Do you like to BOOGIE?! 60 watts of Class A/B Goodness!! Exposure XM5 Integrated Amplifier Review

[@harrybaque5502]

Doing great work on this channel! Keeping it fun and informative is what this hobby needs!!!

[@SmallRoomAudio]

Thank you, very much appreciate the kind words! 😊

[@SmallRoomAudio]

I wanted to pin some additional information to add a few things to the review: 1. Firstly, this amp doesn't have any streaming functionality - to me that's not a biggie given the excellent presentation the XM5 provides, but I should have noted it in the review as the trend these days is to include everything in one box. It's also a class A/B powered amp - nice and meaty! 2. The XM5 is only really overtly smooth and soft when using the internal DAC. It definitely leans a bit warm when used just as an amplifier but comes alive when you use something with a bit more gusto - and therefore the speaker matching is only a real concern if you want to use the DAC inside. I can imagine you could get decent results with an Elac Reference or Dynaudio Evoke if the DAC was 'peppy enough'. 3. Thirdly, I made a bit of a sweeping statement that the Schiit stack sounds 'better' (sorry for not going into this more) The Schiit soundstage has more depth and the sound has a really nice sense of ease, it just flows - however - the big thing here is power - The XM5 has 60w whilst the Aegir has only 20w and does genuinely struggle on hard to drive speakers. So despite the slight sonic advantage the Schiit holds, I would say the XM5 is a better bet if you want to 'plop and drop' a nice integrated into your listening room! Big Sonic Love! Small Room Audio

[@fletchermunson6225]

I hope see you back again soon. Love your work. Something else to consider is the seldom seen Schiit Raganok 2 integrated. Schiit seems to be hard to find unless you step in it.

[@Anand.Asrani]

Superb Review ! The comparison helps Put things in the right perspective ...like I Know the Schiit Aegir Signature ...so I understand the XM5 instantly ...Thanks

[@SmallRoomAudio]

Thank you 🙏 😊

[@fletchermunson6225]

Good job David Keep them coming.

[@SmallRoomAudio]

Thank you 🙏 I’ve got a couple of fun ones coming in the next few weeks - might get out and about for some filming too! 👍

[@fletchermunson6225]

@@SmallRoomAudio Sounds good. Looking forward to it. I't'll give me break from playing around with cheap audio cables. Have you considered reviewing any Musical Fidelity amp? I don't know if JBL has distribution in the UK, but their new HDI1600 is very nice. Quite an immediate presence that captures you. Took a while to run in but worth it.

[@SmallRoomAudio]

I used to own a MF M6si - was ok...very meaty sound and could drive anything but wasn’t enough finesse up top for my taste. Let me know about your cables - I bought some Mogami XLR to play with as they seemed very good value!

[@fletchermunson6225]

@@SmallRoomAudio You're going to regret asking. I used to own a cable company back in the dawn of high end audio but had to give it up. I have always enjoyed playing with cables and recently found some very good inexpensive cables. I wanted to see if I could discover some inexpensive cable worth buying for those who are cable phobic or just don't have the means. I use Audience Ohno interconnects, a Kimber D60 digital cable and Kimber KT2 speaker cable. Thats about $1500 in cables and consistent with what I want to spend on Audio at this time. A year ago I started out thinking I'd remodel my shop stereo for maybe, $1500 and now hav set a new bar of bout $1500 per piece of equipment...mostly. The only thing that keeps me from further indulging is my space can't handle tower speaker and I can no longer safely lift a 100 pounds tube amplifier. Oh well, If you die with too much money you've missed the point have you not? On Amazon and Ebay there are some good cables. Amphenol (Worlds Best Audio Cables (!?) has some good ones. The best is an interconnect using Mogami 2497 wire and locking RCAs for $85. It is very good at half the cost of my Audience cables. All their cables Using Mogami and Gotham wire are good, priced $28 to $45. I don't like the cables utilizing Canare cable. Canare doesn't use OFC wire and you can hear it. Don't bother with the $135 upgraded 2497 cable with the fancy RCA plugs. Doesn't sound as good as the $85 cable. Even their $28 interconnect is good tonally but lacks nuance and "air". Their speaker cable is a coax Mogami wire that is good but I think I might prefer the Mogami bulk cable with quad 14WG wires, You pair two for a aggregate 11AWG cable. AWG Stands for American Wire Gauge anarchic industrial revolution nomenclature hold over. Just get some screw on bananas like those made by Nakamichi, and shrink tubing and roll your own. Cost is about $5 a linear foot. I found that both the Canre and Mogami digital cables sold on ebay are good values and go four about $35.. The Wydeeye coax is also good and meaty sounding. I use the Mogami on my BlueSound streamer. The silver Kimber D60 retails for $460 but Kimber's model 30 coax cable for $95 is really excellent. Much better value. I dislike toss links in general not having head one that could yet out perform a good coax BUT if you must. Lyfatec make the best I've heard at jut a little over $100. Thats about it. For about $250 - $500 one can outfit a system with very nice cables. Bear throw away ICs and lamp cord. This is where the cable deniers start in with their capped comments and exclamation points. You can save it. I couldn't care less. Every credible reviewer I follow all use custom cables. Get over it. www.gothamaudiousa.com/index.html You can also buy Mogami 2497 in bulk and terminate it yourself saving enough for a nice soldering station on Amazon. audiomods.datsunzgarage.us/mogami/

[@stephencosta6814]

@@fletchermunson6225 fantastic advice thanks 🙏🏻

[@spuddyl9938]

I have the Rega Brio and I wonder if this would be a worthy upgrade. I would not use the built in dac

[@jasonme3557]

So a set of KEF or Focal speakers will match good

[@JulioSkovHansen]

I have Exposure XM HP :)

[@stephencosta6814]

Hello David great review 👍💪 i’m thinking of exposure 2510 would sound even better? PS You R really very handsome..

[@SmallRoomAudio]

I haven’t heard that amp, but I suspect it might be another step up, I know it’s very well regarded. And thanks for the compliment!

[@Progster1980]

Buongiorno questo amplificatore può pilotare le Monitor Audio Gold 100 4g? È abbastanza potente?

[@alejandroolivares-nunez7896]

Hey do you think amp will pair well with an Ifi zen v2?

[@SmallRoomAudio]

Absolutely - if you like the Zen, the Exposure will only add to your enjoyment!

[@Progster1980]

Buongiorno questo amplificatore può pilotare le Monitor Audio Gold 100 4g? È abbastanza potente?