Seriously need some advice thinking about an Basx amp

[cddiesel]

Hi everyone I am new here so sorry if this is a newb question. I am considering getting a basx A-500, basx A-700 or an A-5175. The gear I have now is a Yamaha RX-A1050  (110 wpc in 2 channel mode) AVR and the polk audio rti 10 3-way floor standing (which are biamped to the receiver) speakers along with the matching polk audio center channel and surround speakers and a polk audio subwoofer too.  

Why am I replacing my amp you might ask? Back in the nineties I got myself an 5 channel Sony Str-db830 AVR (100 wpc I believe), sadly I used it with bookshelf speakers so I never pushed this receiver to the max. This receiver produced a powerful sound with a good amount of bass even when used with bookshelf speakers. I had to give up this AVR because it had no HDMI inputs. I got another AVR (Denon) followed by the the polk audio rti10 floor standing speakers. This was followed by replacing the AVR again with an Integra AVR which was then replaced by an NAD AVR and that was followed by the Yamaha RX-A1050 AVR I have now. All the AVRs I have had since the Sony have not been as powerful as the Sony was. I have been chasing the same sound signature and power of my Sony STR-db830 all this time.

The Sony STR-DB830 served me for 8 years and I still have it in my closet. I thought about selling it on eBay or something so I took it out of the closet and tested it. I played some 2-channel music using the Sony with a pair of polk audio bookshelf speakers After listening to this setup, I started thinking I should try the Sony STR-DB830 on my polk audio rti 10 towers. So I put the biamp jumpers back on the polk audio rti10s, hooked them up to the Sony STR-DB830, and was floored by the difference in sound quality. Using the Sony STR-DB830, these speakers came alive (better soundstage and way more bass). Even my friends who listened to this setup were stunned by the difference in sound quality

I would use the Sony again if I could but I don't want to give up the features of my Yamaha AVR.  Plus the volume control of the Sony STR-DB830 is undefeatable. The most elegent solution is to buy an amp (such as the basx a500 or a5175) and use the pre-outs and tigger on the the Yamaha a1050 to connect this amp.

I generally do not use surround modes much. (About 70% of the time my Yamaha AVR is in stereo mode). Do people on here think the Basx a-500 amp has enough power for my wants (I like a lot of bass) and speakers or should I go with the Basx a5175 amp instead?

Also another question I have is: can I use Emotiva Basx A-700 amp and use y-cables to biamp my front left and right speakers?

Thanks for the advice  


        

[vcautokid]

You have many options. Even some you may have not considered. Minimum, you could use the receiver you have with HDMI and feed the pre outs to the Sony multi channel inputs. Done. Assuming the HDMI receiver is so equipped, or go the external amplifier route. I think you might be happy with the Bas-X but will you want more. The Polks like to be shown who's boss, and the XPA family will be the way to go. They have more power and headroom than BAS-X. If you want to top your Sony that is what I would do. If music with lots of dynamic headroom and movies too are the goal, and the scale of the event more realistic, XPA is the one. Any generation, any configuration. You may even consider the the XPA-1 Monoblocks for Stereo left right and Bas-X all else if music is the focus especially. Also the XPA-1 is on its last run before the final curtain. It is the last of what Emotiva Started and continues on with their Gen 3 XPA designs. You want muscle with finesse. XPA is what you will want.

[petew]

I think either the A-700 or A-5175 would be a good choice. As you know, there are widely varying opinions on the benefits of bi-wiring speakers. So if you want to bi-wire the A-700 would let you use four channels to power the left and right (bi-wired) still leaving three channels for center and surrounds. Personally, I would skip the bi-wiring and use the A-5175. It has seriously more grunt and will have ample power reserves for your center channel speaker too.

Either one should run circles around the Yamaha or Sony.

[mr]

If you really need seven channels, then the choice is obvious.

But I could not be happier with my A-5175.

I am pairing it with an XMC-1 which I formally powered with an XPA-5. I cannot tell any sound quality difference, and the A-5175 is a better fit.

[garbulky]

If it was me I wouldn't buy the basx power amps. I havent found them to be standouts compared to Emotivas old line. I thought their biggest stregnbth was they didn't highlight anything negative. But also didn't really do anything all that great. They were just sort of there. Which for me isn't an upgrade.
I would take them over the gen 3 X series which unfortunately did sound off to me tone wise.
But plenty of people whove bought them are very happy.

I would pick the gen 2 or gen 1 used amps over either of these any day.

[creimes]

A5175 and you have a 30 day trial to hear for yourself, otherwise if you went used XPA-5 you could always turn around and sell it if you found no improvement.

Chad

[transchris1]

Jun 10, 2018 11:38:50 GMT -5 mr said:

If you really need seven channels, then the choice is obvious.

But I could not be happier with my A-5175.

