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Post by infernost on Oct 9, 2016 20:10:53 GMT -5
Hi All
I was going to purchase an amp a while back but life (Work) got in the way as usual so i'm now pursuing this quest. I see the Emotiva line up has changed and have a question regarding the XPA Gen 3 and the question is if you purchase the unit with 3 amplifiers can the owner buy additional amplifiers down the road to populate the open slots?
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Post by lehighvalleyjeff on Oct 9, 2016 20:13:19 GMT -5
From what I understand, yes that's been a big selling point of the gen 3. You can start with 2 channels and add to it as you want to grow your system.
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Post by infernost on Oct 9, 2016 20:15:10 GMT -5
From what I understand, yes that's been a big selling point of the gen 3. You can start with 2 channels and add to it as you want to grow your system. This is what I figured but why can't I find the additional amps on their web site? |
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Post by lehighvalleyjeff on Oct 9, 2016 20:27:34 GMT -5
If you call customer service in the morning they will be happy to help you price out the expansion modules.
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Post by rbk123 on Oct 9, 2016 21:00:11 GMT -5
They have the pricing for additional channels in a new purchase but I don't believe they have it for an existing purchase you have. Since you have to send it to them to do the install, that's probably purely a phone order deal. I assume it's going to be $200 for each channel you add plus shipping to/from.
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Post by infernost on Oct 9, 2016 21:06:13 GMT -5
Thanks for the response guys. I will give them a call and inquire further, I will say if the amp has to be sent back for the additional amps to be installed that will be a deal breaker.
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Post by AudioHTIT on Oct 10, 2016 4:52:02 GMT -5
Thanks for the response guys. I will give them a call and inquire further, I will say if the amp has to be sent back for the additional amps to be installed that will be a deal breaker. Here's an early thread where Dan confirms that the amp will have to be returned to the factory for upgrade. While it would be nice to do it yourself, there aren't many (any?) amps that have this kind of upgrade ability, and soon will have more choices for amp modules. But if you're not in the US, it might be cheaper to sell the amp locally and buy another with the additional modules. emotivalounge.proboards.com/post/805906/thread |
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Post by infernost on Oct 10, 2016 7:35:14 GMT -5
Thanks for the response guys. I will give them a call and inquire further, I will say if the amp has to be sent back for the additional amps to be installed that will be a deal breaker. Here's an early thread where Dan confirms that the amp will have to be returned to the factory for upgrade. While it would be nice to do it yourself, there aren't many (any?) amps that have this kind of upgrade ability, and soon will have more choices for amp modules. But if you're not in the US, it might be cheaper to sell the amp locally and buy another with the additional modules. emotivalounge.proboards.com/post/805906/threadThat's a bummer, I would like to start out with 4 amps and populate the rest of the amp as the additional funds become available. Removing the amp and shipping it off and having Emotiva install the amps is going to be quite costly and leave ones system down while the upgrade is being performed. |
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Post by rbk123 on Oct 10, 2016 8:54:06 GMT -5
Probably the biggest reason other amp manufacturers don't go this route. At the end of the day, it appears it just isn't that practical from a cost/time standpoint, for the majority of consumers. If AudioHT's suggestion is the more economical route, then that puts everyone back to equal footing and there's no gain with the new modularity (other than reducing overall manufacturing costs).
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Post by AudioHTIT on Oct 10, 2016 9:40:49 GMT -5
Probably the biggest reason other amp manufacturers don't go this route. At the end of the day, it appears it just isn't that practical from a cost/time standpoint, for the majority of consumers. If AudioHT's suggestion is the more economical route, then that puts everyone back to equal footing and there's no gain with the new modularity (other than reducing overall manufacturing costs). I disagree, upgradeability is only one advantage to this design, I think it's configurability is the Gen 3's best feature. Once the other modules are released you will be able to buy a single chassis with a huge variety of options, and if you change your mind, you're not stuck. However, we still don't know the exact shipping and upgrade costs, but Emotiva is not charging any more for the amp modules than if you added them at purchase time. You're still saving at least $500 of 'chassis costs' which certainly is much greater than what the upgrade will be. My comments we're only aimed at non-US buyers, who have a variety of cost issues which have been discussed elsewhere. |
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Post by rbk123 on Oct 10, 2016 10:37:24 GMT -5
True - you have to weigh:
Personal time (removing, boxing, shipping, receiving, re-installing) + down time + shipping cost + parts/labor cost
vs.
$500 chassis cost
I agree this is the math. You're probably in the net difference of $2-300 range from a pure cost equation, so then how much is your time, effort, and downtime worth? Everyone has to decide for themselves but it doesn't strike me as hugely attractive to the public. It ignores intangibles such as the flexibility an extra chassis gets you, resale flexibility (of multiple chassis') if you want to upgrade to a different product, etc...
