Best budget Amp? XTZ Edge A2-300 review with sound demo

Best budget Amp? XTZ Edge A2-300 review
Correction: Olle Eliasson is the founder and CEO of the company, Hampus is the product manager.
For the US : $500 USD including shipping to the States. (Not an affiliated link.)
www.xtzsound.c...
For Europe 395 EURO
www.xtzsound.e...
IN THE SOUND DEMO
AMP A = XTZ Edge A2-300
AMP B = Classe D200.
Did you find a big difference in the performance of both? Worth 10x the price?
I did have an issue with the Freya and the Classe D200 as there was floor noise. With the Edge, I was able to solve that problem by lowering the gain. So the D200 was not performing at its peak. Given it was just for fun, I did not bother using the Modwright instead.
Gear used in testing the XTZ Edge A2
Speakers: Rectilinear highboy (very good), Altec Lasing Borello 890c (very good), Cabasse (very good), KEF LS50 (so so), Zu Audio DEF Omen (so so), Silverline Sonata (Very good), Focal Sopra 2 (not bad at low volume), Qacoutiscs 3050i (very good)
Preamp used: Mcintosh C47, Audio research LS25, Counterpoint SA1000, Modwright LS100, Schiit Freya
DAC used: Exasound E28 and Denafrips Ares II
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Track: Crystal Eyes - Airixis [Audio Library Release]
Music provided by Audio Library Plus
Watch: • Crystal Eyes - Airixis...
Free Download / Stream: alplus.io/crys...
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[@larsv6144]

Amp B does clearly sounds smoother, more depth in the stage. I own the XTZ and use a IFI iTube 2 to smooth things over and bring a bit more separation and stage to the music.

[@agustinsapad7575]

I JUST LOVE YOUR STORY TELLING!!!!! It's so enjoyable!!!!!......

[@ThomasAndStereo]

Thanks, glad you enjoyed it.

[@hi-fihaven2257]

@@ThomasAndStereo I totally agree! Great comment!

[@jimmiferfreddette8583]

He’s a rare type of story teller in that you can tell he doesn’t, lie or embellish his stories. And his stories are still very captivating! Good job Thomas👍🏻

[@ld8094]

I just hooked up an A2-300 to my AVR to power the mains. Absolutely a profound difference. My speakers finally have adequate power. Bass drum hits in particular are now much more powerful and rich with deep extension...sound stage more holographic than before. Yes, it leans slightly away from a "warm" sound. But not that much - my impression is the amp is providing abundant clean noise-free power and mostly staying out of the way, letting the source, dac or phono pre, and speakers do their thing. This amp has provided a massive upgrade to my music listening. And in such an inexpensive, compact, nice looking, efficient, cool running package. Anyone who dismisses class D amps out of hand is an audiophool.

[@Zoranurai13]

This is actually a great amp for home theater upgrades from a receiver. Lots of power and dimensionality. And getting 6 of these amps will actually save you money over some 11 channel amps

[@rodscott7232]

One arrived last week. Truly a top shelf amp. Forget how well priced it is. Brilliant

[@roberte.andrews4621]

I like your presentation and your sound system. I started my interest in high-quality home sound systems in 1959. At that time, the Citation amp and pre-amp kits were among the very best, according to reviews. They were big and heavy and costly, but set a high bar for their competitors. Over the years, I've mostly had individual components. My brother, who was Chief Plant Engineer at Pacific Bell here and had started with AT&T before WWII, suggested I eliminate all the interconnecting cables and go to a receiver of high quality. I found the Marantz 2220B feeding my Klipsch Cornwall II speakers sounded far better than any previous sound system I'd ever owned. I did upgrade the Cornwalls with Bob Crites' (He's not paying me to say this!) crossovers and titanium mid-range diaphragms. I suggest that folks living in a marine climate with salt in the air might find that every connection on their system can be a source of distortion, due to electrolytic activity. The short run of circuitry inside a receiver also reduces the RF signals or other radiated sources of interference impacting coupled individual components. Of course, there have been endless discussions of this topic. It all my be moot in my case, because I am unable to hear 20-20,000 cycle range anymore. Thanks, again, for your interesting presentation.

[@ThomasAndStereo]

Thanks Robert, what a great story and thanks for taking the time to write it. Hope it will help others who live in the same kind of climate.

[@RanTausi]

@@ThomasAndStereo Many thanks for the review Thomas ,It so nice to see the ADCOM 545 MK2 in your background , I own both power amp ADCOM 545mk2 and 555mk2 they are sweet amps. Consider to make a reviews on thus ADCOM's will be very interesting. Thanks ❤

[@Morido-1]

Can't help but notice the ADCOM 545 mk2. A clean sounding amp for sure. I own one. Wish it was bridgeable.

[@mcjonner]

I like your approach to reviews. To hear stories behind the gear tested as well as the clinical analyzation that zero fidelity does. Very complimentary.

[@pierrelailvaux6227]

This is a contentious statement but nevertheless true. The vast amount of perceived differences between various makes of hi-fi gear are caused by minute differences in frequency. Clearly though balanced is better and there are distinct audible differences between valve and transistor designs that to my mind reflect the fact that valves distort in a more euphonious manner than non-fet transistor designs (although all but the very best designs tend to have a loose sounding bass when compared to the more tightly controlled transistor designs). To quote a ludicrous example: in one of his KZbin videos a well known hi-fi supplier claimed that adding a valve pre-amplifier between source and amplifier greatly improved the sound, somehow proving to him that valves have magic qualities. Newsflash. Anything that adds to the sound is distortion. Ask me. As a sound engineer I've intentionally added distortion to create harmonic interest in a recording. I've also messed with phase, once again a common recording practice. So my question is fidelity to what? Certainly not to the room in which the recording was conceived and first heard. And where I would put my money you ask? Not into fancy overpriced interconnects that don't sound or measure better than common flex. What hi-fi purists have to realize is that the brain interprets audio signals and uses listener preconceptions as part of the decoding process, which means that you generally hear what you expect to hear and to you (but not necessarily to others with differing expectations) it's a very real experience. As a sound engineer the very first (and most important thing) I'd spend my money on is fixing the listening room acoustics and adding a lot of wood into the room for it's sterling acoustic properties. Most listening rooms have serious bass standing wave problems and no amount of top end interconnects (which often cause amplifier ringing which 'brighten' up the top end incorrectly) or high priced equipment are ever going to fix that. Bass traps however will, as will non-parallel wall surfaces. Something to think about if you lasted this far.

[@grant0317]

After watching a lot of your videos, I actually really appreciate how you include the opinions and viewpoints of your friends; really gives a broader perspective from your one video about a product vs watching several videos. Also, storytime is always dope. Always glad you did not end your channel Thomas, even though I won't have the budget for 90% of the products you discuss haha.

