XPA-3 or XPA-5 w/Def Techs...

[cobra5wood]

I have Def Tech BP2000 Towers(yes the original ones) along with a CLR2000 Center and BPX surrounds for my 5.1 system currently powered by a Denon 3808ci. I know I would be satisfied by migrating to an XPA-3 eventually but would I be even more satisfied to go all the way up to an XPA-5 for all channels?

[Deleted]

Might help us if you could give some info on room dimensions including ceiling height, wall and floor materials, sound absorbing items like drapes, etc. and how loud you like your music and movies, loud, very loud, extremely loud at times? All these can effect how much power you need.

That said, with what we know so far, the 3808 will put out lots of power to the rears to compliment the XPA-3 (choice #3). Later you could add the XPA-2 (to the XPA-3) to drive the BP2000's (choice #1) or go with the XPA-5 now (choice #2). The Def Techs are lower in sensitivity than they specify, but lower in impedance also. ;D


PS: Welcome to the Emotiva Lounge!

[cobra5wood]

My "theater" room is 20' wide by 26' long. The flooring is carpeted. My big screen TV and stereo rack are in the middle of one narrow end of the room between two windows with wood blinds. My sofa is set in the middle of the room about 13' from the TV. The opposite end of the room has a typical three window floor to ceiling configuration with the center one being a door to an outside deck. I usally have that end covered by drapes. As I watch the TV, the long wall to my left is 8' tall with a brick fireplace in the middle of it. The ceiling is vaulted up to 16' on the right side of the room. That right side is opened to a stairway/landing area for the first 1/2 of the wall away from the front wall. My front left Def tech BP2000 has proper spacing from the front and left wall but the front right tower has a slight issue since there is only a 2 - 3' wall before the stirway opening. I'm guessing the volume in the room is about 6,250 cubic feet. The sonic quality for both surround sound movies and music(SACD, etc.) is challenging to say the least because of the odd shape of the room and the stairwell opening. I'm using a single Def Tech Supercube I for add'l base response but probably need to add another one eventually due to room size. I wanted to address my amplicification issues first however. As for listening volumes, I'll play 5-channel music quite loud but my movie watching volumes are tempered by whatever my wife can tolerate.

[NorthStar]

Get the XPA-5!

* By the way, Welcome to the Lounge!

[Deleted]

That is a large room and you can use lots of power, the Def Techs can handle it. I would go with the XPA-5 or the XPA-2/XPA-3 if you can afford it. ;D

[NorthStar]

Oct 15, 2010 10:50:00 GMT -5 @chuckienut said:

That is a large room and you can use lots of power, the Def Techs can handle it. I would go with the XPA-5 or the XPA-2/XPA-3 if you can afford it. ;D

Well then, if he can afford it, go with five XPA-1s, right?

[Deleted]

The reason I say that is the 2000's are rated to handle 500 watts and the CLR's and BPX about 350 watts. That's why I think the XPA-2/XPA-3 would be the perfect combo but perhaps that is over his budget. The XPA-5 would be close and within his mentioned budget.

[NorthStar]

I was simply exaggerating, I think the XPA-5 is a great choice in his case, because his Definitive Technology speakers are quite sensitive, closer to 8 Ohms than 4, and they have built-in powered subwoofers (15" driver with 300 watts amp per speaker!).
Those BP2000s are huge! ...Coffin boxes.

Sensitivity is rated at 90 dB.
And they are 8 Ohms compatible.

[Deleted]

Not what I found in reviews. The center and surrounds were 88-89.5dB's (average) and the 2006 was at 86dB's (well below average for a tower). Since Def Tech rated the 2006 at 92dB's I can only presume on the same basis that the 2000 which Def Tech rated at 90dB's could possibly be in the 85dB range (way below average for a tower). All three tested to drop slightly below 3 ohms. I'm guessing the inflated specs might encourage potential buyers to drive them with a receiver they already own.

The up to 500 watts spec on the 2000 tower is besides the subwoofer.

