External Amp with AVR

[KaushikC]

I am in the process of upgrading my home theater....I have decided on the Yamaha Aventage RX-3010A receiver. The question is that I have a 7.1 speaker system....do you think that if I get the Emotiva XPA 5 or 3 and connect to my receiver then the audio experience will be enhanced or is this n overkill. Currently I have a B&K 302 receiver. I do not listen too loud, and my listening level is between -15 to -25db, but I want to enjoy all the audio effects at this listening level....My family room home theater is 20x13x9, but it is open at the back to breakfast nook and kitchen which is another 27x13x8.....

For side and rear surround I use in-wall triads, where as for my main LCR, I use Rockets 760 (from AV123...). I have attached the spec for these speakers so that experts can advice me.

RS750

● System: Three-way, five-driver direct-radiating system, vented enclosure with two rear-firing flared ports
● Drivers: Vifa Ring Radiator tweeter, four custom 5.25" long-throw aluminum cone woofers
● Crossover: Tweeter at 3.8 kHz, progressive array, variable slope
● Frequency Response: 38 Hz to 20 KHz (� 3 dB)
● Impedance: 6 Ohms nominal
● Efficiency: 88 dB (@ 1 watt / 1 meter)
● Power Rating: 25-200 Watts power handling
●

RSC200

● System: Three-way, four driver direct-radiating system, vented enclosure with rear-firing flared port
● Drivers: Vifa Ring Radiator tweeter, one custom 4" midrange and two custom 6.5" long-throw aluminum cone woofers
● Crossover: 500 Hz and 4.0 kHz, 3rd-order alignment
● Frequency Response: 50 Hz to 20 KHz (� 3 dB)
● Impedance: 4 Ohms nominal
● Efficiency: 91 dB (@ 1 watt / 1 meter)
● Power Rating: 25-150 Watts power handling

Thanks for the help.

 

[j_garcia]

Hi, Kaushik We hadn't started discussing it really, but I guess I should have asked if you were satisfied with the sound levels and quality currently? If you aren't hearing what you consider distortion, then an amp probably won't yield a significant improvement.

In the space you have and the levels I would probably listen at, I'd need the amp

 

[KaushikC]

Hi John:

Thanks. I am going crazy thinking about this....I am more tuned towards not getting the Amp, since I think the Yammy receiver hould have enough power....but I still like to get feedback of you all...since you guys play with these things more......

I have been extremely happy with the B&K receiver that you had recommended, but due to lack of inputs, I now need to upgrade it to a newer receiver...

 

[PENG]

As John said you may not need an amp for the system to sound good. Just because you have 7 speakers does not mean they all need juice at the same time and at the same magnitude. That being said, adding an amp never hurts and will definitely help in some moments. I would get the XPA-2, but if you want to save a little money than go with the XPA-3.

 

[moves]

I would get a Bryston 4B SST2

 

[Mad Norseman]

Hi, I'd recommend the Emotiva XPA-2 as well (250w x 2), and let the Yamaha RX-A3010 drive the center & surrounds only with the 150w x 2 that's then available for those channels. I believe you will hear a positive audible difference.

 

[j_garcia]

Hi, I'd recommend the Emotiva XPA-2 as well (250w x 2), and let the Yamaha RX-A3010 drive the center & surrounds only with the 150w x 2 that's then available for those channels. I believe you will hear a positive audible difference.

The XPA-2 is 300x2. The XPA-3 and XPA-5 are 200wpc. His center is quite a stout beast so I'd say an external amp will only benefit it and would do much better having the same level of amplification as the mains, rather than a 150W difference.

 

[PENG]

The XPA-2 is 300x2. The XPA-3 and XPA-5 are 200wpc. His center is quite a stout beast so I'd say an external amp will only benefit it and would do much better having the same level of amplification as the mains, rather than a 150W difference.

The XPA-2 has a power supply that in my opinion makes its claimed power output believable, but not the 3 and the 5. If I read the OP's posted specs right, the center speaker is rated for 150W maximum and sensitivity of 91 dB/W/M, making it more or less equivalent to 88 dB/W/M at 8 ohms. That does not seem too difficult to drive at least on surface, especially for HT, when it will/should be crossovered at 80 Hz. Without seeing some graphs we cannot be sure but it is likely a reasonable match for the RXA-3010 that has only 5 speakers to feed in a mid size room where the OP will be listening at merely -15 to -25dB SPL. The L/R speakers will likely benefit from the more powerful XPA-2 for stereo music enjoyment, wheras the other two choices, especially the XPA-5, will be a compromise.

 

[walter duque]

The XPA-2 is 300x2. The XPA-3 and XPA-5 are 200wpc. His center is quite a stout beast so I'd say an external amp will only benefit it and would do much better having the same level of amplification as the mains, rather than a 150W difference.

Very good point. I have 500 running to may mains and have the center bi amped
with 500x2. Center is very important, IMO it's the most important speaker in the system when it comes to amplification.

 

[PENG]

IMO it's the most important speaker in the system when it comes to amplification.

Funny IMO it is not, but it may be hyped up by enough people saying so, but then I am mainly a 2 channel guy who think anything (almost) decent (not defining it) will be fine for movies and MCH music.

