Предусилители — Emotiva XSP-2

The Emotiva XSP-2 is a stereo preamplifier in the Differential Reference series, described by the company as a fully differential, fully balanced analogue stereo control centre placed between sources and power amplifiers. It succeeds the XSP-1 and adds a modular expansion scheme. The list price is USD 1,599, and Emotiva gives it a 5-year transferable warranty.

Key specs that matter

The analogue inputs comprise four RCA line pairs, two balanced XLR pairs, one phono pair and one pair of processor loop inputs, with Home Theater Bypass available on both RCA and XLR. An ESS-based DAC module is installed at the factory and adds HDMI-ARC, USB up to 24-bit/768 kHz PCM and DSD512, two coaxial and two optical inputs, the last four rated at 24-bit/192 kHz. Maximum output is 8 V RMS on XLR and 4 V RMS on RCA. Line-level frequency response is 20 Hz to 20 kHz at +0/-0.1 dB, THD plus noise is below 0.0005% at 1 kHz, and noise sits over 119 dB down balanced and 117 dB via RCA. The DAC path measures under 0.0008% THD plus noise and over 112 dB signal to noise. The phono stage reaches above 95 dB signal to noise for MM and 80 dB for MC, with distortion under 0.01% and 0.1% respectively. Size is 432 x 133 x 368 mm without feet and connectors, and weight is 5.9 kg.

Engineering and use context

A fully balanced two-signal layout runs through the whole path to reject noise. Bass management is also balanced and supports 2.1 or 2.2 systems, with high-pass and low-pass points at 40, 60, 80 or 100 Hz and a choice of stereo or summed mono subwoofer outputs on both balanced and unbalanced connectors. The phono preamplifier accepts MM and MC cartridges with adjustable loading. The headphone output uses a current-mode feedback amplifier and has its own volume control. Two rear expansion slots accept future modules. An external processor loop, a 12V trigger output, a 5 to 12V trigger input and a wired IR input support system integration. The heavy steel 3RU chassis carries a milled aluminium faceplate and a dimmable large-format OLED display, and the unit runs on 115 or 230 V AC.

Pairing

The balanced XLR outputs suit power amplifiers with differential inputs, such as the XPA Differential Reference models, while the RCA outputs serve conventional designs. The bypass and processor loop let an AV processor share the front channels.

Alternatives

The Emotiva BasX PT2 is a lower-cost stereo preamplifier from the BasX range with an FM tuner, a DAC and a phono stage for USD 699.