Installed Emotiva XPA-5 and no difference in output

[Ator]

Hi All,

Here is my setup

• Yamaha receiver RX-A1020
• Klipsch RF 52 II front, center,
• Klipsch RF 41 II surrounds.
• Klipsch Sub SW110

Overall, I am happy but wanted to invest in a dedicated amp to Emotiva XPA-5 to possibly expand in the future to a better front, center and surrounds speakers.

After setting up the new Emotiva I would expect some change in output since we are feeding more power to the speakers vs the Yamaha. However, the result is basically identical. Am I missing something?

Also, I am planning to add a second SubWoofer and based on my research I am leaning to the SVS PB12-Plus. The Klipsch and the SVS are both ported subs. Is it ok to mix brands?

Any suggestions are greatly appreciated.
Thanks.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

Overall, I am happy but wanted to invest in a dedicated amp to Emotiva XPA-5 to possibly expand in the future to a better front, center and surrounds speakers.

After setting up the new Emotiva I would expect some change in output since we are feeding more power to the speakers vs the Yamaha. However, the result is basically identical. Am I missing something?

Nope. You most likely wouldn't notice any difference unless their is a difference in voltage gain. For example, if your AVR is 28dB and the external amp is 32dB, then you would have noticed a difference in volume.

Otherwise, you would not in most cases.

 

[its phillip]

If you want things to be louder, you'll need to turn up the volume.

 

[Ator]

Nope. You most likely wouldn't notice any difference unless their is a difference in voltage gain. For example, if your AVR is 28dB and the external amp is 32dB, then you would have noticed a difference in volume.

Otherwise, you would not in most cases.

Thanks for that information. So in order to gain value from using the Emotiva, what would you recommend? Should I simply make the next investment to Klipsch 7ii as an example? Or would the 7ii have the same results? So, should I sell the Emotiva?

 

[everettT]

Hi All,

Here is my setup

• Yamaha receiver RX-A1020
• Klipsch RF 52 II front, center,
• Klipsch RF 41 II surrounds.
• Klipsch Sub SW110

Overall, I am happy but wanted to invest in a dedicated amp to Emotiva XPA-5 to possibly expand in the future to a better front, center and surrounds speakers.

After setting up the new Emotiva I would expect some change in output since we are feeding more power to the speakers vs the Yamaha. However, the result is basically identical. Am I missing something?

Also, I am planning to add a second SubWoofer and based on my research I am leaning to the SVS PB12-Plus. The Klipsch and the SVS are both ported subs. Is it ok to mix brands?

Any suggestions are greatly appreciated.
Thanks.

Output or volume will not measure any improvement you might gain. If you want that output/volume the sub upgrade will feed that. Id ditch the current sub once you get the new one since the Klipsch will not even be close to keeping up with it and trying to integrate would proved to be an exercise in insanity. Also did you rerun YAPO after the amp was installed?

 

[Steve81]

After setting up the new Emotiva I would expect some change in output since we are feeding more power to the speakers vs the Yamaha. However, the result is basically identical. Am I missing something?

Possibly. To put it in simple terms, there's no real benefit to replacing a 100W amp with a 200W model if you never use more than 50W to reach the output levels you're asking for.

 

[Ator]

Yes, I ran YAPO several times and it wants to keep making adjustments that don't see right to me. It ends up pulling the levels way down.

 

[everettT]

Yes, I ran YAPO several times and it wants to keep making adjustments that don't see right to me. It ends up pulling the levels way down.

That happens, its usually normal and rarley them same as the old setting with the avr. Did you remember to adjust the speaker sizes to small?

 

[Ator]

Possibly. To put it in simple terms, there's no real benefit to replacing a 100W amp with a 200W model if you never use more than 50W.

Yea, that makes sense. I am looking for more punch in the mids so I am thinking to get that I need new fronts. Klipsch 7ii are pricey and curious on recommendations of comparable speakers to meet my goals.

I don't necessarily want it louder. I can get it super loud! I want a smooth clean punchy sound that you notice even when the volume is low. Hope that make sense. It seems thin in the mid ranges and I feel like I have to push the volume too much to get there for the mids.

 

[Ator]

That happens, its usually normal and rarley them same as the old setting with the avr. Did you remember to adjust the speaker sizes to small?

Yes, I did learn from my research that speakers should be set to small. It was one of my first mistakes but did not seem to make much difference.

 

[everettT]

Yes, I did learn from my research that speakers should be set to small. It was one of my first mistakes but did not seem to make much difference.

It will with the svs

 

[Steve81]

Yea, that makes sense. I am looking for more punch in the mids so I am thinking to get that I need new fronts.

Possibly, but not necessarily. If your current setup can give you all the output you're looking for and then some, but you're looking for a little more subjective punch (usually associated w/ bass, not mids), EQ might be the answer.

 

[lovinthehd]

Yes, I ran YAPO several times and it wants to keep making adjustments that don't see right to me. It ends up pulling the levels way down.

What specifically is it recommending that you don't see "right"? Levels are mostly about distance and your speakers' various sensitivity numbers.

If you don't need the additional volume over what your avr does well, and don't have any other use for it, I'd sell the amp.

 

[markw]

That new amp won't "sound" any different from the ones in your receiver. At best, you will need to turn the volume up a bit less (or more, depending on it's gain) but as far as changing the sound goes, nope. Ain't gonna happen.

Besides, you've got tremendously efficient speakers. They only need a handful of watts to drive them to ear-splitting levels. Your new amp is serious overkill.

To put in more graphic terms. Is somebody more dead if you shoot him a hundred times as opposed to shooting him ten times?

 

[ski2xblack]

I want a smooth clean punchy sound that you notice even when the volume is low.

This sounds more like a loudness compensation thing (eq), rather than a power thing. Does the Yamaha have anything equivalent to Audyssey's Dynamic EQ? I'm pretty sure that it does, although I'm not sure what they call it. That should fix you right up.

 

[lovinthehd]

Think its called YPAO Volume? I meant to ask about that as well....

 

[Ator]

That new amp won't "sound" any different from the ones in your receiver. At best, you will need to turn the volume up a bit less (or more, depending on it's gain) but as far as changing the sound goes, nope. Ain't gonna happen.

Besides, you've got tremendously efficient speakers. They only need a handful of watts to drive them to ear-splitting levels. Your new amp is serious overkill.

To put in more graphic terms. Is somebody more dead if you shoot him a hundred times as opposed to shooting him ten times?

haha, sometimes you just want to be sure...and feel like you in an action movie.

So, what if I went with new fronts, for example 7ii? The AVR would not be enough? Is this just a subwoofer quality issue and the fronts don't mean much?

 

[markw]

Speakers will make the most difference in sound. That, and the source materiel itself.

And, yes, a good subwoofer can add low bass, if that's what you are lacking. Upper bass, not so much.

 

[ski2xblack]

RF-7II are more sensitive than your present speakers. 50 watts on them will put you in hearing damage territory.

And the fronts matter. The punchy sound you're after involves frequencies well above those the sub produces, and your speakers can definitely deliver them. The loudness eq will result in a relative boost up to 200-300 hz or so. Try it.

 

[Ator]

Upper bass - mid tone etc..is the issue.