Emotiva or Outlaw

[PENG]

The dollar per channel really sells the Monolith 5 channel over the 3...

Yes, $ sells it over the 3, and transformer capacity sells it over the 7, for just a few dollars more per channel, it is the best bang among those 3.

 

[PENG]

I've just come across an old post with the meat of a review on the QSC DCA 1222 which I'm sure you will be interested in perusing at Post #317:

https://forums.audioholics.com/forums/threads/ati-at2000-amps.79274/page-16#post-885363

And these are my listening impressions on the 3 DCA 1222s that I'm using in my system. Contrarily to what Peng mentioned, these operate in Class AB.

https://forums.audioholics.com/forums/threads/qsc-dca-1222-digital-cinema-amplifier.107647/

Also, I've just posted a new thread with photos of my system on the Topic "Pros & Joes System Gallery"

Cheers,

Sorry I got that mixed up, edited my post accordingly, thanks.

 

[Verdinut]

I agree. I seriously doubt you are working your AVR very hard at all with those Klipsch's.
However, if you are buying an amp we will try to help you make sure it is a good value/choice.

One thing to consider is where you are putting the amp.
The ATI/Monolith is 17-1/4" deep (includes the banana plug connections) once you attach banana plugs and a little space for the wires, that becomes about 18-1/2" deep.
The Gen 1 Emotiva was almost 21" deep by the time you added the connections, which could be a problem in many situations.
I would suspect their newer designs probably reduced that dimension, but I don't have a measurement on that.

The QSC DCA Series of amps are only 14" deep and weigh only 21 lbs.

The DCA 1222s which I own list at over US$900 each but at least one cinema equipment dealer sells it for US$729. The slightly more powerful DCA 1622 lists at over $1100 but Socaltech in California asks $967 for it. They are not cheap but they are made in the United States. You can't kill them!

Look at an old post on the DCA 1222 that confirms it's outstanding specs (See Post #317):

https://forums.audioholics.com/forums/threads/ati-at2000-amps.79274/page-16#post-885363

Also, just a note to mention that I posted my listening impressions on the 3 DCA 1222s and I also posted a thread with photos in the "Pros & Joes System Gallery".

Cheers,

 

[Justin Bass]

Separate amps are primarily about power, perhaps better handling of "difficult" speakers (very low impedance speakers and/or those with difficult phase angles). Some guys like to have more power than they'll ever really use just because. Lots of hype about it for sure, some created for selling, some for consuming. Some will swear it makes their speakers sing/come alive, that sort of thing, merely by hooking it up (or gazing at the amp or fondling it)....but unused power is unused power. More powerful amplifier can give you some more headroom, or perhaps respond to peaks better.

You have relatively sensitive speakers (not sure about their impedance profile/phase angles, will let you look into that), so bet you can do fine with relatively modest amplification depending on distance from the speakers and your spl needs. I used to automatically use power amps on my avrs (and will still always buy an avr with pre-outs to have the option), but took them off a while back, but also have been trying to not listen so loud these days to be nicer to my ears as well. YMMV.

If you say it sounds great now why worry about it?

I think your right, it sounds great dont worry about it. Thank you. well I can look at Pannamax now, I have Monster brand now and its old. Time to upgrade.

 

[lovinthehd]

I think your right, it sounds great dont worry about it. Thank you. well I can look at Pannamax now, I have Monster brand now and its old. Time to upgrade.

Power conditioner? Never used one of those...

 

[Mark M]

Wow, you've really perfected the heat dissipation plan!! I can think of one reason to get the 7 channel amp if it is not actually needed. That is to bi-amp the front left and right channel for stereo music enjoyment. That would only be of value potentially, if any, for large passively bi-ampable speakers that have the tweeters on it's own or the mids and tweeters together but has woofers that are big and extended down low to 20 Hz.

Here's the math:

2 channel, $999.9 ($499.95/Ch) - 400 kVA/Ch
3 channel, $1099.9 ($366.63/Ch) - 340.67 kVA/Ch
5 channel, $1299.9 ($259.98/Ch) - 512.5 kVA for the 2 ch group, 410 for the 3 ch group
7 channel, $1599.9 ($228.57/Ch) - 340.67 kVA for the 3 ch group, 310 for the 4 ch group

Based on transformer size, I would definitely go with the 5 channel version. Note that without seeing the schematics, the transformer/channel grouping above is just my educated guess. If you want to know for sure, email ATI, or may be Gene has the information.

I think the Monoprice monolith 5X transformer specs are a misprint.
I spoke to Monoprice about it.
The specs should be more like this:

7 Channel:
1025 - 3 (341.66 kva/channel)
1230 - 4 (307.5 kva/channel)

5 Channel:
800 - 2 (400 kva/channel)
1025 - 3 (341.66 kva/channel)

3 Channel:
1025 - 3 (341.66 kva/channel)

2 Channel:
800 - 2 (400 kva/channel)

 

[PENG]

I think the Monoprice monolith 5X transformer specs are a misprint.
I spoke to Monoprice about it.
The specs should be more like this:

7 Channel:
1025 - 3 (341.66 kva/channel)
1230 - 4 (307.5 kva/channel)

5 Channel:
800 - 2 (400 kva/channel)
1025 - 3 (341.66 kva/channel)

3 Channel:
1025 - 3 (341.66 kva/channel)

2 Channel:
800 - 2 (400 kva/channel)

I believe it, such kind of misprints in features and specs seem to happen more often than people think.