Emotiva is the Audiophiles Dirty Litte Secret. Best "Bang for Buck" manufacturer on the planet. They also denounce Snake Oil as actively as they produce quality gear.
@P T It’s not bad, it’s just not preferred in your system. I can verify that all the BasX class AB amps are VERY good for music. 👍🏼👍🏼They EASILY touch the tail of Hifi.
@P T again… I will recap. Better to you. This entire thing is subjective. Your reference is some one else’s gear they have stacked int their closet. The BasX line is neutral, analytic, and has minimal coloration. Some do not like that. But they’re still dynamic and detailed and overall for the money, hard to beat generally speaking.
I added the basx a2 amp to my midlevel Yamaha AVR on my mains for a ton of headroom and to free up 2 internal channels of amplification, my mains are klipch towers with a 100db sensitivity and it is absolutely silent at idle and incredibly dynamic and smooth, great deal for under $500
I gotta say, Emotiva amps run cool temperatures even when stacked on top of each other. I called Emotiva and asked about the stacking limit, they said a 3 amp stack is the limit, no fans needed!
Great review Steve, I would encourage you to test out the Emotiva HC-1 Mono blocks 300W, they are really worth a listen!! Transformed the sound coming out of my speakers
Lovely and accurate presentation as always dear Steve. More and more people are in the market for good quality and superlative value integrated solid state amps primarily due to the fact that the majority of us live in smaller places than we used to ten years ago just to make ends meet and are not able to splash cash in a pre power amp. Also it's much wiser from a financial and value for money perspective to invest your hard earned cash to a decent integrated. I guess this is what marketing and engineering teams in all big hifi brand manufacturers should have in mind for their next big product. An integrated amp with some of the features that were once pretty basic when I was a student shopping for hifi. (mm/mc input, headphone output and maybe a radio receiver) at a price point of 1 to 2k which is affordable to all of us who are hif aficionados with a decent monthly income but with a lot of bills to pay. Rotel has already followed that path. I have been eagerly awaiting Nad to follow the same path but on a Class AB not D as they do have the experience in knowledge from many years ago to design and produce excellent sounding integrateds but I suppose that the board of directors alongside with their engineering team thought that Class D is more efficient...I absolutely agree with two of the things you mentioned on the video ..Class AB is much warmer than the computer sounding class D and also most importantly that Ohm speakers are fantastic. I heard a pair once and was literally blown but unfortunately it is extremely difficult to get them where I live now (U.A.E.)
I just set up my first hi fi system this week. I built a set of CSS Torri diy speakers and paired them with the Emotiva Ta 1. All I can say is wow! I know my set up is junk compared to systems on this channel, but I’m just an average guy. My mind is blown. I can’t believe what these little speakers are doing.
I would agree, my TA100 when used with it's internal DAC and Phono is pretty average. When using a quality source it is very competitive against amps many times its price point. Love my TA100 and A300 amp, it's truly audiophile and even after having many high end amps on loan I'm still happy with the Emotiva and haven't bothered upgrading
This was fascinating and very helpful for me. I have that very REL subwoofer at home right now and am messing around with my LRS. Very useful information that I can use. Those Ohms are lovely too. I have an old pair of Walsh 4 that I enjoy very much. What a tremendous value for those just starting out, or for someone who doesn't want to break the bank and "get in the game"
Hey Steve - have you had any time to try the new Emotiva B2+ speakers? Curious about your thoughts on the speakers and/or pairing with the TA1 or TA2 amps.
I'm paying close attention to your advice and learning so much. I'm 69 and before I die, I want a great listening system. I sure hope that whatever I buy sounds great with Melanie s voice. I have almost every recording she made and then some. Her masterpiece is an album titled "Stoneground words ". I am excited to hear it on a great system. I can't wait! I may be asking you a few questions as I get into this build, I hope that will be OK with you? Thanks Steve, you're the best!
Hi, Congrats for the review. I have a pair of Mirage M3Si Speakers. They are very large and power demanding (86db) speakers. I do not like very loud listening, more on the loud moderate listening. Do you think this Emotiva PT2 should be a good match with these speakers and deliver good sound with them?
I bought an all-in-one streaming amp a few years ago, but I gradually offboarded the phono, streamer, and DAC to separates, and each time there was an easily noticeable improvement. I like the idea of all-in-one boxes, but I don't think I could give up the control separates affords now. Just something your thoughts about the Liberty vs. on-board DAC put me in mind of.
@@jayman3575 Actually, that reminds me. I have a separate power amp also. I still use the integrated as a preamp. It has a decent remote, lots of inputs, a sizeable LED screen with volume display, and a bluetooth receiver that I use to stream audiobooks and podcasts from my phone. Still, I wouldn't be surprised if the Schiit Saga sounded better for just a few hundred bucks. Maybe I'll try it out someday.
As a former Maggie 1.7i owner and having auditioned the LRS and the LRS+, I can say from experience that Maggies, at least from the 1.7i and lower NEED A subwoofer. There is denial about base amongst Maggie owners. But it is a case of trying them with subs. Once you do, it will revolutionize the sound. You will absolutely not go back. Maggies can’t go low. There is no sub-bass, no bass slam or air movement. As for the Emotiva receiver 200 watts is not a lot of power for Maggies, and they need power to thrive. But this is possibly a good entry level receiver. But for me, the audible fans are a deal breaker. If you listen to music with space between the notes, hearing fans is not acceptable. I had a PS Audio P12. I sold it. In the process I happened to look at the bottom. To my surprise I saw two fans! No wonder I was hearing fan noise in my listening room. So glad I sold the P12. I should have never have bought it. On to the Ohm micro walsh. So looking forward to that review. I may be of similar vintage as you Steve and have fond memories of visiting Tech Hifi and listening to Ohm A speakers with the full size inverted Walsh drivers. My Dad ended up getting a pair of Ohm B speakers. Those were full size box speakers that sounded great. Thanks for all you do!
As a longtime Maggie owner I agree. I have two subwoofers in my system and it absolutely makes the biggest difference. I’m on my fourth pair of Maggie’s and I can tell you A sub is absolutely necessary.
FINALLY, Emotiva has DONE IT! I used to have the USP 1 Preamp and LOVED it! Now when I get this new one, I can finally stop kicking myself for selling my SUP 1. Thanks Emo!
I have the TA 1 and the Klipsch RP600 Mark 1's. very good, detailed (but not overly) all good, no complaints. But In my large-ish room, they really want a sub. Deciding on that now. The TA2 has better bass management than the TA1 and I'm working out the best way to integrate the sub.
I'm going to call it a receiver, because it is. Integrated amps are now very often called "power amps". Who knows WTF people are talking about these days when they call things whatever they think sounds the coolest.
Looking forward to the Ohm micro review! Btw, do you (or any of your viewers) know of any decent A/D converters separate or built into a phono preamp? I can only find cheap things on Amazon, nothing I would want in my system. I would like to use one to upload my LP's for backup and to have the option of listening to recordings of my lp's from a USB drive.
