Emotiva Audio XSP-1 Differential Reference Preamp Preview

Instead of bringing balance to the Force, Emotiva Audio has brought balance to a stereo preamp. With a two year development time, the XSP-1 has everything the discerning audiophile expects in a preamp except for the high pricetag. At under $900, the Emotiva XSP-1 is practically an impulse buy for the sort of buyer that would be interested in the signal purity the XSP-1 promises.

To start with, the XSP-1 has a completely analogue signal path that is fully differential from input to output. Differential circuits are more complex and costly to build but they offer a huge advantage in lowering noise and distortion.  The Telecom world wouldn't exist without balanced circuits as they are essential for transmitting very small signals across vast distances.  State of the art in amplification is always fully differential from input to output and Emotiva recognizes what so many so called "high end" companies don't.

Audioholics Official Emotiva XSP-1 Video Review

Emotiva has even upgraded the level control with instrumentation-grade relays with silver clad contacts. The level is set via a high performance, high, voltage, digitally controlled analogue resistor ladder network with .25dB resolution. Most other audiophile-grade products will have more than 2dB of channel tracking error at some points which Emotiva eliminates.

The XSP-1 has two sets of the balanced (XLR) line inputs and one set of balanced outputs. It also has four sets of unbalanced (RCA) inputs and a single output. There is the required phono input for vinyl lovers with MM/MC capability and adjustable input impedance for MC. Most interestingly is that the XSP-1 features dual subwoofer outputs which can be routed stereo or summed. Crossover duties are kept in the analogue domain with separate high pass controls for your mains and low pass for your sub(s). Bass management can also be completely bypassed.  This gives you very precise control over how your sub and mains interact so that you can take the most advantage of their individual strengths. Usually, you set the crossover at a point and high and low pass filters are set by the device. Emotiva has recognized that people looking for a fully balanced product probably have speakers that don't fall into easy presets.

The Emotiva XSP-1 has a few other niceties. most notably, you can integrate the XPS-1 into a home theater system allowing you to use it as a high end two-channel preamp or bypassing it being "ht bypass" mode so it runs transparently between your A/V processor and power amplifier.

There is a high current headphone amplifier on board with its own volume control. There are trigger and IR inputs and outputs for easy integration into a universal remote system. An external processor loop is included as well. If the XSP-1 is used in the same room as a home theater system (using the same speakers), there is a home theater bypass mode (and individual main/sub inputs - both balanced and unbalanced) so that you can use both without switching cables.

Conclusion

As you'd expect from Emotiva, they've put together a very solid offering in the XSP-1 Differential Reference Preamp. What you won't expect is the $900 price tag for a fully balanced stereo preamp with top of the line construction and parts. With every single aspect of the XSP-1 well planned and thought out, we can think of nothing they forgot.

From its fully differential construction, .25dB resolution on the volume control, home theater bypass mode, stereo subwoofer support with defeatable analogue bass management, user configurable high pass and low pass filters to the full featured phono input and true external processor loop, everything is here.  At this price, we can't think of any serious audiophile that wouldn't be interested in the XSP-1.  It'ss a unique product in this market and a gem for any audiophile that wants great performance and versatility often lacking in most alternatives.

For more information, please visit www.emotiva.com.

Unless otherwise indicated, this is a preview article for the featured product. A formal review may or may not follow in the future.