Did I waste my money on unnecessary wattage?

[Pogre]

I don't appreciate the comment. There's a lot of input from different people and it's taking some time to process. I may have missed some replies. Nonetheless, I can be indecisive. Nobody wants to hear that the speakers and receiver they just bought a few months ago are no good and I should simply sell them and get new/better ones. That isn't an option, so I'm making the best of what I have. With respect to the amp, I'll admit it was an impulse buy, but I'll be hanging on to it because it will serve me well in future setups when I have the space for larger more powerful speakers. This thread has been exhausted and should be closed. For those of you that have remained cordial, I really appreciate the feedback and hope to learn more from you in other threads. Thanks.

You may be misinterpreting @ryanosaur. He always means well and I believe he was trying to get your thread back on track. It was starting to meander a bit.

 

[Gmoney]

I don't appreciate the comment. There's a lot of input from different people and it's taking some time to process. I may have missed some replies. Nonetheless, I can be indecisive. Nobody wants to hear that the speakers and receiver they just bought a few months ago are no good and I should simply sell them and get new/better ones. That isn't an option, so I'm making the best of what I have. With respect to the amp, I'll admit it was an impulse buy, but I'll be hanging on to it because it will serve me well in future setups when I have the space for larger more powerful speakers. This thread has been exhausted and should be closed. For those of you that have remained cordial, I really appreciate the feedback and hope to learn more from you in other threads. Thanks.

whoa! don’t know what you ment by that but you have gotten a Lot of great Advice and recommendations from some very Experienced members in here. But have changed you mind a lot
which we all do at times with this hobby. Just about every Recommendations you have gotten you shot down, Ryanosaur, is a awesome guy his post isn’t a pun at you are anyone else, like Pogre said thread was getting off track I posted well said cause Ryanosaur was right. But right back at ya bro!
Later!!

 

[mossman77]

whoa! don’t know what you ment by that but you have gotten a Lot of great Advice and recommendations from some very Experienced members in here. But have changed you mind a lot
which we all do at times with this hobby. Just about every Recommendations you have gotten you shot down, Ryanosaur, is a awesome guy his post isn’t a pun at you are anyone else, like Pogre said thread was getting off track I posted well said cause Ryanosaur was right. But right back at ya bro!
Later!!

I agree I have gotten a lot of great advice and I don't believe I said anything to the contrary. I apologize if I offended anyone. However, the "back at ya bro", "LOL", and emojis come across as demeaning. Maybe you don't intend them to be, but that is how it sounds.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

whoa! don’t know what you ment by that but you have gotten a Lot of great Advice and recommendations from some very Experienced members in here. But have changed you mind a lot
which we all do at times with this hobby. Just about every Recommendations you have gotten you shot down, Ryanosaur, is a awesome guy his post isn’t a pun at you are anyone else, like Pogre said thread was getting off track I posted well said cause Ryanosaur was right. But right back at ya bro!
Later!!

True Mike. I can't even remember what we were talking about half the time since we sidetracked all the time.

Say, did you finish that 3rd chocolate cake donut?

 

[Gmoney]

Didn't mean to discount anyone's input, and I apologize if I offended anyone, but the "back at ya bro", "LOL", and emojis come across as demeaning. Maybe you don't intend them to be, but that is how it sounds.

lol it’s all good bro lol you fit right in!
Believe me I’ve had my headaches with audio gear to. Your on the right track with your system. But No pun was intended to you bro! Again welcome to AH

 

[mossman77]

You may be misinterpreting @ryanosaur. He always means well and I believe he was trying to get your thread back on track. It was starting to meander a bit.

My comment was not directed at Rynosaur. Not sure how that it was interpreted that way. I was replying to a comment made by Gmoney. Regardless, not trying to make any enemies here. Let's bury the hatchet, close this thread and move on please.

 

[Gmoney]

True Mike. I can't even remember what we were talking about half the time since we sidetracked all the time.

Say, did you finish that 3rd chocolate cake donut?

Yep ate them all! lol. they where very tasty Andrew. But yeah OP should do more Research, (Shady J) is on another tread trying to help out,

 

[mossman77]

You guys have talked some sense in to me and I've decided to return the XPA-3 amp and revert to using the SR5012 internal amp. I'll be purchasing some surround speakers with some of the refund.

 

[Gmoney]

You guys have talked some sense in to me and I've decided to return the XPA-3 amp and revert to using the SR5012 internal amp. I'll be purchasing some surround speakers with some of the refund.

Hey bro, have you looked into Outlaw amps? they got a 5 channel amp going for 649.00. 120 X 5 @ 8 Ohms or 180 X 5 @ 4 Ohms. Gene our leader tested out that amp it’s a beast! with the money you’ll save on the return of the EMO amp you’ll still bucks left over for your surrounds or Sub and surrounds.

 

[mossman77]

Hey bro, have you looked into Outlaw amps? they got a 5 channel amp going for 649.00. 120 X 5 @ 8 Ohms or 180 X 5 @ 4 Ohms. Gene our leader tested out that amp it’s a beast! with the money you’ll save on the return of the EMO amp you’ll still bucks left over for your surrounds or Sub and surrounds.