Look on the pro audio/studio side, specifically the MOTU M2. It’s a screaming deal at $200 at Sweetwater (and other places). You will still need a phono preamp of course, and some vinyl-focused software. I’ve got a thousand-dollar microphone plugged into mine right now. It’s a brilliant A/D/A.
I think neonomad's recommendation is the way to go. Walk into any music store and tell them you need an audio interface. These are very big sellers, so any place you go should have a good selection. Also, they all come with software, so you may want to look at that before you buy.
If you still have it..do you mind measuring the loudness of the fans in terms dB when you mentioned their noise can become audible? Also thoughts on using this as a preamp vs maybe some of the paramount products?
I’m so glad that I bought one of these when they first came out and got one for $550. I definitely like it for the price. Very solid and just feels like good quality. Emotiva impresses me. And I just live a few minutes from their office. 👍🏻
I have this arriving Thursday and appreciate having watched this first. Thanks. Do you think I can find a better phono preamp for $300 or is the one in the TA2 that good? I wonder if it's better than the preamp in my Technics SL 1500C turntable? I can't seem to find these internal preamps reviewed in comparison to a decent stand alone one.
The adjustable crossover is a big deal. I own the TA-1. The bass management was the deciding factor when I pulled the trigger on it. Unfortunately, Emotiva really shot themselves in both feet with their implementation. The TA-1 is locked at 90hz, which is too high. Also, if you switch the internal amp to high-pass, you have NO full range pre-out. This would be useful for using two subs in stereo to bypass some of the imaging issues with the high crossover point. Because the TA-1 is a bit under powered, switching the main speakers to high pass had a big benefit for me. I have JBL Studio 580's which are reasonably efficient, but not high sensitivity. The JBLs to scale very well with electronics. I also have a pair of cheap, Dayton Audio 12" subs and I stack my towers on top of the subs becuase of space constraints, but also, I like the sensation big sound from the speakers above the listening position. I upgraded to the TA-1 from an SMSL AD18. It was definitely a step up, but not huge. I later added a Schiit Vidar and now just run the speakers in full range. Adding the Vidar was a bigger step up than the TA-1 over the AD18! I started out using the Vidar in high-pass and the subs in stereo. (This is possible because there are hardwired high-pass pre-outs, allowing you to leave the optional pre-outs on full range for stereo subs.) With the Daytons, I didn't have any imaging problems.. But I realized later, that's because the Daytons crapped out above 80hz, in my room. I auditioned a pair of SVS SB3000s. Running those in stereo with the speakers on high pass out of the Vidar was pretty magnificent. They went to 90hz and above with no problem, all the way down to 17-18hz with authority! However, even though running the subs in stereo solved the left to right imaging problems, I couldn't stop noticing the vertical separation between the speakers and subs. 90hz is just too high. Long story short, if the TA-1 had an 80hz or lower, or adjustable crossover like the TA-2, I probably would have kept those subs and been happy. More importantly, I would be done spending money on my speaker system. But no. I went and returned all the subs and ordered some huge, full range speakers instead. Next I'll be spending more money on even better electronics, as a result. As for the TA-2, it looks like a pretty promising all in one box, if that's what you want. I would have strongly suggested skipping the TA-1 because the internal amp is too weak. I would recommend getting the PT-1 instead and pairing it with a more powerful external amp like the A2 or Schiit Vidar. the TA-2 looks to solve this problem. However, if the only difference is more power and an adjustable high-pass.. $900 is a harder sell. The DAC is good, but not great. There's no XLR anything. At this price, you are competing with pretty high end AVR receivers or considering some discrete components. Similar to Steve's experience, if I take my TA-1 out of the system and drive my Vidar with my high end kit from my headphone system, it blows the TA-1 out of the water. Unless they upgraded the over all quality of all the components in addition to adding power, I think $900 is just too much for what it is. At $600 to $650, it would be a no-brainer and still a solid deal at $700. I'm basing this opinion off my experience with TA-1, so grain of salt.
Familiar with any other budget preamps that have similar crossover options and HT passthrough like the PT2? Im only familiar with the parasound p6 that does offer XLR connectivity but also more expensive....
Love the look and probably the sound of today’s viewers system. Much cleaner look then the system that you showed yesterday. I believe yesterdays system was an architects system it looks sort of overdone too filled with ‘this and that’ No matter what it sounded like but this picture looks really cool and well thought out visually and visual counts as well especially to the wife.
The fans are horrific. I'll probably return. If Steve didn't find them intolerable, he should probably get his hearing checked. I'm 10' away and I can hear them over the music.
As much as I love my Maggies, the Ohm Walsh speakers were the precursor to the MBL Extreme technology which are my absolute favorite speakers that I have heard in over 60 years of being a critical listener and music lover.
Hello, thank you for your review. It has a main in option behind. Is it to be supposed working with an home Cinema amplifier at the same time ( sometimes called bypass). Can it selected from the remote control‽ How can this emotiva be compared to the Rotel 1592 moi‽ Thx
I've got an Emotiva BasX 400z that I use to push 2-2 ohm 84 db JL subs and it stays very cool. I doubt the fan has come on even once and if it has I certainly haven't heard it. Glad to hear that they sound decent full range as I've only used it for the subs.
Yeah I'm surprised he didn't mention the outlaw considering how much he has talked it up on his videos. When he said he couldn't think of a 900 dollar Amp with this much power I thought immediately about the outlaw. He did say on one of his videos that he was going to have a review of the new version soon but that was awhile ago. I think it may be better than the emotiva since it doesn't have fans.
Another great review! Does the LRS+ sound right with other amps? Or is the LRS+ just bass shy? Or is this Emotiva amp a little bass thin? I am just a bit confused. I need a new amp, just want to be sure as I can be. Thanks for your help!
Yeah, it's confusing. The LRS+ is bass shy, with most affordable amps. Sounds way better with the $5K Pass Labs XA25 amp. Which is why I recommend using the LRS+ with a sub with the Emotiva and most affordable amps. .
@@SteveGuttenbergAudiophiliac The 25-watt XA25 is a little out of my comfort zone. I had not planned on getting the LRS+ anyway. It seems you were really impressed with the sound of the TA-2 with the Ohm and Klipsch, and you did say: "its neutral and it just sounds right". So, I took the plunge and ordered the TA-2 last night.
After watching this video I knew I wanted Ohm Speakers so I started researching them and I talked to Jake at Ohm. Then I ran into Larsen Speakers which are similar in design and some people think they are superior. Steve, have you heard these? What do you think? Keep up the great work and thanks!
I went with the ohm speakers as with the larsons there is no trial. I also read on some forums that people who have had both like the ohms better. In the end I think nothing speaks more to confidence in a product than me a 120-day trial.
Hi Steve.. Been seriously looking at the BasX TA1 w/ a pair of Emotiva B2+ speakers... What do you think? I like the price tag, and from what I gather, would be a sweet little rig.. perhaps a sub a bit later.
Brilliant review! Thank you. I wanted to know more about that flexible bass mangement, is it worth it? It seems such a cleaver facility, I believe it relieves the main speakers from working hard to push their woofers so low and hence they would performs better in the rest of the spectrum. I am surprised other companies do not have it.
