XPA5/polk lsi's

[fdzombiedawg]

Greetings,

Shortly after moving into my new place I was finally able to get my HT back up and running with and without the XPA5.

Without:

I returned from a deployment to Afghanistan this fall, moved into my new(pre-owned) house with a living/theatre room which is approximately 15x25. Gear wise was a Sony STR-DAnotenoughpower ES and a set of Polk LSI 15's, C, and 2 pairs of LSI FX's. Currently the room doesn't have any sound panels and is has a hardwood veneer floor. Anyhow heeding the advice of you members on this forum, I state to use the system being powered by the receiver albeit very conservatively.

It sounded poorly on most media. Using only two channel to lessen the demand on the receiver, Midrange on all media was nonexistent and with that? The dynamics did not impress either. The system did sound great while playing the new JJ Abrams Star Trek but that was because the soundstage on the LSI's were very impressive to us, and the combination of that and the low frequencies handled by the sub made the system an improvement overall compared to my previous 8ohm Mirage FRX kit.

So, the music was lacking dynamics, detail, and midrange. The systems strong points
Were soundstage and to some extent detail.


With the XPA-5

As far as I'm concerned Polk should have a 300watt minimum power requirements advertised for the mains. While I am sure the 15's will benefit from the XPA2 I am completely blown away from the difference in performance. After listening to the Black Symphony BluRay a couple times through the system now produces so many different notes, frequencies, and so one without a sweat, whereas previously the it just plainly never cane through. Fast drum solos, higher pitched pitched vocals along with everything else in that symphony, at the same time are projected throughout the room, In a way that made me say "sh$t" my car stereo is going to sound like Crap again.

After I pay some things down, umc200, XPA2 will be added. I'm a believer!!!
Good work Emotiva

[audiohead]

fdzombiedawg,First let me say Thank you!for your service!and happy for you that you are home safe!I have the LSi-15's and they are very power happy speakers.I run my LSi-15's with my two UPA-1's and the rest of my LSi's with my XPA-5 and have two channels not being used.But agree with you there is nothing like having amp's to drive a nice set up.Emotiva's amps are a best buy in my book.Big Dan has done what no others have been able too do.I was going too buy a Parasound amp and still may do but I am really lovein the way my LSi-15's sound with the monoblocks.The Parasound would set me back over 2 g's that alone keeps my wallet closed.Yep Emotiva has done a great job with there amps.

[cgolf]

fdzombiedawg, welcome home and thank you for your service to our country. We very much appreciate it..... ;D Next, welcome to the lounge.

Great setup. The XPA-5 is a fantastic amp and although the Polks do need alot of power, the 5 will be plenty and will make them sing.....

I've been thinking about getting a pair of Lsi9s just to try them out but haven't been able to find a pair at a resonable price yet. Soon!!! ;D

[audiohead]

@cgolf,same here on the Polk LSi-9's.I am thinking of getting two of them for mains in a HT set-up and just use my LSi-15's for music.That way I can add Emotivas new Pre-Amp and two XPA-1's.I always wanted a Music only set up.

[cgolf]

Dec 9, 2012 8:24:00 GMT -5 audiohead said:

@cgolf,same here on the Polk LSi-9's.I am thinking of getting two of them for mains in a HT set-up and just use my LSi-15's for music.That way I can add Emotivas new Pre-Amp and two XPA-1's.I always wanted a Music only set up.

Mine is a dual setup at this time so I'd be using them for both music & HT. However, I could keep the M80s for music and use the 9s just for HT or vice versa!!! ;D

I'd imagine that the 15s are great by themselves for music... The options are endless. Just whatever sounds the best.

[audiohead]

Dec 9, 2012 8:41:13 GMT -5 cgolf said:

Dec 9, 2012 8:24:00 GMT -5 audiohead said:

@cgolf,same here on the Polk LSi-9's.I am thinking of getting two of them for mains in a HT set-up and just use my LSi-15's for music.That way I can add Emotivas new Pre-Amp and two XPA-1's.I always wanted a Music only set up.

Mine is a dual setup at this time so I'd be using them for both music & HT. However, I could keep the M80s for music and use the 9s just for HT or vice versa!!! ;D

I'd imagine that the 15s are great by themselves for music... The options are endless. Just whatever sounds the best.

Right now I just sent an email too Emotiva about the XSP-1,there site says next shipping date on it will be next week on Wednesday.Adding the PRE-AMP should do the job with the HT bypass that it has.Then I wouldn't need too add the 9's cause they are going for about the same price that the XSP-1 is going for.By the way Bro your post are a good read in here.You post lots of great tips on audio/video gear.Thanks!

[kierre]

What's up fdzombiedawg. Your setup and mine have many similarities. I purchased the XPA-5 to power some LSI speakers I purchased a while ago. They had been sitting in storage for quite some time as I was using a Sony STR-DA5ES with an Adcom GFA-5500 with Klipsch speakers. I wanted to decrease the speaker footprint and chose the LSi series. After I received the XPA-5, I made a quick call to Emotiva techs and asked if I could run 4 ohm speakers and 8 ohm speakers from the same amp and after they said "sure", it was on after that! The first test was 2 channel stereo with he LSi9s and the X-Ref 12 sub and Joy Denalane providing some sultry vocals. It was evident right up front that I needed to run the EmoQ and get that sub-woofer situated and configured appropriately, but the LSi9s had no problem projecting Joy (in more ways than one) like I had never heard before. I immediately appreciated the well rounded sound that a 'bookshelf' speaker could provide and I honestly haven't missed my Klipsch that much... although to be fair, I have not used the XPA-5 on my Klipsch yet. I'm sure they are dutifully up to the task. I'm looking forward to hearing the LSi F/Xs. I didn't realize they were so huge. I think I'll be going your route of having 2 pair of them in my setup's 7.2 end state.