Power Amp For My New Speakers, Emotiva, Behringer?

[mibson]

I think Im going to buy the PSB Platinum T6 speakers. I want good power amp for these.

http://www.psbspeakers.com/products/Platinum-Series/Platinum-T6-Tower

The Emotiva amps seem great, Ive heard a few issues with quality control; has anyone had these amps and had trouble? no trouble?

The Behringer EP2500 has many recomnendations, but the EP1500 seems like it has lots of power for me, any reason I would need the extra power?

Also, is there a good link to explaining power amp use with a av receiver? I have no idea how to hook up a new power amp (for front mains) and then use the new av receiver for the rest of my speakers. I need to make sure I dont buy somthing that I cant use...

Note: I have a PS3, will be using that for a cd and dvd player.

 

[adk highlander]

Hi mibson those PSB's look very nice.

I have had a Emotiva MPS-1 for a couple of years and I have been happy. It is not to say it has been a trouble free relationship. I have recently had one channel in the amp not turn off when using the trigger. (the mps-1 is modular) I have sent it back and it was repaired and sent back one week from when they received it. If the problem is taken care of when it comes back then I will say it was a positive experience even though I had the issue. (I will have it back tomorrow) Others here have had issues and not received the same quality of customer service that I have been lucky enough to get. I would purchase another Emotiva product and when their new 7-channel 400wpc beast comes out I may upgrade then.

I have heard many good things about the behringer amps but I find the fan noise and their looks just don't do it for me. If your gear is in a closet then these may not be an issue.

Now for your receiver you will need pre-outs to connect from the receiver to the amp to be able to connect it properly. Your old receiver may not have these pre-outs and make sure when looking at new ones that it has them for all channels. Most receivers above $700 will have this feature.

 

[mibson]

Thanks! Warm sound?

Ok that is what I need to know, pre-outs for each channel....

Also, Ive heard the NAD has "warm" sounding amps, I love warm sounding audio. I need to make sure I dont end up with some bright sounding amp. Any recommendations?

 

[lsiberian]

I think Im going to buy the PSB Platinum T6 speakers. I want good power amp for these.

http://www.psbspeakers.com/products/Platinum-Series/Platinum-T6-Tower

The Emotiva amps seem great, Ive heard a few issues with quality control; has anyone had these amps and had trouble? no trouble?

The Behringer EP2500 has many recomnendations, but the EP1500 seems like it has lots of power for me, any reason I would need the extra power?

Also, is there a good link to explaining power amp use with a av receiver? I have no idea how to hook up a new power amp (for front mains) and then use the new av receiver for the rest of my speakers. I need to make sure I dont buy somthing that I cant use...

Note: I have a PS3, will be using that for a cd and dvd player.

you simply hook the pre-outs to the inputs on your amp. Most amps have RCA inputs so you can use a simple rca type cable to make the connections.

The emotiva have 12 v trigger, but no trims. I prefer having trims on my amps. So I'd suggest the Behringer EP2500. I've not seen an EP1500 in a while.

 

[Matt34]

The Behringer is a power house and of good build quaility. The only downside to it is the loud fan that can be fixed rather easily and the lack of a 12v trigger to turn it on and off. So if you don't mine getting up to turn it on and can get past it's looks I would go with one of them.

 

[GlocksRock]

I have and Emotiva IPS-1 and it's been fantastic, the build quaility is top notch, and the fit and finish is fantastic as well. I've also had great customer service from them, so they get a big thumbs up from me.

 

[adk highlander]

Ok that is what I need to know, pre-outs for each channel....

Also, Ive heard the NAD has "warm" sounding amps, I love warm sounding audio. I need to make sure I dont end up with some bright sounding amp. Any recommendations?

I'm not one to believe that solid state amps sound very different from one another. Speakers on the other hand can sound vastly different. My Wharfedales are a "warm" speaker especially compared against Klipsch, Axiom and some other horn loaded speakers. The PSB's I have heard (Image T, Imagine, Synchrony) exude what I would call warm sound.

lsiberian mentions trim levels that the EP2500 has. The UPA-2 does have trim level but their larger 2-channel models XPA-2 does not.

 

[Adam]

I'm one of those folks that Craig mentioned as not being so lucky with Emotiva's quality control or customer service. I'll try to summarize my thoughts here - my amps are sonically just fine and I do use them, the aesthetic build quality if quite good, the transformers in my IPS-1 hum excessively and caused me to not use it for about a year, my first RPA-1 died within two days and sent a power surge through my speakers, and their customer service approach seemed to be to ignore me until I went away unless I stuck with it like a junkyard dog.

