Emotiva XPA-2 or XPA-3

[sweetrockn]

Hello All,

I'm looking into geting an Amp want to see what you guys think. It's between the XPA-2 or XPA-3. I'm runing a Marantz SR5005 with Definitive Technology BP-8020ST for the fronts,CS-8040HD for the center, and ProMonitor800 for the rears.

With the XPA-2 I run the fronts and use the SR5005 to run the center and rears. Or get the XPA-3 to run the fronts and center. Then use the SR5005 to run the rears.

Any feedback would be apperciated.

Thanks,

[Fors*]

Get the XPA-3 if you have the money, IMO. This will provide a more balanced and seemless front soundstage, not to mention it will also provide a more similar sonic signature from all 3 speakers since they will all have the same power source.

[TCR Alliance]

Originally Posted by sweetrockn

Hello All,

I'm looking into geting an Amp want to see what you guys think. It's between the XPA-2 or XPA-3. I'm runing a Marantz SR5005 with Definitive Technology BP-8020ST for the fronts,CS-8040HD for the center, and ProMonitor800 for the rears.

With the XPA-2 I run the fronts and use the SR5005 to run the center and rears. Or get the XPA-3 to run the fronts and center. Then use the SR5005 to run the rears.

Any feedback would be apperciated.

Thanks,

Hi sweetrockn, Welcome to Def Tech fans.
All XPA series of Emotiva are excelent...if you can do the effort to go for the XPA-5 you gonna love it!!! otherwise go for XPA-3. I recently added the XPA-5 to my setup and this AMP is amazing. Maybe the next year I'll go for the XPA-2 for 7.1 setup.
All depend of your budget and what you want

[sweetrockn]

Originally Posted by Fors*

Get the XPA-3 if you have the money, IMO. This will provide a more balanced and seemless front soundstage, not to mention it will also provide a more similar sonic signature from all 3 speakers since they will all have the same power source.

I Think you right. It would be better to have fronts and center have 200w each.

Thanks

[sweetrockn]

Originally Posted by TCR Alliance

Hi sweetrockn, Welcome to Def Tech fans.
All XPA series of Emotiva are excelent...if you can do the effort to go for the XPA-5 you gonna love it!!! otherwise go for XPA-3. I recently added the XPA-5 to my setup and this AMP is amazing. Maybe the next year I'll go for the XPA-2 for 7.1 setup.
All depend of your budget and what you want

THANKS!!!

I love my Def Tech's. I was looking at the XPA-5.But I was thinking that it would be over kill for the rears.

[ManUtd]

No such thing as overkill.

Get the XPA-5 and don't look back.

[progers13]

Originally Posted by ManUtd

No such thing as overkill.

Get the XPA-5 and don't look back.

+1

.....and then start saving for an XPA-2 to go along with it

[sweetrockn]

I should just go all out and get 3 XPA-1 and call it a day.... lol


YA I dont know about the XPA-5. I Just dont know !!

[crazyBLUE]

Originally Posted by sweetrockn

I should just go all out and get 3 XPA-1 and call it a day.... lol


YA I dont know about the XPA-5. I Just dont know !!

The XPA-5 is great sweetrockn You can't go wrong with it . I have 2 of them & a UPA-7 powering my Home Theater...

[PurpleJesus74]

Originally Posted by Fors*

Get the XPA-3 if you have the money, IMO. This will provide a more balanced and seemless front soundstage, not to mention it will also provide a more similar sonic signature from all 3 speakers since they will all have the same power source.

I'd have agree,thats what i use,and its worked great.Either way i'd say he'll be happy,they are mammoths !

[rpatt]

If you can afford the XPA-5, get it. I bought an XPA-3 thinking my surround speakers didn't need the power, then I upgraded all of my speakers and ended up adding an XPA-2. It's better to future proof as much as possible.

[DimeMecka]

I would go with the XPA-5 so you won't have any regrets like I did

[sweetrockn]

I think the XPA-5 is a lot of $$$

[crazyBLUE]

Originally Posted by sweetrockn

I think the XPA-5 is a lot of $$$

It is more then worth what you spend on it sweetrockn ~ You won't be sorry if you do it......