[NorthStar]

The amp rating is 300 watts per speaker for that 15" driver. (But it can hit 500 watts on peaks.)

So, you need an amp to operate roughly from 80 Hz to 20 kHz.

I read several reviews of those (BP2000) in the past, and cannot exactly remember what the sensitivity was measured at or the lowest impedance, but the fact remains that you don't need power for those tougher to drive audio frequencies below about 80 Hz (or 100 Hz).

Sooooooo, the XPA-5 should be plentiful for them. And his Center speaker (CLR2000) has also a powered subwoofer, I think. And the Surrounds (BPX) are much smaller than his two front main towers.

Or he can get the XPA-3 (on sale right now), and use his Denon 3808 to power his BPX surround speakers.

Or like you also said Chuckie; get both the XPA-2 and XPA-3.

_________________________

Personally, I will get the XPA-5.
And also the XPA-2.

But that's just me then. ;D

_____________

Or about just the XPA-5 in Bi-amp mode for his two front Mains with the remaining amp for his Center, and his 3808 for his Surrounds? That seems to be another wise option.

[cobra5wood]

Thanks for the advice Chuckienut and LordOfTheRingsEE. I'm thinking I will upgrade in 2 or 3 phases. I'll probably go for the XPA-3 first for the Fronts & Center with the 3808ci handling the Rears and then either before or after obtaining a 2nd Supercube I, I will switch the Fronts over to an XPA-2 and migrate the Rears from the 3808ci to the XPA-3. It's good to have a plan. And the XPA-2 will be terrific one day to ressurect my vinyl collection(1,500 LP's from the golden era of Rock & Roll - 1960 thru 1980).

[Deleted]

Oct 15, 2010 11:54:44 GMT -5 NorthStar said:

The amp rating is 300 watts per speaker for that 15" driver. (But it can hit 500 watts on peaks.)

So, you need an amp to operate roughly from 80 Hz to 20 kHz.

I read several reviews of those (BP2000) in the past, and cannot exactly remember what the sensitivity was measured at or the lowest impedance, but the fact remains that you don't need power for those tougher to drive audio frequencies below about 80 Hz (or 100 Hz).

Bob, we are not talking about the dedicated built-in subwoofer amp, that is a given. We are talking about what size amp he needs to drive the rest of the speaker. The power figures that Def Tech specifies are for the speaker not including the built-in subwoofer with its own amp.

"the fact remains that you don't need power for those tougher to drive audio frequencies below about 80 Hz (or 100 Hz)." This statement from you is not correct as far as the these Def Tech speakers are concerned. They can handle and need lots of power above the subwoofer's frequency range.

Since I provided the figures in my post above and you still say "I read several reviews of those (BP2000) in the past, and cannot exactly remember what the sensitivity was measured at or the lowest impedance" I guess I'll have to provide below the direct quotes from the review and from Definitive Technology specifications.



Impedance and Sensitivity

BP2006TL .... Impedance reaches a minimum of 2.99 ohms ... Sensitivity is 86.5 dB from 500 Hz to 2 kHz.

2300 center .... Impedance reaches a minimum of 2.89 ohms .... Sensitivity is 88 dB from 500 Hz to 2 kHz.

BPX ... Impedance reaches a minimum of 3.09 ohms Sensitivity is 89.5 dB from 500 Hz to 2 kHz. (sorry here I said slightly below 3 ohms and I should have said slightly above 3 ohms, close counts ;D)



Recommended Power

BP2000 ... Recommended Associated Amplifier Power :30 - 500 watts ... Internal Amplifier Power :300 watts

LCR2000 ... Recommended Amplifier Power: 20 - 350 Watts
Nominal Impedance: 4 - 8 ohms

BPX ... Recommended Associated Amplifier Power :15 - 350 watts

The 500 and 350 watts are above and beyond the built-in subwoofer's dedicated amp. I rest my case. If you don't believe me now then I give up.

;D ;D ;D