Power amplifiers stereo — Emotiva XPA-DR3

The Emotiva XPA-DR3 is a power amplifier with three channels, part of the Differential Reference series, a family of fully differential, fully balanced amplifiers that the company designs and assembles in the USA. The series spans monoblocks, two-channel units and three-channel models, and some of them come in both full-size and compact rack-friendly versions. Emotiva lists the XPA-DR3 at USD 2,699 and builds it to order, and each unit carries a 5-year factory warranty.

Key specs that matter

Emotiva rates it at 450 W RMS per channel into 8 ohm and 600 W RMS into 4 ohm, all three channels driven, both at under 0.1% THD. Power bandwidth runs from 20 Hz to 20 kHz within 0.1 dB, and the frequency response extends from 20 Hz to 50 kHz at +0/-2 dB. THD plus noise stays below 0.015% at 100 W RMS, 1 kHz and 8 ohm, the signal to noise ratio exceeds 120 dB referenced to FTC rated power, with a damping factor over 500 into an 8 ohm load. The chassis measures about 432 mm wide, 203 mm high and 483 mm deep including feet, and the amplifier has a net weight of about 22.5 kg.

Engineering and use context

Every channel uses its own Differential Reference module, built as an independent Class A/B circuit of discrete parts in a dual differential, high current arrangement whose signal route is kept short. Rail voltage follows Emotiva's Soft-Switch Class H approach, which aims to combine Class A/B operation with better efficiency. Instead of a conventional linear supply, the amplifier draws on a custom-configured version of the company's regulated switch mode power supply, rated to deliver over 3 kW of continuous power while staying light for its output. Every input accepts either a balanced XLR or an unbalanced RCA feed, selected per channel by the user. A 12V trigger input and output let the amplifier start whenever the connected preamplifier or processor starts, and speakers attach through gold-plated 5-way binding posts. Protection circuits guard against overheating, short circuits and ground faults.

Pairing

The three-channel layout suits the left, centre and right front speakers of a home cinema driven from an AV processor, or a stereo pair plus one extra channel. Because each input can be set independently, a balanced preamplifier and an unbalanced source can share the chassis, and the trigger link keeps start-up of the whole chain synchronised.

Alternatives

The Emotiva XPA-DR2 is the two-channel Differential Reference model.