Need suggestions on amplifier for Gallo 3.5 speakers

[ews0899]

His All-

I'm new to the Emotiva community and hope I'm posting this thread in its proper forum. I'd like to ask the Emotiva community suggestions on the following.... I recently pulled the trigger on an XPA 2 to drive a pair of Gallo 3.5's, and while the SQ is amazing the amp ran red on the meters being pushed at about 10 o'clock. My concern is 250 watts is not enough power to fully appreciate the potential of the Gallo's. I ordered the Gallo subwoofer reference amp with the idea it will put less strain on the main amplifier. That said, I'm not opposed to stepping up to the XPR 2 as I know the motto is "more power is better"'. Does any community member use the Gallo's 3.5, and if so, what amplifier are you using? I've been tinkering with this project for 12 months and would like to order, install and enjoy! Any suggestions are greatly appreciated.

[kse]

There is a Gallo aficionado here who is a regular contributor, but forgive me, I can't recall who it is. Can you edit your thread title to include 'Gallo'? He will likely notice and chime in.

[Cory Cooper]

rlw has Gallo Reference 3.1 and an XPA-5.

C

[hemster]

Jun 10, 2013 22:40:04 GMT -5 Cory Cooper said:

rlw has Gallo Reference 3.1 and an XPA-5.

C

Yes, and the Gallo subwoofer..

[ews0899]

Thank you!

[kse]

Yep, that's the one.

[arthurz]

How big is your room and what volume levels do you listen at? You should play with an SPL calculator after applying a 20 dB crest factor (e.g. if you want to hear 85 dB SPL, do the calculations assuming 105 dB peaks).

Assuming your answers are above average, I would probably get at least an XPR-2, given your speakers are only 88 dB efficient. RW will probably beat me up over this suggestion .

[ews0899]

Thanks, Arthuurz. The room is 18 X 12 rectangle and sound insulation is adequate. Listening levels vary with the genre of music... Today it's mostly jazz and early rock. My listening comfort ranges from 9 o'clock to say 11 o'clock. As previously mentioned, the SQ quality of the XPA 2 is great, I just don't think it's affording much headroom. As for the SPL calculator, I'll need to dig in much deeper as I know enough to be dangerous. Like many, the Mrs. thinks I'm nuts (or on my way) in pursuit of sonic perfection. After thousands of dollars wasted on garbage, I greatly appreciate the values this forum offers for a newbie like myself.

[Gary Cook]

SPL meters are pretty cheap, mine is the same as the common analogue Radio Shack, cost around $40. 



Radio Shack in their infinite wisdom discontinued them, but  they pop up on Ebay regularly, new and used.


Cheers
Gary

[garbulky]

Now red is not necessarily a BAD thing. I'm not sure on how the meters work but I don't think it's clipping here. It just means it's playing closer to the max range but not maxing out. I believe there is a range of reds....

[ews0899]

You're correct, Garbulky. Spoke with Nick and he mirrored the same. It was only one red light but I'm feeling the added headroom won't hurt either, in the event I want to move a little dust around for the Mrs! (he he).

[Deleted]

Cue up the Mighty Mouse soundtrack: Here I come to save the day....

Yeah, ya gotta know I'm gonna chime in if there is Gallo in the title <g>. Okay, let's get down to cases. First of all, lighting up one red LED ain't a big deal, you're probably kicking about 100 watts/ch. to the speakers. With your amp, this leaves you about 6db headroom, a not insignificant figure. FWIW, I'm running my Reference 3.1s and Reference AVs with an XPA-5 in a 22' x 15' room and it gets pretty darn LOUD with no apparent strain. You must be listening at very high levels if you're taxing that XPA-2.

Additionally, your incoming Gallo Sub Amp is gonna relieve the XPA-2 of a bit of its power delivery duties. And you're also going to find that those Gallos *sing* with that amp. Very low bass, down to 22Hz or so, is going to increase dramatically, rendering a subwoofer virtually obsolete. And, because your XPA-2 will be more concerned with driving the mids and CDT tweeter, you will probably see some additional output in those bands as well.

My recommendation would be to hold off on replacing the XPA-2 for a week or two until you've lived with the Gallo Sub Amp for that time. If you still feel the need for additional grunt, go ahead and snag an XPR-2 at the Summer Sale price of $1449, a *smokin'* deal* BTW...

-RW-

PS: You might want to check with Emo to find out how long the sale lasts and also what their stock levels look like. Adjust your timeframe for possible acquisition accordingly...