I just bought a PT1 pre-amp and A2 power amp to feed my BOSE 901s. My Marantz 2252B while potent in its own right with that silky smooth vintage Marantz sound, the 901s needed more power. I was OTD for $968 after a military discount. Can't wait to pair up OLD to NEW and hear the results. My 901s in my media room are really BOTTOM heavy. I have to back off any bass settings from FLAT to reduce the heavy bass. FTR I'm not into Hip Hop or the uber bass lines found in current music. It's probably a result of how the 901s couple with the room. So the Emotiva A2 may be the perfect marriage. I do wish they were made in the US.
FYI, the klipsch RP600 mkii speakers are not high sensitivity. Klipsch states the efficiency, in room, not anechoic. When independently tested, anechoicly, it is really approx. 85 db efficient. Klipsch "warps" the truth when it comes to efficiency.
Steve, love your non pretense reviews. I own this amp with a Thorens MM and JBL L100 speaker set up. In you opinion, what set up do you think works best? I listen to LPs 70% and 30% off Tidal Bluetooth. Love your channel!
Bro, you *HAVE* to see this! It is THE damn funniest thing ever! The 'Steve Guttenberg' reference is beautiful! The TH-cam video is called, 'MOFI: the Downfall of Mobile Fidelity - Hitler Reacts' Trust me, this is frigg'n HILARIOUS! 😂
The flexibility in the crossover is the main reason I'm looking at this product. I love my outlaw rr2160 but the crossover is sellectable (60,80,100hz). Nice but I'd love to cross lower. This amp is variable down to 40hz. Killer.
Mój TA2 z PYLON DIAMOND 30 to brzmienie przyjemne neutralne w mojej opinii. Polecam umówić się na odsłuch i docenić na żywo. W tym zakresie cenowym jak najbardziej OK.
Have they worked out the problem where distortion is very high until the amp warms up? I had a BASX-A100 that had that problem and sent it back. The replacement was better, but the experience left me squirrely. Audio Science Review commented on the same issue in their review of the A100.
Hello,....how would you compare this to atoll in50 amp sonic vise?. I am aware of wattage difference I am thinking between in80, and this emotiva. Does emotiva create soundstage depth if paired with for example klipsch and soe good dac, if the recording is done with depth?
I took delivery of my TA2 a little over a week ago, and am seriously considering returning it. Pros: High power and 4ohm rated - it easily drives my Thiel 2.2's. Cons: Those #^$&*! fans. It honestly sounds like I'm in the middle of a bayou swamp on a full moon on a summer night when they kick on. Especially for music that's not death metal, it's intolerable. All the way across the room (I'm 65 BTW)! Why they chose 2 tiny PC fans instead of a large low-RPM fan is beyond me (physics guys). It's a high RPM squeal/chirp. They're "smart" so they spin faster depending on heat, but as soon as I start to push it just a little bit, they kick on. Just a cheap shortcut and I'd like to talk to whoever greenlit _that_ layout. I'll just get a fanless, lower power Denon made in Japan.
Steve, Forgive my ignorance... I'm new to the Audiophile hobby. Regarding base management... are you saying that if I use a powered Subwoofer that ... it frees up the power that would have been used in a non-Subwoffer system to power those low frequencys now... is saved and available for use at frequencys above the Subwoofer cross-over frequencys? ie more power for my mid & high frequency music. Cheers, Eric
Thank you Steve for the review. That analog bass management feature is appreciated, but I am puzzled as to how one would send only the highs via the amp’s speaker outputs, to say, a small bookshelf speaker. The High Pass section on the rear seems to affect only the line-level Pre-outs. The Emotiva site does not have any info on the TA2 yet. Thanks again!
My Parasound has a similar feature, and it sends the High Pass signal to the RCA outs, the speaker output and I believe the Balanced outputs as well. So all the outs run through the filter.
Would it be a match for the Rotel A14 mkII, it is perhaps a bit weaker on the power section on paper, but the DAC and phono pre seem to be first class and yes it is a bit more expensive. So the Emotiva seems to have the most bang for the buck if you don't use the DAC because your Streamer or your CD-Player have a very good one.
Why "guess"? Blind listening is a low-resolution exercise. No responsible reviewer uses it. See Atkinson's testimony circa 1979-81. He got an amp that "measured well" - as a result he "stopped listening to music". He recounted this at 2018RMAF and has written about it. th-cam.com/video/NdjO9ZIx8ag/w-d-xo.html
I went the separates route over the summer with a pt1 and ta2 for a similar price and a little higher power output (250w x2 into 4). The TA2 looks great for folks with limited space. I always felt I could easily recommend the TA1, especially since you can easily add a bigger amp in the future as your setup changes.
I wonder if there will be a PT2 coming out-seems to make sense. That would pair nicely with something like the A2 for a separates setup too, especial if someone is needing a few more inputs and extra bass management flexibly. I'm building a system for a friend right now around the TA1 + Airmotiv T-ZERO+ towers (and a sub). This will be my first experience with anything Emotiva. I think it's going to be a great base system for just barely over a grand usd.
You did the right thing. I have a TA-1 and the internal amp is too weak. I added a Schiit Vidar and it was a bigger upgrade than the TA-1 itself. My speakers aren't even power hogs, either.
I’ve had the TA1 and first generation RP600Ms with GR-Research upgrade for a while now and I really love it. For the money invested, it’s a fantastic little system. Especially when you’re like me and you prefer simplicity over separates.
@@JR-ho5qm I’m just now getting to the point where all the components in the network have settled, so to speak, but so far so good. I’ll be doing an “official” sound test tonight or this weekend. My experience so far… The mid range is so much more pronounced, and clearer. Before I felt the vocals could feel a bit restricted in the sound stage, now they pop right out at you and sound like they are literally on the front of the strange where a singer typical stands. The different parts of a song sound more separated and crisper. The two biggest things I like about the upgrade is the fact that it smooths out the top end really nicely and surprisingly extends the low end quite a bit. The speaker is super bright to begin with because of a weird peak in the high end, but this mod completely solves that, making the speaker sound enjoyable for a lot longer of a time. Huge improvement with sibilance. And that low end extension… That was a pleasant surprise! I didn’t expect that, but it’s significant. I really don’t need to turn on my sub anymore, though I still choose to. And the low end is also a lot more accurate. The hit of a kick drum is much faster, whereas before sounded a bit muddy. Overall, it’s worth the money for the upgrade… if you got a deal on the speakers. So getting a set of first gens at the price they are selling right now… totally worth it. I bought them on sale a while ago and so my total investment is less than a set new second gens.
@@gavinm717gkm right on! Good to hear! The clarity you gained in just having higher quality crossover parts likely would have been worth it, then add in The network change it’s probably a much much better speaker. Did you add the No Rez? Danny helped me with my CerwinVega speakers and am extremely happy with the results.
@@JR-ho5qm yeah I did the full upgrade, so ro-rez, crossover, and tube connectors. What CVs do you have? I’ve always loved the looks and the big bass. I told myself I would own a pair if I ever have the space for them.
