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Post by bennyb on Apr 6, 2014 10:32:36 GMT -5
Hey all, i just purchased an emotiva mini-x amp to drive my audio technica at-lp120-usb turntable (with built in preamp). The mini-x will be used exclusively for listening to vinyl. I am putting together a budget hifi setup and could use some advice on choosing good budget speakers. My budget is $250 for a pair. Here are the best options I've found (amp is 50w/ch 8ohm or 80 w/ch 4ohm: 1. Emotiva XRM 6.1 X-Ref Monitors, 4 ohm, 86dB sensitivity (on sale for $249/pair, not many reviews avail.) 2. Polk monitor 40 or 45s, 8ohm, 89dB sensitivity ($129) plus a Dayton 12" sub 1200 ($129) 3. Andrew Jones designed Pioneer Floor standing speakers SP-FS52, 6 ohm, 87 dB sensitivity ($125 each) After getting speakers, I plan to add a sub and then upgrade preamp. Let me know what you'd recommend or provide other suggestions. Cheers! I had a Mini-x for a while and I was using it to power a pair of Vienna Acoustics Haydn Grands. These speakers require some juice, and the Mini-x drove them with ease. I also once put it on a pair of Martin Logan Ethos, and the result was fantastic. So, for any speaker in your budget I wouldn't worry about it having difficulty pushing them. Based on your choices I highly recommend the Pioneer pair, they're pretty amazing for their price. |
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Post by vincedea on Apr 17, 2014 7:09:43 GMT -5
Has anyone tried out the infinitty p163 speakers? I tried them out today and turned up the volume but the sound cut out and the amp went into standby mode with the flashing amber light.
Is there something with my amp or is it not enough power for the speakers?
I also have a vx11 sub hooked up. Could it be that there's not enough power?
Thanks
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Post by mshump on Apr 17, 2014 11:49:47 GMT -5
Has anyone tried out the infinitty p163 speakers? I tried them out today and turned up the volume but the sound cut out and the amp went into standby mode with the flashing amber light. Is there something with my amp or is it not enough power for the speakers? I also have a vx11 sub hooked up. Could it be that there's not enough power? Thanks Did you get sound at all when you turned it on? How long did you have sound? Check all your connections first. It sounds like you drove the amp into clipping. How loud did you have this? It should have been at ear blister level to do this. The P163 have a sensitivity rating of 90Db which is not bad but more efficient speakers would probably be a better match How is your sub hooked up? |
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Post by vincedea on Apr 18, 2014 3:51:07 GMT -5
Has anyone tried out the infinitty p163 speakers? I tried them out today and turned up the volume but the sound cut out and the amp went into standby mode with the flashing amber light. Is there something with my amp or is it not enough power for the speakers? I also have a vx11 sub hooked up. Could it be that there's not enough power? Thanks Did you get sound at all when you turned it on? How long did you have sound? Check all your connections first. It sounds like you drove the amp into clipping. How loud did you have this? It should have been at ear blister level to do this. The P163 have a sensitivity rating of 90Db which is not bad but more efficient speakers would probably be a better match How is your sub hooked up? I did get sound when i turned it on. i had sound for maybe a minute or so. i might have drove the amp into clipping, as I did have volume on pc and foobar turned up all the way and i had the amp volume turned to 12 o clock.I also had the sub volume maybe a 1/4 high. are the speakers inefficient? i mainly got them from frys to try out but i decide on which bigger speakers i want to get as i currently use the nht superzero 2.0. |
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Post by mshump on Apr 18, 2014 7:18:48 GMT -5
I did get sound when i turned it on. i had sound for maybe a minute or so. i might have drove the amp into clipping, as I did have volume on pc and foobar turned up all the way and i had the amp volume turned to 12 o clock.I also had the sub volume maybe a 1/4 high. are the speakers inefficient? i mainly got them from frys to try out but i decide on which bigger speakers i want to get as i currently use the nht superzero 2.0. [/quote]
The flashing amber ring means you have a problem, of course you knew that I am typing out loud..lol
What are you running for a pre to the amp ? In the manual it states no digital input to the amp (are you running a pre-amp or D/A to the input)
Disconnect everything from the AMP and turn it on and see if it will stay on. (this will more or less check the amp if it is working)
If it stays on then shut it down and re-connect speakers. turn it on and and see if it stays on (this will check if there is a wiring/speaker issue)
Then continue slowly hooking everything up one at a time and see if it works
I know this seems a little long and tedious but it is the best way to eliminate things that could cause a problem
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Post by allthatjazz on Apr 18, 2014 12:37:39 GMT -5
Mini is sensitive to input spike, verify secure connection and clean source and turn everything down, cycle power and see how it goes. Doubt you have anything to worry about with output stage.
