Emotiva or outlaw for my onkkyo prepro 886

[wildchild22]

I have an onkyo pr-sc886 pre pro and I am trying to decide on some amps for either a 5.1 or 7.1 setup.
My room is approx 14x20x8 feet
I have polk audio R30 for mains and R15 for the center and the rest. I have a hsu vtf-3 mk2 sub.

I have tried the spl calculator from
Peak SPL Calculator
and I will post the results
I am trying to stay below 850.00 USD
So my options are
outlaw audio refurb 7075 spl 98.1
outlaw audio refurb 7125 spl 100.3

emotiva xpa-5 (only gives me a 5.1 as I am out of funds spl 102.3
emotiva xpa-200 spl 100.3 and xpa-500 spl 98.6


SO what is the best options. It seems that It will only play between 98 and 102 spl. (Hardly any difference 4db)


Emotiva email support recommends the xpa-5

Outlaw email recommends the the 7125.


I would like the best option. But it seems the cheaper options play almost as loud so I do not want to waste my money.

7075 approx $600.00
7125 approx $850.00

xpa-5 approx $810.00
xpa-200+xpa-500 approx $675.00


So what is peoples thoughts here??
I would like something that will futureproof me if I move as well.

Many thanks to anyone who answers

 

[j_garcia]

Honestly, if you don't want to waste your money you should be investing in better speakers before serious amplification, though I realize you need an amp for the Pre. A UPA500 or 7075 are more than enough for those speakers. The budget is seriously slanted to the electronics side here, and speakers easily make the biggest difference. So unless the plan includes a speaker upgrade, don't spend a ton on amplification IMO.

4dB is a big difference; it is more than a 50% difference in output.

 

[wildchild22]

Hi there thanks for the reply.

Yes I know my speakers are crap. I just want to get a good amp then in a few months some new speakers.

I will probably be buying axiom speakers as they are made in Canada and I live there.

So do you think the upa-500 or 7075 is future proofing enough for axiom speakers?

 

[ahblaza]

Hi there thanks for the reply.

Yes I know my speakers are crap. I just want to get a good amp then in a few months some new speakers.

I will probably be buying axiom speakers as they are made in Canada and I live there.

So do you think the upa-500 or 7075 is future proofing enough for axiom speakers?

I like the UPA-200 at $349 80 watts and 120 into 8 and 4 ohm respectively with ACD. Hard to beat, spend more on the speakers. Can't comment on the Axioms, never heard them. Ascend Acoustics 340SE's come to mind......

 

[j_garcia]

Not a problem. Which Axioms are you looking at? If we are talking M80s and their big center, I'd consider the XPA-5 or 7125. If you are only looking at some of their bookshelf speakers, the previously mentioned ones will likely be fine, but you really can't go wrong with more than enough power.

5.1 is an excellent way to begin, and maybe you don't need more than that. I've had a 6.1 setup and I don't miss it being back to 5.1 (and currently just 3.1 in the main system) Your room is not so large that I would say 7.1 is a huge benefit, but it is big enough that it would work. In light of that, if you are considering 7.1, I'd go with one of the Outlaws since they would provide you the ability to go that direction with a single amp.

 

[wildchild22]

I am thinking most likely
Vp150 center
m80 mains
QS8 surrounds
QS8 surrounds


So I most likely will need the 7125.

 

[j_garcia]

Yep, 7125 then.

 

[wildchild22]

thanks for the help I just ordered a b-stock 7125!

 

[BoredSysAdmin]

I am thinking most likely
Vp150 center
m80 mains
QS8 surrounds
QS8 surrounds


So I most likely will need the 7125.

There are many Canadian Speakers Brands ...that said Axiom, especially Vp150 and M80 wont be my choices


Hemp Acoustics Canada
Gershman Acoustics Canada
Fluance[10] Canada
Energy Speaker Systems Canada
Arnscott Electronics Canada
Adamson Systems Engineering [1] Canada
AVI Sound International Canada
Axiom Audio Canada
PK Sound Canada
Paradigm Canada
StudioLAB Canada
Streem[20] Canada
Song Audio Canada
PSB Canada
rogue wave audio Canada
Totem Acoustic Canada
Verity Audio Canada
Yorkville Sound Canada
Edifier Canada/China
Pro-Linear Electronics Canada/China

Check out : PSB, Totem and Energy.... Paradigm also but later maybe priced too high for your budget

 

[BoredSysAdmin]

thanks for the help I just ordered a b-stock 7125!

and Congrats on 7125 - Good choice !

