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Post by taylormade1ca on Feb 8, 2012 1:15:14 GMT -5
hey guys i have had my xpa -5 for about a month now and just love it.i have polk monitor 70s and a cs10 and jbl stage for surrounds.my avr is an old pioneer vsx-d906s which at the time was a very good avr has all the preouts for my xpa-5.i was always happy with it now that i have the xpa-5 which is my first separate amp i want more.all of my music is on my laptop so I'm wondering if i should buy a xda-1 and if it would be better.also I'm thinking of buying a umc-1 so i can upgrade to 7.1 ht because i have some jbl balcony speakers to.can i stream from my laptop to the umc-1.i only have hdmi out or head phone jack on my laptop.if i but a umc-1 i know i will need more power for the 7.1 so should buy a xpa-2.im an old guy and would love to hear what u guys think.im thanking u in advance
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Post by knucklehead on Feb 8, 2012 2:19:34 GMT -5
You didn't indicate whether your laptop streams audio over HDMI. If it does then you won't need the XDA-1 with the UMC-1 or any newer AVR.
As for more power - your XPA-5 is probably capable of giving the Polk Monitor 70s more power in real world use than they can handle already.
Why not pick up a small 2 channel amp for the rear surrounds - or buy a decent AVR and use it to drive the rear surrounds? Better yet stick with 5.1 until soundtracks are recorded in 7.1. There are very few movies designed around a 7.1 soundtrack - less than 30 IIRC.
The speaker additions in the past few years are to the high and wide positions and those are in front of the listening position. The UMC-1 doesn't have that capability. It is likely that the XMC-1 will but I don't know that for sure. Many AVRs and processors with 7.1 let you decide whether you want to use a more 'traditional' 7.1 or stick with the side surrounds and add high or wide. My Integra processor offers me 7.1 with the option to use rear surrounds or high or wide - my choice. I'm not impressed with the sound. Maybe its the Integra - I don't know. All I hear with the wides is ambient noise.
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hemster
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Post by hemster on Feb 8, 2012 3:07:03 GMT -5
You didn't indicate whether your laptop streams audio over HDMI. If it does then you won't need the XDA-1 with the UMC-1 or any newer AVR. As for more power - your XPA-5 is probably capable of giving the Polk Monitor 70s more power in real world use than they can handle already. Why not pick up a small 2 channel amp for the rear surrounds - or buy a decent AVR and use it to drive the rear surrounds? Better yet stick with 5.1 until soundtracks are recorded in 7.1. There are very few movies designed around a 7.1 soundtrack - less than 30 IIRC. The speaker additions in the past few years are to the high and wide positions and those are in front of the listening position. The UMC-1 doesn't have that capability. It is likely that the XMC-1 will but I don't know that for sure. Many AVRs and processors with 7.1 let you decide whether you want to use a more 'traditional' 7.1 or stick with the side surrounds and add high or wide. My Integra processor offers me 7.1 with the option to use rear surrounds or high or wide - my choice. I'm not impressed with the sound. Maybe its the Integra - I don't know. All I hear with the wides is ambient noise. Unless you're talking about music... isn't the point of the wides to hear background sounds as movie surround effects? |
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Post by garbulky on Feb 8, 2012 4:00:47 GMT -5
I read a review online on hometheaterhifi that the reviewer couldnt detect much difference in sound between the UMC and the XDA. I havent heard the UMC so I cant vouch for that. All I can say is that the XDA-1 is very nice! Personally, I would buy the XDA-1, sacrifice surround sound, use the extra money (+some) to upgrade your main speakers.
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Post by taylormade1ca on Feb 8, 2012 5:59:53 GMT -5
yes my lap top has hdmi out.so all i really need is the umc then and it will do all that i need?what i meant by more power was with 7.1 i would have 2 extra channels so i thought of the xpa-2 for the fronts and the xpa-5 for all the rest.and you are right the xpa-5 is more then enough power for me.
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Post by jmilton on Feb 8, 2012 7:21:43 GMT -5
I read a review online on hometheaterhifi that the reviewer couldnt detect much difference in sound between the UMC and the XDA. I havent heard the UMC so I cant vouch for that. All I can say is that the XDA-1 is very nice! Personally, I would buy the XDA-1, sacrifice surround sound, use the extra money (+some) to upgrade your main speakers. Yes...that reviewer ended up using the XDA-1 for all of his CD listening. He was quite pleased with the sound. His SACD collection is run through the UMC-1 via HDMI.  |
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Feb 8, 2012 8:01:33 GMT -5
I think the reviewer looks more like this:  |
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Post by jmilton on Feb 8, 2012 8:26:18 GMT -5
I think the reviewer looks more like this: Both debonair and a trend setter. |
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Post by Deleted on Feb 8, 2012 11:22:13 GMT -5
DebonAir? Oh great, just what we need, another cut rate airlines.  |
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Post by hpc on Feb 8, 2012 16:11:18 GMT -5
You have separate amps...why not buy the XMC-1 versus buying a receiver? Better sound quality
than any receiver is likely to provide plus you get the various surround formats.
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Post by coldfusion on Feb 21, 2012 19:45:20 GMT -5
It's insane to spend twice as much on electronics (or more) than your speakers. Take that money and upgrade your mains. It'll make the biggest difference in your sound.
Recommending an xmc would be like recommending putting a ferrari engine in a beetle...He has $450 mains guys...throwing a $1500 preamp at it...really?!?!
I'd sell your speakers and pick up 5x ascend 340's. Not only will they all match sonically, they're great for ht and music. Or 3x 340s and 2x 170s. Either would be a nice upgrade if sound quality is the main priority.
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selkec
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Post by selkec on Feb 21, 2012 21:49:51 GMT -5
Not to mention the XMC is still not even out. Plus what if it has all the issues the umc has. I love Emotiva but never ever would I tell someone to buy something that after 2 years out it still has many problems.
Also with your speakers. An xpa2 would be too much and waste of money. Look for a upa2 to add 2 more channels. Or get a good AVR then you wont need another amp.
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Post by taylormade1ca on Feb 22, 2012 0:04:05 GMT -5
hey guys thanks for all the info maybe its time for an upgrade of my main speakers.i really just want to hear the music
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Post by garbulky on Feb 26, 2012 5:12:30 GMT -5
May I reccomend the Axiom audio M80's V3? They are near full range and their V2's sound great in my system. They also have a solid home theater line up that matches their towers including a subwoofer (EP800) from the depths of hell and a full range center VP180 as big as a main floorstander Not that you need any of that with the m80's though. Also has good and relatively cheap custom finishes that match to the grain of the wood sample you send them if that sort of thing floats your aesthetic boat. www.axiomaudio.com/ |
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Post by bitsandbytes on Feb 26, 2012 12:00:45 GMT -5
hey guys thanks for all the info maybe its time for an upgrade of my main speakers.i really just want to hear the music Great choice! Best immediate improvement you can make. May I reccomend the Axiom audio M80's V3? They are near full range and their V2's sound great in my system. They also have a solid home theater line up that matches their towers including a subwoofer (EP800) from the depths of hell and a full range center VP180 as big as a main floorstander Not that you need any of that with the m80's though. Also has good and relatively cheap custom finishes that match to the grain of the wood sample you send them if that sort of thing floats your aesthetic boat. www.axiomaudio.com/I just HAVE to hear how a subwoofer from the depths of hell sounds. |
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