X-A1 Preamp Output + X-A200

[mumbles]

Hi everyone, I am new to audio and not technically inclined at all. I read the factory manual with interest that "1)X-A1 built in power amp can drive Speakers channel tweeters and 2)X-A200 can drive Speakers channel bass unit" Given that I have both amps and I proceed with step 1 above.
How do I then step 2, connect the X-A200 (4 speaker output) to my Speaker's remaining channel bass unit (2 terminals)? Do I bi-wire the X-A200? Apologies for the silly questions. Many Thanks in advance

[freddypipsqueek]

*** I assume your speakers are bi-wire - that is two sets of terminals (tweeter & bass) at the rear of the speakers. If they are not you cannot safely connect both amps ***

If there is only one set of speaker terminals you would need to open the speakers and separate out the crossover which can be done but sometimes isn't easy or possible.

All this at your own risk - Read and double check the manuals but it should be as follows.

Speaker cable from the speaker outputs on the X-A1 to the tweeter terminals of the speakers (Red to Red, Black to Black etc)..

Phono plug from the pre-out on the X-A1 to each of the X-A200 and then speaker cables from them to the speaker bass terminals (Red to Red Black to black etc).

[nando]

Nice, another x-a200 user!
New to audio and having an xA1 and x-a200’s. That not a bad start.

I use mine to power electrostatics so no buy-wiring for me. 🤪

What speakers are you using?

[mumbles]

Thanks for the answers. I am using a pair of monitor audio silver speakers. All used equipment at >60% discount of then retail. Really glad to chance upon this forum as the MF brand has been sold and X-series no more in production. The younger generation no longer interested in quality audio preferring iPhones. Love the design of the x-series, reminiscent of the good old days where things are well built, to be repaired and last.

[nando]

MF could have been build better for sure. Capacitors for instance.

[mumbles]

Hi Nando, I am currently using the X-a200 with x-pre (upgrade kit + Russian valves by Mike) and in audio heaven. However when i tried the X-a200 with XA1 and XA200R via the pre-out, the music was very bad (sound stage, separation, bass etc). Have you tried the x-a200 with the x-series integrated amps via pre-out? Please enlighten me why the huge gap? Wonder if the XP100 pre-amp would sound better

[nando]

Hi,

I have the x-pre and a nu-vista pre amps. So I can’t replicate your situation. However I find the x-pre a very nice pre amp (mine is also tweaked with Mike as inspiration). And the nu-vista is somewhat cleaner in sound I think. As I understand it, the non nu-vistor x-100p is quite similar to the nu-vista. Could make sense as almost everything inside is the same exept the tubes and electronics that controle them.

The x-a200’s are very capable amps and can drive almost anything. Electrostatics are not a problem, which I know for a fact.

[cooperd70]

Nov 22, 2019 23:35:51 GMT mumbles said:

Hi Nando, I am currently using the X-a200 with x-pre (upgrade kit + Russian valves by Mike) and in audio heaven. However when i tried the X-a200 with XA1 and XA200R via the pre-out, the music was very bad (sound stage, separation, bass etc). Have you tried the x-a200 with the x-series integrated amps via pre-out? Please enlighten me why the huge gap? Wonder if the XP100 pre-amp would sound better

mumbles,

speaker cables:
i have a pair of X-A200 and a X-A2 integrated and dont have any issues with the sound.  Your speakers must have bi-wire terminals (2 sets of speaker posts and not 1) and you will need two runs of speaker wire to each speaker.  You need a pair of X-A200 for a stereo system as they are mono power amps.  The connections are:

left speaker out on integrated amp to left speaker tweeter connections, right speaker out on intergrated amp to right speaker tweeter connections.
1 pair of speaker outs on 1st mono X-A200 power amp to left speaker bass connections, 1 pair of speaker outs on 2nd mono X-A200 power amp to right speaker bass connections.

interconnects:
left pre-out on integrated to line in on your left channel X-A200.
right pre-out on integrated to line in on your right channel X-A200.

[cooperd70]

Does anyone happen the know what the input sensitivity is of the X-A200? I can't seem to find it anywhere on the internet and the MF manual does not state it!

[nando]

Mumbles? Did you use one or two xa-200 power amps in total? If you used only one that would explane the wierd soundstage.

[mumbles]

HI Nando, yes I used two XA-200. I tried driving my speakers directly with the XA-1 and XA200R and all was good(without the XA-200). It was only when I used the pre-out on both the amps to the XA-200 that things sounded really bad. Maybe theres a problem on the pre-out? In any case I am back on the x-pre and happy again.

[nando]

Back to the xpre with xa200?
That’s what I use at the moment. This sounds fantastic with my esl989.