PPS: If you get an XPR-2 and you are *still* lighting up red LEDs, you are playing your music too effing loud <g>.

[ews0899]

Thanks, RLW. Your input is greatly appreciated and was hoping the Gallo sub amp would reduce the load on the XPA 2. Stepping up to the XPR 2 requires the dedicated 20amp IEC circuit and would have to prepare accordingly. Your suggestion is well received and will advise once I get "her" installed. You guys are great and appreciate the feedback. Like others, I have spent a ridiculous amount of dollars on suggestions of the proverbial experts at local audio and the result meeting 50% of your expectations. Notwithstanding, the Mrs thinks I've gone mad---after 22 years its a little payback.

[garbulky]

Ahh ews. Something tells me you simply want to upgrade and not anything to do with the actual performance you have right now You may want to try an XSP-1 pre-amp rather than an XPR-2. Or maybe some class A goodness from an XPA-1 L. Or maybe one of those hypex ncore's everybody is talking about. Am I bad or am I bad?

[ews0899]

You're right I want to pull the trigger on the XPA 1's except my oldest is studying abroad in Italy for the summer and dear ole' Dad is tapped dry. Add to it, the Mrs would probably need gather frequency with washing the grays out of her hair costing me even more in the long run. ✨?. Thanks to all of you for your help.

[Mynor03]

Hello, I am a newbie in the world of audiophile, but I know what I like, and I like quality and value. I have done my research and it seems Emotiva has some winners in their arsenal. Enough with the flattery. I am trying to build my system. I have a pair of DefTech Bp7000sc for fronts, at center a deftech cs-8080hd and a pair deftech sr-8080bp backs. I need a receiver and amplification for them. I don’t have a huge budget as I went all out on speakers. I would like separates as it seems that is the way to go. Any suggestions?

[bootman]

Jun 11, 2013 15:36:05 GMT -5 Mynor03 said:

Hello, I am a newbie in the world of audiophile, but I know what I like, and I like quality and value. I have done my research and it seems Emotiva has some winners in their arsenal. Enough with the flattery. I am trying to build my system. I have a pair of DefTech Bp7000sc for fronts, at center a deftech cs-8080hd and a pair deftech sr-8080bp backs. I need a receiver and amplification for them. I don’t have a huge budget as I went all out on speakers. I would like separates as it seems that is the way to go. Any suggestions?

Budget and what do you want your system to do?

If you want all the gee whiz features separates may not have all you want.

The current sale at Sherbourn for $1799 is pretty hard to beat for seperates but is that out of your budget?

How about the SR-8100 for only $599?

But if the bells and whiles is what you are after, any Denon or Onkyo will do for now.

[mshump]

Jun 11, 2013 15:36:05 GMT -5 Mynor03 said:

Hello, I am a newbie in the world of audiophile, but I know what I like, and I like quality and value. I have done my research and it seems Emotiva has some winners in their arsenal. Enough with the flattery. I am trying to build my system. I have a pair of DefTech Bp7000sc for fronts, at center a deftech cs-8080hd and a pair deftech sr-8080bp backs. I need a receiver and amplification for them. I don’t have a huge budget as I went all out on speakers. I would like separates as it seems that is the way to go. Any suggestions?

What kind of Budget do you have

[garbulky]

Also what is your source? Do you care about balanced? How much power/volume do you want? What music do you listen to? How big is your room?
Have you already bought the speakers?

[Deleted]

Jun 11, 2013 10:47:00 GMT -5 ews0899 said:

Thanks, RLW. Your input is greatly appreciated and was hoping the Gallo sub amp would reduce the load on the XPA 2. Stepping up to the XPR 2 requires the dedicated 20amp IEC circuit and would have to prepare accordingly. Your suggestion is well received and will advise once I get "her" installed. You guys are great and appreciate the feedback. Like others, I have spent a ridiculous amount of dollars on suggestions of the proverbial experts at local audio and the result meeting 50% of your expectations. Notwithstanding, the Mrs thinks I've gone mad---after 22 years its a little payback.

EWS0899, I don't think this is necessarily needed in most cases. I'm sure I've read here at the Lounge a number of times from members of the Emo admin crew that usually the 15 amp circuit in most newer residences is just fine for the XPR amps.

Please give Keith or tech support a call and verify this. Maybe some other nut here will also verify this. Be sure you have the amp plugged directly into the wall socket and not through a surge protector or other device.

Welcome to the Emotiva Lounge. You've come to the right place for an amp with performance and prices than no other place on the planet can offer.



PS: Are you any relation to Robert 0899 from the planet Jupiter?