[@marksalinger9502]

Hey Thomas. Long story short. My room is large and L shaped. Tired of all in one sound, had separates 20 year ago, but now the room is huge at least 30 x 20 feet room.(odd shape as well) I have Quad 12l which are small for the room. My second hand amp which was a NAD strained was not a great sound. So I got the edge, You say top end is neutral but in this it sounds great but I did buy an xtc sub Setup as follows Quad 12ls QED speaker cable Bluenode 2i XTZ Edge a2-300 XTZ sub 8.1 For the price, it sounds three times and I think it is because of you, your video of the edge had me thinking. Mate you are a genius, no nonsense, cool guy.

[@ThomasAndStereo]

Thanks for letting me know, appreciate it.

[@JimmieJohn]

Dude, I love your content! Thanks for taking the time to bring us these awesome reviews. You, Andrew Robinson and Zero Fidelity make up primetime television for me from 7-9pm M-F!

[@ThomasAndStereo]

Glad you like them!

[@michaelpowell4823]

Thomas, Just had to thank you as you have been one of my go to people for stereo advice. I’ve slowly been upgrading and now I’m sitting at a system I am pleased with (except towers) Freya+ XTZ 300 x2 SMSL Su9 Sony Cd (coaxial to Su9) Dual SVS Polk Tsi500 - reinforced cabinets, redone crossovers MiniDSP controlling signal from Freya+ going to subs and towers I feel the components are above the capability of the speakers; but I just keep double guessing myself before I pull the trigger on new towers. I was a headphone user for 20+ years and understand that the speakers can completely change the sound that the components make. For the most part I am pleased with the sound except highs can be harsh at times and the soundstage is lacking. I love my Focal headphones so I naturally started looking there but Totem is also in the running. Basically trying to decide between the Chora or Arro. Any thoughts?

[@ThomasAndStereo]

Thanks, sadly I have not heard both. You did mention that the highs can be harsh at times and you wish the soundstage is bigger? Both Chora and most totem speakers I tried tend to push the treble almost to the max, perhaps you should wait for my upcoming cabasse review?

[@michaelpowell4823]

@@ThomasAndStereo Thank you for the kind reply; I can say there are pleasurable highs and not pleasurable highs. My current speakers are just not capable of good sounding highs (especially with high pitched female vocals). Like what I get with my headphones on the same songs. Speakers didn’t use to do this until I upgraded the AMPs. As always I will be waiting for your next reviews; not pulling the trigger yet and who knows might decide to go up in the model ranges and only cry once. Focal 948s and Tribal Towers have always had my eye also.

[@net_news]

I had exactly the same impression as you, the amp A has a slight rolloff on the highs... amp B sounds much better.

[@ThomasAndStereo]

Yes, relatively speaking.

[@PremKumar-vt1hq]

@@ThomasAndStereo hi thomas. Got delivered xtz a300 today. Understood why you said xtz a300 as audiophile gear. Cheers😀

[@ThomasAndStereo]

@@PremKumar-vt1hq Nice, thanks for letting me know!

[@joeperry9589]

If only KZbin was not so compressed. I did immediately pick up that amp A was not as open up top. But only after hearing the amp B. Honestly for the money, you cannot go wrong. Great video! I came to find you after watching PS Audio channel. I appreciate your open mind and your ears. Good stuff! I just subscribed.

[@EddieDubs]

You're hearing this in a KZbin video? Remarkable! 😏

[@siriosstar4789]

The most important factor in determining the quality of your new amp is the box it came in . if it's poor quality cardboard and plastic , the amp will be ruined when it sits in the box for any length of time . however if the box and innards are super high quality then the amps electronics will not be degraded over time .

[@matsudakodo]

2nd one is more "in your face". Sounds louder, maybe not level-matched.

[@Nikolajchris]

The A/B comparison is hard to judge since the levels are quite different (to my ears at least). Amp B is louder, making it more like-able by default and that's even if I might be a little biased towards the XTZ since I have one driving my SA Mantra 70 (the latest top mid-fi model before the legend silverbacks), which I'm quite happy with it. Before the XTZ I used a Primare i22 DAC integrated amp (that I now use as preamp), which is also a class D at 3x the price. The XTZ simply has more power for the low-end and an even level amp in midrange and treble. For $500 it's a steal if you like or don't mind Class D. A little about myself, since I plan on comming back to your comment section in the future; I'm a recently graduated electrical engineer from DTU, the university that e.g. hatched Icepower, with speciality in electro-acoustics, DSP and psycho-acoustics. I now work in the Danish audio industry as an electro-acoustic engineer. I still have much to learn, which is why I'm here, but would also like to think that I know what I'm talking about. Happy to see some Scandinavian products on this channel. Great videos, keep up the good work :)

[@ThomasAndStereo]

Thanks for the comment and I look forward to many of your future comments. Yeah, I did not use a SPL meter to level match it so it is possible. 100% agree for $500, it is a solid deal.

[@phonatic]

Once again, this just confirms how good these ICEpower modules really are.

[@stephenoverton8352]

Having tried several amplifiers with the infamous "ICE power modules", I found that they all sounded sterile, lifeless and sucked moose balls. Problem solved with amplifiers using Hypex modules. In Thomas' demo, you could clearly hear all the added sibilance with the XTZ amplifier. Not sure why he would find a lack of treble with the XTZ since that was mostly what I heard. Also, I personally wouldn't waste thousands of dollars on ANY Classe product. I HATE that company and wouldn't care if they closed their doors tomorrow!

[@ThomasAndStereo]

It could be the recording because that is a very bright recording. Look for the original version on youtube. With most of the normal music I listen to, I don't find that problem though.

[@phonatic]

@@stephenoverton8352 I have been using an 'infamous' ICEpower for quite some time and I am very pleased with its punchiness and clean precision, not a Classe but rather DYI with a self-selected preamp. Not for thousands but just a few hundred to make me happy. I recall the terminology from when I was little and the CD just began to take over more households. The term 'sterile' was used inflationary at that time amongst those who complained. There is a reason why many dislike too much precision and rather go for colorized sound options. I do enjoy sound imperfection myself a lot. Very often it can complement especially vintage selections in a positive way. And that's why I also enjoy lo-fi very much as long as it meets a proper context.

[@phonatic]

@@ThomasAndStereo That's a good point you made there!

[@lsim001]

I really enjoy the supplementary videos that you do to Sean's. I always watch both as it gives a better perspective on the product.

[@ThomasAndStereo]

Glad to hear it!

[@amazoidal]

This is a steal. My Parasound 2350 has a little more power but not for almost 3x the price. Also ICE Power module.

[@SweatLaserXP]

I find it odd that it wasn't great with the LS50. They're not easy to drive, but the XTZ does 300W into 4 ohm. What's the 8 ohm output on the XTZ?

[@geoemm]

Thomas the story telling reviewer, absolutely love your videos man

[@ThomasAndStereo]

Glad you enjoy it!

[@user-qe6cb1er6h]

I recently bought the Edge A2-300 amp. I also own the Iota vx 3 integrated amp and ps 3 amp. I actually like the sound of the Iota better when it is bridged together. It has more power and has better bass. I have switched the amps out many times, and I just can't hear any improvements when the Edge amp is playing.

