XPA-5 too much power for my speakers?

[skybox]

At high volumes my center and fronts breakup a bit. I am running 7.2 and watch movies 75%, and music 25% of the time.

Do you think the XPA-3 or XPA-5 is total over kill for my setup and/or too much power for my speakers? I usually like to buy for the future - may have completely different speakers in 2-3 years.

Or maybe I should invest in better mains (SM65's) and add external amp down the road? Would hate to buy the amp and not notice much difference due to speakers.

Emotiva is also running a sale now. Thoughts?

Onkyo TX-NR5008
C - DefTech CS-8080HD (300watt max)
L/R and surrounds - Deftech ProMonitor 1000's (200watt max)

[garbulky]

Not overkill skybox! You will more likely damage your speakers on an underpowered amp that breaks up rather than a powerful amp. Most speakers can absorb peaks of high power for short durations which is what regular listening is at. Now if you are absolutely nuts and run it at full power 100% of time without regard to sanity, sure you could burn up the voice coil but if you are a regular audio enthusiast the more power the better.
If I ever get the chance, I would run my 400 watts/channel speaker with 1000 watt monoblocks in a heart beat.

[skybox]

Nov 28, 2012 11:47:14 GMT -5 garbulky said:

Not overkill skybox! You will more likely damage your speakers on an underpowered amp that breaks up rather than a powerful amp. Most speakers can absorb peaks of high power for short durations which is what regular listening is at. Now if you are absolutely nuts and run it at full power 100% of time without regard to sanity, sure you could burn up the voice coil but if you are a regular audio enthusiast the more power the better.
If I ever get the chance, I would run my 400 watts/channel speaker with 1000 watt monoblocks in a heart beat.

My AVR is 145 watts per channel (with 2 channels driven). I understand that driving 7 channels must reduce that quite a bit. Should I notice a considerable difference adding the XPA-5? High volumes for me are between 50-85% of max.

Just want to be sure that I couldn't get better bang for my buck by upgrading mains and moving up to 9.2 - which would reduce watts per channel even more.

[knucklehead]

While the XPA-5 is a great amp you might want to consider the XPA-3 for the front three speakers. The 5008 is more than capable of driving the rest of the speakers. If you listen at high sound levels you should consider getting an external amp. Where is the volume level when you hear the distortion? 0db is reference level.

[skybox]

Nov 28, 2012 12:30:29 GMT -5 knucklehead said:

Where is the volume level when you hear the distortion? 0db is reference level.

Usually occurs when playing Multi/7 channel mode for music around reference (0db thru -4) depending on the material.

Don't really notice it much in main listening position, but as I move closer to speakers, it is more pronounced. Up very close, there is definite distortion (not in bass). Even replaced the mids and tweeter in my center speaker cuz I thought it was blown once I first noticed. Didn't go away...

[remo]

Yeah you need an amp listening to those levels of volume, and yes and amp should clean up the sound considerably.

I have the TX-NR1009 and it will distort well before 0db, but after getting the XPA-5 my sound is now nice and clean all the way up too and past 0db.

I will recommend the XPA-5 (if you go with an amp) even though you have a very capable receiver to power the other channels if you went for the XPA-3 , but for expansion's sake why not get the XPA-5.

On the other hand, different speakers may make more of an difference

Speakers and room acousticts are first and foremost important and have the most impact in a sound system.

[The Mad Norseman]

As someone else pointed out, more speakers (and ears!) are damaged by underpowered clipping amplifiers than high powered ones. Its true.
I don't think your speakers are at fault here...

So I'd get the XPA-3 to drive your L, R, and C speakers, letting the AVR drive the surrounds (should be more than enough for surrounds that usually aren't as demanding).
Later, if you go with all separates, add the XPA-5 and a surround processor and you're all set.

No obsolescence downside with this approach either that I can see.

[skybox]

Nov 28, 2012 13:52:47 GMT -5 The Mad Norseman said:

Later, if you go with all separates, add the XPA-5 and a surround processor and you're all set.

When you say "all separates" are you referring to separate amps/components?
The XPA-5 is only $169 more, but the XPA-3 seems best for my needs.

I MAY get larger mains and move to 9.1 in the future.

[The Mad Norseman]

Nov 28, 2012 15:00:27 GMT -5 skybox said:

Nov 28, 2012 13:52:47 GMT -5 The Mad Norseman said:

Later, if you go with all separates, add the XPA-5 and a surround processor and you're all set.

When you say "all separates" are you referring to separate amps/components?
The XPA-5 is only $169 more, but the XPA-3 seems best for my needs.
I MAY get larger mains and move to 9.1 in the future.

I meant separates as in a separate surround processor + separate multi channel amplifier(s), and you'd already have the XPA-3 (or 5).
That combo - instead of using your AVR as a processor plus the XPA-3.

In that scenario your XPA-3 can stay, and just be augmented with an XPA-5 at that time (or an XPA-2 if you wanted to go to a 5.1 set up).
Less obsolescence.
And either amplifier combination would be capable of driving what ever future speakers you may end up with.

[skybox]

Nov 28, 2012 19:02:30 GMT -5 The Mad Norseman said:

Nov 28, 2012 15:00:27 GMT -5 skybox said:

When you say "all separates" are you referring to separate amps/components?
The XPA-5 is only $169 more, but the XPA-3 seems best for my needs.
I MAY get larger mains and move to 9.1 in the future.

I meant separates as in a separate surround processor + separate multi channel amplifier(s), and you'd already have the XPA-3 (or 5).
That combo - instead of using your AVR as a processor plus the XPA-3.

In that scenario your XPA-3 can stay, and just be augmented with an XPA-5 at that time (or an XPA-2 if you wanted to go to a 5.1 set up).
Less obsolescence.
And either amplifier combination would be capable of driving what ever future speakers you may end up with.

Got it - makes perfect sense.

[bootman]

Nov 28, 2012 12:10:50 GMT -5 skybox said:

My AVR is 145 watts per channel (with 2 channels driven). I understand that driving 7 channels must reduce that quite a bit. Should I notice a considerable difference adding the XPA-5? High volumes for me are between 50-85% of max.

Just want to be sure that I couldn't get better bang for my buck by upgrading mains and moving up to 9.2 - which would reduce watts per channel even more.

Home Theater did test the 5008. (very nice AVR BTW)

www.hometheater.com/content/onkyo-tx-nr5008-av-receiver-ht-labs-measures

Onkyo TX-NR5008 A/V Receiver HT Labs Measures
HT Labs Measures

Five channels driven continuously into 8-ohm loads:
0.1% distortion at 79.1 watts
1% distortion at 95.5 watts

Seven channels driven continuously into 8-ohm loads:
0.1% distortion at 78.7 watts
1% distortion at 94.6 watts

Two channel output was very good.

... the TX-NR5008’s left channel, from CD input to speaker output with two channels driving 8-ohm loads, reaches 0.1 percent distortion at 162.8 watts and 1 percent distortion at 194.1 watts. Into 4 ohms, the amplifier reaches 0.1 percent distortion at 248.1 watts and 1 percent distortion at 309.5 watts.

This is actually very good performance for an AVR but as you can see doesn't come close to what a XPAs can put out when driving multiple channels.

A XPA-3 would be a great choice and let the AVR to the other channels.