I am pairing it with an XMC-1 which I formally powered with an XPA-5. I cannot tell any sound quality difference, and the A-5175 is a better fit.

[transchris1]

I am also new to the lounge....I have an Xmc1 which was paired with a xpa5 gen 2...I recently replaced the xpa with a vintage Carver av505 5channel amp.My speakers are emotiva t2,t1,and c2...I'm only pushing 120 wpc and it sounds better than the xpa amp...So,I would give the basx a try....

[cddiesel]

Thanks everyone for the advice. I am leaning towards the Basx A5175 but now the Xpa 3 or 5 channel amp is on my radar if I can save up enough for it.  

[garbulky]

Jun 10, 2018 15:28:19 GMT -5 cddiesel said:

Thanks everyone for the advice. I am leaning towards the Basx A5175 but now the Xpa 3 or 5 channel amp is on my radar if I can save up enough for it.  

I found the XPA 3 or 5 channel gen 3 version to sound not as good. I auditioned both with the Emotiva T2. Youd be better off with the basx. But, a gen 2 I would take that.

[boomzilla]

Jun 10, 2018 11:48:55 GMT -5 garbulky said:

If it was me I wouldn't buy the basx power amps. I havent found them to be standouts compared to Emotivas old line. I thought their biggest stregnbth was they didn't highlight anything negative. But also didn't really do anything all that great. They were just sort of there. Which for me isn't an upgrade.
I would take them over the gen 3 X series which unfortunately did sound off to me tone wise.
But plenty of people whove bought them are very happy. I would pick the gen 2 or gen 1 used amps over either of these any day.

And I'd disagree. True, on garbulky's Axiom M80 speakers (4 ohms & not highly sensitive) and with his listening preferences (significantly louder than mine) I can certainly understand Gar's preference for Emotiva's X-series amps.

But with my Thiel CS-1.6 speakers (4 ohms with a minimum of 3 ohms, AND a complex crossover) played at at least 3dB lower volume, the BasX A300 is magic.

So what's the best for YOUR setup?

Buy the BasX line if:

1. Your speakers are 90 dB / 1w / 1m sensitive
2. Your speakers are 6 ohms or higher
3. Your listening room is less than auditorium sized
4. Your preferred volume isn't very high

Buy the X-series amps if:

1. Your speakers are less than 88 dB / 1w / 1m sensitive
2. Your speakers are 5 ohms or less
3. Your listening room is very large or very dead
4. Your preferred volume is pretty loud (or louder)

[davidl81]

Jun 10, 2018 12:16:18 GMT -5 creimes said:

A5175 and you have a 30 day trial to hear for yourself, otherwise if you went used XPA-5 you could always turn around and sell it if you found no improvement.

Chad

This is what I would do as well.  I do not like the idea of bi-amping with the A-700 (I have a A-700 and it is great for surrounds/zone2, but I am not sure how it would do pushing a center channel).

IMO a used XPA-5 Gen2 is a perfect amp in a 5.1 setup from a value/performance standpoint.  If you could find one of those go for it.  If not the A5175 is pretty damn close and 99% of the time you would not notice any difference in it and the XPA-5

[garbulky]

Jun 13, 2018 9:56:16 GMT -5 boomzilla said:

Jun 10, 2018 11:48:55 GMT -5 garbulky said:

If it was me I wouldn't buy the basx power amps. I havent found them to be standouts compared to Emotivas old line. I thought their biggest stregnbth was they didn't highlight anything negative. But also didn't really do anything all that great. They were just sort of there. Which for me isn't an upgrade.
I would take them over the gen 3 X series which unfortunately did sound off to me tone wise.
But plenty of people whove bought them are very happy. I would pick the gen 2 or gen 1 used amps over either of these any day.

And I'd disagree. True, on garbulky's Axiom M80 speakers (4 ohms & not highly sensitive) and with his listening preferences (significantly louder than mine) I can certainly understand Gar's preference for Emotiva's X-series amps.

But with my Thiel CS-1.6 speakers (4 ohms with a minimum of 3 ohms, AND a complex crossover) played at at least 3dB lower volume, the BasX A300 is magic.

So what's the best for YOUR setup?

Buy the BasX line if:

1. Your speakers are 90 dB / 1w / 1m sensitive
2. Your speakers are 6 ohms or higher
3. Your listening room is less than auditorium sized
4. Your preferred volume isn't very high

Buy the X-series amps if:

1. Your speakers are less than 88 dB / 1w / 1m sensitive
2. Your speakers are 5 ohms or less
3. Your listening room is very large or very dead
4. Your preferred volume is pretty loud (or louder)

The Axiom M80's are 92 db/1w/1m .
The Theils are 90 db

[boomzilla]

OK - Let's try it again - The Thiels LIKE the A300 - The Axioms DON'T.

Although I do agree with the Gar that the generation 1 and 2 XPA-1 and XPA-2 amps are most excellent values.