XPA-3 HT + Stereo -

[ahblaza]

I read a review today of an Emo XPA-3, the author stated the XPA-3 was a fantastic HT amp but was a bad musical amp. Correct me if I'm wrong, I didn't know that amps were designed to be used specifically for HT duty and others for music. So the XPA-3 is a very good amp in a muti-channel HT setup but is an unmusical amp. So I quess I have to get HT speakers only to pair with the EMO amps, and a separate (musical) amp to use with my reference stereo (musical) speakers. What's a person to do.
Thanks Jeff

 

[j_garcia]

Sounds like BS to me. Mine sounds great for music, which I use it mainly for.

 

[PENG]

I read a review today of an Emo XPA-3, the author stated the XPA-3 was a fantastic HT amp but was a bad musical amp. Correct me if I'm wrong, I didn't know that amps were designed to be used specifically for HT duty and others for music. So the XPA-3 is a very good amp in a muti-channel HT setup but is an unmusical amp. So I quess I have to get HT speakers only to pair with the EMO amps, and a separate (musical) amp to use with my reference stereo (musical) speakers. What's a person to do.
Thanks Jeff

Since you ask about what to do, besides amps and speakers, cheap pure copper wires are also only good for HT speakers, for hifi/musical speakers you need high end OFC super thick and specially shield wires. Same for prepros/DAC etc., some of them may sound good with HT but not so good with music. And by the way, designers, engineers/manufacturers may do their own thing to their own liking (ears tuned) so you can't go by measurements/graphs etc., go by ears, listen to as many component as you can and ask others for their opinions but don't listent to them. Things that don't measure well may sound great to you and vice versa. Also don't forget about matching, certain prepro goes well with certain power amps, speakers, wires etc., but may not sound so good if you don't match them up accordingly. Yep, that's the least what a person can do..

 

[ImcLoud]

I own an xpa3 and it sounds fine with music and HT, maybe because of the configuration they don't have much use in the 2.- music system unless using the third for a sub {which would be ...}.. But as far as the sound it produces, its clean, loud, and reliable...

 

[ahblaza]

Since you ask about what to do, besides amps and speakers, cheap pure copper wires are also only good for HT speakers, for hifi/musical speakers you need high end OFC super thick and specially shield wires. Same for prepros/DAC etc., some of them may sound good with HT but not so good with music. And by the way, designers, engineers/manufacturers may do their own thing to their own liking (ears tuned) so you can't go by measurements/graphs etc., go by ears, listen to as many component as you can and ask others for their opinions but don't listent to them. Things that don't measure well may sound great to you and vice versa. Also don't forget about matching, certain prepro goes well with certain power amps, speakers, wires etc., but may not sound so good if you don't match them up accordingly. Yep, that's the least what a person can do..

Man, thanks Peng, that really makes me feel so much better after buying zip cord for my HT speakers only and the OFC garden hose wire for my dedicated reference two channel rig. The only problem is I can't tell which speakers are playing with what wire and that's after applying the genuine quaranteed Anaconda oil that came with the garden hose, oh wait, I think I can hear the difference now

 

[PENG]

I think I can hear the difference now

Exactly, once you are told a few times and become fully aware of it, you will be able to hear the difference. I guess anaconda oil does help too, I may go get some just in case.

 

[ImcLoud]

Exactly, once you are told a few times and become fully aware of it, you will be able to hear the difference. I guess anaconda oil does help too, I may go get some just in case.

I think its emu oil, snake oil is too high in negative ions and it makes the sound curvy, so for a straighter sound you want Emu oil... I think it has something to so with the curved snake...

 

[ahblaza]

Sounds like BS to me. Mine sounds great for music, which I use it mainly for.

My feelings exactly. My only concern John, I know you listen to a lot of multi-channel music, how does the 3 perform when using only two channels? I have the XPA-3 sitting here now unopened, because I'm thinking of getting the XPA-5 instead, but then I don't have an all identical 5.0 setup and thinking that the surrounds don't need that extra power. But at the same time I am considering upgrading my panny BD-85 to an Oppo 103 to take advantage of the multi-channel audio formats, but I will discuss this in another thread as I am also thinking of the Panny DMP-BDT500 primaraily for the audio playback. I do have a separate stereo amp to drive the surrounds. I decided on the 3 because my LCRs are identical towers. I don't know, I really don't think I need the 5, so convince me I don't before I open this beast up.

