Emotiva and receiver help

[nezff]

I was interested in getting a Emotiva amp. I was wondering what would be a decent receiver with preouts as my onkyo 605 does not have any. I have been looking around at a couple in the $300-$500 range. I had a question. I was wondering if anyone had heard anything about the Yamaha RXv663 or the Yamaha HTR 6160. The HTR has BURR BROWNS also. From what I read on avsforum, they are the same receiver. I had one problem with the RXV663 i read, it doesnt pass Blacker than Black video. Kinda sucks i think. I looked at a couple other receivers also, Onkyo 705 or 706, Pioneer Elite VSX-91TXH, I can get this one for $450.
Will the jump into seperates, make a difference in sound quality? thanks

[sokrman14]

If you are going to spend that much on a new receiver, save up just a little longer and get the new Emotiva preamp that will match your new amplifier. I think it is supposed to run around $700 bucks (I could be wrong, I do remember seeing a previous thread on it). I think that is going to be your best option. A new receiver just to get some preouts is not a good upgrade in my opinion. This option will give you an improvement in quality, not just preouts.

EDIT: I found it on their website. It is the UMC-1 and it is priced at $700, but its not quite available yet. But the specs look very promising.

[Johnny Vinyl]

Originally Posted by sokrman14

If you are going to spend that much on a new receiver, save up just a little longer and get the new Emotiva preamp that will match your new amplifier. I think it is supposed to run around $700 bucks (I could be wrong, I do remember seeing a previous thread on it). I think that is going to be your best option. A new receiver just to get some preouts is not a good upgrade in my opinion. This option will give you an improvement in quality, not just preouts.

EDIT: I found it on their website. It is the UMC-1 and it is priced at $700, but its not quite available yet. But the specs look very promising.

+1. This is good advice. After all, why pay for a "receiver" when all you need it for is use as a "pre-pro"? Buy a dedicated Pre-Pro as Sorkman14 suggested. If you were to buy a 2-channel Power Amp, then it would be a different story.

As an added point of interest, you may want to check out Outlaw Audio as well. They also have an excellent reputation and are fairly priced.

[sokrman14]

Originally Posted by John72953

+1. This is good advice. After all, why pay for a "receiver" when all you need it for is use as a "pre-pro"? Buy a dedicated Pre-Pro as Sorkman14 suggested. If you were to buy a 2-channel Power Amp, then it would be a different story.

As an added point of interest, you may want to check out Outlaw Audio as well. They also have an excellent reputation and are fairly priced.

I agree on the outlaw, but I was just looking at their new pre/pro and it is priced at $1399, which compared to the $400 dollar receivers he was looking at I wasn't going to recommend because that is a big jump in price. But pretty solid product.

[Johnny Vinyl]

Didn't check the prices on Outlaw's site...but good point! A bit over-budget for him!

[red_5ive]

I agree, stick with a pre-pro rather than going with an AVR to take that duty. I previously used a Yamaha RX-Z1 and more recently a Yamaha RX-V1800 with my Emotiva LPA-1's and I can tell you I'm MUCH happier with my current pre-pro. Also consider that the AVR will generally use more juice than a pre-pro since the amps don't shut off even if you're using it as a preamp. The Emotiva UMC-1 should be here soon, just be patient. You'll thank yourself in the long run.

[nezff]

I am not really on a certain budget guys, I was just looking for a cheap reciever to act as a preamp. I think the emotiva preamp would be a better setup anyway. I just need to sell my onkyo 605 and this Klipsch sub for some extra dough.

[PS3+HDDVD OWNER]

Originally Posted by nezff

I was interested in getting a Emotiva amp. I was wondering what would be a decent receiver with preouts as my onkyo 605 does not have any. I have been looking around at a couple in the $300-$500 range. I had a question. I was wondering if anyone had heard anything about the Yamaha RXv663 or the Yamaha HTR 6160. The HTR has BURR BROWNS also. From what I read on avsforum, they are the same receiver. I had one problem with the RXV663 i read, it doesnt pass Blacker than Black video. Kinda sucks i think. I looked at a couple other receivers also, Onkyo 705 or 706, Pioneer Elite VSX-91TXH, I can get this one for $450.
Will the jump into seperates, make a difference in sound quality? thanks

I am in the exact same situation as you. I will be purchasing the 7 channel Emotiva Amplifier, as well as the Pre/Pro once it is available. Should cost somwhere around $1300ish for the 2.

Problem is, i want to also have speakers that will really benefit from the extra amplification. So i'm going to budget $2000 towards new speakers and move my current setup into my bedroom!

[nezff]

I am now thinking the XPA-5 would be a better choice with the 200 watts per channel. That would really make my front stage sing.

but the easier and cheaper thing to do is to get the XPA3 and get a receiver with preouts.

