Is the Emotiva XPA 7 too powerful in 2 channel for my speakers?

[Adam Kelly]

Guys (and gals),

I have submitted a couple of posts recently and have received some great replies. My issue is that 1) I do have an itch, 2) I have a space in my home theater cabinet to fill, and 3) I need to come up with a solution soon because I can't put everything back, "seal up" my cabinet, and put the tv into the bracket on the back of my cabinet until I fill this space.

I don't have the disposable income to simply blow money but I need to find some solution for the empty shelf because I'd like to get things off my floor and back in place.

I have an itch for an external amp because I like to listen to music and movies pretty loud and I find that I need to turn up the receiver from -20 to around -10 (with my source input levels all et to +3 dBs and my speaker channel levels set pretty high as well) to get the punchiness that I like. I am also considering just filling the space with an HTPC - it's going to be one or the other.

My question for this post is will the Emotiva XPA 7 be too much for my B&W 683 S2's in two channel mode? The XPA 7 says it pushes about 500 watts in two channel and my speakers are rated at a max of 200 watts. Now I know that I won't ever get near that 500 because to turn it up that loud would be unbearable BUT at what point does the decibel level become too much for the speakers and at what volume could I expect for that to happen.

I don't want to ruin my speakers.


My system:

Denon 5308 Receiver
Denon DNP 720 AE Networking Player
Denon 5910ci Universal Player
Oppo 103 Blu Ray Player
Panamax Power Conditioner

B&W 683 S2 front speakers
B&W HTM 61 center speaker
B&W DS3 surround speakers
B&W ASW 1000 sub

 

[crossedover]

Forget the shelve, take the money and upgrade your sub, then your money will be better spent

edit: to clarify your electronics far out weigh your speakers currently, so since you seem to like your speakers the sub upgrade is the smart move.

 

[Adam Kelly]

Forget the shelve, take the money and upgrade your sub, then your money will be better spent

edit: to clarify your electronics far out weigh your speakers currently, so since you seem to like your speakers the sub upgrade is the smart move.

Well upgrading the sub is also on my to-do list but need to fill the shelf first. Just out of curiosity, what sub would you recommend? I've seen a few Sunfire subs on eBay that are reasonable and they seem to get good reviews. Would you include Sunfire in your recommended list? I can't spend a ton on a sub so I need to keep it within reason.

 

[Adam]

Fight the itch, man! I agree that a new sub would be a better use for your money. Well, or about 400 bags of snacks for movie nights. I really doubt that your 5308 is running out of juice at -10dB.

I owned an ASW 1000 for about 10 years and replaced it with an SVS PC13-Ultra in mid 2007. Huge difference. The ASW was a nice sub, but it just isn't in the same class. Granted, these days, you can't get a new PC13-Ultra for the same price as that amp that you're eyeing, but you can get a darn good sub for that amount of money. As you like your movies loud, I really think that you'd enjoy a more capable sub. Of course, if you do get a new sub - buy it from somewhere that will let you return it in case we're wrong.

 

[crossedover]

Well upgrading the sub is also on my to-do list but need to fill the shelf first. Just out of curiosity, what sub would you recommend? I've seen a few Sunfire subs on eBay that are reasonable and they seem to get good reviews. Would you include Sunfire in your recommended list? I can't spend a ton on a sub so I need to keep it within reason.

your speakers and sub have the greatest impact on your HT experience, so spending 1200 on a 7 channel amp and not investing that much in a sub really doesnt make sense. If your looking to just fill the shelve, dont spend $$$ on it. if you want an amp to just run your mains, get something like this:
http://www.amazon.com/Crown-DriveCore-XLS1500-Power-Amplifier/dp/B003HZV2JS

Plenty of power for any future upgrade of your mains and can drive just about any load

 

[fmw]

Well upgrading the sub is also on my to-do list but need to fill the shelf first.

