Emotiva XPA3 with Def. Tech. Speakers ??

[HTJ]

Hi all. I'm considering the purchase of a XPA-3 to run my fronts (Def Tech BP7006, 2002 center) and using my Pioneer Elite 23TXH to power the surrounds in my 7.1 setup. The only reason I'd want to take the plunge is if I really noticed a drastic change in sound clarity/punch.

I don't need more volume. My Elite does a fantastic job. What I'd hope the XPA-3 would do is bring more punch to my front speakers in the mid to high range. For example, in Avatar, when the Thenetor(sp?) attacks Jake and they're running through the forest and it's snapping branches, I remember in the theater of being impressed by how those wood snapping sounds popped out....same as the scene where their shooting missiles at Home tree.....

I know my speakers are capable, because if I crank the sound to louder levels than preferred, I get those results. My hope is that by running more power to the fronts with the XPA-3, it would bring those sounds out more at more comfortable levels than my Elite is capable with limited power. I'd appreciate any of your thoughts on this and experiences using separate amps, etc., particularly any of you with similar speakers. Thanks.

[HTJ]

Sorry for double posting. (I put this same inquiry at the end of Emotiva Q&A thread.) My intent in putting it here also was to hopefully catch the eye of another Def Tech BP series user, in particular the BP7006 and CLR2002 center speaker who may have used an Emotiva amp for their setup and their impressions. By what I gather from general opinions of Emotiva, it sounds like the only drawback from going with them is the inability to audition them before purchase. I could buy more expensive amps from my local HT store, but unfortunately my budget is limited to either an arm or a leg, but not both.

[erict]

Originally Posted by HTJ

Sorry for double posting. (I put this same inquiry at the end of Emotiva Q&A thread.) My intent in putting it here also was to hopefully catch the eye of another Def Tech BP series user, in particular the BP7006 and CLR2002 center speaker who may have used an Emotiva amp for their setup and their impressions. By what I gather from general opinions of Emotiva, it sounds like the only drawback from going with them is the inability to audition them before purchase. I could buy more expensive amps from my local HT store, but unfortunately my budget is limited to either an arm or a leg, but not both.

You will have another arm and leg left My worry would be when my wife takes one of my nuts

[crazyBLUE]

Originally Posted by erict

You will have another arm and leg left My worry would be when my wife takes one of my nuts

Or Both

[HTJ]

Originally Posted by erict

You will have another arm and leg left My worry would be when my wife takes one of my nuts

Originally Posted by crazyBLUE

Or Both

Eek! Good point! I wasn't even adding in that cost yet. (checks to make sure their still even there) Hopefully at the most it'll be just some and I'll be ..... and eventually I'll be because I'm completely .........

[erict]

Originally Posted by HTJ

Eek! Good point! I wasn't even adding in that cost yet. (checks to make sure their still even there) Hopefully at the most it'll be just some and I'll be ..... and eventually I'll be because I'm completely .........

Just get a dozen roses and set it on top of the amp. She will never notice the amp that way

[Fors*]

Hey HTJ, the XPA-3 will get the job done with your Def Techs. Taking some of the load off of your 23 will only help it too. I think the XPA-3 has given me one of the best returns on my investment out of all of my gear. With 200 watts of pure power pushing those Def Tech's, the price and sound will be tough to beat!

[Sad But True]

HTJ, I am running a similar set up to yours. I purchased my XPA-3 with the intetion of going to a seperate pre/pro in the near future. So I wasn't looking for an audible improvement. The BP's are very efficient so my pio 91 had enough power to drive them. I've listen to a ton of movie soundtracks and only noticed 2 or 3 times of a soundtrack clipping while just using my pio. That never happened since I've had my XPA-3. So my feedback would be that the XPA-3 is a great amp for the $, but don't expect a big audible difference on most material.

[HTJ]

Originally Posted by Sad But True

HTJ, I am running a similar set up to yours. I purchased my XPA-3 with the intetion of going to a seperate pre/pro in the near future. So I wasn't looking for an audible improvement. The BP's are very efficient so my pio 91 had enough power to drive them. I've listen to a ton of movie soundtracks and only noticed 2 or 3 times of a soundtrack clipping while just using my pio. That never happened since I've had my XPA-3. So my feedback would be that the XPA-3 is a great amp for the $, but don't expect a big audible difference on most material.

Did you notice more punch in your system after getting your XPA-3. When I crank my system a little louder than comfortable, there is a noticeable increase in punch, particularly mid to high frequencies. My hopes in getting the XPA-3 would be that that punch would be brought out better at lower volumes. What was your experience with your combo? Thanks for your input.

[MrFattBill]

I said it in the Emotiva thread and I will say it here again, I love what the XPA-5 did for my low volume listening. The high volume stuff is great too but now to enjoy a movie I don't really need to jack the volume up that much (the amp was added to a Yamaha 665 I now have a SC-25 but haven't even tried it without the XPA-5) More than one person that watches things at my house on a regular basis commented on the difference the first night they were here after the upgrade....even my wife noticed and she could honestly care less, lol.

Bill

[crazyBLUE]

Originally Posted by MrFattBill

I said it in the Emotiva thread and I will say it here again, I love what the XPA-5 did for my low volume listening. The high volume stuff is great too but now to enjoy a movie I don't really need to jack the volume up that much (the amp was added to a Yamaha 665 I now have a SC-25 but haven't even tried it without the XPA-5) More than one person that watches things at my house on a regular basis commented on the difference the first night they were here after the upgrade....even my wife noticed and she could honestly care less, lol.

Bill

I Totally agree with this entire statement !

[Spurrier Sucks]

Originally Posted by HTJ

Did you notice more punch in your system after getting your XPA-3. When I crank my system a little louder than comfortable, there is a noticeable increase in punch, particularly mid to high frequencies. My hopes in getting the XPA-3 would be that that punch would be brought out better at lower volumes. What was your experience with your combo? Thanks for your input.

I can tell the biggest difference at lower volumes. Get it, you won't regret it.

[Sad But True]

Originally Posted by HTJ

Did you notice more punch in your system after getting your XPA-3. When I crank my system a little louder than comfortable, there is a noticeable increase in punch, particularly mid to high frequencies. My hopes in getting the XPA-3 would be that that punch would be brought out better at lower volumes. What was your experience with your combo? Thanks for your input.

I never noticed any extra punch at my normal listening levels, did notice a little more clear dialouge from my 2002. I had an issue with the center sounding boomy before my XPA-3. The XPA-3 only adds a few more db's over my pio. I did notice a much better surround punch and fullness by just letting the pio run my rears. The biggest punch improvmet I got from my system was finally dialing my sub in with the BP's. Lot's of crawling on the floor.

[GAWD]

Originally Posted by Sad But True

I never noticed any extra punch at my normal listening levels, did notice a little more clear dialouge from my 2002. I had an issue with the center sounding boomy before my XPA-3. The XPA-3 only adds a few more db's over my pio. I did notice a much better surround punch and fullness by just letting the pio run my rears. The biggest punch improvmet I got from my system was finally dialing my sub in with the BP's. Lot's of crawling on the floor.

Is your Pio running the rest of the 7.1 one system?

[Sad But True]

Originally Posted by GAWD

Is your Pio running the rest of the 7.1 one system?

I'm running a 5.1 system. My pio is running my surrounds,