Whats better? Amp help - Blu-ray Forum

minimo · 03-08-2010, 12:21 AM

Hello guys,

I am in the market to get a dedicated amp. I have already decided It will be an emotiva amp. My question is would it be better to bi-amp my fronts with the Upa-5 or is it better to get the xpa-3. Is there a diffrence in quality between xpa's and upa's?

Im thinking that a UPA 5 is maybe a better option giving me flexiblity to In the future get an XPA2, and have all my speakers powered by dedicated amps.

Thank you everyone for their help!!!!!

erict · 03-08-2010, 12:34 AM

Your question will be better answered in the Emotiva thread

https://forum.blu-ray.com/pre-pro-sy...-q-thread.html

crazyBLUE · 03-08-2010, 12:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by minimo

Hello guys,

I am in the market to get a dedicated amp. I have already decided It will be an emotiva amp. My question is would it be better to bi-amp my fronts with the Upa-5 or is it better to get the xpa-3. Is there a diffrence in quality between xpa's and upa's?

Im thinking that a UPA 5 is maybe a better option giving me flexiblity to In the future get an XPA2, and have all my speakers powered by dedicated amps.

Thank you everyone for their help!!!!!

Get the XPA-5 & not the UPA-5 . The difference between the 2 is the watts . You will be glad you did after looking at your gallery !

Steve · 03-08-2010, 12:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by crazyBLUE

Get the XPA-5 & not the UPA-5 . The difference between the 2 is the watts . You will be glad you did after looking at your gallery !

I agree with crazyBLUE. Get the XPA-5.

Beautiful setup OP. I can't believe I've never checked out your gallery before. 10 all the way.

lucv13 · 03-08-2010, 04:24 AM

Well, I'm going to disagree with the masses on this one - you have a good receiver that will power everything already, the only reason I can see for a separate amp would be for 2 channel listening - my suggestion would be a good 2 channel amp to boost the 2 mains and just use the reciever to power the rest - once you run whatever speaker equalization the Onkyo has, your HT will still sound great but the extra boost given your mains when listening to 2 channel will be noticeable - Just my opinion...

Fors* · 03-08-2010, 09:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steve

I agree with crazyBLUE. Get the XPA-5.

Beautiful setup OP. I can't believe I've never checked out your gallery before. 10 all the way.

That is one great set-up you have there...and I never rated it either. That room is very sleek and clean. Beautiful job overall......I think it is one of the more aesthetically pleasing rooms on the site. By the way, there are pros and cons to the amp and which one to get..but IMO, if you are set on one of the 2 you mentioned, I would get the XPA-3.....as it appears you are a big HT fan, and may use it more for HT use than 2 channel listening.

Hammie · 03-08-2010, 07:31 PM

Not knowing what you music versus HT listening habits are, I would recommend the XPA-2 first and let the Onkyo power the other speakers initially.

My second option would be to get the XPA-5 to power 5 of your speakers and let the Onkyo power the rear surrounds. If you still need/want to power the rear surrounds, you could get the UPA-2 for the rear surrounds or the XPA-2 for the fronts.

BTW, I agree with the others. Nice setup!

Mordir · 03-08-2010, 08:21 PM

Get the XPA-5 for now to power all but the back. The Onkyo can handle those for now. Add an XPA-2 once you have recovered from the expense of the XPA-5. Then you can power your mains with the XPA-2 and the center plus all surrounds with the XPA-5.

Johnny Vinyl · 03-08-2010, 09:19 PM

Here's my 2 cents:

1. If HT is your primary use---get an XPA-3
2. If Music is your primary use - get an XPA-2

Let the AVR handle the other channels, which it will do admirably.

John

jlafrenz · 03-09-2010, 12:11 AM

In comparing the XPA-3 and the UPA-5, the XPA-3 is going to be the better amp. Bi-amping may or may not have advantages (won't get into it), but it isn't going to give you that extra power like you might be thinking. The XPA-3 has a larger power supply for fewer channels. If you like the flexibility of the 5 channel amp, then everyone here has already suggested the XPA-5. It is a great choice, I own 2. Don't under estimate the U series amps, they are no slouches.