ATJ
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Post by vincedea on Apr 18, 2014 15:09:49 GMT -5
i dont have a pre. i have the amp hooked up straight to my sound card. i never had this issue with my nht speakers it was only with the infinity speakers but i returned them lol. iv turned up the volume knob to 12 o clock when using my nht's and never had that problem, so i can only assume it was the bigger speakers i used. should i have any issue when i actually do upgrade my speakers to something bigger?
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Post by mshump on Apr 18, 2014 15:20:24 GMT -5
It sounds like there was an issue with the new speakers. If you can run the NHT's with no issue then you should've been able to do the same with the Infinity's. Going bigger should be no problem.
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Post by Ninja on Aug 14, 2014 9:16:02 GMT -5
I decided to go with the Andrew Jones designed Pioneer SP-B22-LR bookshelves and the Dayton SUB-1200. I haven't received the sub yet, but hooked up the pioneer bookshelves to my mini x today. Straight out of the box the speakers sounded unbelievable, and I'm sure they'll just get better as they are broken in. ...So sweet for such little $. I will add another review once I receive my sub. Out of curiosity, how will you be hooking up the sub? Are you running a pre-amp setup to control the volume? The BS-22 is a great speaker which I have run off my Mini-X with good reaults. These speakers go on sale semi frequently and at some of the sale prices it's a no brainer. |
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Post by drtrey3 on Aug 14, 2014 13:25:01 GMT -5
The p163 is an 8 ohm speaker with fairly high efficiency, and the mini-x drives my 4 ohm Emotiva 6.1s beautifully, and they should be more difficult to drive than your Infinity speakers. So I do not think it was the speaker load.
Trey
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Post by garbulky on Aug 14, 2014 16:02:46 GMT -5
I don't think you clipped it. Check your connections. You may have a speaker wire touching another strand.
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Post by BBane on Oct 26, 2014 16:41:11 GMT -5
I just purchased the mini-x for a very small study, using a mac for source and a dacmagic. I pulled two old Phase Tech 3.5Ts out of the attic, but I find they are weaker in bass response than I like (I think these speakers were intended for use with a sub.) So, I have two questions:
(1) I like the bass produced by my main system phase tech pc 1.5s, and am going to give them a test, but is there a general view as to how the mini-x handles 4 ohms? I believe the 1.5s are 90db and 4 ohms, and I might consider purchasing Phase Tech, PC 0.5s rated at 88.
(2) The other option is to put in a subwoofer, and keep the 3Ts. I understand that a sub is feasible with the Stealth DC-1. How would that set-up work? Is there a small sub that would be recommended?
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Post by garbulky on Oct 26, 2014 17:03:38 GMT -5
I just purchased the mini-x for a very small study, using a mac for source and a dacmagic. I pulled two old Phase Tech 3.5Ts out of the attic, but I find they are weaker in bass response than I like (I think these speakers were intended for use with a sub.) So, I have two questions: (1) I like the bass produced by my main system phase tech pc 1.5s, and am going to give them a test, but is there a general view as to how the mini-x handles 4 ohms? I believe the 1.5s are 90db and 4 ohms, and I might consider purchasing Phase Tech, PC 0.5s rated at 88. (2) The other option is to put in a subwoofer, and keep the 3Ts. I understand that a sub is feasible with the Stealth DC-1. How would that set-up work? Is there a small sub that would be recommended? I couldn't tell you about the exact performance with that speaker. But buying an amp solely to improve the bass is uaully not the best way to go about things. I have encountered amps that have trouble with bass and certain speakers but overall I wouldn't count on electronics to improve the bass SIGNFICANTLY. Not saying it won't, but I'm not sure that's the best way to fix a problem. 2. Yes the DC-1 can work with a sub. What happens is that it has two sets of simulatenously active outputs. You connect one set of outputs to the sub and the other set to the speaker amp. Your speakers will be running full range and then you will dial in your subwoofer till it sounds right. (adjust the crossover and the volume on the sub to blend it in). I would play a bass sweep test to make sure the bass was even. (Found on youtube). Another option - that I consider less optimal is to use the crossover selector on the subwoofer. Here you would take one set of outputs and feed it to the subwoofer. Then use the hi frequency outputs of the sub to go to the speaker amp. Then you would adjust the crossover on the sub. This allows you to run the speakers NON fully range (minus the bass). I personally wouldn't go this route, but it is possible. |
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Post by coolweldor on Oct 26, 2014 18:25:02 GMT -5
I am currently running Internet radio to a UMC-1 into four mini-x amplifiers that are feeding power to 8-Emotiva Outdoor Monitors. I think it sounds fantastic. I have four zones-Garage, Patio, Deck and Hot tub.
I'm also running the XRM 6.1 on my surround for HT use. No complaints here. Of course they are being fed plenty of power from the XPA-5. I have never tried running them as a front stage so I really cannot say how it they sound other than as surround speakers.
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