@@gavinm717gkm ya l like Vegas, it’s funny how they get a bad wrap. But I bought my first pair in 1996 when I was 16. VS120s. I still have them in excellent condition. I got the urge to by there latest model SL12s and I was really disappointed with both build quality and sound. Danny’s upgrades helped allot to the point they out preformed my older VS120s. As for the build quality I’m a automotive painter and grew up working at a cabinet shop so I also made cosmetic changes completely transforming the speakers. CV has since been bought out and are coming out with a new speaker soon. I had so much fun doing the last ones I will likely buy the new model and do it again.
how new is it, because I was looking on their website for it and I assume it's a larger version of the TA-1 integrated/receiver but I don't see it listed on their website at all.
Yo, Im getting kind of sick of neutral amps, can you give me a recommendation of a Musical/lively amp for my Elac ubr62s around $2000 ? I was checking out the Atoll in100, but it seems pretty hard to find
Interesting that the emotiva has fans in it but yet the outlaw audio integrated for about the same price does not. I've never been a fan of any amplifier having fans inside. Get it? Seriously though, sounds like a compromise design considering Outlaw could do it without fans
I've got a 20 year old monster amp that has a fan for the power supply and it hasn't come on even once in the 20 years that I've owned it. Nothing wrong with just having a fan. I posted elsewhere where my Emotiva's fan hasn't come on either. Maybe Steves room/setup isn't ideal?
I have the Kef Q150s and the Rel tzero Little Subwoofer connected with a $350 onkyo receiver i bought new early this year. All for music. I wonder if this Emotiva will make a difference.
@SteveGuttenbergAudiophiliac I see. I was thinking that by buying this Emotiva receiver, it would give me more detail than the av receiver Onkyo I have.
I really like this one on the Klipsch, but it’s not gonna do well with the quad 57 or Magnepans in general. Then again, I don’t know of any $900 integrated amp that word.
Steve....and audience......keep in mind that Emotiva fudges the 4 ohm power rating. 200 watts into 4 ohms both channels driven; at 1 kHz; THD < 1%. So they give the 4 ohm power rating measured at one frequency band(just 1khz)! Really lame that they do this since it is being sneaky with anyone that doesn't know how to decipher true power ratings. Dan Laufman should really be ashamed of himself. The TRUEST 4 ohm rating would be 20khz to 20hz. Music and movies do not consist of just one frequency band LOL! They list the TRUE 8 ohm rating but then proceed to bull crap on the 4 ohm. Really pathetic.
The fans in the TA2 are a dealbreaker for me, although I might be more hypersensitive to fan noise, especially during a listening session more than the average person. I'm sure the amp could have been better engineered to be passively cooled but they were trying to design to a pricepoint. Living in a warmer climate, or during summer, I can imagine the fans getting really annoying.
@@SteveGuttenbergAudiophiliac Steve...I got my Cornwall IVs for $5k second hand as the previous owner used them for only about a half year and then needed to sell them due to virus related economic issues. They pair with my 50 year-old HK 930 receiver wonderfully, and as you have stated in previous reviews, you really don't need a high power or expensive amplifier to get wonderful sound from these speakers.
Think of it as a 1800 dollar receiver if it were sold in brick and mortar store for half off. All it needs is tone controls with loudness button , sub cutoff and mono button.
How about GoldenEar Triton speakers with a class D subwoofer amp? Is your opinion that a class D doesn't sound as good as class A/B apply to subs like this too?
Now lets see what amps do I use? A Crown xls 402 thats 450 watts a Crown LDP 1500 thats 400 watts and a QSC RMX 2450 kicking out 750 watts per channel at 4 ohms. I bought all second hand for less than that 200 watter and they all sound great !!
How would this amplifier handle Polk audio s60 towers I plan to buy the onkyo RZ 50 and pair a extra amplifier so my surround speakers go onto the avr amplifier instead of the front 3 speakers
Emotiva is the Audiophiles Dirty Litte Secret. Best "Bang for Buck" manufacturer on the planet. They also denounce Snake Oil as actively as they produce quality gear.
agree 100% many of my customers use Emotiva products and I love their quality and detail.
@@ladieslistentoo2953 you have a great user name. I love it.
@P T It’s not bad, it’s just not preferred in your system. I can verify that all the BasX class AB amps are VERY good for music. 👍🏼👍🏼They EASILY touch the tail of Hifi.
@P T again… I will recap. Better to you. This entire thing is subjective. Your reference is some one else’s gear they have stacked int their closet. The BasX line is neutral, analytic, and has minimal coloration. Some do not like that. But they’re still dynamic and detailed and overall for the money, hard to beat generally speaking.
They can measure quite poorly but ok
I added the basx a2 amp to my midlevel Yamaha AVR on my mains for a ton of headroom and to free up 2 internal channels of amplification, my mains are klipch towers with a 100db sensitivity and it is absolutely silent at idle and incredibly dynamic and smooth, great deal for under $500
Nice.
I gotta say, Emotiva amps run cool temperatures even when stacked on top of each other.
I called Emotiva and asked about the stacking limit, they said a 3 amp stack is the limit, no fans needed!
@@Spock105
Sounds like it may be time for an upgrade?
It proves that this product is very bad!
I like it when Viewer-System-of-the-Day pictures contain identifiable albums. I’m always looking for new music suggestions. Thanks Arnold!
Great review Steve, I would encourage you to test out the Emotiva HC-1 Mono blocks 300W, they are really worth a listen!! Transformed the sound coming out of my speakers
Nice review, mate. I have an Emotiva XPA-DR2. 550W in 8 ohms, switch mode power supply. 🤘
Lovely and accurate presentation as always dear Steve. More and more people are in the market for good quality and superlative value integrated solid state amps primarily due to the fact that the majority of us live in smaller places than we used to ten years ago just to make ends meet and are not able to splash cash in a pre power amp. Also it's much wiser from a financial and value for money perspective to invest your hard earned cash to a decent integrated. I guess this is what marketing and engineering teams in all big hifi brand manufacturers should have in mind for their next big product. An integrated amp with some of the features that were once pretty basic when I was a student shopping for hifi. (mm/mc input, headphone output and maybe a radio receiver) at a price point of 1 to 2k which is affordable to all of us who are hif aficionados with a decent monthly income but with a lot of bills to pay. Rotel has already followed that path. I have been eagerly awaiting Nad to follow the same path but on a Class AB not D as they do have the experience in knowledge from many years ago to design and produce excellent sounding integrateds but I suppose that the board of directors alongside with their engineering team thought that Class D is more efficient...I absolutely agree with two of the things you mentioned on the video ..Class AB is much warmer than the computer sounding class D and also most importantly that Ohm speakers are fantastic. I heard a pair once and was literally blown but unfortunately it is extremely difficult to get them where I live now (U.A.E.)
Love the Emotiva products, best bang for the buck.
A lot of bang,but little quality for the bucks!
@GeirRssaak you've made this same comment numerous times, what is your experience with this amp?
Great video! Thx. Excellent choice of speakers and supporting comments.
I just came accross your channel a day ago. Thank you thank you for this great channel.
Thanks, welcome aboard!
