A decade ago Extron pioneered the use of Class D amplifiers in AV applications. We have continuously reinvented Class D with our meticulous approach to engineering and the development of unique, patented technologies, designed to address the particular requirements of AV workflows and installations.
Since our team of dedicated power systems engineers designs all Extron Class D amplifiers from the ground up, including our Everlast power supplies, we know exactly what’s inside down to the component level. Each component and its placement is carefully chosen and designed into the total system for peak efficiency and reliability. This is not possible for other manufacturers who utilize offshore OEM power modules.
The XPA® Ultra lineup of ENERGY STAR qualified power amplifiers represents Extron's ongoing commitment to innovation and taking on the challenge to put more high performance channels in less space.
All XPA Ultra amplifiers operate at an industry-leading efficiency up to 77%. An efficient amplifier delivers the highest possible percentage of its input power to output power for speakers. Power not delivered is wasted as radiated heat, which causes further waste in higher cooling costs and energy requirements.
Ultra Cool
An XPA Ultra amplifier runs cooler than other Class D amplifiers. An amplifier that generates excessive heat not only wastes a rack space above it by requiring space for cooling, it also places more demand on rack cooling systems and reduces component life. The higher cooling requirements and failure rates of other Class D amplifiers lead to higher costs and downtime. The convection cooled XPA Ultra amplifiers run quieter, cooler, and longer, thanks to the cumulative effect of Extron's meticulous thermal engineering.
Thermal Imaging
Extron XPA U 1004 Four 100 watt channels at 8ΩQSC SPA4-100 Four 100 watt channels at 8Ω
Extron XPA Ultra amplifiers carry on our commitment to conserve energy and reduce costs with their ENERGY STAR qualified designs. All Extron amplifiers have an auto power-down feature that places the amplifier into standby after 25 minutes of inactivity, consuming less than 1 watt of energy.
When audio is detected while in standby, Extron amplifiers with InstaWake technology quickly return to full power, ensuring that initial audio is not cut off. The graphic and audio examples below show the difference between the XPA Ultra waking up completely in less than 100 milliseconds compared to competitors’ Class D amplifiers that can take well over two seconds to achieve nominal power. As you will hear, a half second of missed audio can dramatically change the meaning of a sentence.
A highly efficient amplifier will require less electrical power than an inefficient amplifier to deliver the same amount of amplification to speakers. The more efficient, ENERGY STAR qualified XPA Ultra amplifiers, with their Everlast power supplies, reduce electrical costs in terms of kilowatt hours used and power infrastructure required.
It all comes down to this. When you turn on an XPA Ultra amplifier, it works. By keeping sensitive power capacitors away from heat sources; by avoiding the use of failure-prone wire harnesses; by designing out short-lived electrolytic capacitors from the audio path; by innovative heat dissipation techniques, an XPA Ultra amplifier will provide years of trouble-free service. By Design.
XPA Ultra amplifiers are energy efficient products that conserve energy and reduce costs
Front and rear mounted signal and protection LEDs
Provide key indication from both sides of the amplifier during use and setup
UL 2043 plenum rated
When used with the optional, easy to install Flexible Conduit Adapter Kit
Internal Everlast Power Supply
Provides worldwide power compatibility, with high‑demonstrated reliability and low power consumption for reduced operating cost
CDRS
Extron patented technology that provides a smooth, clean audio waveform, eliminating RF emissions
High performance signal-to-noise and THD+N
XPA Ultra amplifiers feature 100 dB signal to noise ratio and THD+N of less than 0.1%
Convection cooled, fanless operation
Can be stacked without extra rack space for ventilation
Auto Standby and InstaWake
Auto standby after 25 minutes of inactivity with wake up in less than 100 ms upon signal detection - auto standby can be defeated if required
Flexible Output Power Options
35 watt and 100 watt models at 8 ohms, 70 volts, and 100 volts
XPA U 1004 SB
ENERGY STAR qualified amplifier
XPA Ultra amplifiers are energy efficient products that conserve energy and reduce costs
Front and rear mounted signal and protection LEDs
Provide key indication from both sides of the amplifier during use and setup
UL 2043 plenum rated
When used with the optional, easy to install Flexible Conduit Adapter Kit
Internal Everlast Power Supply
Provides worldwide power compatibility, with high‑demonstrated reliability and low power consumption for reduced operating cost
CDRS
Extron patented technology that provides a smooth, clean audio waveform, eliminating RF emissions
High performance signal-to-noise and THD+N
XPA Ultra amplifiers feature 100 dB signal to noise ratio and THD+N of less than 0.1%
Convection cooled, fanless operation
Can be stacked without extra rack space for ventilation
Auto Standby and InstaWake
Auto standby after 25 minutes of inactivity with wake up in less than 100 ms upon signal detection - auto standby can be defeated if required
Selectable Output Modes Per Channel Pair
The individually bridgeable pairs can power two low impedance channels or one double power high impedance channel.