[PS3+HDDVD OWNER]

Originally Posted by nezff

I am now thinking the XPA-5 would be a better choice with the 200 watts per channel. That would really make my front stage sing.

but the easier and cheaper thing to do is to get the XPA3 and get a receiver with preouts.

Im not sure i'd go the easier and cheaper route if i were you. I've done that several times in my life and left myself disappointed with the end result numerous times. I think you'd be best off going with the Emotiva setup that everyone is recommending. How much are you really going to save anyways? Is it worth the chance you end up disappointed?

[red_5ive]

Originally Posted by nezff

I am now thinking the XPA-5 would be a better choice with the 200 watts per channel. That would really make my front stage sing.

but the easier and cheaper thing to do is to get the XPA3 and get a receiver with preouts.

Although the front stage is the most important and 200W gives you a lot of overhead, adding an external amp for my rears completely OPENED up the rear stage. I always thought my surrounds were perfectly calibrated and that an amp would make no difference, but I was happy to have been proven wrong. Even my wife out of the blue commented things sounded better, and she can care less for HT and I never even told her I added new amps, just that I was spending more money. And mind you, I was using a Yamaha RX-Z1 at the time, which was $2799 new.

[nezff]

Originally Posted by red_5ive

Although the front stage is the most important and 200W gives you a lot of overhead, adding an external amp for my rears completely OPENED up the rear stage. I always thought my surrounds were perfectly calibrated and that an amp would make no difference, but I was happy to have been proven wrong. Even my wife out of the blue commented things sounded better, and she can care less for HT and I never even told her I added new amps, just that I was spending more money. And mind you, I was using a Yamaha RX-Z1 at the time, which was $2799 new.

so you think I should pay more money just to drive my side surrounds RS42s? Is it worth the extra $500-$600 to drive two little speakers than only take 75 watts RMS anyway?

I was thinking of getting a pioneer elite receiver with preouts and the Emotiva XPA-3

[red_5ive]

Originally Posted by nezff

so you think I should pay more money just to drive my side surrounds RS42s? Is it worth the extra $500-$600 to drive two little speakers than only take 75 watts RMS anyway?

I was thinking of getting a pioneer elite receiver with preouts and the Emotiva XPA-3

Personally, I think you would be happy with an XPA-3 and a Pioneer Elite. The new Elite line is pretty impressive IMO. But the point is, if I were spending that much money I'd go with a UPA-7 and the UMC-1 when it releases, or better yet if budget isn't a concern then I'd do an XPA-2 + an XPA-5 and the UMC-1.

[nezff]

Well let me explain about budget. I actually have one, Im just trying to get the best bang for the buck. Originally I was thinking getting the UPA7 with a new receiver, then I got to thinking, 140 watts per channel into 5 channels is at the least OK. I then looked at the XPA3 for the same price and 200 watts per channel. I have RF62s and a RC62 up front that take around 150 watts RMS and 600 peak. My little surrounds could just use the receiver at 110 from the pioneer elite.
I just save a little money also by cancelling one of my subs I ordered from Elemental Designs. For the time being, I only need one A2 300.
When I get rid of my Onkyo 605 and my Klipsch RW10d sub, that will help alot also. My thing is, why pay so much more for the XPA5 when the XPA 3 and a nice receiver will do the trick also.
the umc-1 will be around $700, the XPA 5 is $800, thats $1500 plus shipping.
The Pioneer Elite VSX-91TXH is $473 shipped, the XPA3 is $525 shipped, thats only $998 minus what I can get for my old sub and receiver.

[red_5ive]

If your goal is raw power then by all means go with the XPA-3 since an XPA-2 or XPA-5 can be added later. But personally, I'd go with a UPA-7 if there are no plans to add additional amps. A UPA-7 would also give you the option to do a passive biamp with the main channels and still have 3 channels left over for center and surround duty, then the Elite can power the rear surrounds for 7.1.

[nezff]

how

[red_5ive]

Originally Posted by nezff

how

RCA y-adapters. You run them from the preouts of the receiver to the amp, then the corresponding amp channel speaker connections to the corresponding HF/LF speaker terminals. This would require biampable speakers, of course.

[nezff]

so you are saying use channel 1 and 2 for the left and right front highs, and use channels 6 and 7 for the left and right front lows?

[red_5ive]

Doesn't matter which channels you use, really, bottom line is you'll end up using 4 channels to biamp the mains. Just to keep it consistent (and easier to remember) I'd use the first 4 channels, maybe something like Ch1 ML/HF, Ch2 ML/LF, Ch3 MR/HF, Ch4 MR/LF... but whatever as long as you connect everything correctly is what matters, I just prefer to keep it in order.

[nezff]

yeah thats what im doing now with my onkyo

I just cant wait another 6-8 months for the emotiva umc-1