I just set up my first hi fi system this week. I built a set of CSS Torri diy speakers and paired them with the Emotiva Ta 1. All I can say is wow! I know my set up is junk compared to systems on this channel, but I’m just an average guy. My mind is blown. I can’t believe what these little speakers are doing.
I would agree, my TA100 when used with it's internal DAC and Phono is pretty average. When using a quality source it is very competitive against amps many times its price point. Love my TA100 and A300 amp, it's truly audiophile and even after having many high end amps on loan I'm still happy with the Emotiva and haven't bothered upgrading
This was fascinating and very helpful for me. I have that very REL subwoofer at home right now and am messing around with my LRS. Very useful information that I can use. Those Ohms are lovely too. I have an old pair of Walsh 4 that I enjoy very much. What a tremendous value for those just starting out, or for someone who doesn't want to break the bank and "get in the game"
Another great review, and like others I am looking forward to the Ohm review!
Hey Steve - have you had any time to try the new Emotiva B2+ speakers? Curious about your thoughts on the speakers and/or pairing with the TA1 or TA2 amps.
Steve your a reviewer who keeps it sensable and realistic.😊
I immediately knew the LRS Maggies were on Steves mind when the 4 ohm specs were shown.
I'm paying close attention to your advice and learning so much. I'm 69 and before I die, I want a great listening system. I sure hope that whatever I buy sounds great with Melanie s voice. I have almost every recording she made and then some. Her masterpiece is an album titled "Stoneground words ". I am excited to hear it on a great system. I can't wait! I may be asking you a few questions as I get into this build, I hope that will be OK with you? Thanks Steve, you're the best!
I wonder how this one would sound compared to the Outlaw Audio RR2160?
Hi, Congrats for the review. I have a pair of Mirage M3Si Speakers. They are very large and power demanding (86db) speakers. I do not like very loud listening, more on the loud moderate listening. Do you think this Emotiva PT2 should be a good match with these speakers and deliver good sound with them?
How would you compare this sonically to Outlaw Audio RR 2160 Mk2 ?
I bought an all-in-one streaming amp a few years ago, but I gradually offboarded the phono, streamer, and DAC to separates, and each time there was an easily noticeable improvement. I like the idea of all-in-one boxes, but I don't think I could give up the control separates affords now. Just something your thoughts about the Liberty vs. on-board DAC put me in mind of.
Do you use your integrated as preamp now or dont use it at all anymore?
@@jayman3575 Actually, that reminds me. I have a separate power amp also. I still use the integrated as a preamp. It has a decent remote, lots of inputs, a sizeable LED screen with volume display, and a bluetooth receiver that I use to stream audiobooks and podcasts from my phone. Still, I wouldn't be surprised if the Schiit Saga sounded better for just a few hundred bucks. Maybe I'll try it out someday.
I don't know why but I have a feeling that all the separates are giving you is control and not necessarily better audio!
As a former Maggie 1.7i owner and having auditioned the LRS and the LRS+, I can say from experience that Maggies, at least from the 1.7i and lower NEED A subwoofer. There is denial about base amongst Maggie owners. But it is a case of trying them with subs. Once you do, it will revolutionize the sound. You will absolutely not go back. Maggies can’t go low. There is no sub-bass, no bass slam or air movement. As for the Emotiva receiver 200 watts is not a lot of power for Maggies, and they need power to thrive. But this is possibly a good entry level receiver. But for me, the audible fans are a deal breaker. If you listen to music with space between the notes, hearing fans is not acceptable. I had a PS Audio P12. I sold it. In the process I happened to look at the bottom. To my surprise I saw two fans! No wonder I was hearing fan noise in my listening room. So glad I sold the P12. I should have never have bought it. On to the Ohm micro walsh. So looking forward to that review. I may be of similar vintage as you Steve and have fond memories of visiting Tech Hifi and listening to Ohm A speakers with the full size inverted Walsh drivers. My Dad ended up getting a pair of Ohm B speakers. Those were full size box speakers that sounded great. Thanks for all you do!
As a longtime Maggie owner I agree. I have two subwoofers in my system and it absolutely makes the biggest difference. I’m on my fourth pair of Maggie’s and I can tell you A sub is absolutely necessary.
Ohm Speakers are fantastic in my opinion - I have Walsh 2s and the Microwalshes - they don’t always get the appreciation they deserve
FINALLY, Emotiva has DONE IT!
I used to have the USP 1 Preamp and LOVED it! Now when I get this new one, I can finally stop kicking myself for selling my SUP 1.
Thanks Emo!
Now I can’t decide between Outlaw rr216O mark 2 and the Emotive. Any thoughts?
I have the TA 1 and the Klipsch RP600 Mark 1's. very good, detailed (but not overly) all good, no complaints. But In my large-ish room, they really want a sub. Deciding on that now. The TA2 has better bass management than the TA1 and I'm working out the best way to integrate the sub.
I'm going to call it a receiver, because it is. Integrated amps are now very often called "power amps". Who knows WTF people are talking about these days when they call things whatever they think sounds the coolest.
Looking forward to the Ohm micro review!
Btw, do you (or any of your viewers) know of any decent A/D converters separate or built into a phono preamp? I can only find cheap things on Amazon, nothing I would want in my system. I would like to use one to upload my LP's for backup and to have the option of listening to recordings of my lp's from a USB drive.
Look on the pro audio/studio side, specifically the MOTU M2. It’s a screaming deal at $200 at Sweetwater (and other places). You will still need a phono preamp of course, and some vinyl-focused software. I’ve got a thousand-dollar microphone plugged into mine right now. It’s a brilliant A/D/A.
I think neonomad's recommendation is the way to go. Walk into any music store and tell them you need an audio interface. These are very big sellers, so any place you go should have a good selection. Also, they all come with software, so you may want to look at that before you buy.
If you still have it..do you mind measuring the loudness of the fans in terms dB when you mentioned their noise can become audible? Also thoughts on using this as a preamp vs maybe some of the paramount products?
I’m so glad that I bought one of these when they first came out and got one for $550. I definitely like it for the price. Very solid and just feels like good quality. Emotiva impresses me. And I just live a few minutes from their office. 👍🏻
I have this arriving Thursday and appreciate having watched this first. Thanks. Do you think I can find a better phono preamp for $300 or is the one in the TA2 that good? I wonder if it's better than the preamp in my Technics SL 1500C turntable? I can't seem to find these internal preamps reviewed in comparison to a decent stand alone one.
I do have the same klipsch speakers and an svs sub.
The adjustable crossover is a big deal. I own the TA-1. The bass management was the deciding factor when I pulled the trigger on it. Unfortunately, Emotiva really shot themselves in both feet with their implementation. The TA-1 is locked at 90hz, which is too high. Also, if you switch the internal amp to high-pass, you have NO full range pre-out. This would be useful for using two subs in stereo to bypass some of the imaging issues with the high crossover point. Because the TA-1 is a bit under powered, switching the main speakers to high pass had a big benefit for me. I have JBL Studio 580's which are reasonably efficient, but not high sensitivity. The JBLs to scale very well with electronics. I also have a pair of cheap, Dayton Audio 12" subs and I stack my towers on top of the subs becuase of space constraints, but also, I like the sensation big sound from the speakers above the listening position.