For international, definitely no disagreement there.
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Post by Wideawake on Oct 10, 2016 11:23:59 GMT -5
That's a bummer, I would like to start out with 4 amps and populate the rest of the amp as the additional funds become available. Removing the amp and shipping it off and having Emotiva install the amps is going to be quite costly and leave ones system down while the upgrade is being performed. Out of curiosity, why 4 channels? Is it due to affordability alone? If so, you've waited so long so why not wait a few weeks more and ac*bleep*ulate $200 for a fifth channel and be done with it? That is if your system comprises of a 5.x setup. EDIT: don't know why the system bleeps out "a c c u m u l a t e".  |
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Post by infernost on Oct 10, 2016 18:22:57 GMT -5
That's a bummer, I would like to start out with 4 amps and populate the rest of the amp as the additional funds become available. Removing the amp and shipping it off and having Emotiva install the amps is going to be quite costly and leave ones system down while the upgrade is being performed. Out of curiosity, why 4 channels? Is it due to affordability alone? If so, you've waited so long so why not wait a few weeks more and ac*bleep*ulate $200 for a fifth channel and be done with it? That is if your system comprises of a 5.x setup. EDIT: don't know why the system bleeps out "a c c u m u l a t e". I have an Onkyo TX-NR818 which runs 7.2 natively but is capable of 9.2 which is the way I have my system setup, I need 2 additional channels to run either my S38's (front high) or my Back Surround S36II's from the pre-outs of the receiver to an external amp. I was looking at 4 channels to start with so I can drive either of the aforementioned and my L890 front towers ( I feel they would benefit from the additional power) and build from there. I'm also using a pair of Northridge E90 towers for my L/R surround and an LC2 for my center channel so having 7 possible channels at my disposal I'm thinking this would be ideal for my situation. Currently I don't want to lay out 2 Large to get all seven channels the 1st time around and or have to send the amp back to have any changes performed on it (Gotta love the way UPS handles delicate equipment) not to mention the additional shipping expenses. Flexibility is great but it is more for the manufacturers benefit in this case not the consumers from what I'm getting from all of this. |
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Post by powerdude on Oct 26, 2016 13:56:35 GMT -5
Just ordered an XMC-1 and an XPA gen 3 (5 channel). Glad to take advantage of the 10% off, Lol. I was curious about the cost to upgrade as well, so I asked before purchasing. I was told that calling Emotiva and letting them set up shipping before sending the amp in will get you their shipping rate ($50 round trip), and then add $200 per additional amp module with no additional cost for install. So $450 for me to upgrade from a 5 to a 7 channel amp. Not too bad in my book. I'll just keep the box and packing materials for a return trip. Should be easy enough.
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Post by Loop 7 on Oct 26, 2016 14:04:19 GMT -5
I'm wondering for how long the modules will be available?
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Post by hosko on Oct 26, 2016 18:27:33 GMT -5
I'm wondering for how long the modules will be available? The current design is modular, I would think Emo would only change the frame design if they wanted to change the PSU. Even then they could make it backwards compatible. They can change the module design as often as they like, the card just drops in with a couple of wires to the PSU. |
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Post by rbk123 on Oct 26, 2016 18:51:13 GMT -5
It's excellent you can use their shipping rate; and that's an excellent rate.
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Post by powerdude on Nov 1, 2016 8:53:20 GMT -5
Seems to make more sense as an upgrade path with the relatively cheap shipping and no install cost.
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sethboy
Minor Hero
I can hear music. This is a good thing!
Posts: 38 
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Post by sethboy on Dec 9, 2016 7:20:31 GMT -5
I can see both positives and negatives for letting a consumer do this on their own. If each additional amp is configured as a complete unit (blade) then theoretically it could be done like a computer upgrade, take the case / chassis off, slide in the empty slot until it seats firmly, replace cover. (That's obviously a simple illustration of the concept).
Of course in the other hand, there are plenty of good (practical and technical) reasons NOT to let a consumer do this sort of thing at home.
I think also, the cost/ time of shipping stings people, since you start to get used to things like free express shipping on everything in the world lol.
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Post by rennocneb on Mar 14, 2023 11:29:08 GMT -5
Well while its not "allowed" I can tell you as an owner of two Emotiva Gen3 amps. One 5 channel and one 6 channel originally 2 high power modules and 2 stereo modules I performed some surgery and made one 9 channel amp and one 2 channel amp. If you have half a brain its not hard. Far more complicated than sliding a module in a slot though. I did this because I put a nice Parasound JC5 on my front left and right and am using the Emotiva for the remaining 9 channels in the home theater.
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