Emotiva virgin, pre pro power help needed

[unsureuk]

All

As the title says, not a big brand here in the UK hence getting to grips with the products is quite daunting, although those that have Emotiva products seem to rate them highly.

So..............I have a 7yr old Yamaha RXV 2700 which has served me well, but now is time for a step up, upgrade and improved performance is the key.
Front speakers are 3 x MA Apex A40 wall mounts, with KEF T301 surrounds and a BK Monolith DF sub woofer, and the whole does play quite well if a little tiring at higher volumes.
Room size is modest by US standards and comes out at 4m x 5m with the front speakers across the 4m wall, so the ask/dilemma is.......

Thinking UMC200 as a pre/pro and a UPA 500 or 700 power amp, I note that the output of the power amps is 80 watts, now I know that avr manufacturers massage their figures (at best) would the UPA give me the room filling sound with the ease of effort that I am looking for, bearing in mind that the Yamaha becomes very harsh at higher level (around reference of 75dB)
Also thinking that a 2nd UPA7 may be the better option

So I am just putting this out there for comment, to help me best understand the performance of the UPA 500/700 and the room size this will be in.

Oh and I must just add that we are 90% movies and tv, the balance music but not HQ music, normally from an iThing of sorts

Thanks all

[repeetavx]

unsureuk,

Welcome to the Lounge. I really liked my Yamaha receiver, but separates, especially Emotiva separates, are soooo much better. I think that either UPA amp will elevate your theater/music enjoyment.

That said, there are so many factors that effect sound. Your room isn't that small. Many "Audiophiles" have dedicated rooms smaller than that.

To give proper advice you'll also need to include information like is the room carpeted? Is it a multi-use room or just a media room? Do other people have input to how the room is arranged? (Even though it improves the sound of a system, most women don't like speakers sitting two to five feet away from the wall).

We're looking forward to you telling us how awesome your system sounds. Though it will be a journey. We all love this hobby and are sure that our favorite brand will get you to where you want to be.

You can't go wrong with a UMC-200. But start with an amp. Emotiva has some new and exciting products just around the corner.

[Deleted]

My first piece of emotiva gear was a upa-700 and it was leaps and bounds better than my pioneer elite receiver (110 watts x7) but the build quality can not rival the x series equipment I felt as though I was going to break the rca connectors on the upa... Just my experience but if your after increased sound quality real power emotiva upa amps are an excellent entry level Upgrade over receivers. Again as stated above you'll need to provide room specifics to really get the advice your looking for and WELCOME to the lounge

[AudioHTIT]

The UPA-700 should drive most speakers comfortably into the 90's (dB SPL), some even higher. Unfortunately there's no other 7 channel EMO amp available at the moment, you'd have to go to an XPA-5 and 2 (or 3) to get more power, these would cost significantly more and take up more space (also draw more power at idle if that matters). Being in the UK you probably won't take advantage of the 30 day return, but maybe you can give the 700 a try and sell it locally if you decide you want more.

[drtrey3]

Hey unsureuk, welcome! At Emofest we heard the soon to be Emotiva receiver that combines the UMC-200 with the UPA 5 or 7, I forget which, and it ROCKED THE HOUSE on the demo. I think using Emo separates would upgrade both the processing and amplifying functions of your trusty Yamaha.

Trey

[garbulky]

drtrey UPA-5 or UPA-500?

Unsureuk, any emo amp sounds nice
Not trying to down your system but you may want to avoid on wall speakers unless it's absolutely essential (imo).

[unsureuk]

Well, excellent responses and thanks for the welcome.

Room is fully carpeted, is our family lounge as well as being our HT room, but my wife is very patient and understanding on this.
I've recently moved from floor standers (KEF R700 + R600C) to the MA Apex range, for two reasons, aesthetics and I am finding that the sub/sat approach is far more suited to movies than my KEFs (KEFs are a brilliant speaker though), the Apex A40s are designed to be wall mounted and I have 3 of the same across the front to maintain tonal balance and sound stage. We sit approx 3 metres (10ft) from the tv and the speakers are 2,2m apart, so almost an equilateral triangle, (seems that the angles from the lstening position are just abot right for DD/DTS recommendations)

I just know I can do so much more in terms of amplification, headroom and control etc hence my question.

There was a teaser of "new" products in the pipeline, what and when and did I read that Emotiva may bring out an AVR also??

Thanks for the help so far all.