XPA-1 wiring suggestions

[BigV10]

Hi all,

I recently picked up a pair of XPA-1s and ran into a little bit of a surprise when I wanted to connect them to my ERT-8.3 towers.

I currently have the 8.3's connected to an XPA-5 using the X-Series speaker cables. I wanted to just move the cables over to the XPA-1's but there's no way the pos and neg wires can spread across the distance between the terminals on the XPA-1.

It appears I have 2 or 3 options:

1) Buy 2 new speaker cables that are custom made to separate the pos and neg wires far enough apart to connect into the XPA-1 terminals

or

2) Buy another pair of X-Series speaker cables and bi-wire the speakers using one cable to deliver both negative signals and one cable to deliver both positive signals

3) Buy another pair of X-Series speaker wires and just use 1 conductor from each cable rather than bi-wiring. (seems silly)

What are people doing in this situation?



Thanks

[geebo]

You could always just get some decent 12 guage wire with bare ends and use as is or install banana plugs yourself.
If you choose to run two sets of wires, I would go with option 2. Although the merritts of bi-wiring is a hotly debated issue, most agree that it doesn't hurt anything. And if the wires are there anyway, why not?

[Topend]

Definitely option 2.

I thought I read something about this some time ago about a solution from Emo. I can't recall where sorry.

Dave.

[wowfactor]

I new about the issue with the XPA-1 and the X Series cables before I purchased everything. Regardless, I have always Bi- Wired anyways. So go with option 2 and you will not regret it!

[BigV10]

Thanks guys. I just wanted to make sure I wasn't missing something. It looks as if it's purpose built to bi-wire the entire line of Emotiva Reference speakers but there doesn't seem to be anything specifically mentioning this as the recommended or ONLY way to do it when using their speaker cables.

It's my first move into both monoblocks and bi-wiring and just wanted to make sure i wasn't doing something dumb. Thanks all.

Brian

[oppman99]

You should be able to use what you already have without spending more. If you unscrew the binding posts, you will notice a hole at the base of each post that will accept a banana plug. Your plugs will point toward the right and left side of the amp instead of the nose pointing toward the front. You should have just enough length from where the cable splits to reach.

[strindl]

Nov 20, 2010 11:58:48 GMT -5 geebo said:

You could always just get some decent 12 guage wire with bare ends and use as is or install banana plugs yourself.

That's what I did...works great.

[BigV10]

You guys are the best. I hadn't considered that. Thanks!

[roadrunner]

Some users have posted that they slid the "cap" back toward the banana plugs, pealed the jacket back a few inches, and then slid the cap back on the jacket. They said it worked perfectly.

[oregonkiwi]

Nov 20, 2010 11:23:25 GMT -5 BigV10 said:

Hi all,

I recently picked up a pair of XPA-1s and ran into a little bit of a surprise when I wanted to connect them to my ERT-8.3 towers.

I currently have the 8.3's connected to an XPA-5 using the X-Series speaker cables. I wanted to just move the cables over to the XPA-1's but there's no way the pos and neg wires can spread across the distance between the terminals on the XPA-1.

It appears I have 2 or 3 options:

1) Buy 2 new speaker cables that are custom made to separate the pos and neg wires far enough apart to connect into the XPA-1 terminals

or

2) Buy another pair of X-Series speaker cables and bi-wire the speakers using one cable to deliver both negative signals and one cable to deliver both positive signals

3) Buy another pair of X-Series speaker wires and just use 1 conductor from each cable rather than bi-wiring. (seems silly)

What are people doing in this situation?



Thanks

I believe you have another cheaper option.
I also have the XPA-1's,and bought X cables.
Called emotiva when I found cables would not spread enough.
Talked to Nick,he sent pics how to use the cables you have.

As you will see,he shows it using spades...these come with the speaker cables,and they simply replace by unscrewing bananas,and swapping them out...presto...problem solved .
Cheers

[oregonkiwi]

Give the photo a few seconds to load,its a big photo.
As you will see,Emotiva had this figured out for us ahead of time.I too was thinking "Oh c--p,now what?Nick and the other tech staff are great to talk to,and know their product.
Tom