[@stopthefomo]

If I was to start my audiophile journey all over, I would begin my investment with the room. Speaker and amp choices are highly dependent on your room’s acoustic response curve.

[@guyboisvert66]

Yeah, the room makes a huge dfference. Once i wa listening to a high end soundsystem... in a room full of various speakers! As you may guess, that was no justice to this soundsystemt and it was impossible to make a good listening there. So imagine let's say, a concrete wall room VS a wooden one. Wood floor vs carpet and so on. We can say that a room has its own transfer function.

[@sparklestudios2083]

How would approach a 16 X 22 feet (11 feet roof ) concrete wall and marble floors ? I plan to use my basement for AV room . I am going for Kplisch reference speakers with emotiva gen 3 power amp. Maybe pair it with Niam Uniti Atom for streaming the media.

[@karstenkrongaard9816]

You have a very good way explaining differences. My XTZ Edge will arrive later today, cant wait.

[@ThomasAndStereo]

Thanks for watching. Let me know.

[@winnwinn7580]

Everyone have their own opinion which device is considered their "First and foremost", Amp, Cables, Speakers, etc ... However one thing that everyone seems to forget is the "SOURCE" ...

[@1ndomitus]

It all begins with the recording.

[@lil-link]

Omg, thank you.. You are probably the 50th video I watch on "Audiophile Dude reviews Amplifier X" and you actually mention that the things you hear as something faulty could just as much be your room. To me, I don't care how much "your" amplifier, speaker and whatnot actually costs. If you really want to give your speakers some justification you gotta treat your room. Or maybe you know your regular setup soooo good that they will always monitor a dip/boost in like 150Hz. You get my point and thank you again haha.

[@SUde-vd1qo]

Good vid...Amp #2 sounded more musical (clearer and less congested) to my ears and set-up.

[@ThomasAndStereo]

Yup, but Amp A sound pretty good too right?

[@marc-andregagne6826]

@@ThomasAndStereo It does sound good, but to which degree is difficult to tell (recorded in mono?). To me AMPB destroys AMPA, it has much more treble content and is over much more musical. But not 8 times as good.

[@ThomasAndStereo]

True about treble content which I have explained in the video. However, to truly evaluate it, one have to go for long listening sessions. Some people might find the extra treble content fatiguing over long listening sessions.

[@costykali6930]

S-o where is sound test ...gush ITS the 4-rd or 5-th time when im watching this video and there are no test...

[@jeffbellemer7574]

I never comment on any KZbin videos, but I wanted to thank you for being a source of good vibes during these tough times. Considering starting a savings for one of these!

[@ThomasAndStereo]

Wow, thank you!

[@TH-lo8mq]

Over the years, I've realized the space matters more than anything. I tried putting high end speakers in an untreatable living room and was pretty disappointed. Meanwhile, you can sit nearfield with some $20 speakers and have a great experience. The point is, if you don't have a good listening space, expensive equipment will be wasted.

[@Mrch33ky]

Too true! I refer to it as the geometry of the speakers interacting with the geometry of the room and the geometry of your listening position. A bad room will not be improved by good or great equipment. But a good or great room sounds great even with low cost-fi arranged properly.

[@ThomasAndStereo]

I once heard a $70k+ system in a room with lots of reflective surfaces and I felt my friend's sub $1k system sounded better.

[@knotslip8862]

Great video. I think the thing that can make the largest difference in the sound of your system is the room. A great treated room cant make a bad system sound good but it can make a great system sound bad. A large part of what we hear is the room. For me, speakers would come next. Thanks!

[@williammay8413]

If I was starting out now with all my knowledge on sound I would go with speakers with 50% then amp 30% 20 % for rest.

[@kimchee94112]

I started my journey with a reel to reel deck and a set of headphones years ago. That was all the money I had, best bang for the $ then. Poor student, no money for the Nakamichi Dragon cassette deck or Stax electrostatic headphone.

[@cau8365]

Love your video and the way you unfold the story Thomas. IMHO, this is the best video you've created yet packed with vast of knowledge not only from your own experience but collaboration amongst your hifi enthusiast friends. The extra bonus at the end illustrated much time, effort, and love went into the creation. Kudo!!!

[@ThomasAndStereo]

Thanks, yes I spent a lot of time going over the details of the video with my friends to make sure it is true to our experience. People do make purchasing decisions sometimes based on our video and so we are extra careful.

[@tonyharrison2542]

For me, Amp "B" is easily the clear winner. I couldn't live with Amp "A". I find Amp A to thin, lean and much less musical.

[@doriarama]

TBH, I liked "B" too. But I also think that Thomas should also put the original clip between to compare: kzbin.info/www/bejne/p5DZm2qGn9iUarc

[@ThomasAndStereo]

Yeah but Amp B is 8x the price. Originally, I was going to do the sound demo by adding a subwoofer in to narrow the gap.

[@hushpuppykl]

I prefer B, more airy, better grip on the bass. But the different is not that much. Definitely can live with A.

[@ThomasAndStereo]

Yup, that was the take away I hope most people will get. Of course, we are comparing a $4k amp to a $500 amp and it would not make sense a $500 amp can beat a $4k amp. (Although most people hope that is the case) However, what this $500 amp can do is impressive.

[@hushpuppykl]

Thomas & Stereo ... ok, pulled the trigger. It’s packed and ready to be shipped out to me. 😂🤣 Gonna pair it with Cary Audio SLP-05, Mytek Brooklyn Bridge and P3ESR. See how it goes. Untreated room!

[@Imhalfamazing2U]

Okay, after watching tons of your videos, I finally subscribed. This video was extremely beneficial in helping me decide my next purchase in upgrading my system, and it will be this amplifier. I have always been interested in the $300 DIY Icepower amp, but this makes much more sense. I love that you reached out to the owner.

[@ThomasAndStereo]

Guys, for sure the 8x more expensive amp will most likely sound better but the point I was trying to show is that relatively speaking, the XTZ amp is not 8x behind in performance. Obviously if you can afford a $4k amp, go for it but maybe another strategy is to spend that $3.5k price difference on a better pair of speakers. Correction: Olle Eliasson is the founder and CEO of the company, Hampus is the product manager. For the US : $500 USD including shipping to the states. (Not an affiliated link.) www.xtzsound.com/product/edge-a2-300 For Europe 395 € www.xtzsound.eu/product/edge-a2-300 To see which is Amp A and B, check in the description box. Sound DEMO. Keep in mind the volume used was around 10 o'clock on the volume knob. 14:33 - Amp A 15:26 - Amp B

[@stopthefomo]

Thomas & Stereo An amp that’s 8x more does Not “sounds better” but different, right? Like you said, room matching and speaker matching is critical. 8x more expensive but matched to the wrong speaker would make any amp regardless of price still sound meh!

[@oscarjung5405]

Can you make a video of $1000 or $2000 hifi system (amp+preap+speaekrs) or suggestions for pairs depending on wanting bright / accurate / dark / whatever....

