Emotiva UPA-5 to replace HK PA-5800

[sjcguy]

Hi,
My 2ch amp died and I am looking for a new one. I am debating between the HK3490 or UPA-2 but now I have a different though. Replace my 5ch PA5800 with UPA-5 and use the PA5800 for my 2ch setup and I can bi-amp my speakers with 4 channels.
What do you think? I have no idea how the PA5800 vs UPA-5. If there is no improvement then I can go back to UPA-2 vs HK3490
thanks
tran

 

[aptdoc]

Why are you not considreing XPA-2 ? or is it overkill ?

thnks

 

[sjcguy]

it's a bit overkill and too much. I rather save a few hundred bucks to invest in a pre-amp.
if the UPA-2 is not better than the onkyo M-282 and UPA-5 is about the same as the PA5800 then I seriously consider the XPA2 or XPA-5. The Onkyo, harman kardon and emotiva amps I mentioned got very very good ratings but I need some opinions from the folks who have tried with different low and high end. The PA5800 was original sold for $1000 and I got it for $400 NIB to pair with sony 5ES.
tran.