The Official Emotiva Q&A thread

[jlafrenz]

Originally Posted by Shagadelic

err-ehh? so... amp the L + R towers, skip the center?

The easiest way is to just use one channel of the XPA-5 for each speaker and leave it at that. If you want to bi-amp you could, but I would suggest a second XPA-5 if you are going to do that. I personally would not bi-amp using the combination of the XPA-5 and your AVR.

Hopefully this makes it a bit more clear for you. If I missed what you are trying to do, please post some more details and I can help you through it.

[Remo]

Originally Posted by Shagadelic

err-ehh? so... amp the L + R towers, skip the center?

I use an amp for 5 of my 7 speakers, I just don't bi-amp any of them. I have the XPA-5 and completly happy with it.

Bi-amping is a complete waste of time unless you bypass the speakers internal crossovers and use active crossovers(very expensive venture there). You would be useing an amplifier for the highs and the lows for each speaker plus the cost of active crossovers.

Bi-amp / Bi-wire thread

[DarylRSV4]

What would the UMC 200 do for my current setup? Would SQ be dramatic or minimal? Thanks for helping a newb.

[jlafrenz]

Originally Posted by DarylRSV4

What would the UMC 200 do for my current setup? Would SQ be dramatic or minimal? Thanks for helping a newb.

The only real use for it I see in your system would be for the surrounds. I think the addition would be minimal just based on how little the surrounds are used. It certainly isn't going to hurt by adding one.

[sandman922]

Originally Posted by DarylRSV4

What would the UMC 200 do for my current setup? Would SQ be dramatic or minimal? Thanks for helping a newb.

do you listen to alot of 2 channel music ? i think there you would notice a nice improvement, movies would probably be close to what you have.

[ZIPPO]

Originally Posted by DarylRSV4

What would the UMC 200 do for my current setup? Would SQ be dramatic or minimal? Thanks for helping a newb.

Probably nothing your Denon 3312 AVR doesn't do better already, plus you would need more amps to drive your rear speakers. Supposedly using separates allows for peak performance, but I doubt there would be a dramatic improvement in SQ, over your Denon 3312 AVR. The UMC-200 is intended as an entry level pre-pro for getting into separates. The UMC-200 when paired with a UPA-500 or UPA-700, makes a good alternative to a receiver.

[DarylRSV4]

When I listen to music it's 5.1. I would rather spend money on something that's more beneficial.

Thanks for the advice guys, this forum rocks.

[Shagadelic]

well, maybe I'm wording this incorrectly.

Will I have any benifits adding the XPA-5 to my system? (csia6 + rtia9 x2)
everyone else seems to be having a blast?
sorry for beeing a newb, really had plans for big n' bad.
thanks fellas.

[ZIPPO]

Originally Posted by Shagadelic

well, maybe I'm wording this incorrectly.

Will I have any benifits adding the XPA-5 to my system? (csia6 + rtia9 x2)
everyone else seems to be having a blast?
sorry for beeing a newb, really had plans for big n' bad.
thanks fellas.

What receiver are you using now?

[solarrdadd]

Originally Posted by Shagadelic

well, maybe I'm wording this incorrectly.

Will I have any benifits adding the XPA-5 to my system? (csia6 + rtia9 x2)
everyone else seems to be having a blast?
sorry for beeing a newb, really had plans for big n' bad.
thanks fellas.

i think if you do a lot of movie watching and if you have your front 3 crossed over low say less than 50hz and you like to listen loud at times then yes to the XPA-5 it unlike your receiver (or any receiver) is made to do one thing and one thing only....give you lots of clean, continuous power with all channels driven. if you only have your fronts crossed at say 80hz then i'd say stick with the receiver.

most of us big movie watchers prefer an external amp for the headroom and again, if you like to listen to your speakers with lots of LF from them and at a good volume then yeah, i'd recommend going amp!

keep us posted no matter which way you decide to go.

[Shagadelic]

receiver: integra dtr 40.2
speakers: polk csia6, (future~ rtia9 x2, fxi a6, Hsu Vtf-2 mk. 4)

music: new pc coming up soon: dell inspirion 660 intel i5 or Mac mini intel i5 with seperate usb cd/dvd reader & external 2tb storage.
last pc bit the dust, has a boat of lossless tunes needs recovering: jazz, blues, metal, punk, classic rock on 1tb hdd.
ahh, have Dads 2 record players for latter: bic 920 & dual 1019
bust out the Vinyl after complete set-up.

movies: 5.1 or better with sub
music: 2 ch. no sub

as far as getting the most out of this set-up, just looking into future planning.
front 3 speakers all have 4 binding posts, the front L + R seems staight forward enough, it's the center that I can't seem to figure out.

perhapse the XPA-3 is more of what I need over the 5?

Happy Thanksgiving everyone! ...pass the gravy please

[jlafrenz]

Originally Posted by Shagadelic

receiver: integra dtr 40.2
speakers: polk csia6, (future~ rtia9 x2, fxi a6, Hsu Vtf-2 mk. 4)

music: new pc coming up soon: dell inspirion 660 intel i5 or Mac mini intel i5 with seperate usb cd/dvd reader & external 2tb storage.
last pc bit the dust, has a boat of lossless tunes needs recovering: jazz, blues, metal, punk, classic rock on 1tb hdd.
ahh, have Dads 2 record players for latter: bic 920 & dual 1019
bust out the Vinyl after complete set-up.

movies: 5.1 or better with sub
music: 2 ch. no sub

as far as getting the most out of this set-up, just looking into future planning.
front 3 speakers all have 4 binding posts, the front L + R seems staight forward enough, it's the center that I can't seem to figure out.

perhapse the XPA-3 is more of what I need over the 5?

