Emotiva XPA-2 vs. XPA-5 bi-amping

[greggp2]

Does anyone have any experience with the Emo XPA-2 vs the XPA-5? I understand that the XPA-2 is Emo's most burly Amp and has 12 transistors, etc. My question is, if I am using a Receiver like the Yamaha 3900 or z7 as my Pre/Pro, am I better off with an XPA-2 to power my mains and using the Yamaha to power my Center and Rears, or would I be better off getting an XPA-5 that isn't quite as powerful and bi-amping my mains and using the extra amp to power my Center Channel? In this case, the Yamaha would just be a Pre/Pro and be use to power my rear channels.

What do you think is the best solution?

I currently am using B&W 802's as my mains and and HTM1 as my center channel. My rears are B&W SMCS..

Thanks...

 

[chjo100]

I was using the Onkyo 805 as a preamp and had both the xpa-5 and xpa-2 for audition. I was one of the people that subscribed to the good clean power is good clean power so didn't expect much of a difference. I ran both for 2-channel listening and I found the xpa-2 superior. For various reasons but mainly it provided a great weight to the sound which created a live and very exciting sound. It also didn't cause a hissing noise which the xpa-5 did (could be related to unit itself and not all xpa-5's).

 

[gene]

I'd go with an XPA-2 for the mains and power the rest with the Z7 amps.

 

[jostenmeat]

IMO, I'd want to give the center something similar in power as the mains. Therefore, I'd go xpa5 out of the two. OTOH, there are 3ch amps out there as well, and Emo makes one of those too I'm pretty sure. If 5ch XPA5, id just use a channel per 5 speaker myself.

very nice set of speakers you have there.

 

[greggp2]

Thanks for the feedback guys. Sounds like the XPA-2 is probably the way to go. Now the question is if I'm not using the Yamaha for much more than a Pre-Pro, is the Z7 that much better than the 3900? I know it has a better Power Supply, but is the SQ going to be that much better using a 3900 over the Z7 as a processor?

 

[gene]

Thanks for the feedback guys. Sounds like the XPA-2 is probably the way to go. Now the question is if I'm not using the Yamaha for much more than a Pre-Pro, is the Z7 that much better than the 3900? I know it has a better Power Supply, but is the SQ going to be that much better using a 3900 over the Z7 as a processor?

Not likely.

 

[popotoys]

With the XPA-5 you could also power 3 front channels and one zone with the other 2.

 

[lsiberian]

Are your speakers clipping if not then buying an Amp is wasting money. Speakers make sound not the AMP and receivers.

The amp and receiver have one job for sound. and that is to provide power to the speakers. If they are giving you enough power then you don't need an amp.

For a home theater setup a 3-channel is recommended since your center should be greater than or equal to you LR channel. Plus the center is responsible for the dialogue which is always the greatest challenge for any Center IMO. For stereo listening your receiver is probably more than capable of powering your LR channels.

Of course you have very good speakers so an Amp couldn't hurt.

However, for the price of the AMP you could probably add a Subwoofer. That would net you a far bigger upgrade. Unless you have 4 there is always room for more. (ooh I rhymed)