Two Emotiva Basx300's VS Emotiva XPA 2

[Fishboy]

Hey Folks, I decided I am buying some more power. For 1 reason:

1. Because I can

1. My Wife will let me

On a serious note, after some great responses in my SPL thread I want to juice up my RTI A9s and use
my existing Emotiva Basx700 to run my center, surrounds and rears. Also I listen to alot of Vinyl in 2 channel
mode on my Rega Planar 1 (inherited a vinyl collection you would sell your first born for) and to improve my system as a whole. So, to the meat of this, Is the XPA2 a better choice, 2 channel 300W RMS per channel, re-engage my brackets on the binding posts and move on, OR buy Two basx300 150W RMS 2 channels driven, have one for each RTI A9, biamping each speaker of course for the same total of 300 W to each speaker giving me 2 separate amps (power supplies) for each A9, and the sonic advantage of biamping and utilizing all the binding posts, what are your thoughts folks. Lovin the HD I know your out there somewhere?

 

[lovinthehd]

Passive bi-amping doesn't give you 2x the power of the amp, and any sonic advantage is doubtful. Try this article http://www.audioholics.com/frequent-questions/the-difference-between-biamping-vs-biwiring

Not an Emotiva guy, I'd go Crown XLS 1502s

 

[Fishboy]

But the Basx300 is a two channel amp, 150w Rms both channels driven, If I have one amp for EACH tower im not getting 300W to each one?

 

[everettT]

Passive crossovers have power divide so your tweeters can probably handle 50w max and the mids/bass can probably handle 200w max, but you will probably never feed them anywhere close to that. The crown LHD linked will do all you can every need.

 

[PENG]

The xpa 2 seems to be a better amp, the 300 watts will be used more effectively this way than if you biamping with 2 smaller amps.

I agree with HD, two XLS 1502 will give you much better power to $ ratio than the xpa, though the difference is not significant. As you know already, double the power equates to only 3dB SPL increase.

 

[Fishboy]

Thanks LHD and everettT, checked out that Crown, looks good and price is decent, I would like to stick with EMO though, im loyal, which emotiva/setup would fit best for my fronts then?

 

[Fishboy]

Peng, ill have to think about this one then, I know you guys know you S***

 

[lovinthehd]

But the Basx300 is a two channel amp, 150w Rms both channels driven, If I have one amp for EACH tower im not getting 300W to each one?

No, you're giving 150w to each the high and low frequency parts of your speaker's passive crossover network, and the top part can't use it all anyways. Just use an amp with the power per channel you want to provide each speaker. Did you read the article I linked?

 

[yepimonfire]

I'd hold out on buying an amp until you know if you actually need one. Put on a good action movie with lots of dynamic range and crank it up to the loudest level you'd listen. If you don't hear distortion or dynamic compression, you don't need an amp.

Sent from my LM-X210(G) using Tapatalk

 

[KEW]

What AVR do you have?
Some of the Yamaha's cut corners on their power supplies and don't do well into low ohm multi-channel speakers!
From Audioholics review of the Yamaha Avantage A860:

While the RX-A860 is fine driving small bass-managed 8 ohm speakers, this is the first time I'd actually caution people against using 4 ohm speakers or even running 8 ohm tower speakers on the “large” setting. I’ve never said this about a Yamaha before. It's sad that a $400 predecessor from the very same company offered a more robust amp and power section than this product, which has AVENTAGE moniker stamped on it. To pour further salt on the power wound, the preamp out section of this receiver is a bit weak, making it critical to match with a high gain amplifier to ensure the preamp itself doesn't clip while driving external amplification. I'd like to see Yamaha beef up the amp section so the current limiting could be a little less restrictive and for God's sake, please give us a clean 2Vrms output from the pre-outs of ALL your AV receivers!

http://www.audioholics.com/av-receiver-reviews/yamaha-rx-a860/conclusion

 

[Fishboy]

Hey KEW, I have the 2017 model RXV-1081, no Aventage markings on it at all. Let me know your thoughts.