[@oscarjung5405]

@behexen250 Sure, but for those poor persons that correctly spend all their money starting a family and downpayment for the first house, they don't have $10K for a Hifi system. $2000 is manageable and relevant for a lot of people... and a big upgrade for a lot of people.

[@ThomasAndStereo]

Synergy is the most important. Does an amp 8x the price sound better is a discussion we can go for over beer. My answer is yes but you have to be smart about it. Meaning, you have to compare apples to apples. This example is not an apple to apple comparison.

[@ThomasAndStereo]

I was thinking of doing it but I would need the help of a retail store. I might eventually. The reason is because I want to talk about a perfect synergistic system instead of pieces.

[@nancright1352]

Thomas, thanks for your thoughtful and precise reviews. As you speak I find all my questions in my mind you answer timely. Very good.

[@j-rod6420]

I've noticed for a while now that the same product is getting reviewed by a lot of audiophile KZbin channels at the same time.This kind of looking suspicious like its more promotional then an actual unbiased product review. Thomas could you shed some light on this because I'm probably not the only one who is confused by this.

[@AvengedSevenfoldSG]

Don't think so. Usually when new products go out, if the company already have a working relationship with the reviewers, they would be sending the products over to review - (sometimes giving the product, most of the time not) - without paying the reviewer. The audiophile community isn't huge on KZbin and there's less than 10 reviewers who are popular among the community which makes it easy for companies to just send them out too. Additionally, if you notice, Thomas does quite a few reviews after watching Sean (ZERO Fidelity) do one. If the product Sean generates enough interest to Thomas, he will be inclined to do a review of the product to try it out himself. Also, if any of the reviewers are being paid for these reviews - I'm pretty sure they still give their honest opinions about it as they still bring out the negatives of the product, without losing honesty and integrity. So I'm fine with that too.

[@j-rod6420]

Your first statement seems to verify that some audiophile channels are bought and paid for.Free products to review? So what your telling me is they are only reviewing components that are sent to them ,to me this is just a good marketing strategy .The problem I see is a lot of people are seeing these reviews thinking that wow this is the best product in its class.Which could be,but also there could be hundreds better. There are so many companies out there ,but every month they review the same products. Why? Because these products have been sent to them free for promotion. The reason I asked this question to Thomas is he in my opinion is not to be put in this same group.

[@ThomasAndStereo]

I actually gotten a few gear that no one has but end up sending them back because it was not up to my standard. The reason I review a lot of gear Sean does is because if I find something he talked about interesting, I will ask him to introduce me to the manufacturer. If you look at the amount of gear he reviewed, I could ask for all of them but I don't. Now other manufacturers have reached out to me and sometimes I turn them down cause I don't have the time to review stuffs that might be not good. I only want to spend time on interesting stuffs. In fact, for this youtube channel, I spend almost no time listening to my own high end stuff and spend 80% of my time listening to budget gear. As such, if I am going to spend that kind of time, I want to make sure it is at least proven good gear. kzbin.info/www/bejne/aZexZ3-XfZ16iKc

[@j-rod6420]

It might have looked like I was grouping you in with these channels I was concerned about. I definitely was not,it was something that I was seeing in general on KZbin. I enjoy your reviews very much.

[@ZeroFidelity]

@@j-rod6420 Are you asking the question because you are curious and genuinely open to a real answer? Or have you already made up your mind and you're just looking to have your perspective validated? Big difference. I've posted videos about this in the past. The answer is simple: Of the many hundreds upon hundreds of hi-fi companies out there, only a small fraction of them are willing to send product out to KZbinrs for review. The reasons why are many: - Many Hi-Fi companies see no value in a YT review. - Some never even consider it. - Some doubt a KZbinrs ability to produce a fair review of their product - Others think its best to stick with the old guard / existing relationships. - Some are scared of how uncontrollable KZbinrs are. - Some companies want their product to be showcased a certain way. (like an ad) - Some KZbinrs are selfish/unpleasant behind the scenes, which leaves a bad impression and leads companies to believe that all KZbinrs behave the same way. The primary reason though, is that out of these hundreds and hundreds of hi-fi companies, only a relative few have fully embraced the YT platform. That's why you will see half (or over half) of the usual suspects reviewing the same product. Is it annoying? To some, yes. But the silver lining is that you get to see different perspectives from different people, all of which an help YOU, the consumer, to make an informed purchasing decision. The ironic thing is that whenever Thomas or I post about obscure gear, far fewer people show interest and will sometimes even b*tch about why somebody would buy it over a more popular option. Audiophiles are funny. Always demanding, rarely satisfied. Anyhoo, the bottom line is that not everything is nefarious. Sometimes the explanations are pretty straight forward. As for reviewers being "bought" because they occasionally get something for free: Literally everyone has their hands in the cookie jar in some way or another. Yes, I'm looking at you popular reviewer(s) who say "bruh, it's not free, it's a long term loan!" Now, whether or not this will actually influence a persons judgement will depend on that person. If you, as a consumer, feel that people should receive absolutely nada for their time and efforts, you are going to have an impossible time finding somebody to trust. And you won't be able to trust your fellow audiophiles, as they will all have extreme bias that influence their decisions.

[@Fond0fBlondes]

I could definitely hear that Amp B was the more revealing of the two amps. The snapping of the fingers and the LF notes were much more defined. I would definitely not settle for Amp A even if I was on a limited budget.

[@ThomasAndStereo]

But Amp B is 8x the price.

[@Fond0fBlondes]

@@ThomasAndStereo I know, but I would look for an Amp in the $1k to $2k range and even going for a second hand one. I am no longer in the hi-fi quest, but throughout the decades, there were always power-amps like the Phase Linear 400, Yamaha M4 and Rotel RB-1090 when I could not afford electronics from McIntosh, GAS, Krell, Mark Levinson etc. Although, I have not listened to the Marantz PM7000N, I would most probably start my journey from there if I was to start all over again.

[@Macias]

I would love You to try Crown XLS Drivecore 2.

[@buttonman1831]

I assume you have a Crown? What other amps have you owned?

[@ajzepp8976]

Great video, Thomas. Personally I love class D amps. Around 2013 I bought a Peachtree Nova integrated with the ICE modules, and that thing drove the hell out of my Magnepan 3.6s. My Butler amp - which I've had for over 15 years and has been the foundation of my system - recently developed some issues, so I picked up a Class D amp just to play with it. It puts out 600wpc into 4ohm, so it's really bringing the Maggies to life. I know it's not everyone's cup of tea, but I'm really glad we have "D" as part of all the amazing audio options these days. Happy listening!

[@ThomasAndStereo]

Yes and thanks for sharing your experience. Hopefully more people will embrace the change in technology as class D has improved significantly especially in the last few years.

[@carltoncotter2614]

Whoever said "focus on the cables first!" just lost all credibility.

[@ThomasAndStereo]

Hehe...no hifi youtube channel will dare to say that.. I know.

