Axiom Home Page Forums General Discussion Home Theater XPA 2 Now! A Keeper?

You know if I hadn't smashed the right input while trying to wrestle the amp into position I would probably have already let it go, but it will irk me to always wonder, which was the problem: 1) was my intuition wrong in placing the order, or 2) did I bust it myself before plugging it in?

I'm hoping they take it back, their warranty disallows damage due to shipping and handling, I'm disinclined to represent that.

Sat, just to emphasize the point, disregard the direction in the manual as to a lower impedance setting. As was said, this simply reduces the maximum voltage that the power supply section of the amplifier can output, thereby also reducing(following Ohm's Law) the maximum current and power that can be output. This is a safety-type requirement to keep the UL(Underwriters Laboratory)happy by reducing the chance of overheating, but it cuts the maximum power capacity roughly in half, and shouldn't be used. It's unclear what setting you used when you tested the 663, but in any case, keep it at, or return it to, the 8 ohm setting.

OK thanks, it sounds pretty thin to me at the moment, I will try it again at 8 ohms, but I must say the 663 gets pretty hot even when run just as a preamp, whereas the xpa2 stays completely cool. I originally tested the 663 at 8 ohm setting but as I said it was a minimal fuse that blew not the amp that cut out, 2nd test was at 6 ohms but if it's distorting when volume is set a few dbls above zero wouldn't that be the same regardless of impedance setting? Guess I'm still confused.

Not necessarily. If the amount of power required on peaks at that volume control setting was still within the reduced capacity at the lower impedance setting, then there would be no audible distortion(at least not any due to the amplifier); if the required power exceeded the reduced capacity, audible distortion would develop. This wouldn't occur, or at least wouldn't occur until a still higher amount of power was required, with the 8 0hm setting for the impedance switch or menu.

For example, S&V often tests for the reduction in capacity at the lower setting, and their lab test of the 661(they haven't tested the similar 663)showed that the power was limited to a little over 60 watts at the lower setting. A peak that required say 120 watts would distort at the lower inpedance setting but would be handled well at the 8 ohm setting. The numbers and analysis there may be of interest.

As to heat, don't worry much unless you see smoke and flames(seriously, the protective circuits would shut down before that). High heat may reduce the long-term service life of the unit, but shouldn't be a cause for major concern if operation continues.

Hey leave me out of this, I didn't do anything.**standing ground, not running away like some others**

My daughter weighs 75 lbs and I can pick her up no prob but picking up the xpa2 was a challenge. Is that a mass thing? I thought small and compact (xpa2) would be easier, like I say, handles would help. Fedex lists the weight as 92 lbs including box, which weighs what 5-10 lbs?

No. Evil spirits inhabit the XPA2 and they don't like to be picked up.

I am guessing it was just the awkardness of getting the amp out the box, as you said handles would make things alot easier. If you were to open the box around the amp so you could easily get to the corners for hand holds the accident would have not happened.

JohnK lies. Kids are full of gas. That is why they're easier to lift.

Chips off ye olde block.