The Article
Edge A2-300 Power Amplifier From XTZ
28th November 2018
A dinky power amplifier with a big heart, Paul Rigby reviews the Edge A2-300
Power amplifiers, in general sonic terms, are good things. They reduce electrical noise cross contamination between the pre-amp section and the power amp section of an integrated amplifier.
Firstly, separating the two into separate pre-amp and power amp chassis, you put physical distance between the two to lower or negate that very noise effect.
Secondly, in general terms, the parts quality in a separate power amplifier will be of a higher quality which will, again, raise the sonic stakes (as will the extra space available in the chassis for those improved components). Thirdly, you have more flexibility in terms of positioning on a typical hi-fi rack. Lastly, you’re given greater flexibility in terms of future upgrades because you can upgrade the power amplifier at a different time to a pre-amp and you can pick and choose your next power amp upgrade from a different brand manufacturer to the pre-amp upgrade, finding ‘best quality’ specialists for each.
This power amp is a small unit, when compared to much of the competition out there. Spanning a mere 200 x 58 x 285mm and weighing just 2.3kg, the A2-300 could almost be described as fun size.
Because of the lack of bulk of its aluminium and steel chassis, it allows easy conversion to a monoblock because, if you flip a rear ‘stereo/mono’ switch to mono you can link two A2-300 boxes together to act as a stereo monoblocks.
XTZ also provides matching connector and faceplates to blend nicely into a 19” racking system, allowing a single amp to be racked or you can double up, connect two amps together and add racking ‘ears’ to the far left and right.
XTZ go Lego.
But back to the plot and the 150W (into 8 Ohms) stuffed into this compact cutey. The Edge is based upon ICEpower Class-D technology, which will be familiar to some. I’ve reviewed ICE amps before and found them…pretty good. Different. Interesting.
The front of the Edge is the usual holding area for the brand name and logo plus power light. The business occurs at the rear. Apart from the meaty speaker connectors, the RCA inputs, power socket and rocker power switch, there is a gain knob. Small yet useful, it can be used to maximise the power to prevent speaker damage, balance the volume during bi-amping or, on a more day to day, practical level use the gain for other sources such as a smartphone or media player.
There’s also a Signal Sense switch that either keeps the Edge ‘always on’ or it will shut the amp down into standby if no signal is pushed through it for a (seemingly) arbitrary eight minutes. Not seven. Not even 53. But eight.
And it sounds like?
SOUND QUALITY
I began with vinyl and the country ballad, You’re Free to Go via Emmylou Harris from the album, Thirteen.
The A2-300 tackles sound in a particular way. It always seems super excited to be playing music and tracks the same in very enthusiastic kinda way. Music is lifted and projected towards you in a “Oh, you gotta hear this, let me show you…” sort of way. So Harris’ voice is raised a touch. She elevates herself from her backing instruments so that you can hear more of her when she delivers.
What the A2-300 did here was quite special. It created, around Harris, an intimate space. Her inflections were detailed and accurate, yes, but the A2-300 seemed to go one step further. Harris seemed to open up. For one thing, I could hear her taking breaths in between lines – quite a rarity, even with very expensive amplifiers. More, her voice seemed to almost shudder with emotion. I felt the urge to run to my turntable with a hanky.
The low noise presentation of the amplifier aided the epic nature of the piano, giving it a truly grand persona, while the strumming guitars retained that essential ‘ting’ sound of the metallic strings. This last bit is important because the metal strings featured their own reverb tails, adding realism and texture to the entire song. Meanwhile, drums were solid and the mandolin solo during the middle eight was on the money in terms of transients.
Was I happy so far? Oh yes. I reached for Queen on CD and the dynamic track, Dead on Time from the album, Jazz.
Firstly, I was interested, in dynamic terms, how the A2-300 coped with the slightly strident nature of the mastering. Such was the dynamic room from this amplifier, that aspect of the sound was never really and issue, which will lower listening fatigue for those albums suffering from a bright demeanour.
I was also intrigued how the A2-300 balanced the energy of the music, the power of the drums and the firm confidant nature of the bass and the raucous nature of the guitars, with the delicacy of the cymbal hits and vocal nuances. All were handled with some aplomb and without any apparent effort of strain.
The sense of instrumental separation meant that each instrument was given enough room to perform properly without being masked by its neighbour. This added to the layering effect of the music, increasing the richness and depth of the delivery of the song itself.