[@rlafosse]

Could not agree more....electrons are pretty easy going...

[@phantomplastics6582]

Cables make a huge difference and if you don't believe it that's because you've not tried it or you have such a cheap system that you can't hear it.

[@noelgrassy4278]

Phantom Plastics I have this bridge I’d like to sell you...

[@phantomplastics6582]

@@noelgrassy4278 grow up and do the experiment before commenting.

[@davidcooper5442]

Hi Thomas many thanks for this video. I have been using class d amps for over 15 years. i started with the Sonic Impact with the Tripath chip with a massive 8 wpc. They looked junk and were really crummy. But they sounded surprisingly good. I used a pair of them on a pair of my DIY 2 way speakers passive bi amped for about 6 years. I used a linear CB radio 12.8v power supply for each amp. Sadly one of them died. So i bought a pair of SMSL SA S1 amps using the same chip. The sound quality using the same power supply was truly superb , at the price they are a total steal I am still using them today passive bi amped on the same diy speakers. 2 years ago I built a pair of DIY large 2 way speakers and was looking for a pair of amps to run them. I decided to get a pair of the ALLO Volt + D which uses 2 TPA 3118 chips giving about 35 wpc . I use a pair of Meanwell industrial switch mode power supplies . The sound quality is truly superb with power control soundstage etc etc. So watching this i am intrigued by the XTZ . I am also intrigued by the UK built Nord Acoustics which use the latest Hypex NC power amp modules . These are more expensive than the XTZ and are supposed to be the best implementation of the Hypex modules. You can listen to my speakers on my You Tube page and see what the speakers are like on the amps. So many thanks for this video.

[@ThomasAndStereo]

Thanks for your long comment. I enjoy reading the story of others. I took a look at your channel, OMG, your system looks impressive.

[@davidcooper5442]

@@ThomasAndStereo I have 5 systems in my home and a variety of vintage speakers that are very rare.

[@davidcooper5442]

Your friend Mr Vintage might be interested in the rare vintage speakers

[@michaelmityok1001]

Law of diminishing returns on full display here

[@donalddeorio2237]

The best budget amplifier I've encountered is the one I still own. The Carver AV 705x home theater amp. 125 killer watts / channel, runs cool plenty of power. Have had it for 17years never disappointed in all that time

[@ThomasAndStereo]

Nice, if you ran it for 17 years, definitely an amazing investment.

[@donalddeorio2237]

@@ThomasAndStereo it only cost me $450 on Ebay, have it paired with a Marantz av7005, that my sons bought me fo my 60th birthday last year got my money's worth, and still going strong. Enjoy your reviews, thanks

[@haris525]

I love Chinese food! I just don’t like class D amps..

[@hushpuppykl]

haris javed ... no bat stew ok! 😂🤣

[@ThomasAndStereo]

Only snakes with lots of oil :)

[@haris525]

hushpuppykl I am a vegetarian bro!

[@hushpuppykl]

haris javed .. well we got great Chinese vegetarian, there are duck, chicken, fish dishes made out of soy based products. 😂🤣

[@imoestan6748]

Better than Chinese hifi...

[@theformerbuttler]

very subtle. I downloaded the sound ab test and ran some tests on them. I did it blindly. null test showed some hf differences. ultimately i preferred amp b as it was slight smoother, and had a fuller mid-low range. $6,000 difference? not even close. I wanted the little guy to win, and I would say it did because it came that close.

[@agentm83]

"It's in my blood, if it's a good deal, I have to have it!" Haha, Chinese(?) joke

[@ThomasAndStereo]

Yeah, I was going to say it is in my Asian blood but was worried other Asian might be offended by it.

[@agentm83]

@@ThomasAndStereo I'm white but from BC (have lived in Vancouver) so recognized it, lol. One of my roommates is from Hong Kong.

[@agustinsapad7575]

@@ThomasAndStereo Oh no!!! Not at all!!! Cheers!!!!

[@zatosan729]

I thank you for your channel and the effort it takes to share your findings. Great job....

[@igaldins]

Superb video again Thomas! Thank you! On my bluetooth bose 35 headphones amp B is much better but on my in ear wired armature earbuds there is no clear winner. Amp B is brighter but not better (except dynamics- dynamics are still better on amp B). So looks like this XTZ amp is really a very good value. A monitor- flat sounding earphones are necessary to evaluate those youtube demo comperations.

[@ThomasAndStereo]

Yup, they are no doubt good value, keep in mind Amp B is 8x the price of Amp A.

[@Peter-ii4xq]

Always start with acoustic treatment & soeakers. Take measurements in your room. Find the best place for your speakers and listening chair. Then find an amp that matches with your speakers. After that try sources and finally the cables.

[@daveclifford4887]

This is actually a very good recommendation. I have changed sources and feel like I need to go back and review my amp choices. Starting with some different cables first, hoping I can get lucky

[@marktran630]

I have tried Bryston, Aragon, Lexicon, McIntosh, Parasound, Classe Audio and many more brands of power amplifiers in my 30 plus years in this hobby. To my ears, I find that the Classe Audio amplifiers sound signature is right for me. It can drive any speakers I have plugged into it. I agree with Thomas. If you have good amplification, your speakers will sing like you have never heard it sang before.

[@ThomasAndStereo]

Yes check out my latest video on beginner's advice when building a hifi system.

[@iamyuanwu]

A has more body on the vocals, and the bass is so much fun! Less holographic, the ticking sound was less distinct and blended a little into the background. B is more airy, more holographic, better clarity and focus (perceived). Ticking sound at the beginning was distinct and caught my attention immediately. Bass notes are clearer too, but less fun (does this mean it is tighter and better?) As usual disclaimer goes: listened through my system, my ears, my preferences, and over KZbin. I originally thought A = Classe, B = XTZ. =P I'd have XTZ for 2nd system or for the TV or for my mom's setup. And B for 1st system, and add a subwoofer(s) to turn up the bass when needed! Thank you Thomas for the comparison recordings!

[@iamyuanwu]

Thomas, there's another amp around the same price (if you buy from Amazon) that I hope you will review some day: NuForce STA200. Goldmund inside!

[@user-od9iz9cv1w]

Great review. You present a product in a very balanced way. Clearly it would be a great first or budget audiophile amp someone could enjoy very well. Also really appreciated the Demo with the Amp A/B label. I listened a couple of times before revealing A vs B. I conclusively preferred Amp B by a wide margin. I thought the big reveal would show that B was the budget amp. Fascinating that listening on KZbin with good headphones can reveal so much.

[@JuanGonzales-or6pu]

Thomas, you are foremost a Storyteller! your mannerisms reminded me of a good friend from HK

[@tc6578]

I will stick with my mid-80s Bryston 3B power amp for the time being.... However, it is nice hear that this affordable XTZ amp is so highly recommended.

[@ThomasAndStereo]

Yeah, Mr Vintage has the Bryston 3B too, nice amp.

