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XA160 Owner’s Manual
The XA160 has a massive toroidal transformer coupled to a high
current DC reservoir. Recognizing that the XA160’s ability to resolve
microdynamics is best experienced with clean power, the extreme
low-level resolution of the XA-series benefits from a specially
designed power supply that significantly reduces and rejects power
line borne noise.
The XA amps open the sonic soundstage to the very limits of the
recording format. Through the XA160 complex musical passages
reveal themselves in the most dramatic manner. With the XA160
you will hear everything within the upper octaves, which includes any
recording, source or loudspeaker issues. Keep this in mind when
choosing complementary equipment, remembering that recordings
and the other components in the signal chain will strongly dictate
soundstage width and imaging and likely be the limiting factors in
your listening environment. The room itself will also add its acoustic
signature, and should be considered an audio component.
Speaker selection should be strictly a matter of personal taste.
The XA160 is unconditionally stable into any load presented by a
loudspeaker, but will provide less power into other than 8 ohms. The
XA160 accommodates both single ended (RCA) and balanced inputs
(XLR). Input impedance’s are 11 kohm unbalanced and 22 kohm
balanced to permit integration with the widest possible range of
upstream components.
You can position this amplifier anywhere you wish, but it must have
ventilation. We do not recommend placing it in enclosed cabinets
or small closets without means for air to circulate freely. Stacking
these power amplifiers directly upon each other is not recommended
for the same reason. This amplifier idles at approximately 550 watts,
the equivalent of a small hand held hair dryer. At idle most of that
energy is dissipated across the heat sinks, so the heat generated by
each XA160 is equivalent to a small hair dryer. To dissipate this heat
the product should have about 6 inches clearance to the top and
sides for adequate air circulation.
Let’s talk about power requirements. The amplifier draws about 5
amps (continuous rms) at 120 volts out of the wall during operation,
and this reflects mostly the idle current that we run through the
output stage. When not actually intending to play music the XA160
should be left in standby mode. In standby mode it draws only a few
watts of power, that necessary to keep the capacitors charged.
We have provided a standard IEC power cord that fits into the
standard 15 amp IEC receptacle at the rear of the amplifier chassis.
Requirements
