Beginner's Setup - needs help!

[Bucknekked]

You would utilize the SR avr's pre-outs (pre-amplifier outputs) to connect an external amp. On the SRs they are rca type connectors, and your XPA3 has rca inputs so just need a simple rca coax cable per channel to connect them. Your XPA3 has two types of input, RCA (unbalanced) and XLR (balanced); if you used the AV pre-pro series I believe they have both rca and XLR connection options. I think you're looking at the amplifier output speaker terminals when there are two connections per channel.

Bar907
I can second the source of the confusion: the XPA3 uses a single RCA connection for pre-amp in, or an XLR connection (the big black connector with 3 holes in it). The connections that have a dual connector on the XPA3 running along the bottom of the unit are for speakers.

If you haven't hooked up a lot of gear, the single RCA connector for an input is a wee bit confusing if you're used to seeing a white and red pair of inputs for everything you hookup. This amp is pretty simple in its connections. You just need a single, unbalanced RCA cable from your pre-amp out to the XPA3 input.
One and done. PER CHANNEL. You're going to need 3 to get started.

I looked at the construction of the XPA3 and marveled at what Emotiva has done. Rather than a monolithic circuit board with all the associated circuitry, they have taken a very different approach. Each of the 7 channels on the XPA3 is a plug in card. Take the covers off and you'll see 7 identical channel cards, each with its own single RCA and XLR connections in and pair of speaker binding posts for output. That means you will need 3 single RCA cables to drive RIGHT, LEFT, AND CENTER channels. And to complete a 5.1 setup, you'll need 2 more for the rears. Each plug in card for the Emotiva will get its own discrete input.

Again, if you haven't hooked up a lot of gear, this may be a new way to look at cabling. You may look at just driving your speakers right out of the AVR as a whole lot simpler way to get started. Once you have a working system, judge how it sounds and proceed with the XPA3 from there.

 

[lovinthehd]

Bar907
I can second the source of the confusion: the XPA3 uses a single RCA connection for pre-amp in, or an XLR connection (the big black connector with 3 holes in it). The connections that have a dual connector on the XPA3 running along the bottom of the unit are for speakers.

If you haven't hooked up a lot of gear, the single RCA connector for an input is a wee bit confusing if you're used to seeing a white and red pair of inputs for everything you hookup. This amp is pretty simple in its connections. You just need a single, unbalanced RCA cable from your pre-amp out to the XPA3 input.
One and done. PER CHANNEL. You're going to need 3 to get started.

I looked at the construction of the XPA3 and marveled at what Emotiva has done. Rather than a monolithic circuit board with all the associated circuitry, they have taken a very different approach. Each of the 7 channels on the XPA3 is a plug in card. Take the covers off and you'll see 7 identical channel cards, each with its own single RCA and XLR connections in and pair of speaker binding posts for output. That means you will need 3 single RCA cables to drive RIGHT, LEFT, AND CENTER channels. And to complete a 5.1 setup, you'll need 2 more for the rears. Each plug in card for the Emotiva will get its own discrete input.

Again, if you haven't hooked up a lot of gear, this may be a new way to look at cabling. You may look at just driving your speakers right out of the AVR as a whole lot simpler way to get started. Once you have a working system, judge how it sounds and proceed with the XPA3 from there.

FWIW the XPA-3 is a three channel amp, not seven (that would be the XPA-7).

 

[Bucknekked]

FWIW the XPA-3 is a three channel amp, not seven (that would be the XPA-7).

lovinthehd:
comments withdrawn.

This is the first time I have studied the layout in one of these Emotiva modular amplifiers. I am intrigued. I may have to put one of these on my shopping list. I have the SAD afterall. (stereo acquisition disease).

 

[lovinthehd]

lovinthehd:
The model number is a little confusing. I believe we are both correct. The way I read it, its a XPA3 amplifier. That gets you the XPA gen 3 chassis. Within that chassis you can buy from 2 to 7 amplifier channel cards. If you get just two channels, its still an XPA3. When you order a chassis, you have to specify the channels you want and it becomes an additional set of verbage to the model. A 3 channel XPA3 would be an XPA3 model 3. (4,5,6,7 etc etc).

I think in this situation, you are correct that his box may only have 3 channels (amp cards) installed. I mentioned 7 because I was just dreaming big and the layout I looked at at the time had all 7 installed. There's a big difference in price between an XPA 3 model 3 and an XPA 3 model 7. Hopefully, Bar907 only bought the 3 channel version if that was his need.

This is the first time I have studied the layout in one of these Emotiva modular amplifiers. I am intrigued. I may have to put one of these on my shopping list. I have the SAD afterall. (stereo acquisition disease).View attachment 19773 View attachment 19772

Sort of. If you want the full designation of XPA Gen 3 then number of channels, fine but traditionally even Emotiva has done the XPA-(number of channels) for a simple designation. OP will need to clarify perhaps.