CONCLUSION
The Edge A2-300 screams value for money. Really, it should be twice, maybe three times (more?) of the current asking price. You’re getting a lot for your cash with this one. And, although I was unable to test it here, the upgrade possibilities on turning this power amp in a pair of mono blocks are mouth watering indeed.
Bathed in clarity with impressive transparency to boot, the XTZ A2-300 is a little gem of a power amplifier.
XTZ EDGE A2-300 Price: £440 Tel: 01642 232188 Website: hifipilot.uk
GOOD: clarity, firm bass, transparent soundstage, intimate midrange
BAD: nothing
RATING: 9
[Don’t forget to check out my Facebook Group, The Audiophile Man: Hi-Fi & Music here: www.facebook.com/groups/theaudiophileman for exclusive postings, exclusive editorial and more!]
REFERENCE
Pro-Ject RPM3 Turntable
Rega Brio-R amplifier
Music First Classic passive pre
Ovation High Fidelity Model 1701 power amplifier
Valvart AR1 power amplifier monoblocks
Tellurium Q cabling
Blue Horizon Professional Rack System
Harmonic Resolution Systems Noise Reduction Components
All vinyl was cleaned using an Audio Desk’s Ultrasonic Pro Vinyl Cleaner
Hello. My CD Player is Marantz SACD 8005. I don’t think there’s a built in pre amp. Any way thank you for reply.
Just checked and, no, you’re right. You need to connect that to a pre amp of some sort.
Hi Paul
Have been following your reviews. Really enjoy reading them and have newly subscribed to your channel.
Once again, thank you for your informative and insightful article. I have gotten this XTZ and it really enhances audio from my Klipsch RP 6000f fronts with open, clear, transparent audio with a good bass punch as compared to my Onkyo RZ 830 AVR. Am really enjoying my music now.
My experience ehoes your review. Rather spot on. I have also two Klipsch 10inched subs running with it and a Marantz UD 7007 CD/SACD and Blueray player. All are connected via my Onkyo which acts as a pre and XTZ as power amp. Movies sound good too. For the price, its really worth it. It does perform way above its price grade.
Having been smitten by the XTZ, I now wish to further enrich my sonic experience. Am thinking of getting a dedicated pre to go with the XTZ. Am exploring if I should get the Schiit Freya or PrimaLuna EVO 100. Both have tube qualities ( which I am intrigued with but never got a chance to experience). Both have got good reviews but the Prima is much pricier than Freya .So am thinking which would be a better match for the XTZ. Some do mention Freya has a higher gain. Would this affect in matching my XTZ. I plan to route the preamp whichever I get through my Onkyo to my XTZ. My Onkyo currently has built in Tidal functions which I stream. If there is negligible difference between Schiit Freya and Prima, I rather go with Schiit Freya as it is cheaper.
May get node 2i down the road if budget permits.
Appreciate your views.
Hi Ram – thanks for your question. The EVO 100 is too good for the Edge, as good as that power amp is…go for the Schiit which will fit nicely. In the future, if you want to fully explore tubes (i.e. pre and power, etc), give me a shout.
Thanks Paul for your advise. The Freya is less expensive too. But just to clarify may I know what is meant by too good.
Some say the Freya may not give the full tube appreciation. So am not sure how the EVO compares. You think Freya does give adequate tube sound? I am not very experienced in tubes. Never used em before and just plan to venture into tubes. Hence, amd asking.
Certainly take your point that the Freya seems to be a better mate with the XTZ. Do I have to worry about excess gain issues from the Freya as some have expressed; as the XTZ does have a gain feature as well.
Appreciate your views.
Hi Ram, I just mean that the Edge, as good as it is for its price point, is not capable of fully supporting the EVO, in sonic terms. That the EVO is capable of a lot more, in performance terms. If you do eventually grab an EVO then I’d recommend a tube power amp to partner it which will provide a better sonic blend.
Hi Paul, just read the reviews of the XTZ and IOTAVX SA3 and PA3. You rate them 9 / 8 / 8. Did you test the SA3 PA3 stack and how would you think they compare to the XTZ Edge? Would that stack be a 9 too? I take it the IOTAVX stack sounds a bit warmer? I just bought the XTZ to try it out. Might consider the IOTAVX stack as well. Speakers at the moment Canton SL 580.2, but am thinking of getting a pair of Triangle BR 03 as well. I am looking for a warmer, less bright and crisp sound.
Hi Lars – well, the Edge is a dedicated power supply and much more expensive than the PA3 so a comparison is not exactly fair. It’s superior to the PA3 but so it should be. None of those components are bright but very towards neutrality.
