XPA-5 to biamp front Left & Right

[ukemo]

Hi,

I currently use a Denon 2809 AVR but am planning on getting an Emo amp as a power amp to run my Monitor Audio RS6 5.1AV surround setup. Need some advice regarding which amp to go for and whether to biamp or not.

Option 1
Denon + XPA-3
Use the Denon AVR to power the rear channels and use the Emo to power the 3 front speakers.

Option 2
XPA-5
Use XPA-5 to run all speakers

Option 3
Denon + XPA-5
Use the Denon to power the rears and then use one channel of the XPA-5 for the centre and the other 4 channels to biamp the front Left and Right speakers.

The Denon AVR is 7.1 but I only have a 5.1 setup so I am currently biamping the front Left and Right speakers. I kind of like this setup, plus my Chord cables are constructed for biamping so I would need new cables if I didn't biamp the with the XPA-5.

The front speakers are rated at 110W so I am a little worried that biamping them with the XPA-5 may be too much power and could fry the speakers, or make them sound too create a harsh. If I go for the XPA-5 I probably would go for Option 3 and biamp the fronts, as long as someone can advise whether this is a good idea or not....

Any thoughts would be much appreciated .
For info, system is used equally for movies and music, as well as SACD and DVD-As. Music is varied but mostly hard rock, but UK-style garage also, so some bass in there too.

Cheers

[Deleted]

Option 2 or 1
Only true biamping with active crossovers is beneficial. Does the Denon have an active crossover built in or are you planning to purchase one?

[jtsherri]

I was bi-amping my Monitor Audio RS8s & RSLCR (center channel) with (2) UPA-5s and using the remaining 4 channels for the surrounds & rears.

As of a couple of days ago I decided to switch things up a bit, as I didn't really notice a significant difference through bi-amping. I've since sold my UMC-1, both UPA-5s, and the Dayton SA1000s powering my subs. The plan is to pick up a Denon AVR-4311CI or Onkyo TX-NR3008 (or possibly the 5008) and a used 200W-300W x 7 amp in addition to the two XPA-1s I picked up to replace my sub amps. I suspect these changes will make a MUCH bigger difference than bi-amping did.

EDIT: I agree with Theresa, by the way - option 1 or 2 all the way.

[slbenz]

I would probably go with either Options 1 or 2. After checking the owner's manual for your AVR, it doesn't look like it can be set up for active biamping. Unless the feature is available and I missed it.

[ukemo]

An old thread I know, however, I haven't purchased the XPA-5 yet but am planning to do so in the next few weeks so still need some advice please.

My speaker cables for the front left and right cost me quite a bit and are terminated with 4 plugs on each end as I got them for bi-amping the front left and right. Ideally I can reuse these rather than getting a new set made up.

So regardless of whether bi-amping in this way is true bi-amping or not, would using two channels of an XPA-5 into the left and two channels into the right be okay for the amp and the speakers - i.e. could this overload the speakers (Monitor Audio RS6 rated at 110W). (The remaining channel would go into the centre speaker.)

I know improvements may not be heard but would it be okay.

Thanks!

[jackfish]

Yes.