 

[Bucknekked]

Sort of. If you want the full designation of XPA Gen 3 then number of channels, fine but traditionally even Emotiva has done the XPA-(number of channels) for a simple designation. OP will need to clarify perhaps.

lovinthehd:
You are 100% correct. I went to a website and configured one. it did exactly as you said.
I humbly bow to your Emotiva prowess..........

 

[lovinthehd]

lovinthehd:
You are 100% correct. I went to a website and configured one. it did exactly as you said.
I humbly bow to your Emotiva prowess..........

LOL forum prowess maybe. Model numbers/designations from some of these marketing departments can get tricky, tho

 

[MrBoat]

I went from 150w inefficient speakers, to 250w efficient speakers, and then on to 500w efficient speakers. I still do well to listen past 50w most days. In that time I also employed a 150w and a 100w integrated amps, and now a 120w AVR. The only difference really, was how much range of the volume cntrl I used. I'm driving the 500w speakers with a 120w/ch Denon and it is capable of ear shattering levels. I was all ready to go full pro equipment if I needed to. I don't see that happening now.

 

[Bar907]

Thank you for all your help guys. I just place an order for my receiver and its just the marantz 6011. That's only I can afford. One more thing. Any suggestion with the cables? I don't want to overspend with cables as long as it can serve its purpose. Can I use the pre-out (rca) straight to the subwoofer? or use the subwoofer slot in the channel. Please correct me if I'm wrong with connections. Planning to use rca for 3 speakers (fl, fr, c) using preout in the receiver and connect it to unbalance port of xpa3 and from xpa3 to the 3 speakers. My sat is just banana plug straight from the receiver. Need your suggestion where to plug my sub?

 

[Bucknekked]

Thank you for all your help guys. I just place an order for my receiver and its just the marantz 6011.

Only a Marantz 6011? I think Marantz is pretty solid with no apologies needed. Literally can't go wrong.

Cables? OMG, nothing brings out the snake oil crazy talk like cables. Cables were the video topic that sold me on Audioholics as a forum and community. Gene does a couple of videos on cables that are excellent. Those videos will save you a ton of money and worry.
Search for those videos and you can't go wrong.

I got mine from monoprice I believe. SVS has good ones. Blue Jean cables (sp?) also get a lot of good mentions. Watch the cable videos on the site and they will steer you right

 

[lovinthehd]

Thank you for all your help guys. I just place an order for my receiver and its just the marantz 6011. That's only I can afford. One more thing. Any suggestion with the cables? I don't want to overspend with cables as long as it can serve its purpose. Can I use the pre-out (rca) straight to the subwoofer? or use the subwoofer slot in the channel. Please correct me if I'm wrong with connections. Planning to use rca for 3 speakers (fl, fr, c) using preout in the receiver and connect it to unbalance port of xpa3 and from xpa3 to the 3 speakers. My sat is just banana plug straight from the receiver. Need your suggestion where to plug my sub?

Yes, just use an rca cable from the subwoofer pre-out on the avr to the sub, preferably to the LFE input if the sub has such labeled (that normally would bypass the low pass filter in the sub and use the one you choose from the avr instead; just in case dial the low pass filter to it's max value). If you follow the guidelines for the Audyssey setup in the Marantz you'll be fine.

For the sub cable I'd suggest one from monoprice or the Mediabridge brand at Amazon or even bluejeanscable.com (and bluejeans has some very good articles too). Here's a good site discussing speaker wire http://www.roger-russell.com/wire/wire.htm

 

[MrBoat]

lovinthehd:
comments withdrawn.

This is the first time I have studied the layout in one of these Emotiva modular amplifiers. I am intrigued. I may have to put one of these on my shopping list. I have the SAD afterall. (stereo acquisition disease).View attachment 19773 View attachment 19772

I'd buy equipment for a few reasons, not all of which are practical. One being if it was known to be robust with long term quality. Something that would still be a legacy 10 years from now. If I buy something, I tend to like it for a long time, in spite of what current trends inflict, otherwise. I like the style of the amps with less features, even if all they do is amp. Helps if they look cool to me too.

I could see me buying dedicated amps/preamps for music.

 

[Bucknekked]

I'd buy equipment for a few reasons, not all of which are practical. One being if it was known to be robust with long term quality. Something that would still be a legacy 10 years from now. If I buy something, I tend to like it for a long time, in spite of what current trends inflict, otherwise. I like the style of the amps with less features, even if all they do is amp. Helps if they look cool to me too.

I could see me buying dedicated amps/preamps for music.

MrBoat
You are a man after my own heart. Well said.