvement, slight but definitive.
I'm looking to drive a pair of Tannoy Revolution Signature dc6 towers with this. Would say say this amp would maintain the neutrality and clarity tannoys are reputable for? I'm just getting into separates so I feel like this would be a great starting amp to run in stereo and if I like it, then grab another and run each in Mono. Would this be a good amp to start or would you recommend something else give or take a couple hundred dollars?
Crown XLS 1502 or 2502 would make those sing. And when you bridge them, the power levels are bonkers.
Thank you for the great video. How is this compared to SVS sound base or is this a wrong question? I am looking for a minimal setup for either SVS ultra or Wharfdale 85 Dentons.
I think the EDGE amps sound better than the one found inside the Soundbase. The EDGE amps are just amps whereas the Soundbase is a complete music system. So if you want to go with the EDGE you would need a preamp and source component as well.
@@andrewrobinsonreviews Ok Thank you.
@@andrewrobinsonreviews Hi Andrew, let me know your thought on this. I have SVS prime bookshelves, center and satellites connected to Yamaha RX-V677 AV receiver. I was not able to find the class of that amplifier in the specs. Would it help the sound if I connect a 2 channel D class amp with just the front two speakers?
@@DarkKnight-yc8nw yes
Hi, How would this behave with my Perfect wave Transport and Dac that I have just purchased . Thanks Dave.
Question - what preamps ate a best fit for this amp? Thanks.
Excellent question....wondered the same myself. I don't believe Andrew mentioned a single pre-amp or integrated used as a pre-amp.