XPA-3 or XPA-5

[skip54]

I'm looking to purchase one of these two amplifiers. I would like to purchase the XPA-5, but I have concerns about my surround speakers (Polk Audio FXi3) only being rated at 125 wpc. Is there some way I can setup my Denon 2809ci to protect the surrounds?

I prefer the XPA-5 since it would allow more flexibility for future upgrades, but I don't want to blow out my surrounds.

Thanks.

[geebo]

Your surrounds will be fine with the XPA-5. Surrounds will rarely if ever be fed that kind of power and if they are, it would be actually better to have an amp that's not clipping when trying to do so. Get the 5.

[skip54]

Excellent, thank you for the the help.

[garbulky]

+1 don't worry about too much power. Really. Unless you have house parties 24/7 with the volume at max. More speakers are damaged by clipping amps.

[phatfos1]

+2. Clipping/distortion fed into speakers at high levels is going to do a lot more damage than giving them > watts than they're rated for. Obviously there is a limit to what you can get out of those surrounds, but like geebo said above the surround audio is rarely as loud (relatively speaking) as the mains and center channel, which is where the bulk of the audio on most movies is found.

What kind of center channel speaker do you plan on using with that amp?

[solarrdadd]

until you try to send a signal to the speakers that requires more power than the speakers are rated for in order to reproduce that sound at the level that the volume is set to (or a fault which would be deadly at any level) you are fine. most of the time, your ears wouldn't be able to handle it anyway!

[creimes]

I'm gonna keep it simple, Like others have said don't worry about too much power just worry about not enough power......go XPA-5 dude

[audiofile]

You won't have any problems. Get the XPA-5, plug it in and enjoy!

[skip54]

Thanks everybody! I appreciate the help. I really prefer the XPA-5.

[ac2011]

I had the same decision a couple of months back. Ultimately, I went with the XPA-3, but the deciding factor was really budget (WAF budget, that is).

If I could have squeezed a few more $$ out, I would have gone with the 5, but the extra cost and the extra shipping weight amounts to a fair chunk when shipping to Canada.

If your budget permits, go with the 5, it is just way more flexible for now and later. And, if you are worried about your surrounds, you could always just use 3 channels right now and/or use the other two for bi-amping, or use them later if/when you get different surrounds.

Whichever you decide, I am sure you will enjoy it.

[novisnick]

Just purchased a gen 2 XPA-5, I have no dought about this amp performing great on my adp 590s.

[deltadube]

Jan 24, 2013 12:20:27 GMT -5 ac2011 said:

I had the same decision a couple of months back. Ultimately, I went with the XPA-3, but the deciding factor was really budget (WAF budget, that is).

If I could have squeezed a few more $$ out, I would have gone with the 5, but the extra cost and the extra shipping weight amounts to a fair chunk when shipping to Canada.

If your budget permits, go with the 5, it is just way more flexible for now and later. And, if you are worried about your surrounds, you could always just use 3 channels right now and/or use the other two for bi-amping, or use them later if/when you get different surrounds.

Whichever you decide, I am sure you will enjoy it.

i bought the xpa 3 1st.. if i bought the xpa 5 i would not have added the xpa 1s glade i bought the xpa 3 1st the xpa 1s on the mains
take the sound to another level.. think my surrounds are rated at 150 wpc and they sound fantastic with the xpa 3 on em..

think i need another xpa 1 for my centre tho...

cheers..

[deltadube]

Jul 24, 2013 21:45:06 GMT -5 novisnick said:

Just purchased a gen 2 XPA-5, I have no dought about this amp performing great on my adp 590s.

your going to love the power!

cheers

[novisnick]

Just got my gen 2 CPA-5 WOW , my wife loves the headroom, just explained what that was He He

[monkumonku]

Jul 30, 2013 22:52:50 GMT -5 novisnick said:

Just got my gen 2 CPA-5 WOW , my wife loves the headroom, just explained what that was He He

You got a CPA? That must be really boring. Even 2nd Gen would be boring.

[novisnick]

I'm looking hard at the Xpa-1Ls now, the K 28s really like the pure 200 watts.

[novisnick]

LOL auto correct isn't always good!

[novisnick]

Jan 24, 2013 9:46:41 GMT -5 skip54 said:

I'm looking to purchase one of these two amplifiers. I would like to purchase the XPA-5, but I have concerns about my surround speakers (Polk Audio FXi3) only being rated at 125 wpc. Is there some way I can setup my Denon 2809ci to protect the surrounds?

I prefer the XPA-5 since it would allow more flexibility for future upgrades, but I don't want to blow out my surrounds.

Thanks.

[novisnick]

Jul 31, 2013 10:43:23 GMT -5 novisnick said:

Jan 24, 2013 9:46:41 GMT -5 skip54 said:

I'm looking to purchase one of these two amplifiers. I would like to purchase the XPA-5, but I have concerns about my surround speakers (Polk Audio FXi3) only being rated at 125 wpc. Is there some way I can setup my Denon 2809ci to protect the surrounds?

I prefer the XPA-5 since it would allow more flexibility for future upgrades, but I don't want to blow out my surrounds.

Thanks.

The XPA-5 is great, no worries on too much power! Hooked mine up last night. Everything loves more POWER! 
XPA-1L on there way

[eugenechng]

Deciding on whether to purchase a XPA 3 or XPA 5. 

Does anyone have experience using a XPA 3 or XPA 5 driving the latest JBL Studio 580 front speakers and 520C center speakers ?  Will you get better sounds with bi-amping the JBLs  ? If this is the case, I will purchase the XPA 5 to give me enough amps to do this. 

On the other hand, if performance is good without bi-amping , it will just go with the XPA 3.