I upgraded to the TA-1 from an SMSL AD18. It was definitely a step up, but not huge. I later added a Schiit Vidar and now just run the speakers in full range. Adding the Vidar was a bigger step up than the TA-1 over the AD18! I started out using the Vidar in high-pass and the subs in stereo. (This is possible because there are hardwired high-pass pre-outs, allowing you to leave the optional pre-outs on full range for stereo subs.) With the Daytons, I didn't have any imaging problems.. But I realized later, that's because the Daytons crapped out above 80hz, in my room. I auditioned a pair of SVS SB3000s. Running those in stereo with the speakers on high pass out of the Vidar was pretty magnificent. They went to 90hz and above with no problem, all the way down to 17-18hz with authority! However, even though running the subs in stereo solved the left to right imaging problems, I couldn't stop noticing the vertical separation between the speakers and subs. 90hz is just too high.
Long story short, if the TA-1 had an 80hz or lower, or adjustable crossover like the TA-2, I probably would have kept those subs and been happy. More importantly, I would be done spending money on my speaker system. But no. I went and returned all the subs and ordered some huge, full range speakers instead. Next I'll be spending more money on even better electronics, as a result.
As for the TA-2, it looks like a pretty promising all in one box, if that's what you want. I would have strongly suggested skipping the TA-1 because the internal amp is too weak. I would recommend getting the PT-1 instead and pairing it with a more powerful external amp like the A2 or Schiit Vidar. the TA-2 looks to solve this problem. However, if the only difference is more power and an adjustable high-pass.. $900 is a harder sell. The DAC is good, but not great. There's no XLR anything. At this price, you are competing with pretty high end AVR receivers or considering some discrete components. Similar to Steve's experience, if I take my TA-1 out of the system and drive my Vidar with my high end kit from my headphone system, it blows the TA-1 out of the water. Unless they upgraded the over all quality of all the components in addition to adding power, I think $900 is just too much for what it is. At $600 to $650, it would be a no-brainer and still a solid deal at $700. I'm basing this opinion off my experience with TA-1, so grain of salt.
Familiar with any other budget preamps that have similar crossover options and HT passthrough like the PT2? Im only familiar with the parasound p6 that does offer XLR connectivity but also more expensive....
Love the look and probably the sound of today’s viewers system. Much cleaner look then the system that you showed yesterday. I believe yesterdays system was an architects system it looks sort of overdone too filled with ‘this and that’ No matter what it sounded like but this picture looks really cool and well thought out visually and visual counts as well especially to the wife.
Are the fans powerful enought to keep your room cool during the summer?
The fans are horrific. I'll probably return. If Steve didn't find them intolerable, he should probably get his hearing checked. I'm 10' away and I can hear them over the music.
Great point Steve, re; the outboard DAC, .. the transparency and execution of the Emotiva through-put is fine.
That's the salient takeaway here.
As much as I love my Maggies, the Ohm Walsh speakers were the precursor to the MBL Extreme technology which are my absolute favorite speakers that I have heard in over 60 years of being a critical listener and music lover.
Hello, thank you for your review. It has a main in option behind. Is it to be supposed working with an home Cinema amplifier at the same time ( sometimes called bypass). Can it selected from the remote control‽ How can this emotiva be compared to the Rotel 1592 moi‽ Thx
Great you also tested it with the magnepans. I'm getting very curious how this amp will sound with my final i400's and my Rel Strata 5. Thanks !.
Alright Steve, Im gonna need the review for the Ohm Micro Walsh now. Lol
I've got an Emotiva BasX 400z that I use to push 2-2 ohm 84 db JL subs and it stays very cool. I doubt the fan has come on even once and if it has I certainly haven't heard it. Glad to hear that they sound decent full range as I've only used it for the subs.
I prefer the retro look. I enjoy my Outlaw 2160MKII every day. it’s Dead quiet and comes with a great remote.
Yeah I'm surprised he didn't mention the outlaw considering how much he has talked it up on his videos. When he said he couldn't think of a 900 dollar Amp with this much power I thought immediately about the outlaw. He did say on one of his videos that he was going to have a review of the new version soon but that was awhile ago. I think it may be better than the emotiva since it doesn't have fans.
@@justinhof6315 yeah u r right. Steve seem to have a fallout with the Outlaw camp.
@@jusjash Well, if he doesn't like it he should give us a heads up. I don't know what would've changed other than the addition of the streamer.
Not too long ago I asked if he was going to review the Outlaw rr2160 mkll and he said no !
VSotD beautiful setup. Mini-easel for the album is a big 👍
Another great review! Does the LRS+ sound right with other amps? Or is the LRS+ just bass shy? Or is this Emotiva amp a little bass thin? I am just a bit confused. I need a new amp, just want to be sure as I can be. Thanks for your help!
Yeah, it's confusing. The LRS+ is bass shy, with most affordable amps. Sounds way better with the $5K Pass Labs XA25 amp. Which is why I recommend using the LRS+ with a sub with the Emotiva and most affordable amps. .
@@SteveGuttenbergAudiophiliac The 25-watt XA25 is a little out of my comfort zone. I had not planned on getting the LRS+ anyway. It seems you were really impressed with the sound of the TA-2 with the Ohm and Klipsch, and you did say: "its neutral and it just sounds right". So, I took the plunge and ordered the TA-2 last night.
After watching this video I knew I wanted Ohm Speakers so I started researching them and I talked to Jake at Ohm. Then I ran into Larsen Speakers which are similar in design and some people think they are superior. Steve, have you heard these? What do you think? Keep up the great work and thanks!
I went with the ohm speakers as with the larsons there is no trial. I also read on some forums that people who have had both like the ohms better. In the end I think nothing speaks more to confidence in a product than me a 120-day trial.
@@lansinghuck3742 great points.
The persuasions sing Zappa is a great album👍👍
Hi Steve.. Been seriously looking at the BasX TA1 w/ a pair of Emotiva B2+ speakers... What do you think? I like the price tag, and from what I gather, would be a sweet little rig.. perhaps a sub a bit later.
Emotiva and schiit taking the "bang for the buck" market by storm? Apparently emotiva delivering some additional value.
just an incredibly appealing value proposition, *AGAIN* from them
Thanks for this review. How will this amp pair with Tektron DI?
Brilliant review! Thank you. I wanted to know more about that flexible bass mangement, is it worth it? It seems such a cleaver facility, I believe it relieves the main speakers from working hard to push their woofers so low and hence they would performs better in the rest of the spectrum. I am surprised other companies do not have it.
I’d be curious to hear a comparison of this and the Outlaw 2160, since they’re both stereo receivers and the same price point.
nobody ever reviews Outlaw products and it's been this way for years
@@WeeWeeJumbo Steve actually reviewed the 2160 when it came out a few years back, but I haven’t seen any other products reviewed since then.
