Focal's 1027 Be - Do I need a power amp?

[Ponzio]

I recently purchased a pair of Focal’s 1027Be speakers and was wondering whether I should purchase a power amp for my Yamaha RX-V4600 AV Receiver to get the maximum quality out of them. Per the Yamaha’s manual I’m getting 165W dynamic power to the front main speakers. There’s an Emotiva XPA-2 for sale locally ($300) and I’m wondering whether I should jump on it.
<O</O
Any and all input welcome.

Thanks in advance.

 

[96cobra10101]

I'm a big fan of amps, and Emo, but it isn't necessary for your setup. $300 is a pretty good deal on the XPA, so if it were me I would probably buy it, but your not likely to hear any audible difference.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

I recently purchased a pair of Focal’s 1027Be speakers and was wondering whether I should purchase a power amp for my Yamaha RX-V4600 AV Receiver to get the maximum quality out of them. Per the Yamaha’s manual I’m getting 165W dynamic power to the front main speakers. There’s an Emotiva XPA-2 for sale locally ($300) and I’m wondering whether I should jump on it.
<o</o
Any and all input welcome.

Thanks in advance.

Just get it whether you need it or not. Get it and don't even look back.

 

[j_garcia]

Don't post the same thing in multiple places
http://forums.audioholics.com/forums/amps-pre-pros-receivers/84811-do-i-need-power-amp.html

 

[Ponzio]

Trust me if I had money to burn I’d buy the Emo too but now I have to save up to either get a good center channel that matches up with the Focal’s or get the associated Focal CC 1000; either way I’m looking at another $3,000 and that’s on the used market. I don’t mind spending the kid’s inheritance but not the food money.

</O
Sorry j_garcia I wasn’t sure which forum to direct my question to, so I double dipped.

 

[j_garcia]

Yeah, it happens, but then we get a bunch of different answers in different spots and things get messy

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

Trust me if I had money to burn I’d buy the Emo too but now I have to save up to either get a good center channel that matches up with the Focal’s or get the associated Focal CC 1000; either way I’m looking at another $3,000 and that’s on the used market. I don’t mind spending the kid’s inheritance but not the food money.

In that case, I don't think you need the Emo amp. I think your Yamaha will do just fine.

 

[Ponzio]

Before I start another thread in the "Loudspeakers" forum, do you guys have any idea which center channel manufacturers are simpatico with the Focal’s? I see where the Paradigm released a 30[SUP]th[/SUP] Anniversary bookshelf speaker, the Inspiration, that has a beryllium tweeter or am I just avoiding the inevitable outlay of green for the Focal CC 1000?<o></o>

 

[twoeyedbob]

Re: Focal's 1027 Be - Do I need a poer amp?

I'd suggest your just delaying thing's....gonna cost your more in the long run

Sent from my HTC Vision using Tapatalk 2

 

[Ponzio]

twoeyedbob<o></o>
You know I wouldn’t be offended if you lied to me. <o></o>

 

[PENG]

Didn't you mention you listen with volume set to -3? If so, you should get that XPA-2. If -10 is as high as you go and -15 is typically good enough for you then no, that amp won't make the 1027 sound better, may even make it worse. But that's just my opinion, base on experience.., and theory.

 

[Ponzio]

Very, very rarely do I listen at -3 db. Between the fish eye that I get from the wife or the neighbors combined with the ear fatigue with my existing speakers is enough to dissuade me; most of the time when I’m seriously listening to music its set between -16 to -13 db. I pick up the Focal’s today and my ears will tell me if I need the Emo or not. Hopefully the guy hasn’t sold it yet if that’s the case. At that price I doubt it will be on the market for long.

 

[flyboylr45]

I have the 1028s and I listen to them LOUD!!!! Don't know your room setup but I don't get fatigued too quickly. I usually spend a few hours listening. That was my dilemma as well. To get a matching surround setup the $$$$ was too much for me after having a new born. Either way I think you'll enjoy them a bunch. ;-)

 

[PENG]

I have the 1028s and I listen to them LOUD!!!! Don't know your room setup but I don't get fatigued too quickly. I usually spend a few hours listening. That was my dilemma as well. To get a matching surround setup the $$$$ was too much for me after having a new born. Either way I think you'll enjoy them a bunch. ;-)

They will fatugue you in no time if the recording is bad, otherwise I agree. I can suggest one or two of those. Jokes aside, after trying many speakers I have come to the conclusion that above all, the quality of the recording is critical. If it is good, I bet most decent mid range speakers designed/built for accuracy/neutrality will sound great with even upper mid range AVR.

 

[flyboylr45]

Totally agree. There are "special" albums I listen to in the music room. The rest are saved for the other music systems.

 

[Jeff R.]

Buy the Amp....if you are wondering already you will be questioning whether to buy it. All that will do is distract you from the enjoyment you get from the stereo.

At least buy the amp while it is available for $300....try the system with and with out the amp. If you truly can not tell a difference the resell the amp for $300. No big deal....or if you are lucky sell the amp for $350 and make a few bucks.

 

[Ponzio]

I’m headed out right now to go pick up Hotsie & Totsie (I name all my prize possessions). You should meet Sophia (2002 Triumph ST)!!!

I’m gonna have a good critical listen when I get home and then decide whether to pick up the Emo. I know it’s a great deal but I’m just not in the mood to deal with a resale. I have some health issues and I’m in & out of the hospital and I don’t want to put another burden on my wife’s hands; she’s got enough on her plate with work and me.

Wish me luck.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

Before I start another thread in the "Loudspeakers" forum, do you guys have any idea which center channel manufacturers are simpatico with the Focal’s? I see where the Paradigm released a 30[SUP]th[/SUP] Anniversary bookshelf speaker, the Inspiration, that has a beryllium tweeter or am I just avoiding the inevitable outlay of green for the Focal CC 1000?<o></o>

Most audiophiles would not recommend using a different brand center speaker. Just because it also has a Be tweeter does not mean much.

 

[Ponzio]

Mother & child are well. No need for a wet nurse (Emo).

Yeessss!!!!!!!!!

Once in a while God smiles. My biggest fear was that I was going to get them home and they wouldn’t be up to the sound that I heard in the showroom. I feel like a 5 year old at Christmas.

Music = FanF#$%kingTastic and that’s with my old Sony CD player and I haven’t even spaced/aligned them properly yet. I have to wait until the painters are out of the house & the carpets replaced. Just for ****’s & giggle’s I connected my dinky Sansa Fuse MP3 player thru them and they sounded good; can’t wait till I get a Schiit Bifrost DAC unit.

Movie = The Klipsch center channel has got to go. Not bad but the Focal’s are hogging the limelight. The PSB surrounds are pulling their weight; could be better but for now they will be the last pieces I get. I’m thinking the Focal 800 Chorus bookshelves.

Next up, an Oppo BDP-95. I’d go for the 105 but I can use some of the legacy features of the 95 and I believe they share the same audio Sabre 2 chip; need to do some more research. I want it more for its audio capabilities; the video section will just be icing on the cake.

I want to thank everyone for their input and good humor while I spazzed out.
<O</O