03-08-2010, 12:21 AM	#1
minimo Active Member Top ranked HT gallery Member since:Feb 2008 Location:Linden, VA Home Theater Gallery:42	Whats better? Amp help Hello guys, I am in the market to get a dedicated amp. I have already decided It will be an emotiva amp. My question is would it be better to bi-amp my fronts with the Upa-5 or is it better to get the xpa-3. Is there a diffrence in quality between xpa's and upa's? Im thinking that a UPA 5 is maybe a better option giving me flexiblity to In the future get an XPA2, and have all my speakers powered by dedicated amps. Thank you everyone for their help!!!!!

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03-08-2010, 12:34 AM	#2
erict Blu-ray Baron Top ranked HT gallery Top contributor Member since:Apr 2009 Location:In the country Home Theater Gallery:92 Blu-ray collection:7	Your question will be better answered in the Emotiva thread https://forum.blu-ray.com/pre-pro-sy...-q-thread.html

03-08-2010, 04:24 AM	#5
lucv13 Blu-ray Guru Top contributor Member since:Jun 2008 Location:Gatineau QC Canada DVD collection:70 Blu-ray reviews:3 Trading Score:12	Well, I'm going to disagree with the masses on this one - you have a good receiver that will power everything already, the only reason I can see for a separate amp would be for 2 channel listening - my suggestion would be a good 2 channel amp to boost the 2 mains and just use the reciever to power the rest - once you run whatever speaker equalization the Onkyo has, your HT will still sound great but the extra boost given your mains when listening to 2 channel will be noticeable - Just my opinion...

03-08-2010, 07:31 PM	#7
Hammie Blu-ray Champion Top ranked HT gallery Top contributor Member since:May 2008 Location:Washington, DC Metro Home Theater Gallery:53 Blu-ray collection:545 DVD collection:12 Trading Score:12	Not knowing what you music versus HT listening habits are, I would recommend the XPA-2 first and let the Onkyo power the other speakers initially. My second option would be to get the XPA-5 to power 5 of your speakers and let the Onkyo power the rear surrounds. If you still need/want to power the rear surrounds, you could get the UPA-2 for the rear surrounds or the XPA-2 for the fronts. BTW, I agree with the others. Nice setup!

03-08-2010, 08:21 PM	#8
Mordir Active Member Top contributor Member since:Aug 2009 Blu-ray collection:58	Get the XPA-5 for now to power all but the back. The Onkyo can handle those for now. Add an XPA-2 once you have recovered from the expense of the XPA-5. Then you can power your mains with the XPA-2 and the center plus all surrounds with the XPA-5.

03-08-2010, 09:19 PM	#9
Johnny Vinyl Moderator Top ranked HT gallery Top contributor Member since:Jul 2007 Location:At the crossroad of Analogue Dr & 2CH Ave Home Theater Gallery:19 Blu-ray collection:205 DVD collection:7 Blu-ray reviews:3 Trading Score:8	Here's my 2 cents: 1. If HT is your primary use---get an XPA-3 2. If Music is your primary use - get an XPA-2 Let the AVR handle the other channels, which it will do admirably. John

03-09-2010, 12:11 AM	#10
jlafrenz Special Member Top ranked HT gallery Member since:Feb 2010 Location:Columbia, MO Home Theater Gallery:48 Trading Score:4	In comparing the XPA-3 and the UPA-5, the XPA-3 is going to be the better amp. Bi-amping may or may not have advantages (won't get into it), but it isn't going to give you that extra power like you might be thinking. The XPA-3 has a larger power supply for fewer channels. If you like the flexibility of the 5 channel amp, then everyone here has already suggested the XPA-5. It is a great choice, I own 2. Don't under estimate the U series amps, they are no slouches.

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