 

[wildchild22]

I will make a new posts when I get some more cash. To see what would be good speakers for me!

 

[j_garcia]

Yes, I guess a second question should have been, have you heard the Axioms? I do like them, but don't love them. If you are going to listen, PSB is what I'd probably start with. I have heard plenty of Energy speakers and they are also good and Mirage are also owned by the same company that owns Energy. I've never heard any of the Totems.

I haven't really seen reviews of the VP160 center, but I'd kind of be leaning toward that due to the new design. In that room, M60s would probably be enough, possibly even M22s with a mean sub, but hey, that's not my decision to make.

I do like the suggestion of the Ascends as well.

 

[wildchild22]

Yeah I cannot hear anything I just need to order and take a chance. I live in a rural area! I will check out PSB.

 

[PENG]

Hi there thanks for the reply.

Yes I know my speakers are crap. I just want to get a good amp then in a few months some new speakers.

I will probably be buying axiom speakers as they are made in Canada and I live there.

So do you think the upa-500 or 7075 is future proofing enough for axiom speakers?

If you are considering the UPA series you may as well go back to a powerful AVR such as the AVR-4311 that is rated for 4 ohms so it can handle those Axioms you have in mind. It offers Audyssey XT32, can EQ 2 subs, and of course preouts, preamp mode etc. Very future proof, all for less than $1,500may even get better if you can wait until the 4520CI is out.

 

[wildchild22]

Quite true I got the 7125 ordered now so next is a speaker upgrade.

I like my pre pro and do not want to upgrade that yet.

If you are considering the UPA series you may as well go back to a powerful AVR such as the AVR-4311 that is rated for 4 ohms so it can handle those Axioms you have in mind. It offers Audyssey XT32, can EQ 2 subs, and of course preouts, preamp mode etc. Very future proof, all for less than $1,500may even get better if you can wait until the 4520CI is out.

 

[PENG]

Quite true I got the 7125 ordered now so next is a speaker upgrade.

I like my pre pro and do not want to upgrade that yet.

Sorry, you did mention you have that nice Onkyo pre already. I am in the same boat, I have the Marantz pre and am not quite willing to give up on it yet, though mainly because of it's nice porthole. The Outlaw is a good choice, but I am pretty sure it offers only marginally more power output than the 4311.

 

[wildchild22]

Yeah it probably do only offer a bit more power than the 4311 but if I buy the 4311 then I will need 11.1 and I cannot afford to buy that many good speakers!

That is why I am sticking with the onkyo 886.

 

[sharkman]

I have the 7125 as well. It has a much larger power supply than just about any AVR. 1.6 KVA transformer, and it can do 190 watts per channel at 4 ohms with all channels driven from 20-20khz with .05 THD. Not a bad little amp, it was an immediate improvement over my flagship Onkyo 876 AVR.

 

[wildchild22]

Hi there just wondering if there is much speaker hiss with the 7125 and the onkyo?
And how long have you has this setup?

So are you still happy witht he setup and what speakers and room size are you using?

I have the 7125 as well. It has a much larger power supply than just about any AVR. 1.6 KVA transformer, and it can do 190 watts per channel at 4 ohms with all channels driven from 20-20khz with .05 THD. Not a bad little amp, it was an immediate improvement over my flagship Onkyo 876 AVR.

 

[sharkman]

My room size is 14 x 25 ft, but the back wall is mostly open to the split level style kitchen. I have not experienced speaker hiss at all, my speakers are Paradigm Monitor 7v3 for left/right and a Paradigm CC370 for the center. Sides and backs are all Totem Lynks, a dipole/bipole design. All have metal tweeters and the fronts have a sensitivity of 93db.

I've had the Onkyo and speakers for 4 years and added the amp in April. I immediately noticed the bass frequencies were cleaned up(those not covered by my HSU VTF-15H, which was fine already) or more accurate/tight, and the soundstage became more open. I'm pretty impressed with the amp.