I just bought a PT1 pre-amp and A2 power amp to feed my BOSE 901s. My Marantz 2252B while potent in its own right with that silky smooth vintage Marantz sound, the 901s needed more power. I was OTD for $968 after a military discount. Can't wait to pair up OLD to NEW and hear the results. My 901s in my media room are really BOTTOM heavy. I have to back off any bass settings from FLAT to reduce the heavy bass. FTR I'm not into Hip Hop or the uber bass lines found in current music. It's probably a result of how the 901s couple with the room. So the Emotiva A2 may be the perfect marriage. I do wish they were made in the US.
Hey Steve. Great review on the TA2. The BasX TA1 is on my radar. The TA2 isn't within reach. The B2+ speakers are also on my radar.
Cool, go for it!
FYI, the klipsch RP600 mkii speakers are not high sensitivity. Klipsch states the efficiency, in room, not anechoic. When independently tested, anechoicly, it is really approx. 85 db efficient. Klipsch "warps" the truth when it comes to efficiency.
Steve, love your non pretense reviews. I own this amp with a Thorens MM and JBL L100 speaker set up. In you opinion, what set up do you think works best? I listen to LPs 70% and 30% off Tidal Bluetooth.
Love your channel!
I have the XDA-1 and UPA-200 - They are wonderful. I have the Amp behind me/on the right - That way I don't see the blue lights :)
Bro, you *HAVE* to see this! It is THE damn funniest thing ever! The 'Steve Guttenberg' reference is beautiful! The TH-cam video is called, 'MOFI: the Downfall of Mobile Fidelity - Hitler Reacts' Trust me, this is frigg'n HILARIOUS! 😂
Steve - what’s your favorite sub-$1000 integrated amp for the Lrs+ so far?
The flexibility in the crossover is the main reason I'm looking at this product. I love my outlaw rr2160 but the crossover is sellectable (60,80,100hz). Nice but I'd love to cross lower. This amp is variable down to 40hz. Killer.
Mój TA2 z PYLON DIAMOND 30 to brzmienie przyjemne neutralne w mojej opinii. Polecam umówić się na odsłuch i docenić na żywo. W tym zakresie cenowym jak najbardziej OK.
Have they worked out the problem where distortion is very high until the amp warms up? I had a BASX-A100 that had that problem and sent it back. The replacement was better, but the experience left me squirrely. Audio Science Review commented on the same issue in their review of the A100.
Great video! I didn't see and tone controls knobs on front can you adjust the base and treble or with remote?
Yes, with remote
@@SteveGuttenbergAudiophiliac Its awesome to get a reply from the man the myth and legend! Take care and thanks for all you do
Hello,....how would you compare this to atoll in50 amp sonic vise?. I am aware of wattage difference I am thinking between in80, and this emotiva. Does emotiva create soundstage depth if paired with for example klipsch and soe good dac, if the recording is done with depth?
So was the "thin sound" on the LRS+ the Amps fault or the speakers sound?
I took delivery of my TA2 a little over a week ago, and am seriously considering returning it. Pros: High power and 4ohm rated - it easily drives my Thiel 2.2's. Cons: Those #^$&*! fans. It honestly sounds like I'm in the middle of a bayou swamp on a full moon on a summer night when they kick on. Especially for music that's not death metal, it's intolerable. All the way across the room (I'm 65 BTW)! Why they chose 2 tiny PC fans instead of a large low-RPM fan is beyond me (physics guys). It's a high RPM squeal/chirp. They're "smart" so they spin faster depending on heat, but as soon as I start to push it just a little bit, they kick on. Just a cheap shortcut and I'd like to talk to whoever greenlit _that_ layout. I'll just get a fanless, lower power Denon made in Japan.
It was Outlaw receiver, back then.
Steve,
Forgive my ignorance... I'm new to the Audiophile hobby.
Regarding base management... are you saying that if I use a powered Subwoofer that ... it frees up the power that would have been used in a non-Subwoffer system to power those low frequencys now... is saved and available for use at frequencys above the Subwoofer cross-over frequencys? ie more power for my mid & high frequency music.
Cheers, Eric
No its got an anolog hi pass feature which allows you to take out the deep bass in say a small bookshelf speaker and having the sub deal with it.
@@stevieg2755 OH. Thx.
I thought using a powered Subwoofer meant more power was free to be used by the others speaker.
Cheers,
Eric
Hmmm no mention of Outlaw RR2160 mk 2 Yo
They rushed out and jacked up the price to $1,179.00 following your review.
Thank you Steve for the review. That analog bass management feature is appreciated, but I am puzzled as to how one would send only the highs via the amp’s speaker outputs, to say, a small bookshelf speaker. The High Pass section on the rear seems to affect only the line-level Pre-outs. The Emotiva site does not have any info on the TA2 yet. Thanks again!
My Parasound has a similar feature, and it sends the High Pass signal to the RCA outs, the speaker output and I believe the Balanced outputs as well.
So all the outs run through the filter.
@@pnichols6500 that would make sense!
Would it be a match for the Rotel A14 mkII, it is perhaps a bit weaker on the power section on paper, but the DAC and phono pre seem to be first class and yes it is a bit more expensive. So the Emotiva seems to have the most bang for the buck if you don't use the DAC because your Streamer or your CD-Player have a very good one.
Those fans scream mid-fi. Schiit Vidar is how you do a heatsink
I would love to see you guess what class an amplifier is blindfolded.
Why "guess"?
Blind listening is a low-resolution exercise. No responsible reviewer uses it.
See Atkinson's testimony circa 1979-81. He got an amp that "measured well" - as a result he "stopped listening to music". He recounted this at 2018RMAF and has written about it.
th-cam.com/video/NdjO9ZIx8ag/w-d-xo.html
@Fletcher Fortune still being a total knob I see... bellend.
No way any reviewer would ever do that and why they never will. Most of the expertise would be proven bs in one video.
So I have a pair of L100 Classic's and I'm looking for a Class A/B chassis, do you think it'll be a good match with my JBL's?
Did you part with the SME 15 turntable?
About three years ago, I don't miss it.
I went the separates route over the summer with a pt1 and ta2 for a similar price and a little higher power output (250w x2 into 4).
The TA2 looks great for folks with limited space. I always felt I could easily recommend the TA1, especially since you can easily add a bigger amp in the future as your setup changes.
I wonder if there will be a PT2 coming out-seems to make sense. That would pair nicely with something like the A2 for a separates setup too, especial if someone is needing a few more inputs and extra bass management flexibly. I'm building a system for a friend right now around the TA1 + Airmotiv T-ZERO+ towers (and a sub). This will be my first experience with anything Emotiva. I think it's going to be a great base system for just barely over a grand usd.
You did the right thing. I have a TA-1 and the internal amp is too weak. I added a Schiit Vidar and it was a bigger upgrade than the TA-1 itself. My speakers aren't even power hogs, either.
I looked and the PT2 is listed one their site, along with the TA2! They are at the end of the BasX product list.
Man, Emotiva is so consistently good and what a value
Steve, do you think that room correction is very important for a stereo receiver?
I want to match this with Magnepan,, omg as im typing this you just mentioned Magnepan... hahaa I digress
Thanks Steve!
How would this pair with the wharfdale diamond 12.2?
Also is this amp noisy is it worth the asking $999 ?