 

[walter duque]

Funny IMO it is not, but it may be hyped up by enough people saying so, but then I am mainly a 2 channel guy who think anything (almost) decent (not defining it) will be fine for movies and MCH music.

You might be right. I also happen to like dual centers, I think they sound great. For music I turn the center off, to me it sounds better without a center. Even in MCH music I just don't like the center on. I also have over 4K into my rears, where everyone else says $99.oo NHT's is all you need and they also get 500 watts each. I guess I am wrong, but to me rears are important too.

 

[PENG]

I guess I am wrong, but to me rears are important too.

I must admit I am not totally not crazy or innocent either. I don't feed my sides and rears with 500W but I give each of them a powered subwoofer.

 

[j_garcia]

I would say the center is pretty important for movies, less so for music. The OP is trying to figure out if he needs the amp for the speakers. These are the good old AV123 Rockets with the "Bigfoot" center. That center is one of the better sounding centers I've heard to be honest, and while high sensitivity, it can also no doubt take a lot of power. No matter the case, whether they deliver full rated power, the XPA-3 or 5 would still certainly provide more power than a receiver, even a higher end one.

If this was for ~70% music, I might say opt for the XPA-2, but I think the OP does mostly movies.

 

[Scumfrog]

Live with the a/v receiver as is. Satisfied? Cool. Need more "oomph"? Add an external amp. Im sure you will make the right call.
Good listening!
Mike

 

[cschang]

For movies, the center channel carries the bulk of he sound effects.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

...I have decided on the Yamaha Aventage RX-3010A receiver. The question is that I have a 7.1 speaker system....do you think that if I get the Emotiva XPA 5 or 3 and connect to my receiver then the audio experience will be enhanced ....I do not listen too loud, and my listening level is between -15 to -25db...

I don't think you will even notice one lick of difference once you calibrate your AVR w/ the new amp. Most amps may have gains of 32dB or 28dB, which may be louder than the AVR's gain.

So @ -15dB (without calibrating), your speakers may now sound 3 to 6 dB louder than before. Many people will naturally think adding the amp made the sound "better" when it was just louder.

I don't think you need an amp. But a nice amp won't hurt either.

How about a made-in-America muscle amp?

ATI AT1805 amp @ 50% off MSRP? Regular @ $2200, selling @ $1100. It is a B-stock item with full 7 yr parts and labor warranty from authorized dealer.

Rated @ 180wpc x 5ch 8ohm/ 270wpc x 5ch 4ohm RMS 20Hz-20kHz 0.03% THD. That means @ the usual 1% THD, you're probably looking at excess of 200wpc 8ohm & 300wpc 4ohm.

ATI AT1805 Five Channel x 180 Watt Amplifier - B-Stock (120V) - Amplifiers

AT 1800 Multi Channel Amp

 

[cschang]

How about a made-in-America muscle amp?

ATI AT1805 amp @ 50% off MSRP? Regular @ $2200, selling @ $1100. It is a B-stock item with full 7 yr parts and labor warranty from authorized dealer.

Rated @ 180wpc x 5ch 8ohm/ 270wpc x 5ch 4ohm RMS 20Hz-20kHz 0.03% THD. That means @ the usual 1% THD, you're probably looking at excess of 200wpc 8ohm & 300wpc 4ohm.

ATI AT1805 Five Channel x 180 Watt Amplifier - B-Stock (120V) - Amplifiers

AT 1800 Multi Channel Amp

That's a nice deal!!

I currently have an older ATI 1505 that is running like a champ (along with a couple of 500wpc IcePower based amps)...been thinking about getting an ATI 2005...but I just can't justify it.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

been thinking about getting an ATI 2005...but I just can't justify it.

Only way is to add new speakers.

 

[Mad Norseman]

Hi, and yeah, I know Emotiva lists the XPA-2 at 300w x 2, but the manual for this amplifier that I have for it states 250w x 2. Also, their own PDF of test results on Emotiva's own website indicates something just over 250w/channel, (but no where reaching 300w they now state). They now state 300w/channle, but used to show 250w/channel.
So what's the real story?
Who knows?! - I'm still waiting for Home Theater magazine, or Sound & Vision magazine to do an objective 3rd party test review on these Emotiva XPA amps - along with measured power ratings for all channels driven.
That aside, the XPA-2, 3 & 5 are excellent amplifiers.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

Hi, and yeah, I know Emotiva lists the XPA-2 at 300w x 2, but the manual for this amplifier that I have for it states 250w x 2. Also, their own PDF of test results on Emotiva's own website indicates something just over 250w/channel, (but no where reaching 300w they now state). They now state 300w/channle, but used to show 250w/channel.
So what's the real story?
Who knows?! - I'm still waiting for Home Theater magazine, or Sound & Vision magazine to do an objective 3rd party test review on these Emotiva XPA amps - along with measured power ratings for all channels driven.
That aside, the XPA-2, 3 & 5 are excellent amplifiers.

According to Gene @AH, it is 265wpc x 2ch driven 8ohm 0.1%THD:

With only ONE channel driven, it is 312 Watts, but who listens to mono???

Emotiva XPA-2 Measurements and Analysis — Reviews and News from Audioholics

So saying it is 300wpc 2ch amp is misleading.