Remote Volume and Mute Control Per Channel Pair
Compatible with Extron VCM, VC, and select MediaLink controllers
Ultra High Channel Density
Starting with the industry leading channel density of the XPA U 358, the XPA Ultra line of amplifiers delivers its channel count in one rack space. That's because when we call an amplifier a 1RU device, it actually does only take up one rack space. An amplifier that needs a rack space above for ventilation or another rack space for a transformer unit, isn't really a 1RU device. With rack space at a premium, the ability to install more channels into less space, with less cooling required, is increasingly important.
Select a channel configuration from the tabs below to see how the XPA Ultra stacks up against other amplifier brands.
Engineering an amplifier with the performance and reliability of the XPA Ultra is hard. There are no shortcuts. Using the same OEM designs that other manufacturers use would not achieve the Extron mission of providing the best solutions to meet the requirements and high expectations of our customers.
The photographs below illustrate key differences in the Designed by Extron approach compared to other manufacturers’ OEM approach. Click the photographs for details.
Extron Everlast Power Supply
Designed for ultra reliability and longevity
Heat Sensitive Component Placement
High temperature FETs heat sinked on oversized pads away from capacitors
Extron Designed and Built Amplifiers
Designed and purpose built for efficiency, cool operation, and high reliability
Only traces and point to point soldered wiring
Connections will not vibrate loose or corrode
Rated for use in a plenum space
With optional Flexible Conduit Adapter Kit
Extron Design
Competitor A Design
Competitor B Design
Competitor C Design
Standard OEM Power Supply
Typical performance and longevity
Sensitive Components Next to Heat Sources
High temperature FETs next to capacitors
Offshore OEM Amplifier Modules
Available off the shelf and used by other amplifier manufacturers
Ribbon cable with failure-prone connectors
Over time, the connector can vibrate loose or corrode
In-Depth Independent Review of XPA Ultra Amplifier Design & Engineering by Prof. Dr.-Ing. Anselm Goertz
Mr. Goertz, doctor of electrical engineering with a specialty in technical acoustics, conducted extensive testing of the Extron XPA Ultra amplifier and wrote this review for Germany’s Professional System Magazine. Mr. Goertz deals with planning, training, and project support in all areas of electrical and room acoustics measurement technology for professional audio.
Only a company that develops its own unique technology could have a patent portfolio as extensive as Extron, including many audio patents. The XPA Ultra amplifiers benefit from our patented technologies shown below, technologies providing key performance and reliability advantages to our customers that cannot be duplicated by other amplifier manufacturers.
Class D Ripple Suppression - CDRS
Three patents form the basis of Extron's CDRS technology found in XPA Ultra amplifiers. This technology reduces high frequency radiated emissions that can be picked up by other gear.
Class D Soft Switching
Extron's soft switching design works with CDRS to reduce dissipated power, which increases amplifier efficiency.
Class D Power Converter
The power converters in Extron Class D amplifiers facilitate energy transfer for more precise performance while using fewer lifetime-limiting capacitors in the power supply.
Low Noise Triangular Waveform Generator
Since a triangle generator is the heart of a Class D amplifier, and triangle generators have audio band noise content, this technology is used to greatly reduce that noise content resulting in a lower audio noise floor.
Class D Circuit Bandwidth Extension
This technology advances Class D Ripple Suppression to reduce THD at high audio frequencies.
Class D Distortion Reduction
New for the XPA Ultra line of amplifiers, this technology reduces distortion in the output signal by filtering ripple and reducing nonlinearities as the audio signal passes through the amplifier.
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