[@cablebrain9691]

I felt that B was much better, and that it was your high end setup. Every aspect of it sounded better. Worth 10x the price? I can't discern that from this demo.

[@roguemodel]

I understand what Thomas is saying about the volume on the XTZ, BUT, using the amp in monobloc configuration renders that roughness Mr. Kanta heard null.

[@guyboisvert66]

Always interesting to have an opinion of somebody who likes music and sound! Thanks.

[@photodesignch]

Oh! How funny about timing!! Last time you've forwarded me to Zero Fidelity when I was looking for a budget amp not long ago. After I re-evaluate my needs, I decided on XTZ. I am actually receiving the shipment today, and I just saw the video today.. What a great timing! Thanks Thomas for the review!!!

[@ThomasAndStereo]

Awesome! Let me know how it performs in your system. Also, check out my DIY $300 class D amp-video as I explained how I got the best sound out of class D amps.

[@photodesignch]

@@ThomasAndStereo I actually did Thomas. However, the links to the video fo DIY a class D amp, all his links were dead. Maybe it's probably because I have a ad blocker network?

[@photodesignch]

Hi Thomas! Giving you an update. Got the XTZ for a while now and for the triangle borea br03 pair with it. I have schiit saga+ as preamp and an old psb sub. The volume wasn’t very high since saga+ has zero gain. I need to crank up to 1 o’clock for a proper volume. But when I listen to your reference “crystal eyes”, the bass isn’t “heavy” per se but clear and punchy. Gave me an impression that my 12” sub actually sounded like a 10” with quick responds. I guess the word is “lean bass” but still exists. The range of high frequency rolls off on sharpest end but it goes very high. The low goes super low as well. The dynamic range had been stretched. Mid tone has wide sound range. When listening to bad recording or music with out heavy low bass frequency it feels lacking the punch to the chest. But songs that goes down to the low bass region, the amp shows no problem to represent it. The only problem is my preamp has no gain and I tried to crank volume up on XTZ. At around 90%+ amplify, signal has audible ground noise. Not very sure If that’s the tube preamp saga+‘s fault or the volume of XTZ simply doesn’t mean to be cranked to the top. I leave it at 90%. I guess another solution is to acquire another XTZ set as mono blocks. I am running on the stereo mode now. Thanks for the suggestion again!

[@hlurpseed]

I could tell just on my iPhone that the second amp was the more expensive one mainly because it had a better stage and brighter highs with more detail - but it is also clearly not 10 times better than the first one. #DiminishingReturns #GreatDeal

[@dwightballard3868]

Interesting analysis about the differences between amp topology. I have an older Rowland class D amp- the 301 and do not find any problems with the mid range. Obviously Jeff does an excellent job designing a 30k amp, there is plenty of dynamics and control throughout the range. I do notice when the music gets into double-forte and busy, it loses some of it's ability and becomes congested. My Krell 403 gets out of the shop soon, so I'll be really interested to compare a pure class A amp with the Rowland 301. Good, thoughtful review as always Thomas.

[@Driving_Somewhere]

Love the invaluable and uncommon insight you provide Thomas.

[@erichill5328]

Dual XTZ Edge in mono 👍🏻 They have some interesting floorstanders and bookies.

[@ThomasAndStereo]

Yeah, they should have sent me 2!

[@ltlai9465]

Thanks for reviewing this XTZ EDGE A2-300, great video. Can do it again with their Sprit 4 or 99.25 speaker. So far, unable find any new review video on XTZ speakers except Andrew Robinson. If possible, do match them with other shoebox equipment s such as the SMSL SP400 Preamp and SU9 DAC (or their flagship D1 DAC). Very interested to know how good these shoebox gadgets perform.

[@dpfreedman]

Very glad to hear the briefly interjected enthusiastic endorsement of Alan Yun's Silverline Sonata speakers. Aside from being one of the nicest gentlemen I've ever met, Alan is also a tremendously talented speaker designer. I've owned several pairs of Silverline speakers over the years but the Boleros in my living room aren't going anywhere. Superb sounding and beautiful.

[@ThomasAndStereo]

Yeah, I have gone thru over maybe 40 pairs of speakers and this is one of my favorite. I would love to try other Silverline speakers.

[@saint6563]

Demo Material: Usually despise 'obscure' demo tracks; much prefer "classic" demo cuts [even though BORING to hear the same old stuff over & over all the time/it's proven to be a far better way in evaluating equipment]. That being said, really enjoyed the song on many levels. Both from an enjoyment standpoint & an evaluation standpoint. TY

[@pedecia]

Love your reviews as there is always a story behind.

[@decoryder]

What a wonderful review, well done Thomas!

[@ThomasAndStereo]

Thanks for watching

[@pierrelailvaux6227]

An added suggestion for one of your sound experiments. Most listening rooms even treated ones like yours will display various peaks and troughs in the low bass region in different parts off the room that to my mind no amount of room correction software could properly solve. The proper solution to my mind is to adopt the Nelson Pass idea of multiple low bass (subwoofers) sources on each of the walls. With suitable level adjustments you'd achieve level bass performance throughout the room thus making it a more enjoyable experience for a greater amount of listeners. It'd be a great experiment.

[@enian82]

Hi Thomas, I have been watching your channel for a while. I have some basic questions. It would be very helpful if you could answer them for me and other people in a similar situation. For amplifying sound we need an Amplifier. 1. Why do we need a preamp? Is one better over the other? 2. How much improvement can one get over using a DAC vs not using a DAC? 3. If the vintage gear is so good won't the vintage companies who still manufacture gear now will have better gear compare to what they sold in the 1970's ? 4. Some of the amplifiers don't have subwoofer so does that mean the manufacture thinks we don't need a subwoofer? So you think we should get an amp with the subwoofer or not? 5.For someone who have no idea between class A B C and D how can I find that for myself ? 6. What is the difference between Amplifier, Integrated amplifier and preamp? Thanks

[@ThomasAndStereo]

1) The preamp will change the sound of your system. For example, if I add a tube preamp in the system, it will create a more holographic sound stage. There is no best preamp, just the right preamp for you. Is the change in sound a good thing? Only you can tell, from my experience 99% of the time yet. 2)Dac vs No Dac, are you referring to using a computer output jack vs an external Dac? Big difference but it depends on how revealing your system is. It can be as big as the grand canyon but system dependant. 3)There is what I call vintage sound and modern analytical sound. Check out my video on primaluna integrated amp. The world's taste has changed and we most system are voice with modern analytical sound as opposed to being musical. Also check out my video on what speaker to buy. 4)Usually I would connect my subs to my preamp and not my amp. 5) This one is hard, check out zero fidelity and Ps audio, they made a video on it I think. Well PS audio for sure did. 6) Integrated amp = Poweramp combined with pre amp. Amp is used to power the speakers, preamp , well think of it as a volume control. PS audio has made some great video on this subject.

[@enian82]

@@ThomasAndStereo Thank you kindly Sir. I bought the Elac debt 6.2 speakers and trying to figure out what amp, premap to buy so I can stream music from online to the system.