 

[PENG]

Peng, ill have to think about this one then, I know you guys know you S***

We do, at least some of us The thing is, some of us have tried many amps over the years. It is not uncommon that in their first, second trial of higher power and/or higher end amps they thought wow, what a difference, bass tightened up, highs crispier and could hear things never heard before even at low volume. After a while, people realized the more power that was not used really didn't reveal any more details that were always there. In many cases it was just that one expected to hear more from a new/added device that costed more and so they heard what they expected to hear. You might call it Placebo, expectation bias etc., and there are other factors that probably belong to a different thread. I don't mean to discourage you, but just want to share my experience like others have. I have not heard the Crown amp but I trust HD, ADTG and other's experience.

I understand you are brand loyal, but you probably should search out and read some of the available bench tests of their amp and pay less attention to subjective reviews. Audioholics.com and Stereophile both have reviewed their products with measurements, here's an example:

https://www.stereophile.com/content/emotiva-xpa-gen3-two-channel-power-amplifier-measurements

Based on those measurements, I feel there are better alternatives at the $1,000 price point.

 

[Fishboy]

Thank you Peng, i will research amps, im in no hurry. Im italian (cheap)i do not impulse buy ever.
Thanks

 

[KEW]

Hey KEW, I have the 2017 model RXV-1081, no Aventage markings on it at all. Let me know your thoughts.

I wish there was more information on which models are effected by Yamaha's decision to cut costs on the power side.
My thoughts are:
1) Manufacturers use "group technology" to lower costs, so it is reasonable to expect that Yamaha uses the same power supply electronics for several models. It also represents a change of philosophy as to what their products should be/do.
2) I suspect Yamaha upper level products continue to be excellent!
3) The Aventage moniker is marketed as a higher quality category of Yamaha AVR which is what led Gene (who likes Yamaha) to be particularly disappointed.

 

[PENG]

I wish there was more information on which models are effected by Yamaha's decision to cut costs on teh power side.
My thoughts are:
1) Manufacturers use "group technology" to lower costs, so it is reasonable to expect that Yamaha uses the same power supply electronics for several models. It also represents a change of philosophy as to what their products should be/do.
2) I suspect Yamaha upper level products continue to be excellent!
3) The Aventage moniker is marketed as a higher quality category of Yamaha AVR which is what led Gene (who likes Yamaha) to be particularly disappointed.

Agree, the RX-V1081 is likely a clone of the RX-A1060. It is definitely a higher and better model than the AH tested RX-A860. I think they are more than a match to his speakers if he set XO to 80 Hz and is in a small to medium sized room sitting 10-12 ft from the speakers.

 

[Verdinut]

There are many amplifiers with very low THD levels going up to 20 kHz.

Is harmonic distortion for a frequency above 10 kHz really important? The 1st harmonic of any fundamental such frequency is above 20 kHz which is beyond human hearing anyway. Could it cause listening fatigue? I doubt it. The 2nd harmonics and so on are above 30 kHz way beyond our hearing limits.

Then, why is it necessary to be concerned with harmonics that we can't hear? What is the theory behind that way of proceeding? This seems to be overkill. Would have this started as part of some marketing strategy?

 

[Andrein]

Hi. I have yamaha 1070. Basicalky the same avr, slightly newer. Love it. But before that one i had already mentioned a860 and that clipped during demanding songs. Then i bought Anthem mca 525 for 3.2k pounds and that fixed the issue despite the week a860 preouts but at -15db i did not get any clipping any more and noticable distortion. But after all those reviews i still replaced a860 with a1070.

This a1070 in my room sounds great even without mca 525. So if i chose avr better in the first place it would save me 3.2k

 

[KEW]

Between our resident AVR expert, PENG; and personal testimony from Andrein, you can rest easy!
Your AVR should have no problems!

 

[PENG]

Between our resident AVR expert, PENG; and personal testimony from Andrein, you can rest easy!
Your AVR should have no problems!

I am no expert, just read a lot, and perhaps can understand the technical specs a little better than some non EEs... Although I did say he should be fine with his Yamaha AVR, a 2X300 WPC amp for the big RTiA9 may help occasionally if and when he watches certain movies at reference level.

 

[PENG]

Then, why is it necessary to be concerned with harmonics that we can't hear? What is the theory behind that way of proceeding? This seems to be overkill. Would have this started as part of some marketing strategy?

Only because there are alternatives in the same price range that can do better, and not knowing why the subject amp didn't do better on the bench.