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Post by pachieh on Aug 31, 2014 22:56:28 GMT -5
I am debating whether or not to bi-amp my Aerial Acoustics 6Ts. I currently have them powered by a single Gen2 XPA-2.
If I do, was thinking of the XPA-1L (two total) for the mid-highs and keeping my XPA-2 on the lows. Or should I chuck my XPA-2 and go quad XPA-1Ls? I'm not sure if having 35W of Class A going the same time that 150W of A/B is going to sound right or not.
Even better, do I go with dual XPA-1s and bi-wire those?
While I do use the speakers as my fronts in my HT, I spend the majority of the time listening to music (jazz, classical, rock, etc).
Related, I'm guessing I'd have to buy an XLR y-cable to breakout of my pre-amp for each channel. Haven't thought through the whole connectivity piece to the pre-amp yet.
Lastly, I'm hearing rumblings of a new generation XPA-1L coming out. Worth waiting???
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novisnick
EmoPhile
CEO Secret Monoblock Society
Posts: 27,223 
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Post by novisnick on Aug 31, 2014 23:01:51 GMT -5
I am debating whether or not to bi-amp my Aerial Acoustics 6Ts. I currently have them powered by a single Gen2 XPA-2. If I do, was thinking of the XPA-1L (two total) for the mid-highs and keeping my XPA-2 on the lows. Or should I chuck my XPA-2 and go quad XPA-1Ls? I'm not sure if having 35W of Class A going the same time that 150W of A/B is going to sound right or not. While I do use the speakers as my fronts in my HT, I spend the majority of the time listening to music (jazz, classical, rock, etc). Related, I'm guessing I'd have to buy an XLR y-cable to breakout of my pre-amp for each channel. Haven't thought through the whole connectivity piece to the pre-amp yet. Lastly, I'm hearing rumblings of a new generation XPA-1L coming out. Worth waiting??? Yes there is rumor of a next gen XPA-1L but I can't emagine the price point will be anywhere close to there pricing now. I think it's the best bang for the buck for any amp by anybody!!,PERIOD. THE CURRENT -1L is close to being their actual first gen 2 product but without the trim and some other minor stuff. |
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Post by pachieh on Sept 1, 2014 21:09:11 GMT -5
Interesting. Since I can't mono-bridge the XPA2 to run a 4-ohm load, looks like I'll have to get rid of it for a monoblock for my center this winter...
I'm tossing around the idea of dual XPA-1s as they provide 60W of Class A power for my Aerial 6Ts. Question would be then, do I bi-wire with one per speaker, or do I do a vertical or horizontal bi-amp?
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Post by knucklehead on Sept 1, 2014 21:23:14 GMT -5
Your speakers are 90db efficient with a max wattage recommendation of 250w. What is lacking in how you have it wired up ATM?
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Post by garbulky on Sept 1, 2014 21:30:09 GMT -5
You have the XPA-2 gen 2 or 1. The gen 1 has 32 db gain. while gen 2 is 29 db gain. The XPA-1 L, it is 29 db gain. So you may need to adjust the gain level of the XPA_2 down by using say an emotiva control freak (shouldn't be hard) to match the XPA-1 L.
Having said that, I would just go straight two XPA-1's. This way you stay fully balanced the whole way - eliminating a certain type of distortion.
The XPA-2 though it has XLR outputs is not a fully balanced device though the XPA-1 L and the XPA-1 is).
But it's not my money and this option is a bit more expensive!
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Post by pachieh on Sept 1, 2014 21:41:01 GMT -5
I think you were looking at the Aerial 6, not the 6T. Their website isn't updated. The 6T is a slightly smaller version of the 7T. 6T can easily handle 500W at 4 ohms based on conversations with the founder of Aerial Acoustics.
XPA-2 Gen 2...
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Post by knucklehead on Sept 1, 2014 21:54:25 GMT -5
I guess you must listen at very loud levels to need that much wattage. Have you ever seen or done the math that shows the relationship between power and SPL? If you haven't its a real eye opener. For the past 5 years I've owned speakers that will accept up to 500w (4ohm). Even when I had 525wpc amps I never used 1/4th of the available wattage. Amp power is like hp for cars - even when you think you need it - you probably don't. Unless you are clipping your current amp(s) there is little or nothing to be gained by throwing lots of watts at your speakers. Balanced vs single ended - there is nothing to be gained there either unless you like pricey cables. Bi-wiring - bi-amping - same thing - little or no gains to be had there either. The 6T is 6ohm and 86db efficient. Not 4ohm. Recommended wattage is up to 250w. |
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Post by pachieh on Sept 1, 2014 22:16:39 GMT -5
Not to fire back, but: www.soundandvision.com/content/aerial-acoustics-slims-down-new-6t-tower-speaker . No specs in it, but I have been talking over the last few days with Michael Kelly, founded of Aerial Acoustics. Haven't done the math, but just found the Emotiva Youtube video for SPL and power... So I sit 13 feet away from my speakers (I have a 24x26 room with 15' ceilings), I'm guessing that I probably need about 120-150 watts realistically . Yeah, I probably don't need the wattage of the XPA-1, but it does have 60W of Class A power vs 32W of the XPA-1L... Thanks for the input, always looking forward to learning something new! |
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Post by knucklehead on Sept 1, 2014 22:40:24 GMT -5
The XPA-1 is about the cheapest 60w you're going to get in class a power. FWIW I've been in this hobby so long that about the only receivers and integrated amps available were all class a - tubes! I haven't owned any tube gear other than the 1947 Phillips AM AND FM! console radio that my granddad bought new and is the same year I was born. I still have it - my son will probably get it once I check out. As for more power - nothing new there. When the stereo world changed over from tubes to SS nearly everyone got an upgrade in power. My first new receiver was bought in 1966 and had 15wpc. It was a Sansui 500A with (IIRC) 19 tubes in it. Tubes were cheap back then and a good thing too. Seemed like I bought a new tube or two every couple of months to keep that thing going.
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Post by garbulky on Sept 2, 2014 9:51:02 GMT -5
I have to agree. I can't think of another model in that price range that can give you 60 watts class A per channel AND 1000 watts @ 4 ohms AND be fully balanced. Heck I can't think of another model in the 3k price range that does that.
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Post by pachieh on Sept 2, 2014 10:43:57 GMT -5
Yeah, not sure I NEED 1000 watts @ 4 ohms. What I want is more Class A power... While I feel confident that the A/B power in the XPA-1L would be more than enough (it is), I want more Class A power than it can offer. Maybe Gen 2 of the 1L will have more, I only wish.
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Post by audiofile on Sept 3, 2014 8:43:34 GMT -5
Have you bi-wired them yet? I put a bi-wired pair of cables on my Aerial Acoustic 8's last year and was blown away with the improvement in all the frequencies. I'm running first gen XPA-1's.
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Post by pachieh on Sept 4, 2014 21:19:25 GMT -5
Yeah, I have them bi-wired on my XPA-2 right now.
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Post by ocezam on Sept 8, 2014 23:04:26 GMT -5
I put a bi-wired pair of cables on my Aerial Acoustic 8's last year Michael, I think that was this year. January I believe? |
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Post by audiofile on Sept 10, 2014 21:28:18 GMT -5
You are right! I thought it was December but then I remembered I got the speakers in December and your fabulous cables in January, Kent.
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