[@carloc8763]

Thank you Thomas, excellent video, as usual. I am in the market for a power amp for a second music system in the house. I toyed with the idea of tubes (I watched a lot of you videos on Reisong, etc), but eventually I steered towards class D. Now I think I will for the XTZ. Keep it up!!!!

[@ThomasAndStereo]

If you have just a bit more budget, you might want to wait for my upcoming LSA class D amp video.

[@carloc8763]

@@ThomasAndStereo Thank you, I definitely will.

[@dagobertdegrave5119]

Installed the XTZ Edge A2-300 with a Bluesound node 2i as preamp to replace my TEAC CR-H500NT (which needs a CD repair). The XTZ drives a set of 6 Ohm bookshelf Monitor Audio Silver RX1 speakers (C-cam drivers) throug 2.5 mm2 OFC (13 AWG) speaker cable. I didn’t buy the amp for its power, but for the claimed chatacteristics and setting options. The auto-on sense function on the line input and the gain setting make it a versatile amp. Being an intro for me to class D amps... I’m most impressed.

[@ThomasAndStereo]

Nice, thanks for the feedback.

[@planchernewfinish]

Great amp, had the chance to listen to it in my room with 101db Tyler acoustics speakers and 89db carver amazing platinum mk4 ,the difference with the carver(very hard to drive) made the amp sound tubey(in a good Way) . Thaïs amp has good textures and harmonics , the image is focused, Never sounds blurry on complex passages. Very good bang for the buck. Not as dynamic as I would like but good enough.

[@bionicbob1285]

I have both Ncore 500 and Pascal amps. I'll put these against my MC501's any day for alot less. They dont have the "McIntosh signature sound" which you either love or hate but they sound amazing for $800 each. Great review. I cant believe you don't have 100,000+ subscribers.

[@ThomasAndStereo]

Thanks for the compliment. Mcintosh MC501? I would love to try those one day.

[@bionicbob1285]

@@ThomasAndStereo they sound just like Mcintosh MC205 just play a little louder. I push them to the edge of 205 which is why I bought 501s. At time the needle pegs just past 3/4 power. B&W diamonds are power hungry

[@smcpac]

Hi Thomas and friends! Thanks for this review! I’ve been waiting to hear your views on the XTZ Edge. I was hoping you would have tried it with the Triangle Boreas, as they both seem to be in the “overachiever”, value for money bracket and are a natural pairing at 100 watts, 8 ohms, 89-90db at $1000. Just add a cheap & cheerful DAC/Pre, like the new Topping E30, or something similar, that employs the AKM, “velvet sound” family chip set, that’s well known for its warm, full yet clear but forgiving sound and fairly expansive soundstage; and, as they say, Bobs your uncle! If you would comment on this, as well as, power and speaker cable recommendations, I’m sure it would be appreciated by all! Thanks again for all your efforts in supporting our little family!

[@ThomasAndStereo]

Yeah, Mr Kanta and me were talking about the Br03 and was guessing it will sound awesome together. Sadly I never tried it. For cables, I don't usually comment on it and if you want to know why, check out this video. kzbin.info/www/bejne/f6WplKekrLigerc Topping DAC? Yeah I need to get my hands on one. Never heard them.

[@swu11]

I have Magnepan MMG speakers, wondered if this amp could be a good upgrade from an old Emotiva amp? Enjoy story telling along side with review, thanks for the review!

[@roly5250]

Thomas, thank you. In Europe they cost 495.00 Euro (not 395.00). 🤔😔😊☺️

[@ThomasAndStereo]

It was on special when I made the video

[@FlemmingDP]

Even though i am just listening to this on iMac , the B is a clear winner to my ears. Its way better.Now i am going to take a listen through my stereo to see if i still think the same...if i change my mind i will comment here.

[@ThomasAndStereo]

Well it is no suprised since it is 8x the price but amp A is more than good enough in my opinion.

[@gordthor5351]

I agree that speakers shouldn't be the first concern without first getting a decent power amp. Detailed speakers will only show the shortcomings of poor power amps. They will also show the shortcomings of the DAC and preamp. I don't think it is possible to have a absolute order of what is most important, because everything matters and makes a difference (good or bad). I am not an expert, but I am very sensitive to bad sound (I have to shut it off after a few minutes). From my experience you need a decent (neutral for me at least) power amp for sure. From my tweaks I was most impressed from getting the room right (or at least good enough), better source (DAC then Preamp second, because everything gets amplified (good or bad). I haven't had the opportunity to use the gear you have, but I have some decent stuff, like KEF LS 50s, R 900s, JC mono blocks, a bunch of B&K and Parasound gear. I have a few pairs of Polk RTI A9s and I thought they were too bright when I got them (I had a lesser amp/preamp), but in a well damped room with the ports plugged, spiked into concrete, neutral amp and good DAC, they sound very good and actually are little rolled off in the highs, but nothing "bites" and the bass is strong and tight without ever being overbearing (bloated). My JC1 and R 900s systems gained silky smooth and airy highs by a better DAC, but now the bass is too much for my room. The LS 50s sound pretty sweet on it, but missing out on the deep bass. I will figure it out, but my point is that more expensive isn't a guarantee that people can just set up the system and expect everything to sound perfect. I guess half the fun is figuring out the right tweaks that put a big smile on our faces. I really appreciate your objectivity and calling it like it is.

[@JoshStephens24]

Would love to know how this XTZ paired with an IOTAVX SA3, compares to the IOTAVX stack?? Looking to pair these options with Triangle Br-03.

[@jimmyFX]

i like the fact that you included the room acustics,in your opinion of the XTZ,,,rooms are always forgoten in reviews,,they actually play a big part in sound,,,do u happen to have any vids on room acustics,,,comparing room sizes,,dead rooms vs,hard rooms,,,,thanks for the vid...

[@mrrexy4151]

Hey Thomas, everybody talks about speaker or interconnect cables, but what about cables and wires inside amp (and also inside speakers), I'm sure that they are limiting effects of other cables so you can put a $5K cable on speakers it is limited with speaker inter cables, or amp inter cables. What do you think?

[@ThomasAndStereo]

There is no doubt about it. Cheap cables inside the amp, speakers and behind the walls...I admit, make us cable worshippers look like idiots :)

[@iamyuanwu]

I've tried rewiring internal cables of an cheap amp (USD130 amp) with silver (signal) + Duelund tin-plated copper (ground). You'd never think 6 inches would make such a big difference.

[@mrrexy4151]

@@iamyuanwu I also replace original cables in my Bang&Olufsen Beovox 150.1 speakers with silver one. Like you said, it make huge difference...

[@qball2000able]

1st- Great review 2nd- Will the XTZ EDGE A2-300 be a good match for Klipsch RF-7 III or Klipsch heresy iv? Thanks!!!!

[@ThomasAndStereo]

It can be given it rolls off the top a bit. However, you would buy something a bit better for those speakers!

[@NiSHAN256]

That's exactly what I need during those hard times, a Thomas video ❤.

