Help! Yam RX-A3030 vs Yam RX-A1030 and Emotiva XPA-5?????

[jnboone]

Only doing 5.1 for now, but plan to go to at least 7.1 in relatively near future. The price difference doesn't concern me in my budget. I don't really care about the extra zones. Other than that is there anything I'm missing as I consider which to buy? Which would you suggest? Will be with Aperion Verus Grand Towers and bookshelves and SVS SBUltra 13. Only other thing is I will be moving, and have no idea what the listening room will be like when that happens. I don't know how much the better YPAO in the 3030 will help.

 

[mister wiggles]

My ideology for building a system was very similar to your requirements - even considered the same Aventage units.

Given the obvious 3030 having higher power output the units would essentially serve the same purpose in a 5.1 or 7.1 setup. I'd use the money saved to get a separate amp to drive the front (XPA-2/3) and use the AVR to power the rear surrounds. This is assuming the rear's are not overly demanding.

I personally don't put too much emphasis on the room calibration tools with the receivers. As long as the calibration is in the ballpark after initial setup, you can always fine tune the sound out of each speaker to get them to your liking.

 

[jnboone]

If I have 5 channel amp, can I take the 1030 to 9.2 or 11.2? I've tried reading all the specs, and the Yamaha website doesn't make it clear to me. The only one that is clear is that the 3030 is 9.2 and with additional amp it can be taken to 11.2.

 

[English210]

IMHO, by the time 9.2 or 11.2 is a realistic option, you'll be wanting to upgrade for other reasons as well, so I wouldn't worry about that. I have no familiarity with those speakers, but I am firmly in the camp of 'outboard amps do a better job than the receiver alone'. Others disagree...