emotiva seperates or onkyo 805

[ticks77]

im in the market for some new equipment and ive been looking at the emotiva lmc1 lpa amp pre amp combo.

Would you guys recomend the lmc/lpa or a onkyo 805

i want to really push my speakers the best i can.
im most interested in clear powerful sound.

speakers are : athena ls 500 towers
athena center
and 2 athena as c1 surrounds
and a HF 15 sub

 

[Bluesmoke]

The onkyo runs so hot that there's a fear of it breaking down eventually. But it does have all the lastest features list that Emotiva doesn't.

Emotiva combo sounds great because you'll never need to replace the amp even if new things are added to the preamps in coming years.

 

[rnatalli]

Onkyo for features. Emotiva for sound quality and power. However, if you can wait another month or two, the LMC-2 is coming out which has most modern features. Best of both worlds.

 

[Bluesmoke]

Yea, wait for this sucker. True HD + DTS MA, and Genesis DCDI chip for video processing.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

Yeah I would get the LMC-2 + Amp over the Onkyo. Plus, you get better service and a 5 year warranty from Emotiva.

 

[jcPanny]

Emotiva gear

Either the Emotiva or Onkyo option would be overkill for your Athena speakers. Your system would probably sound just as good with a receiver like the Onkyo 605 or Yamaha RX-V661. However, I have the Emotiva LPA-1 amp and plan to upgrade soon to one of their pre-pros.

 

[Seth=L]

Or, you could get the Yamaha RX-V1800, the Athena's aren't exactly the biggest power suckers in the world and more than likely pretty even loaded.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

Oh, come on now. Let us give his Athenas some love.

I heard from reviewers and forum members that the Athena towers are fine speakers, and fine speakers also deserve the best amps and pre-pros or receivers.

Go for the Emotiva LMC-2 + XPA-5 = $1,400?

 

[frostbyte]

JcPanny does have a good point. I'm not familiar with your speakers, but I know a general rule is around 60/40 at most and I'd go more like 80/20 for the budget of speakers/electronics. You will get much more sound improvement on speakers than you will with electronics. If you are just going for the latest and greatest electronic upgrade then that's one thing, but if you are upgrading for sound improvement then make sure you spend your $ where you will get the most difference. Don't forget room accoustics as well.

 

[Alex2507]

im in the market for some new equipment and ive been looking at the emotiva lmc1 lpa amp pre amp combo.

Would you guys recomend the lmc/lpa or a onkyo 805

i want to really push my speakers the best i can.
im most interested in clear powerful sound.

speakers are : athena ls 500 towers
athena center
and 2 athena as c1 surrounds
and a HF 15 sub

Just out of curiosity, what are you currently driving the speakers with?

 

[yettitheman]

Seperates, just because you have a bit more flexibility in your system down the road

 

[ticks77]

Oh, come on now. Let us give his Athenas some love.

I heard from reviewers and forum members that the Athena towers are fine speakers, and fine speakers also deserve the best amps and pre-pros or receivers.

Go for the Emotiva LMC-2 + XPA-5 = $1,400?

whoa way to much money...

and dont bad talk my athena towers they play very low very nice sounding bass i love them !!!

 

[ticks77]

Just out of curiosity, what are you currently driving the speakers with?

yamaha htr 5940 100 watts a channel very clear sound exceptional auctually but very weak

im done with yamaha

 

[Bluesmoke]

im done with yamaha

Dude, I'm regretting buying the Yamaha 6060. It is attrocious for music. Almost no soundstage to speak of. I tried the Denon 788 for a few days and it was head and shoulders above Yamaha. Must be the preamp section as they seemed to produce similar volume.

 

[Seth=L]

yamaha htr 5940 100 watts a channel very clear sound exceptional auctually but very weak

im done with yamaha

That's a low line Yamaha, expect low line performance. The Yamaha RX-V1800 has a far better amp in it.

Bluesmoke, I will believe it when I see a level matched DBT. However, I have owned two Yamaha receivers and can personally attest to their lack of a particular sound much like any other mass market receiver, they are neutral.

I personally like the TX-SR805 and I also personally like the Athena speakers My statement wasn't meant to be bad. Having efficient even loaded speakers isn't bad, it's just how the speaker works with your equipment. The Onkyo has more power than those speakers should ever need unless you want your ears to be literally damaged.

 

[Alex2507]

If I had the extra room I would get the Emotiva separates just because they are cool. The fact that they have been favorably reviewed is fantastic. Another thing is that "Emotiva" just sounds better than "Onkyo" when spoken.
And it looks better when written.

Hey, we all have different criteria for brand preference.

 

[Bluesmoke]

Bluesmoke, I will believe it when I see a level matched DBT. However, I have owned two Yamaha receivers and can personally attest to their lack of a particular sound much like any other mass market receiver, they are neutral.

You are entitled to your opinion as I am of mine. I have listened to the Denon 788 in my room and it is clearly superior to the Yamaha in every way - particularly for music. It is a no brainer which sounds better if you compare them head to head. Particularly with my Energy speakers.

The Yamaha lacks the "body" of the Denon, as if the midrange just isn't as clear.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

You are entitled to your opinion as I am of mine. I have listened to the Denon 788 in my room and it is clearly superior to the Yamaha in every way - particularly for music. It is a no brainer which sounds better if you compare them head to head. Particularly with my Energy speakers.

The Yamaha lacks the "body" of the Denon, as if the midrange just isn't as clear.

Guys, all of our gears are equal. They all sound great. The only difference is in our hearing. We each hear differently. But all of our gears are equivalent, alright?

 

[Seth=L]

You are entitled to your opinion as I am of mine. I have listened to the Denon 788 in my room and it is clearly superior to the Yamaha in every way - particularly for music. It is a no brainer which sounds better if you compare them head to head. Particularly with my Energy speakers.

The Yamaha lacks the "body" of the Denon, as if the midrange just isn't as clear.

As I said, do a level matched Double Blind test, and show your honest results. Having done this in my own home I find it hard to believe, if even possible, that if both units where functioning properly and set up correctly that they would sound any different. You can bolster the "body" and "clear midrange" and "open soundstage" all you want, but without a DBT there is simply no way you can "know" it sounds different, better, or whatever.

Sorry if it seems like I am picking at you, I just don't want the OP to rule out a very good piece of equipment with no foundry for dismissing it. Does the HTR-5940 sound bad with the speakers?, it's very possible. It's their bottom of the line receiver, and you can expect bottom of the line performance from it. The RX-V1800 is not the bottom of the line and is very competitive with similarly priced models from any other manufacturer. I am not saying the RX-V1800 is the best choice, because it may not be, but then again it might be. You can never be sure unless you look into it other than basing one Yamaha receiver's performance off another.

 

[ticks77]

Sorry if it seems like I am picking at you, I just don't want the OP to rule out a very good piece of equipment with no foundry for dismissing it. Does the HTR-5940 sound bad with the speakers?, it's very possible. It's their bottom of the line receiver, and you can expect bottom of the line performance from it. The RX-V1800 is not the bottom of the line and is very competitive with similarly priced models from any other manufacturer. I am not saying the RX-V1800 is the best choice, because it may not be, but then again it might be. You can never be sure unless you look into it other than basing one Yamaha receiver's performance off another.

no it doesnt sound bad its just not a very full bodied sound if that makes since. and i have had 5 diff sets of speakers on it and it makes no difference the sound is still kinda weak great clarity tho