I’ve had the TA1 and first generation RP600Ms with GR-Research upgrade for a while now and I really love it. For the money invested, it’s a fantastic little system. Especially when you’re like me and you prefer simplicity over separates.
How do you like the GR Research upgrade? 👍🏻🔈
@@JR-ho5qm I’m just now getting to the point where all the components in the network have settled, so to speak, but so far so good. I’ll be doing an “official” sound test tonight or this weekend.
My experience so far… The mid range is so much more pronounced, and clearer. Before I felt the vocals could feel a bit restricted in the sound stage, now they pop right out at you and sound like they are literally on the front of the strange where a singer typical stands. The different parts of a song sound more separated and crisper. The two biggest things I like about the upgrade is the fact that it smooths out the top end really nicely and surprisingly extends the low end quite a bit. The speaker is super bright to begin with because of a weird peak in the high end, but this mod completely solves that, making the speaker sound enjoyable for a lot longer of a time. Huge improvement with sibilance. And that low end extension… That was a pleasant surprise! I didn’t expect that, but it’s significant. I really don’t need to turn on my sub anymore, though I still choose to. And the low end is also a lot more accurate. The hit of a kick drum is much faster, whereas before sounded a bit muddy.
Overall, it’s worth the money for the upgrade… if you got a deal on the speakers. So getting a set of first gens at the price they are selling right now… totally worth it. I bought them on sale a while ago and so my total investment is less than a set new second gens.
@@gavinm717gkm right on! Good to hear! The clarity you gained in just having higher quality crossover parts likely would have been worth it, then add in The network change it’s probably a much much better speaker. Did you add the No Rez? Danny helped me with my CerwinVega speakers and am extremely happy with the results.
@@JR-ho5qm yeah I did the full upgrade, so ro-rez, crossover, and tube connectors.
What CVs do you have? I’ve always loved the looks and the big bass. I told myself I would own a pair if I ever have the space for them.
@@gavinm717gkm ya l like Vegas, it’s funny how they get a bad wrap. But I bought my first pair in 1996 when I was 16. VS120s. I still have them in excellent condition. I got the urge to by there latest model SL12s and I was really disappointed with both build quality and sound. Danny’s upgrades helped allot to the point they out preformed my older VS120s. As for the build quality I’m a automotive painter and grew up working at a cabinet shop so I also made cosmetic changes completely transforming the speakers. CV has since been bought out and are coming out with a new speaker soon. I had so much fun doing the last ones I will likely buy the new model and do it again.
Would love a comparison between this and the Outlaw Audio RR2160MKll especially since the TA2 is now the same price at $999.
how new is it, because I was looking on their website for it and I assume it's a larger version of the TA-1 integrated/receiver but I don't see it listed on their website at all.
Right, that's because it's just being released today. Check back later today.
@@SteveGuttenbergAudiophiliac thanks for that Mr guttenberg.
I find their website to be odd and glitchy at the best of times.
Yo, Im getting kind of sick of neutral amps, can you give me a recommendation of a Musical/lively amp for my Elac ubr62s around $2000 ? I was checking out the Atoll in100, but it seems pretty hard to find
Interesting that the emotiva has fans in it but yet the outlaw audio integrated for about the same price does not. I've never been a fan of any amplifier having fans inside. Get it? Seriously though, sounds like a compromise design considering Outlaw could do it without fans
I've got a 20 year old monster amp that has a fan for the power supply and it hasn't come on even once in the 20 years that I've owned it. Nothing wrong with just having a fan. I posted elsewhere where my Emotiva's fan hasn't come on either. Maybe Steves room/setup isn't ideal?
@@Roof_Pizza But many many other manufacturers have eliminated a fan or fans completely. Thus 100% no POSSIBLE fan noise.
I have the Kef Q150s and the Rel tzero Little Subwoofer connected with a $350 onkyo receiver i bought new early this year. All for music. I wonder if this Emotiva will make a difference.
Probably not, first upgrade your amp or speakers
@SteveGuttenbergAudiophiliac I see. I was thinking that by buying this Emotiva receiver, it would give me more detail than the av receiver Onkyo I have.
Good review, Steve. The deal breaker for me, would be that cheap remote, since the main unit has only one control knob.................
This or Atoll IN50 for sound quality? Using Klipsch RP600s mk i. Would like Magnepans and Quad ESL 57s in the future.
I really like this one on the Klipsch, but it’s not gonna do well with the quad 57 or Magnepans in general. Then again, I don’t know of any $900 integrated amp that word.
Steve....and audience......keep in mind that Emotiva fudges the 4 ohm power rating. 200 watts into 4 ohms both channels driven; at 1 kHz; THD < 1%. So they give the 4 ohm power rating measured at one frequency band(just 1khz)! Really lame that they do this since it is being sneaky with anyone that doesn't know how to decipher true power ratings. Dan Laufman should really be ashamed of himself. The TRUEST 4 ohm rating would be 20khz to 20hz. Music and movies do not consist of just one frequency band LOL! They list the TRUE 8 ohm rating but then proceed to bull crap on the 4 ohm. Really pathetic.
The fans in the TA2 are a dealbreaker for me, although I might be more hypersensitive to fan noise, especially during a listening session more than the average person. I'm sure the amp could have been better engineered to be passively cooled but they were trying to design to a pricepoint. Living in a warmer climate, or during summer, I can imagine the fans getting really annoying.
I've never heard the amps in my A300 come on
I guess the fans only run when you push the amp. With very dynamic music at laud volume you might hear the fans in more silent parts.
I have Cornwall IVs and was wondering if you tried this on the ones you own, and if so, how did it pair?
Sorry, I did not. I'm sure it would sound fine, but if you dropped $6K+ on Cornwalls they deserve better than this.
@@SteveGuttenbergAudiophiliac Steve...I got my Cornwall IVs for $5k second hand as the previous owner used them for only about a half year and then needed to sell them due to virus related economic issues. They pair with my 50 year-old HK 930 receiver wonderfully, and as you have stated in previous reviews, you really don't need a high power or expensive amplifier to get wonderful sound from these speakers.
Can't wait for mine to be delivered to use on b1+ and b2+ set up
I am guessing those Lintons everyone is raging about would pair nicely with my TA2 and REL T/5x, what say you Mr. Steve…? 🤔
Think of it as a 1800 dollar receiver if it were sold in brick and mortar store for half off. All it needs is tone controls with loudness button , sub cutoff and mono button.
It has to have tone controls. Doesn't it ? The ta1 does
Not 100% markup at retail. Speakers, sure but not electronics.
How about GoldenEar Triton speakers with a class D subwoofer amp? Is your opinion that a class D doesn't sound as good as class A/B apply to subs like this too?
Now lets see what amps do I use? A Crown xls 402 thats 450 watts a Crown LDP 1500 thats 400 watts and a QSC RMX 2450 kicking out 750 watts per channel at 4 ohms. I bought all second hand for less than that 200 watter and they all sound great !!
How would this amplifier handle Polk audio s60 towers I plan to buy the onkyo RZ 50 and pair a extra amplifier so my surround speakers go onto the avr amplifier instead of the front 3 speakers
The Persuasions tip is why I show up....