[-DLS-]

I think the XPA-3 is all you will need unless you plan to dump the receiver for a pre/pro anytime soon. With your surrounds the SR5005 is just fine.. actually even if you were to upgrade your surrounds the SR5005 will still be fine. I had a Marantz SR8002 powering Paradigm Studio 40's and Energy RC-R surrounds. As long as you level match them there's no magic to making your surrounds sound more clear/open if they got the power they need. For your mains it could be different with an XPA-2 but for what the surrounds are used for even for multi channel music I don't see a need for an XPA-5. You could put the extra cash to room treatments..

[rock, stone]

Yeah, don't let message boards pressure you to overextend yourself. If do you get upgradeitus, let that by your decision.

It isn't like you won't be able to return or resell an xpa3 in 30 days or a year, respectively if you get the bug to do so.

[Adam.C]

You will love the XPA-3... ofc, if you can afford the XPA-5 do IT!!!! However your Marantz is more than capable to power your surrounds. DLS hit it on the head.

[Kali157]

Your surrounds, ProMonitor800, are 8 ohm speakers needing 150 watts MAX... Your Marantz should be more than capable enough to power even 4 of those on surround duty.

If it makes you feel better, I did a direct comparison (A/B) of using my XPA-3 vs my Onkyo 707 to see if I needed a separate amp for my surrounds. I unplugged all other speakers including sub (surrounds were playing full band) and played some surround heavy clips. I did this with my old Klipsch S-2 Synergy, Aperion 5DB (most power hungry), and Axiom QS8. Know what I found? No difference in higher (I mean REALLY LOUD) or lower volumes. And that is with an Onkyo. Marantz are noted to typically have a better power supply. Moreover, you would be surprised how little info actually comes out to surrounds, even in heavy scenes like the Omaha beach landing in SPR.

On the other hand, WANTING an amp for all your speakers is a different matter. This !@%$%@ sale at Emotiva is making me want an XPA-2 or a pair of UPA-1s. Do I need it? No... Do I want it? Yes...

... I do have a question about your Marantz though. Does it have a button on the remote to turn the EQ on/off? Does it have a button to switch directly to Stereo? I turn on EQ for movies and turn it off for music. Having to go through the menu is getting annoying. Sorry for the off topic Q's.

[sweetrockn]

Originally Posted by -DLS-

I think the XPA-3 is all you will need unless you plan to dump the receiver for a pre/pro anytime soon. With your surrounds the SR5005 is just fine.. actually even if you were to upgrade your surrounds the SR5005 will still be fine. I had a Marantz SR8002 powering Paradigm Studio 40's and Energy RC-R surrounds. As long as you level match them there's no magic to making your surrounds sound more clear/open if they got the power they need. For your mains it could be different with an XPA-2 but for what the surrounds are used for even for multi channel music I don't see a need for an XPA-5. You could put the extra cash to room treatments..

I'm going to keep the receiver for about a year then upgrade. As for the room I'm working on it right now.. lol

Thanks

[sweetrockn]

Originally Posted by Kali157

Your surrounds, ProMonitor800, are 8 ohm speakers needing 150 watts MAX... Your Marantz should be more than capable enough to power even 4 of those on surround duty.

If it makes you feel better, I did a direct comparison (A/B) of using my XPA-3 vs my Onkyo 707 to see if I needed a separate amp for my surrounds. I unplugged all other speakers including sub (surrounds were playing full band) and played some surround heavy clips. I did this with my old Klipsch S-2 Synergy, Aperion 5DB (most power hungry), and Axiom QS8. Know what I found? No difference in higher (I mean REALLY LOUD) or lower volumes. And that is with an Onkyo. Marantz are noted to typically have a better power supply. Moreover, you would be surprised how little info actually comes out to surrounds, even in heavy scenes like the Omaha beach landing in SPR.

On the other hand, WANTING an amp for all your speakers is a different matter. This !@%$%@ sale at Emotiva is making me want an XPA-2 or a pair of UPA-1s. Do I need it? No... Do I want it? Yes...

... I do have a question about your Marantz though. Does it have a button on the remote to turn the EQ on/off? Does it have a button to switch directly to Stereo? I turn on EQ for movies and turn it off for music. Having to go through the menu is getting annoying. Sorry for the off topic Q's.

Thanks for the input. I will check the Remote when I get home from work and let you know.