That said, here's my advice if you go with Emotiva. Don't rely on their customer service and beware of infant mortality in their products. If you get a good amp and are happy with it for the first couple of weeks, kudos and enjoy. Several people have been happy with their products, and my second RPA-1 has worked like a champ for two years. However, if you have any doubts about the amp (performance or quality), take the hit on return shipping and return it - don't take a chance with them making things right after you're outside of the return window. That's my biggest regret with the IPS-1.

That's just my two cents.

 

[mibson]

trim and 12 v?

Ok , when you say trim that means a ballance knob? If yes, why would I want this...

And 12v trigger? what is that? Perhaps has to do with a remote?

Thanks again!

 

[Adam]

And 12v trigger? what is that? Perhaps has to do with a remote?

If your receiver has a 12v trigger output (or a switched power outlet), then you can use a 12v trigger input on an amp to have the amp turn on and off with your receiver. It's a handy feature, IMO.

 

[adk highlander]

Ok , when you say trim that means a ballance knob? If yes, why would I want this...

And 12v trigger? what is that? Perhaps has to do with a remote?

Thanks again!

Adam has given a nice answer to your trigger question.

The trim knob is the level of output the amp is putting out. If you had several of these and were using speakers with a variety of sensitivity then you could use this to even out the relative ouput between the amps. In most cases your receiver will do this during its auto setup but if you like to tinker it may be helpful. I personally don't care about this feature for my setup.

 

[ski2xblack]

'warm' sound

NAD amps, at least their recent crop, don't sound warm. Perhaps some of their vintage gear does, often garnering colorful descriptions like 'wooly' or 'husky'. (I have a vintage NAD amp, and it is certainly not 'warm' to my ears, fwiw.) They do sound powerful and effortless, but each of the others you are considering would also be loafing along and never run out of headroom.

NAD's current lineup seem excessively overpriced to me compared to the Emo or Behr items. Maybe if you found a C272 on closeout somewhere it would be worth considering, as it will be in the same ballpark power wise as the others. Barring such a deal, I would take one of the others for pure bang/buck value, but that's just me, I'm cheap.

You can always warm the sound up with eq or processing down the road if you feel it necessary, but I have a strong feeling you'll like the sound from the PSB's straight up.

 

[KEW]

...the loud fan that can be fixed rather easily...

What is involved?
Is this just a swap to a quieter PC fan?
Link?

Thanks

 

[Matt34]

Can't link it since I'm on my phone but I believe Mike C did a write up with pictures. Search his posts in the DIY section.

 

[adk highlander]

Here is the link

Was posted by Mike C.

 

[lsiberian]

Adam has given a nice answer to your trigger question.

The trim knob is the level of output the amp is putting out. If you had several of these and were using speakers with a variety of sensitivity then you could use this to even out the relative ouput between the amps. In most cases your receiver will do this during its auto setup but if you like to tinker it may be helpful. I personally don't care about this feature for my setup.

Trims allow you to use with a DCX2496 without attenuators. I'd not use them for level matching if you can help it.

 

[mibson]

Parasound HCA-1000A ?

I found a used Parasound HCA-1000A. If an amp is 8-9 years old, should I be concerned?

Are these amps any good?

I need to save cash on an amp after breaking my budget on speakers. I can eventually upgrade my amp....

 

[Swerd]

I found a used Parasound HCA-1000A. If an amp is 8-9 years old, should I be concerned?

Are these amps any good?

Yes, Parasound amps are good. Don't worry about the age, 8-9 years is short for an amp.

Is this the amp? Parasound has a good reputation and in the sometimes loony world of separate audio electronic components, they are considered moderately priced.

If the price is right for you, go for it. You may find that it is all the amplifier you need.

 

[mibson]

Parasound

Yes, thats the amp.

I have an old Arcam Xeta8(my brothers, Ive never used it...). I really dont know much about hooking up a power amp and pre amp. I want to use this old Arcam for now as a preamp, untill I get a really good AV receiver. Does anyone know how to hook these two amps up, and if I need any special cables etc?

Thanks so much for any help!

 

[oppman99]

I found a used Parasound HCA-1000A. If an amp is 8-9 years old, should I be concerned?

Are these amps any good?

I need to save cash on an amp after breaking my budget on speakers. I can eventually upgrade my amp....

I sold a Parasound HCA-1200 a few months back. It still worked like new and is near the same age as the one you are looking at. You might want to check out the Emotiva UPA-2. It is on sale through the end of the year for $249 + $25 shipping. You'd get a 5 year warranty and a brand new amp. I prefer the Emotiva to the older Parasound, but that's just my opinion.