[mumbles]

Hi Nando, for the X-pre with XA200 monoblock, what cables do you use for the speaker and interconnect? I felt that the rhythm and timing is better when I hooked up the XA-1 directly to the speakers. Not sure if it is my non 300hr run-in component upgraded X-pre or Canare interconnect or my lack of equipment grounding or lack of power conditioners and filters. My more learned friends ague that I have better control with the monoblock being a dedicated audio equipment, but i seem to have more musicality from XA-1 connect direct to speakers - less interconnect cables? I also have a X-PSU and x-tone and so more cables.
Interesting new hobby but getting increasing expensive when I read about importance of clean power, RF grounding and better cables from Russ Andrews site. So XA200 monoblocks with x-pre amp arent everything. I laugh even as i write over my initial simple idea of a “good deal” for the XA200 monoblocks which I secured at a very good price. Didn’t know the other stuff like RF grounding, power conditioners, filters, cables can cost so much more. It’s like dating that pretty lady - comes with very high maintenance. ; )
Warmest Regards!

[nando]

Be carefull, you’re opening a big can of worm when you ask about cables and filters and such.

My view (and please prove me otherwise if I’m wrong) Is that cables don’t matter at all. That said they should be engineered up to the task. But otherwise, no problems.
Do your friends have more knowledge or better brainwashed by the audio companies? There is no other industry where there is so much nonsense and pseudo science (nice word for fake news, fraude, voodoo, snake oil). Look at the computer industry for example. Is anyone concerned about cables there? Does any computer nerd buy a £/€$ 15.000 usb cable (yes they exist)? No, of course not. But in the audio world we do and people buy them because many don’t understand what is really happening inside their nice equipment and cables.
I’m sorry if you are offended or confused by me but please keep you’re facts right about things like run-in time, cables, filters, conditioners, cable raisers, cd demagnetisers, etc.
Our hearing isn’t all that good and our measuring equipment is far better. We can’t measure the difference between all of those expensive tweaks so if we hear them it is probably our fantastic brain that want to hear a difference (humans can come up with the most incredible fantasies, so why not you?). Keep it sane and you will save yourself a lot of money and pointless tweaking.
The power in your house can be noisy but why do you think there are bug capacitors in all of the equipment? And why does Mike (and me too) install more capacitance in there? Because it can filter better. Even to a point that it ridiculously overkill. But for me it’s like “why not if I replace them anyway”.

On you problem then. I don’t rule out that something is wrong in your system so check for obvious faults first. Bad connectors for example.
Maybe the sound is different with the xa200 and you like it less than the xa1(?)?
Maybe there is something wrong inside the xa200’s?

To answer your question. I use vd Hul bay c5 interconnects (from a time when I didn’t understand enough electronics and they look good in red). And my speaker cables are run of the mill thick cables.
I have tried to make the worst interconnects possible so I could hear any difference bit I failed. Several prototypes further and still no difference.

[nando]

Oh, by the way any deal on the xa200 is a good deal. They are fantastic amps which will drive very difficult speakers any day, all day.

[mumbles]

Hi Nando, nah not offended at all. Maybe a little confused with all the different marketing literature. I am still smiling and not spending my monies yet. Just pretty amused with myself and this new hobby. Starting to feel like a mystery novel on how to get that desired musicality. In any case, I changed the power cable connecting the X-pre to X-psu and I am happy all over again. Or it could be the 3rd pour of whisky doing the trick.

Wishing you a great day ahead!

[PinkFloyd]

Jan 31, 2020 12:51:08 GMT mumbles said:

Hi Nando, nah not offended at all. Maybe a little confused with all the different marketing literature. I am still smiling and not spending my monies yet. Just pretty amused with myself and this new hobby. Starting to feel like a mystery novel on how to get that desired musicality. In any case, I changed the power cable connecting the X-pre to X-psu and I am happy all over again. Or it could be the 3rd pour of whisky doing the trick.

Wishing you a great day ahead!

Try a fourth pour (or even an entire bottle) and you may find yourself in Audio Nirvana

[nando]

Jan 31, 2020 12:51:08 GMT mumbles said:

Hi Nando, nah not offended at all. Maybe a little confused with all the different marketing literature. I am still smiling and not spending my monies yet. Just pretty amused with myself and this new hobby. Starting to feel like a mystery novel on how to get that desired musicality. In any case, I changed the power cable connecting the X-pre to X-psu and I am happy all over again. Or it could be the 3rd pour of whisky doing the trick.

Wishing you a great day ahead!

That’s my whole point. Our brain has fas more influence on our hearing than many want to believe.
Having to decide what is bullshit marketing and what is real science is quite difficult if you’re not an engineer. But the bottom line is that electrons are not magical things nor is electronics.
I think that the loudspeakers together with the room acoustics make the most difference (beside your brain). There is a way of canceling out those two. For example with Lyndorf. They make good correcting amps (RoomPerfect) and that is really frighteningly good. I heard two little speakers near the wall with two woofers in the corner sound like big expensive speakers a good meter or the wall.