Why? You could put some books there or storage containers or decorative accessories or software or manuals or a million other things. If I were to tell me wife that I have shelf that needs decorating, she would have it solved in a matter of minutes.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

Yeah, my Denon 5308 can easily power the Revel Salon 2 and B&W 802 Diamond in my room. So no need for an Emotiva amp.

If you must fill that shelf space, build a HTPC.

But yeah, if someone inadvertently turns up the Master Volume to MAX with 500W, then your speakers will be crispy toasted.

 

[TheWarrior]

And at -10, you've still got a long way to go! That is hardly a reason to buy an external amp, save your money or spend it on a sub(s).

 

[Adam Kelly]

What sub would everyone recommend that would allow me to realize the type of difference that's being suggested? What are a couple recommendations?

 

[TheWarrior]

Cyber Monday is tomorrow!

http://www.svsound.com/collections/ported-subwoofers/products/pb12-plus

Others, please, correct me if I am wrong but I believe SVS typically does Cyber Monday sales, or I am sure one of the ID companies will like Rythmik or Hsu.

Since you've stated a rough budget with the XPA-7, Internet Direct companies truly offer the best available performance in $700-$1500 region and beyond.

 

[fmw]

My personal preference is for DIY but, assuming you don't want to get into that I would suggest something with a 12" or larger driver from one of the internet direct suppliers. Hsu, SVS, Rhythmic, Power
Sound Audio are examples. There are others as well.

 

[crossedover]

http://www.rythmikaudio.com/FV15HP.html

http://www.hsuresearch.com/products/vtf-15hmk2.html

http://jtrspeakers.com/home-audio/captivator-118ht/


plus many others

 

[KEW]

Yeah, put some friggin' CDs/DVDs on your shelf and buy a sub.
Who knows? In the next few years you might discover something to fit on the shelf that you really want instead of just buying to fill a void.

 

[avliner]

+ 1 for the SW upgrade though

 

[herbu]

I like to listen to music and movies pretty loud and I find that I need to turn up the receiver from -20 to around -10

I also like to listen to some movies pretty loud. Your AVR puts out 150wpc, mine puts out 125wpc. I have an XPA-5 that puts out the same 200wpc w/ all channels driven into 8ohms as your proposed XPA-7. I also turn the volume up to -20 for loud and -10 for really really loud.

My point? I really doubt you'll hear a difference w/ the power amp. And I doubt it will even make any/much difference in the volume setting you use. However, it looks good in my cabinet, and the little leds on front of the XPA look really cool as they sequence on when you power up. And I can say I have a power amp.

But I also have 2 big boy subs. If I had to give up a sub or the amp, I'd give up the amp in a heartbeat. My suggestion is to get all your speakers and subs settled first. After everything else in your system is done, and you still have some cash to burn, get the amp.

 

[Seth=L]

Well upgrading the sub is also on my to-do list but need to fill the shelf first.

As others have mentioned, there are dozens of alternative solutions to buying a monster amplifier. The Emotiva just won't reward you enough to warrant the expenditure nor the shelf space.

Just out of curiosity, what sub would you recommend?

There are several good recommendations already in this thread, I won't muddy the waters.

I've seen a few Sunfire subs on eBay that are reasonable and they seem to get good reviews.

Bose seems to get good reviews as well, but I wouldn't spend a penny on their stuff. Sunfire TrueSubs are a "miracle" product, and they'll do far less to impress you than the supposed miracle implies. I would avoid them, especially on eBay. They are notorious for amplifier failure.

I can't spend a ton on a sub so I need to keep it within reason.

How much do you have allotted for upgrades on your home theater at present?

 

[lsiberian]

I'm sorry, but I see no value in adding an external amp to this setup.

 

[Seth=L]

I'm sorry, but I see no value in adding an external amp to this setup.

Are you really sorry?

NSFW

Spoiler

 

[PENG]

Are you really sorry?

NSFW

Spoiler

The guy did say he had an itch, and space to fill. So don't be sorry for him.

 

[herbu]

Most of us have scratched that itch. Sometimes until it bled. We have the scars, (full spaces in our cabinet), to prove it.