Happy Thanksgiving everyone! ...pass the gravy please

The center connection is no different to bi-amp than any other speaker as long as it has 2 sets of binding posts. I think what you are trying to figure out is how to bi-amp your front three with just an XPA-5, or that's what it sounds like. You will not be able to do this. You would need 6 amp channels.

Are you dead set on bi-amping? I would suggest picking up the XPA-5 and try bi-amping the mains and see if you notice a difference. If so then just bi-amp the mains and run a single channel to the center. Or if you want to bi-amp the center too, you would need a second amp (not the Integra).

[Shagadelic]

if i'm reading this right, yes, I want to amp the front 3.
so I need another amp to juice the center? ok.
so go with xpa-2, and xpa-1.

[jlafrenz]

Originally Posted by Shagadelic

if i'm reading this right, yes, I want to amp the front 3.
so I need another amp to juice the center? ok.
so go with xpa-2, and xpa-1.

The XPA-5 would power your front sound stage and a pair of surrounds just fine. If you are wanting to bi-amp (2 amp channels per speaker) then you would need an additional amp if you were wanting to bi-amp the center with your mains. If not, then just go with the XPA-5.

[Remo]

Originally Posted by Shagadelic

if i'm reading this right, yes, I want to amp the front 3.
so I need another amp to juice the center? ok.
so go with xpa-2, and xpa-1.

The XPA-5 will be fine for 2 , 3 , or 5 channel operation, and actually it will output more watts per channel when not driving all 5 channels. So if you want to just amplify the front 3 then you will get more than the 200 wpc that the specs state.

Emotiva used to post the spec for less than all channels driven but people were buying it just for 2 channel use, which if used constantly and abused in this manner would deteriorate its performance by burning out the transistors that are constantly being driven to high power output.

With that being said, it is completely OK to use the XPA-5 as a 2 channel 3 channel or 5 channel amp if it is not constantly being driven to max output on just a couple channels all the time.

I use mine as a 2 channel , or 5 channel amp every day but I don't drive it to the max for extended periods of time(I don't want to go deaf). I have had zero issues and absolutely love this amp.

I say forget about bi-amping , its a waste of time especially on low end speakers such as Polk(not knocking Polk I have Polk and love them but come on' they are not a $10000 a piece speaker) You will get great results from a good amp, XPA-3 or XPA-5 is a nice choice, or if your really want some power (and a thinner wallet) get 3 XPA-1s

[Shagadelic]

Thanks again fellas ,
I must be using the wrong terminology then. My main confusion is I don't know how I can wire the center ch. ...as in: the surrounds on my integra are used to amp. L + R fronts, but can't figure where the center connects to? do i need to use another set of surround terminals?
Am I translating this properly?

yes, I'm aware Polks are mediocre.
no offense taken nor implied, budget friendly for me. many other tasks await the list. guns, couch, 3D panny, etc.

[Remo]

Originally Posted by Shagadelic

Thanks again fellas ,
I must be using the wrong terminology then. My main confusion is I don't know how I can wire the center ch. ...as in: the surrounds on my integra are used to amp. L + R fronts, but can't figure where the center connects to? do i need to use another set of surround terminals?
Am I translating this properly?

yes, I'm aware Polks are mediocre.
no offense taken nor implied, budget friendly for me. many other tasks await the list. guns, couch, 3D panny, etc.

You only need to hook up one run of wire to the speaker cabinet, yes it may have 2 sets of terminals but you only use one of them, there is a jumper bar connecting the 2 sets of terminals on the speaker cabinet.

Or if useing an amp you connect one interconnect to the preamp output for the center channel from the receiver to the amp then one run of speaker wire from the amp to the speaker.

on your Integra DTR 40.2 I have circle the preamp output and the speaker terminal output in green.

[cr136124]

Originally Posted by Shagadelic

if i'm reading this right, yes, I want to amp the front 3.
so I need another amp to juice the center? ok.
so go with xpa-2, and xpa-1.

As other recommend you before, go with the XPA-5 straight.

You will have the flexibility to bi-amp your front speakers, if you want to try that (nothing better to have first hand experience to confirm if indeed makes a difference or not.............to "you"). If you decide to bi-amp, then you will need to buy 5 interconnects (4 for the right and left channel and 1 for the center channel). Of course, you will need to buy a RCA Y adapter 1 male 2 female. You'll need this Y adapter to split the Right and Left channel signals out of your receiver and use 4 of the 5 channels on the XPA-5 as follows 2 channels for the right speaker and the other two for the left channel.

Anyway, if at the end you are not satisfied with the sound quality of your speaker in the bi-amp mode; then you can use the XPA-5 to drive your five channels (2 fronts, 1 center and 2 surround).

Cheers!

[Shagadelic]

All right Gentlemen, that sums up my ?s.
already have the x4 wires for each L & R, the whole Center ch. set-up threw me in the Twilight Zone.
Thanks again everyone for the plain English.
Def. gonna juice.

talk 'bout Twilight Zone. Ugghhh, just got back from Disneyland. 5 south shut-down from hell ...oof! thank GOD for internet phones/maps.
...re-routing.

[boomslang06]

hey guys i'm looking to buy a XPA-5, if anyone trying to sell one PM me, thanks.