Exposure XM5
The Exposure XM5 is a compact, half-width integrated amplifier that arrived in early 2017 as part of Exposure's "XM series" of separates. It does about everything a modern listener might need. It has a 60-watt-per-channel (into 8 ohms) amplifier, a built-in DAC with asynchronous USB and DSD support, and a moving magnet phono stage. All of it sits in the understated British casework the company has used since the 1970s. hi-fi+ called it "a neat and well-equipped integrated amplifier that does nearly everything the contemporary music lover might desire."
The digital section is well thought out for the era. There are five digital inputs (two TosLink optical, two coaxial on BNC, and one USB Type B), plus the phono stage, so the XM5 can sit at the hub of a system with very few cables. The amplifier circuit is reportedly based on that of the Exposure 2010S2, and it uses a large custom-made 200VA toroidal transformer. HiFiWorld measured it at 72 watts per channel in their December 2017 review, a bit above the rated 60. Finish options were black or titanium, and a three-year guarantee was offered.
The XM5 is barely wider than a CD cover. That size hark back to the half-width boxes Exposure made in the Naim-competitive days of the early British hi-fi industry, but with modern flexibility built in. It was sold in both the UK and US, with pricing varying by dealer and region.
**Known specifications:**
- Power output: 60W per channel into 8 ohms (at 1 kHz)
- Frequency response: 20 Hz - 20 kHz ±0.5 dB
- Total harmonic distortion: <0.01% at 1 kHz, rated power
- Channel separation: >60 dB @ 1 kHz (AUX 2 input open)
- DAC: asynchronous USB, DSD support (DoP up to DSD64); five digital inputs (2× TosLink, 2× BNC coaxial, 1× USB Type B)
- Phono stage: moving magnet
- Transformer: 200VA custom toroidal
Production end date, weight, dimensions, and original UK launch price all remain unconfirmed. The XM5 appears to have been well regarded in its day, but the archival record on it is thin.
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