 

[ahblaza]

Exactly, once you are told a few times and become fully aware of it, you will be able to hear the difference. I guess anaconda oil does help too, I may go get some just in case.

Man ain't that the truth, after looking at your sales receipt enough you really do start hearing a difference, I didn't till I used that A oil.

 

[PENG]

Man ain't that the truth, after looking at your sales receipt enough you really do start hearing a difference, I didn't till I used that A oil.

Good point. I am sure John will respond to you last post but I can't resist suggesting to you please stick with the 3, or exchange it for the 2. The 5 is a better deal $ wise but it does not have the relatively larger power supply in the 2 & the 3. Do you own math, and see the Transformer VA to output W ratio for yourself. The 2 & 3 also have more filter capacitance per channel than the 5. I have plenty of MCH music SACD/DVDA/BR/DVD and rarely find the surround speakers doing all that much. They sound the same to me with my previous AVRs such as the 3805, 4308 as they do now with my Marantz power amp. I could have spent that money on things that really matter.

 

[ahblaza]

Good point. I am sure John will respond to you last post but I can't resist suggesting to you please stick with the 3, or exchange it for the 2. The 5 is a better deal $ wise but it does not have the relatively larger power supply in the 2 & the 3. Do you own math, and see the Transformer VA to output W ratio for yourself. The 2 & 3 also have more filter capacitance per channel than the 5. I have plenty of MCH music SACD/DVDA/BR/DVD and rarely find the surround speakers doing all that much. They sound the same to me with my previous AVRs such as the 3805, 4308 as they do now with my Marantz power amp. I could have spent that money on things that really matter.

Thanks Peng, I was just doing what you said, I printed out the specs for both amps 3&5 so I could compare them side by side and was really confused, then it almost came out and bit me, and then I did the math and figured out was confusing me, (3) 850VA divided by 3 = 283.3VA (5) 1200VA divided by 5 = 240VA. Untechnical as I am I spotted that right away, and the fc/pc is also significant, 60Kuf, man I was just going to answer my own question and you already posted what I discovered, what prompted the comparison was two more channels of output for only $170 difference. I spent the least $ on my receiver, has all the audio codecs and 7.2 pre-outs, (that's all I needed) in my case I think I did spend the money on what mattered most to me. Thanks for the heads up with the surrounds not doing all that much, the XPA2 looks nice but I'm staying with what I have, I just ran two dedicated 20 amp lines to my LR to accomodate all this stuff, new subs coming soon too, that's $ well spent. Thanks my friend, good chatting with you, learned a thing or two tonight......

 

[j_garcia]

I actually listen to about 75% 2ch when listening. While I like multichannel and do listen to it often, it isn't the majority of my listening. I went with the 3 vs the 5 to have the front stage all the same and on one power supply. I already had a 2ch amp for the surrounds too. ALSO, I was using 2 2ch amps previously (so only 1ch on one amp) and they took up more space than the XPA-3 and required two outlets.

 

[ahblaza]

I actually listen to about 75% 2ch when listening. While I like multichannel and do listen to it often, it isn't the majority of my listening. I went with the 3 vs the 5 to have the front stage all the same and on one power supply. I already had a 2ch amp for the surrounds too. ALSO, I was using 2 2ch amps previously (so only 1ch on one amp) and they took up more space than the XPA-3 and required two outlets.

That's reassuring to know, I do a lot of two channel listening, and my front three speakers are identical so the 3 will work out ideally for me. I was going to exchange the 3 for the 2 but for two reasons I didn't, out of stock till January 4th and I just added the center which is the same speaker as the mains. So I am happy to know you use the 3 for stereo listening and are satisfied with it. I'm installing the 3 now and my back is breaking, I'm used to moving the Crown XLS's with one hand. Take care John and thanks, Happy holidays to you and yours.
jn