Going to buy an Amp today. Need HELP

[xtreme02gt]

I bought a Yamaha RX-V765 yesterday, and I am going to buy the amp today.

Here is my question, I am use the Polk Audio RTi 12's for my front speakers, So should I buy the Emotiva XPA-3 or the XPA-2? I really don't think my Klipsch Quintet III center channel can handle 200w all the time. I am working on getting me a better center speaker, but for now that is what I have.

So, is it work the extra $200 for the XPA-2? I thought I seen something on here about the XPA-2 not being a really clean amp. But I can't seem to find it.

Or should I just buy the XPA-3? Keep my extra $200 and buy a better center speaker? I was wanting the CSi A4 center.

[pokefan]

Purely from the specs if you're trying to run the front stage (center, L/R) I'd say the XPA-3 is a clear choice.

I'll be honest, I don't know anything about HT amps but I'd rather have the 3 channels then the 2 if I were buying. The power really isn't that much different so from looking at it I think you're actually getting more with the XPA-3. Take that how you will though, like I said, I don't know much about the amps when it comes to HT.

[solarrdadd]

Originally Posted by xtreme02gt

I bought a Yamaha RX-V765 yesterday, and I am going to buy the amp today.

Here is my question, I am use the Polk Audio RTi 12's for my front speakers, So should I buy the Emotiva XPA-3 or the XPA-2? I really don't think my Klipsch Quintet III center channel can handle 200w all the time. I am working on getting me a better center speaker, but for now that is what I have.

So, is it work the extra $200 for the XPA-2? I thought I seen something on here about the XPA-2 not being a really clean amp. But I can't seem to find it.

Or should I just buy the XPA-3? Keep my extra $200 and buy a better center speaker? I was wanting the CSi A4 center.

first, the amp is not going to supply 200w to your center all of the time. if the level of sound pressure demanded by the media (lets say movie) calls for little or a lot for the speakers at their given impedence to produce said sound at the given volume your receiver is at then that is how much power the amp will provide. when you have a very quiet scene of someone walking in the quite woods, your not going to be pulling 200w of power, cool?!? your speakers are only going to demand the power from your amp that they need to produce the level of sound pressure they are being asked to by the source. that's another reason why you want to have a good high powered amp for the head room/reserves when you have big explosions and loud engine scenes in movies, think action movies! this way there will be no clipping of the amp and your speakers won't take a dive!

second, go with the XPA-3 too keep your front 3 soundstage with the same amount of power available to them as these will be the most important and most used speakers during your 5.1 HT experience. you will also love the power for 2 channel audio.

I have all polk speakers to include the RTi10 & CSi5 center, all power hungry. I feed them with an XPA-5 for my main 5 and a UPA-2 for my surround back two channels. you will be very happy with the XPA-3.

save your $200 and get the CSi A4 center, rememaber, the center is the most important speaker in your 5.1 HT setup with the front L & R coming in second and your surrounds last. that CSi A4 will make a difference and it will be matched better than your current center to your front L & R channels.

hope this helped, best of luck & keep us posted

[xtreme02gt]

Originally Posted by solarrdadd

first, the amp is not going to supply 200w to your center all of the time. if the level of sound pressure demanded by the media (lets say movie) calls for little or a lot for the speakers at their given impedence to produce said sound at the given volume your receiver is at then that is how much power the amp will provide. when you have a very quiet scene of someone walking in the quite woods, your not going to be pulling 200w of power, cool?!? your speakers are only going to demand the power from your amp that they need to produce the level of sound pressure they are being asked to by the source. that's another reason why you want to have a good high powered amp for the head room/reserves when you have big explosions and loud engine scenes in movies, think action movies! this way there will be no clipping of the amp and your speakers won't take a dive!

second, go with the XPA-3 too keep your front 3 soundstage with the same amount of power available to them as these will be the most important and most used speakers during your 5.1 HT experience. you will also love the power for 2 channel audio.

I have all polk speakers to include the RTi10 & CSi5 center, all power hungry. I feed them with an XPA-5 for my main 5 and a UPA-2 for my surround back two channels. you will be very happy with the XPA-3.

save your $200 and get the CSi A4 center, rememaber, the center is the most important speaker in your 5.1 HT setup with the front L & R coming in second and your surrounds last. that CSi A4 will make a difference and it will be matched better than your current center to your front L & R channels.

hope this helped, best of luck & keep us posted

WoW! Thanks for the help! I will buy the XPA-3 then, and buy the CSi A4.

That really helped!

[xtreme02gt]

But if the speakers ( RTi12's ) can handle 500w, how will a amp sending them 200w sound? That is not even half power? Will it still sound really good?

I really don't have the money to buy ( 2 ) XPA-1 amps ( $1000 each ), so will the XPA-3 do the job and do it really well?

[pokefan]

Originally Posted by xtreme02gt

But if the speakers ( RTi12's ) can handle 500w, how will a amp sending them 200w sound? That is not even half power? Will it still sound really good?

I really don't have the money to buy ( 2 ) XPA-1 amps ( $1000 each ), so will the XPA-3 do the job and do it really well?

