Great Sonic Quality

No remote

I have to say that after dealing with AV Receivers for years I was getting frustrated with their poor sonic qualities. This little box, really impresses and is extremely fluid and "linear". It also can play very loud. I can now definitely hear more of the music and more importantly how the muscian wanted the music to sound.
I highly recommend this unit if you are on a budget and want to get back to enjoying listening to music as it was intended to sound.

Can't go wrong!

Similar Products Used:

Various

Speed, clarity.

No remote. Hope I never have to get it fixed. No left-right bias control.

Sound is wonderful, terrific speed on transient notes, colorful without over-warmth. Awesome reproduction at low- and mid-level volumes (apartment living prevents me from exploring further). Robust bass, open sunny mid-range, sharp, un-fatigueing highs, all equally pleasing with vocal or instrumental, rock, jass, or classical.
I'm finding that the sound is so good it's hard to play music in the background and get any work done because it just draws your attention. The noise floor is non-existent, probably because of the separate power converter.
Extremely minor complaint about the sound - at low volumes, the sound seems biased high and low, with a little less midrange than I would like. That may be my room - stucco walls and wall-to-wall carpet.
In practical terms, there are positives and negatives. The separate power source and small footprint for the amp make locating it a snap. I have the X-A2 and X-Ray side-by-side on the same shelf where my old solid-state integrated used to live. On the other hand, the lack of remote control, lack of right-left balance control and single pair of speaker outlets are somewhat limiting. And I hope I never have to get the thing serviced ...
Purchased this on strength of positive reviews, positive experiences with X-Can and X-Ray. Got a terrific price on a demo model. Another successful purchase.
System:
XA-2 driving Sound Dynamics RTS-3s, X-Ray CD player; kit-bashed turntable (Grace tonearm w/Grado Red) and Dynaco SA-35 used as phono stage; X-CanV2 headphone amp, Sennheiser HD-570 headphones and old Stax electrostatics.

Similar Products Used:

Dynaco SA-35; Kenwood mass market thing.

Detail

No Phono, lack of rhythm

Swapped my Nait 2s with the MF XA-2s for a few days (thanks Andy). Sounded great in my friend's system with some prototype B&W speakers. However in my system (Linn Kan 3, Rega Planet CD)it lacked the pace and rhythm of my geriatric little Naims. Also the projection of singers was nowhere as good. On the plus side, there seemed to be more behind-the-speaker depth and a tad more detail. Listening to classical music, the XA-2 was first class, but for most other genres it reminded me of my old MF A1 amplifier that I had for a couple of years, sweet but ultimately lacking life.

Similar Products Used:

Naim Nait 2, Mission Cyrus 1, Pioneer A400X, Musical Fidelity A1, Cambridge A1, Concordant Quad 2/II

finesse, dynamics, coherence, accuracy

applies to all X family components, impossible to use with after market component supports due to shape of feet

I'm very happy with the combination of attributes to be found. It does everything well and some things phenomenally well. My living room is abnormally large and carpeted, with a very high ceiling, so I've had to biamp my speakers with the X-AS100 driving the woofers, but from where I sit the effect is similar to an X-A2 in an average size room. The amp is superb, with plenty of power and a natural precision that does not fade as the volume is increased to very high levels. It works well with all types of music, but personally I thought classical sounded especially good, like an amp costing multiples of the price. I can see why some people are so fanatical about MF.

Clean, balanced and detailed sound. Excellent build quality.

None for me

After reading many reviews of the XA-2 it sounded like the amp for me. I bought it without hearing it first and am very happy with the sound. I thought 75wpc might be a little weak, but not so. This amp can play VERY loud and does not distort. Some may not like how it looks, but i love the different look.

My system includs:

Marantz 6000 OSE CD
KEF Q35.2
Alpha-Core Micro Purl interconnects(copper)
Alpha-Core Python MI2 cables(copper)

***AUDIO ADVISOR gave great service***

Similar Products Used:

None

Excellent detail combined with great dynamics and power. Oh, and just look at that led.

Absolutely nothing at this price.

What can I say. This amp is the most stylish audio component I have ever seen and that blue LED is the icing on the cake.

Now for the sound. It certainly goes loud for an amp of the size, 75 WPC. Plus it never distorts even when run near full volume. As well as that, the sound is extremely detailed and dynamic. The base is controlled and gives great impact. One song nearly blew me out of my seat with the amazing impact of the base. Anything from Rock to classical is played out with great realism. However, this amp really shines when playing acoustic. Bryan Adams' MTV unplugged album, one of my favourites, sounds twice as good with this amp. The clarity of the instruments is there, along with the great impact of the drums and the imagery is excellent, its almost as though you were in the audience. What more can I say. Whatever your musical tastes, this amp blows away all the competition at £500 and above. The X-A100R, costing twice as much is not quite as good because of interference from its remote circuitry. It way outclasses the X-A1, its predecessor, and is the amp to beet at this price.

If you can live without a remote this is definately the amp to buy, and I'm amazed how they get this sound into something do cheap, and so stylish too.

Similar Products Used:

NAD C370, Tag Mclaren Audio 60i, Exposure 2010, Marantz 6060 KI-Signiture, Musical Fidelity X-A1 and X-A100R, Sherane 2.5, NAD 319

Wonderful detail, rich base, images to die for

None yet found

Wow, what an amp. This amp has improved my Rogers to the point where they now seem like a new set of speakers. We hear subtle elements in good cds that we never heard before. We couldn't be happier (and the blue light is way cool!). Highly recommended!!!!

Similar Products Used:

Nad, Carver, Macintosh