Hi Paul, well I tested a few different speakers and preamps to go with my XTZ Edge; the XTZ 99.25 LCR, Triangle BR03, Quad S2, Schiit Saga and the IFI iTube 2. The Quad S2 sounded so good, that I ended up buying the Quad Z2 (50% off special offer), they are absolutely marvelous (need 50 burn in time, but improve drastically compared to just out of the box).
So right now I have the Quad Z2, XTZ Edge, Schiit Saga and a BlueSound Node 2i. Now I am wondering if I will go for a Musical Paradise MP-701 MK2 Tube Preamp or the MP-D2 MK4 TUBE DAC (update coming out soon). Does the XTX Edge need a preamp, since it has a gain dial?
Hi Lars – the Edge is a power amp so yes, it needs a pre-amp…ideally. The gain dial is more of an assistance to non-specialist source (e.g. a CD player with a pre amp module) rather than a replacement.
Hi Paul, I bumped to your site because I’m in the process of upgrading my system. I have seen *slightly conflicting reviews with regard to the 3D aspect of the sound (e.g. Zero Fidelity’s) , which I’m particularly hope to enhance. My Bifrost > Dared preamp Emotiva UPA MMG presented with sound separations from my side to the wall in front of me, but I’m very curious about having a pure Tube integrate, XTZ edge, or SA3 can enhance, which one? After I placed the order of SA3 PA3 two days ago, I saw your review of SA3 that caused my concerns, maybe I should cancel? Regards,
I hope you didn’t hurt yourself in the process, Sonny.
The SA3/PA3 is a potent combo and should work well but cash is the over-riding factor because the latter provides the pre/power while the relatively expensive Edge is a power amp that needs a pre as a partner. As I say, the latter is relatively expensive. I’m not wholly sure of your plans here nor your budget, where you looking to replace the Emotiva with the Edge and use a Dared valve pre to partner it?
Hello Sir. Thanks for the great reviews. Question.. I bought a Denon 3700h receiver. Now I would like to improve the sound for playing music, either cd or Tidal/Qobuz/Amazon HD or my NAS. Would the XTX be a good upgrade, or would the Audiolab 6000A or a Marantz PM8006 be a better path to follow?
Hi Martijn – the Edge is great if you partner it with a specialist preamp. The integrated 6000A can handle network-based music via Bluetooth pushed to it via a device like a phone or tablet. Both would offer amore simple path for any music signal than a receiver. Although a receiver is a useful AV tool, of course with networking facilities. It depends on the direction you wish to follow and your budget.
Hi Paul. Thank’s for your reply. The Denon 3700h receiver is essential in my case, since I will use the same front-speakers (Wharfedale EVO 4.3) for playing movies/series/tv and music. To improve the sound of the music I want to use the pre-outs on the Denon to connect to the Edge a 6000A or PM8006. I think/hope connecting the Edge on the pre-outs of the Denon will already improve the sound of playing music. But suggestions are very welcome.
I would advise not using an Edge to boost the Denon. You wouldn’t hear the best from the Edge and you’d largely be wasting your cash. Same goes for the other amps. Too many cooks, in effect. If you’re looking for a power boost or superior sound and you need AV, keep it as simple as possible – buy a better AV amp.
Not the answer I was hoping for, but thanks for being honest. I just bought the Denon as an upgrade to my old AV receiver. So that one will stay a while. I like your comment about not too many cooks. For me that could still be a hifi amplifier like 6000A or PM8006 or something else to connect the Wharfedale speakers, cd-player, network-player, etc. Just as long as the hifi amp has an input for the Denon. Anyway, thanks. The Edge is off my list.
Hi Paul. I know I’m late to the party, but just wanted to say that based on your review of the XTZ Edge, plus some further research, I purchased one as a Christmas present to myself.
I was a bit apprehensive, as I was replacing an Audio Innovations ‘1st Audio’ power amp, which has decided it had had enough!
Wow! I am so pleased with my purchase.
I stuck with my Audio Innovations L1 pre amp, which seems to work well with it.
The clarity and speed are breathtaking, and I’m rediscovering so much of my record collection and enjoying every minute.
Thanks for your reviews and keep up the good work. üëçüèª
PS. Now I’m after new speakers.
Many thanks for the update, Ian. Much appreciated.
Paul, hello, could you recommend a suitable pre-amp? Thanks, Guido
Hi Guido – For this price range, I’d look at the Schiit products.