It will sound fine, it won't be as loud and full as it could be but it will still sound great and be plenty loud.

What you need to worry about it seriously under powering speakers like that with cheap receivers pushing the mediocre, not so clean 35 watts to them. But 200 watts of nice clean Emotiva power will do just fine.

[Intamin]

Originally Posted by xtreme02gt

But if the speakers ( RTi12's ) can handle 500w, how will a amp sending them 200w sound? That is not even half power? Will it still sound really good?

I really don't have the money to buy ( 2 ) XPA-1 amps ( $1000 each ), so will the XPA-3 do the job and do it really well?

Assuming your speakers are 89db, 250watt will play 113db (technically you need 256). If you got a 500 watt amp it would only get you 3 more db.

[xtreme02gt]

Originally Posted by Intamin

Assuming your speakers are 89db, 250watt will play 113db (technically you need 256). If you got a 500 watt amp it would only get you 3 more db.

I really don't understand that.... I am a newbie at all of this

But they 90db. Not sure if that makes a difference

[Hammie]

You can determine a speakers "loudness" by its sensitivity. For Intamin's example, a speaker that is 89db sensitive at 1 watt, would produce about 113db at 250 watts.

See below:

Watts - Decibels

1 = 89
2 = 92
4 = 95
8 = 98
16 = 101
32 = 104
64 = 107
128 = 110
256 = 113
512 = 116

Make sense?

[Intamin]

Originally Posted by xtreme02gt

I really don't understand that.... I am a newbie at all of this

But they 90db. Not sure if that makes a difference

See what Lou said. And to answer about how they'll sound... well watts won't really determine how it'll sound, it'll just tell you how loud it'll play in terms of decibel output.

[solarrdadd]

Originally Posted by xtreme02gt

But if the speakers ( RTi12's ) can handle 500w, how will a amp sending them 200w sound? That is not even half power? Will it still sound really good?

I really don't have the money to buy ( 2 ) XPA-1 amps ( $1000 each ), so will the XPA-3 do the job and do it really well?

with those speakers and that XPA-3 amp your ears will bleed before you will have to worry about power. that rating is only about the maximum amount of power the speaker can handle. I have the model speakers just below yours, i'd never be able to stand the sound pressure if i really cranked my system without it being painful. you'll be fine.

Oh yeah, if you buy the XPA-3 by the end of this month, your shipping is free, now, how about that!?!

[xtreme02gt]

Originally Posted by solarrdadd

with those speakers and that XPA-3 amp your ears will bleed before you will have to worry about power. that rating is only about the maximum amount of power the speaker can handle. I have the model speakers just below yours, i'd never be able to stand the sound pressure if i really cranked my system without it being painful. you'll be fine.

Oh yeah, if you buy the XPA-3 by the end of this month, your shipping is free, now, how about that!?!

So, I can crank it up and not have to worry about messing up the speakers?

I already bought it today.... She told me it should be here friday afternoon!!!!

[solarrdadd]

Originally Posted by xtreme02gt

So, I can crank it up and not have to worry about messing up the speakers?

I already bought it today.... She told me it should be here friday afternoon!!!!

pm me when you get it and set it up, after you have dared to crank it and i mean crank it. i'll bet you won't be able to stand the sound pressure, but, you will notice how clear and good it sounds at that absurd volume even though it's just too loud for ya!

[SeanMF]

Originally Posted by xtreme02gt

WoW! Thanks for the help! I will buy the XPA-3 then, and buy the CSi A4.

That really helped!

+1. I was going to tell you to buy the center first but I seen it was an option to get both. As far as the watts go...200 watts will drive your speakers plenty loud and should sound better than what you have now. Xpa-3 and the center is the way to go here. Let us know how it sounds.

[xtreme02gt]

Originally Posted by SeanMF

+1. I was going to tell you to buy the center first but I seen it was an option to get both. As far as the watts go...200 watts will drive your speakers plenty loud and should sound better than what you have now. Xpa-3 and the center is the way to go here. Let us know how it sounds.

I LOVE IT!!!!!! It's like a drug....... I can't stop watching BD movies.. It is SO LOUD, yet SO CLEAR!!!

Emotiva

I am also going to buy a set of Polk Audio FXi A6 and the UPA-2

I can't stop buying now, I wish I would have never found this site..

[SeanMF]

Originally Posted by xtreme02gt

I LOVE IT!!!!!! It's like a drug....... I can't stop watching BD movies.. It is SO LOUD, yet SO CLEAR!!!

Emotiva

I am also going to buy a set of Polk Audio FXi A6 and the UPA-2

I can't stop buying now, I wish I would have never found this site..

This is what I started out with. That was as of February 2009. Look at what I've done now. I'm now thinking McIntosh for my bedroom...crazy. Not to mention the living room setup was started August 2009.

[xtreme02gt]

Just bought another one... UPA-2 for my surrounds, I just can't stop!

[SeanMF]

Originally Posted by xtreme02gt

Just bought another one... UPA-2 for my surrounds, I just can't stop!

Your out of control! I know the feeling though...I haven't been able to stop for a year now.