I just received a Xmas card from Emotiva employees and family. Pretty nice of them considering I sent back my amps almost 2 years ago.

How much better would the sound be from the XPA-1 vs XPA-3?
would it bring the m 80's to life? Don't get me wrong, they sound great now, but I feel that they have more to offer.

Jovan

Amps don't "sound" anything, they amplify. With that said, I've been told the 80's really open up with gobs of power, I would not have any idea of this.

You'd need two.

Jovan, only one way to find out, order the XPA-1, well a couple of them and let us know. Although I suspect the XPA 1 may have the same shut down problem as the XPA-2, as I remember reading the XPA-1 has the same protection circuitry as the XPA-2, but I could be mistaken and thinking of a different brand altogether.

Jovan - more power would mean they'd "open up" more at (extremely?) high volumes. If you have a big room and like to press them to the max, you'd probably notice a difference. If not, it's less likely. However, like Jay said, order up a pair and let us know.

Jason

Well that's what I meant. When they open up and fill the room, the sound changed, for me at least. 2k just to try it hmmmm. Coal all around for Christmas!

Red, what you are desribing is how I desribe the differences between the M60 and M80; when the M60s are driven hard they open up and sound more like the M80s do at low volumes. Now I am intrigued as to how the M80s sound when driven hard, well, harder than I can with my 3808.

I have the Onkyo 806 and the Emotiva XPA-3 it sounds fantastic! I must say that I have not driven it to the max ,...yet. So I should try that before even thinking of the XPA-1's.

Yes, Jovan; if you haven't used the full capability of the amplifier that you have now(and if you value your hearing it's unlikely that you ever will in reality), getting an amplifier with an even higher maximum power capability is just a waste of money. Unused power capacity is simply that: unused.