You're joking right? You guys have been telling me all along that I don't need an amp and I need better speakers

 

[Gmoney]

You're joking right? You guys have been telling me all along that I don't need an amp and I need better speakers

True, but having a amp isn’t a bad thing, Pogre gotta 5 channel amp or is it a 3 channel, anyways the thing about a added amp it does take the load off of your AVR. That Emotiva is a good amp was just a Suggestion is all. I’ve had 5 EMO amps at one time
good amps for the money but I wanted better speakers.

 

[lovinthehd]

True, but having a amp isn’t a bad thing, Pogre gotta 5 channel amp or is it a 3 channel, anyways the thing about a added amp it does take the load off of your AVR. That Emotiva is a good amp was just a Suggestion is all. I’ve had 5 EMO amps at one time
good amps for the money but I wanted better speakers.

Pogre went full hog with the Monolith 7. Sometimes you just gotta scratch that amp itch....

 

[mossman77]

True, but having a amp isn’t a bad thing, Pogre gotta 5 channel amp or is it a 3 channel, anyways the thing about a added amp it does take the load off of your AVR. That Emotiva is a good amp was just a Suggestion is all. I’ve had 5 EMO amps at one time
good amps for the money but I wanted better speakers.

Okay, I see. Wish I knew what the power for all channels driven for the SR5012 was. It must be pretty close to 100W considering things aren't much louder with the XPA-3 driving things.

 

[NINaudio]

You're joking right? You guys have been telling me all along that I don't need an amp and I need better speakers

If the choice is an external amp or better speakers, go for the better speakers. Every time. If you still want an amp after that, then it's a luxury when you have the funds. Speakers will always be the biggest improvement you can make.

 

[lovinthehd]

Okay, I see. Wish I knew what the power for all channels driven for the SR5012 was. It must be pretty close to 100W considering things aren't much louder with the XPA-3 driving things.

ACD ratings aren't all that useful, as that's not much of a real-world situation. Probably same amp section as this one's bench test.... keep in mind a 3dB spl increase takes a doubling of power....

 

[Pogre]

If the choice is an external amp or better speakers, go for the better speakers. Every time. If you still want an amp after that, then it's a luxury when you have the funds. Speakers will always be the biggest improvement you can make.

This is a great way to put it. My amp was the last thing I got, after I got my speakers and subs sorted. I wasn't even planning to get an amp but a small unexpected windfall and a brand new spanking Audioholics review got me.

I told you earlier there's nothing wrong with having an amp, tho I think Emo is a li'l overpriced... if you do return it tho I'd be looking into some better front speakers before I'd consider some "nice" surround speakers. Of all my components my surrounds are one of the few areas where I might cheap out a little to save some bucks. Or just save the hassle and keep the amp.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

You're joking right? You guys have been telling me all along that I don't need an amp and I need better speakers

If you only have budget for “one” thing, it would be the speakers, as everyone says.

If you have more budget, you can add an amp if you want.

If you feel your speakers already sound great after you compared with other speakers, and you have a fascination for amps, you could get an amp also.

Bottom line - you don’t need to rush to buy anything until you are absolutely ready. It’s okay to ask a million questions. Don’t feel like you are under pressure from anyone to buy. This is a discussion forum, not a store.

In the mean time, do a lot more research and continue to save up money. Put some money into your HT piggy bank each month. Everyone has a different level. I put $500 each month into my HT piggy bank. It doesn’t mean I have to spend it very year. But it’s there.

Dream about that system. Take pleasure in your dream.

 

[Pogre]

If you only have budget for “one” thing, it would be the speakers, as everyone says.

If you have more budget, you can add an amp if you want.

If you feel your speakers already sound great after you compared with other speakers, and you have a fascination for amps, you could get an amp also.

Bottom line - you don’t need to rush to buy anything until you are absolutely ready. It’s okay to ask a million questions. Don’t feel like you are under pressure from anyone to buy. This is a discussion forum, not a store.

I was going to post something similar to this. I think it's much better to drive us forum goers nuts with a bunch of questions than running out and buying a bunch of gear without knowing what you're getting into. I think it's good you're asking so much and even changing your mind. It's a learning process, really.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

I was going to post something similar to this. I think it's much better to drive us forum goers nuts with a bunch of questions than running out and buying a bunch of gear without knowing what you're getting into. I think it's good you're asking so much and even changing your mind. It's a learning process, really.

Definitely better to learn from other people’s mistakes than to make the same mistakes that everyone makes.

A good question to ask is - if you could go back in time, what would you do differently?

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

Okay, I see. Wish I knew what the power for all channels driven for the SR5012 was. It must be pretty close to 100W considering things aren't much louder with the XPA-3 driving things.

As HD and other experienced Audioholics will tell you - do not focus on that ALL CHANNELS DRIVEN (ACD).

Why not? Like HD says, it’s not the real world application; ACD is a torture test that only applies to the test bench. It is also used by marketing people to sell amps and for some audiophiles to brag. In the real world, focus on the 2Ch driven test. When other channels (Surrounds) come into play (Driven), they require a fraction of the 2Ch driven power.

That’s why millions of people simply use AVRs and it has been working perfectly for them to power 5-9 speakers for the last 40 years.

Amps are for audiophiles who just want amps regardless. It’s the same reason why some of us look at 100% inaudible measurements. THD of 0.1% vs 0.002%? SNR of 130dBA vs 100dBA? Please! Even Superman couldn’t hear the difference.