[@ThomasAndStereo]

Glad it was entertaining.

[@ishd59]

Interesting comparison! For me amp B in the demo sounded much better on the vocals

[@pharoahamunra]

I noticed the same thing.then I seen your comment.then I thought ok im not alone on that.

[@dannyng5427]

@@pharoahamunra I have Hypex Ncore NC400 mono and noticed the same thing. I think Class D is good for instrument but not vocal. It has excellent detail and instrument separation. I am getting Willsenton R8 tube amp to try that is what Jay recommended.

[@ThomasAndStereo]

Nice, I wanted to get that tube amp too, let me know how it sounds.

[@ebarbie5016]

Amplifiers have nothing to do with the sound stage or holographic images... Amplifier amplifies the signal. It doesn't process it...

[@akispapasavvas9307]

Thomas, can you please revew the Adcom 555SE? So many people would love to bring back memories of this exelent Nelson Pass design. The old 555 was a best seller at that times. Thank you.

[@ememe1412]

IMO, I would start with room trearment to even out the acoustic playing field. If one was to start first and not look at speakers first, then the room has to be treated. Without a treated room, the speaker characteristics become more unpredictable across its range and SPL levels. You observed this phenomena yourself with the Sonata. I agree with your opinion about the correct power amp. You nailed it in this comparison. At a particular output with very close parameters in objective measurements driving the same load, A LOT of modern amps will sound the same. Push the amps to deal with dynamic swings and the speakers' impedance curves, and you separate adequate amps from very good amps. Just the power supply design between two of the same topologies is telling. (The same for those that think they can eq the whole thing flat and not pay careful attention to components. The eq is flat only at the particular level they choose. Once the music plays and the system is pushed, the laws of physics happen and the mechanical characteristics of drivers cannot always comply with the electrical 'shaping' imposed by EQ and the amps non linearities show.)

[@ThomasAndStereo]

Yes, true the room treatment is very important and what you said about the poweramp is gold! Something I can mention about in the future.

[@nasieribrahim3777]

Hi, thanks for the great review. Do you think the XTZ would be sufficient to drive a Magnepan LRS properly?

[@ThomasAndStereo]

I have to try it since I have both.

[@nasieribrahim3777]

Thomas & Stereo That would be highly appreciated. I’m looking to replace my current Marantz PM5005 because I know the LRS can do so much better.

[@jkerrin]

That would be great Thomas. I would love to know how the XTZ pairs up with the Magnepan LRS. And if using two XTZs as monoblocks is a wise decision.

[@michaelhald3819]

How did it work with LRS ?

[@tupuhumuhumunukunukuapuaa3093]

Sooo, I'm listening through a Bose SoundLink Mini at the moment and Amp A sounded thin in the vocal compared to Amp B and neither sounded great in the treble and that could be my crappy SoundLink, but the mid range difference was there for me. I think I liked Amp B better.

[@MrButuz]

Amp 2 superior for me. I didn't read the description until after listening. More air and space, less sibilant but still with plenty of detail. Bit smoother overall. Clearly, not worth 8 x as much money, but, if you can afford it then I guess it is worth it! I've got an XTZ AP-100 power amp which is an old Class A amp they did years ago. That is exactly the same, not quite up there with the best, provides 90% of the performance for 10% of the cost.

[@ThomasAndStereo]

Yup, also keep in mind I was driving these at about 10 o'clock volume and that is where the higher end amp starts pulling away.

[@liamo4]

Amp A sounded a bit thin to me. Amp B was more musical and the singer sounded more fleshed out.

[@nnaaeee]

my goodness thomas! I like your new camera! I'm glad you are thinking about how to improve the production value of your vids and I'm sure the trip to Jay's place did inspire you a little.

[@ThomasAndStereo]

Ah, I am into photography and I actually have the gear already, just was lazy to use it!

[@NosTubes58]

Thomas, while I’m aware that you’re not the type to hear power cords and the likes........., I’d say that a pair of Supra Phy Classics 3/4 SCs, would serve your Silverline Sonata’s well. One doesn’t always have to replace their gear, especially when cabling much like tube rolling, with tube gear are meant to voice ones system towards one flavor ( signature ) versus another. Just food for thought.

[@ThomasAndStereo]

I never heard of those. Currently I am using Cardas power cables.

[@richardvanvliet2287]

Hi Thomas. I really enjoyed your video. It was informative about the amp and entertaining in the way you brought it. And, to my surprise (not being an audiophile), i could hear a clear difference in the soundclips. After the positive feedback from you (and Sean and Andrew) on the XTZ, i would love to see it compared to the Nord One MP NC252 from Nord Acoustics. Similar class D amp with Hypex modules for a similar price ...

[@ThomasAndStereo]

Yes, it is normal there is a difference in sound since it is 2 different amps. I know you might have heard people say all amps sound the same but in this video, it clearly shows it does not. I would love to check out Nord Acoustics and hopefully they will reach out to me one day to send me one to review.

[@ronaldmcdonald2456]

The madness I'm crafting will require lots of amplification. It'll be LXminis using a PASS 8-channel electronic crossover. I've built 4 channels of Neurochrome to feed the highs and mids. In the coming months will start building 4 channels for bass, and in this instance it'll be ESP-P101; a MOSFET I've built before and love because of its awesome bass control. BUT, for the sake of GETTIN' THE SHOW ON THE ROAD :) I grabbed a couple of the ICE-based amps some months ago as a cheap way to start enjoying the system while I continue working on my other big boy amps. Now you've got me thinking this XTZ might be a better alternative stopgap, since here in Germany there wouldn't be that much difference in pricing between the ICE and the XTZ. So, Thomas, having heard both, which one would you go with? (Mind you, the ICE boxes and parts remain un-assembled at the moment, and could be easily passed along to my young neighbor.) As always, luv your reviews.

[@ThomasAndStereo]

They do sound different with this one have a more neutral top end. Depends on how you want to voice your system.

[@mokobigbro]

I feel B is louder. Need to have it gain matched.

[@riccitone]

Wow...similar to what was stated before. Both are great, but amp B. Amp B! Interested in what slight changes in gain adjustment would render? Ultimately very happy that you used a Schiit Freya with these, as I’ve been considering the exact combo with the XTZ. Still considering it thanks to your excellent review!

[@ThomasAndStereo]

Yes, it does pair well with the Freya. I think I did most of my listening with the Freya and Modwright.

[@peterdesmidt8742]

Did you try the amp with Magnepan LRS?

[@charliemathews5210]

Thomas a little secret the designer of your Silverline speakers (Alan) loves using the 30.8 Pass with his speakers. Your video channel is wonderful keep up the excellent work. Blessings to you and your loved ones!

[@ThomasAndStereo]

THanks, darn now i have to go hunt for a passlabs X30.8!

[@charliemathews5210]

@@ThomasAndStereo Check out Reno HiFi ask for Mark a very patient kind and knowledgeable understanding owner. Actually he is the best"!