emotiva UPA-7 (opinions)

[blu_world]

who all owns one & does it gracefully improve the sound of HD from blu-ray???...
I've heard it does,but how much so???
i got my money to spent on something to improve my set-up and some might say its over kill for a bed room,but i got a thing for music & movies..(my tastes in music,Rock,some classical,Trance Mixes by Armin van Buuren)
and i enjoy the every bit of a good sounding system


my question is...will sound be more immersive at all volume level??..
i have a Onkyo 706 and its outputting 4 ohms at 100 watts...

the UPA-7 will do 125 watts at 8 ohms on all channels driven to match my polk TSI Recommended Amplifier Power of 8 ohms 150 watt perfectly...or pretty close there,so this is my pick as a amp.

hopefully...it'll fix my problem with me turning my volume knob at -20db and saying to myself ***geez,this isn't loud,its so much work turning the volume control this much over and over***
PLUS.....i want it to be more immersive,will the sound be?

thanks

Cheers,Blu World.

[solarrdadd]

Hey, didn't we "chat" last night!?! I am going to order the XPA-5 later this week or next week when it's back in stock. I will use the XPA-5 for 5 of my 7.1 channels and I will continue to use the Onkyo to drive my surround backs and the pre-outs to the amp for everything else. All of my 5 channels are bi-wired so I expect a little extra kick as I believe I am getting with my receiver. My back 2 are straight wired. I have heard nothing but good stuff from folks who own any Emotiva products. I was chatting with someone who owns the UPA-7 and he states the quality and change in what you will be getting relative to what you are getting now from a receiver will be striking and profound. Post a review with some pictures on your gallery, as will I when I get mine. I've done a lot of research on the web in other forums and I haven't found many folks who were not happy. They claim it's probably the best bang for the buck! Keep me/us posted.

[RandDawg]

Originally Posted by blu_world

who all owns one & does it gracefully improve the sound of HD from blu-ray???...
I've heard it does,but how much so???
i got my money to spent on something to improve my set-up and some might say its over kill for a bed room,but i got a thing for music & movies..(my tastes in music,Rock,some classical,Trance Mixes by Armin van Buuren)
and i enjoy the every bit of a good sounding system


my question is...will sound be more immersive at all volume level??..
i have a Onkyo 706 and its outputting 4 ohms at 100 watts...

the UPA-7 will do 125 watts at 8 ohms on all channels driven to match my polk TSI Recommended Amplifier Power of 8 ohms 150 watt perfectly...or pretty close there,so this is my pick as a amp.

hopefully...it'll fix my problem with me turning my volume knob at -20db and saying to myself ***geez,this isn't loud,its so much work turning the volume control this much over and over***
PLUS.....i want it to be more immersive,will the sound be?

thanks

Cheers,Blu World.

I bought an XPA3 and listen to movies and music extremely loud and the difference was certainly worth it.

Plan for the future and buy the X-series. Right now I have the XPA-3 powering the front three channels and the receiver handles the 4 surround.

[AlabamaBoy]

Emotiva has a reference series in the works. I chose to go with the UPA-7 for $539 and wait for their reference line. If you decide to go with dedicated amps for ALL 7 channels, you will certainly need a seperate circuit for the X-series. Keep that in mind.

[-DLS-]

Originally Posted by RandDawg

I bought an XPA3 and listen to movies and music extremely loud and the difference was certainly worth it.

Plan for the future and buy the X-series. Right now I have the XPA-3 powering the front three channels and the receiver handles the 4 surround.

I agree. I think it costs a bit less and gives you more since your receiver will be putting out more for your surrounds anyway.

[STARKILLER--1138]

Originally Posted by blu_world

who all owns one & does it gracefully improve the sound of HD from blu-ray???...
I've heard it does,but how much so???
i got my money to spent on something to improve my set-up and some might say its over kill for a bed room,but i got a thing for music & movies..(my tastes in music,Rock,some classical,Trance Mixes by Armin van Buuren)
and i enjoy the every bit of a good sounding system


my question is...will sound be more immersive at all volume level??..
i have a Onkyo 706 and its outputting 4 ohms at 100 watts...

the UPA-7 will do 125 watts at 8 ohms on all channels driven to match my polk TSI Recommended Amplifier Power of 8 ohms 150 watt perfectly...or pretty close there,so this is my pick as a amp.

hopefully...it'll fix my problem with me turning my volume knob at -20db and saying to myself ***geez,this isn't loud,its so much work turning the volume control this much over and over***
PLUS.....i want it to be more immersive,will the sound be?

thanks

Cheers,Blu World.

I can't imagine anyone being disappointed with the UPA-7 amp. It is definitely an improvement over just a receiver. Louder? Maybe. More immersive, definitely. Better detail and oomph that a receiver just can't match. Just ask crazy.

Coming from B&K, Rotel, Parasound, and a bunch of other brand name amps, the UPA-7 can easily hold its own, but at a much better price.

[RandDawg]

I think the most noticeable difference was how clean the low tones stayed even at very loud volumes.

It changes it from just listening to feeling and experiencing it.

[Happycamper]

Originally Posted by RandDawg

I think the most noticeable difference was how clean the low tones stayed even at very loud volumes.

It changes it from just listening to feeling and experiencing it.

+1

I have had my UPA-7 for a few months now and love it.

If you have not been to the Emotiva forum latey you should check out the "AMPLIFIERS" section. Some have asked serious questions about the UPA-7 specs and performance. Lonnie and Dann G. posted a lot of details to include test results. It's also very interesting to learn the XPA is based on the UPA.

[bigred7078]

Originally Posted by Happycamper

IIt's also very interesting to learn the XPA is based on the UPA.

correct, but also realize the XPA's are beefed up quite a bit more by having much larger power supplies and coming close to doubling their wattage into lower impedences.

[red_5ive]

I think the best answer to this question is that generally, any time you add external (and of course decent) amplification you can expect a significant improvement in sound. Where Emotiva is concerned, I agree with Lil' Louie's comments as that is exactly my experience with my LPA-1s. The difference, however, is Emotiva amps will add quality at a price most people are willing to pay. Does it make it cheap, budget, or any less capable gear? No. It is simply an advantage of internet-direct companies who have far less overhead and and no middle-man/dealer to markup the price 3 to 4 times or even more. I've brought home Parasound, Marantz, Adcom, Rotel, ATI, and B&K gear, and while these aren't really the upper-crust of amp companies, if Emotiva is considered budget, then IMO opinion so are these amp companies.