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Post by jhanken on Nov 5, 2013 12:47:41 GMT -5
Looking for some honest advice, building out a man cave in the garage, I am putting together pieces, some old and some new, to build out a 5.1 system, and the 5-channel amp is the missing piece of the puzzle.
Here are the components:
Oppo-BDP 105 as Blu-Ray, SACD, DAC, etc.
LG60LA7400 LED TV
B&O TX-2 turntable with Pro-ject Phono Box MM pre-amp
Arcam AV8 preamp/processor (which supports 7.1)
Orb Audio Mod2x speakers for Center, Left and Right
Orb Audio Mod1 speaker for Surrounds (up on back wall)
Orb Audio Super 8 200w Subwoofer
[Insert new amp here!]
The Orb speakers are pretty darned efficient and have a very full and dispersed sound, I have been powering them with an older Marantz TX-SR7000 receiver, but the Marantz was recently pressed into duty in the house and is no longer available to the man cave. The room is about 20 ft square, dry-walled with a partially vaulted ceiling, there will be a lot of concrete and metal out there but with some area rugs.
I am considering the UPA-500, it might be plenty of power for the Orbs, but I am torn. I really wish that Emotiva still offered something in the range of the UPA-5, with what I believe was 125w into 8ohms. I am looking at maybe getting a used UPA-5 for $450 plus shipping, not sure if that is a good price. The XPA-5 might just be serious overkill for my Orbs, They suggest 125w is about the right level of power handling.
FWIW, my system will actually be a hybrid of 2 channel and 5 channel. All 2 channel signals will go from the Arcam AV8 to an older Luxman M-117 amp with 200w/8ohm into each channel and a pair of Atlantic Technology AT-2 speakers on stands. So I may use this system for music, such as DVD-A or concert Blu-Rays, but it won't be my primary music system.
Please Emo-heads, offer some suggestions. I am super pumped about this company, and can see myself migrating to their stuff over time as stuff breaks or maybe I out-grow it.
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Post by garbulky on Nov 5, 2013 12:58:18 GMT -5
For orb speakers, I wouldn't spend more than a UPA-500. You have to match the price and quality of speakers with your amp. No sense spending more on amps than you would on the two main speakers IMO. But a UPA-5 used would definitely be a really good value if you can find one. It is a hefty amp and easily outperforms the UPA-500.
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Post by jhanken on Nov 5, 2013 13:10:13 GMT -5
Interesting, thanks, Garbulky. I see you are a fan of Speakers with a capital "S"! Those Axioms look impressive, I have never heard any. I guess the thing with the Orbs are that I originally purchased them in the house, purely for WAF, then came to love those little suckers. I may not have them forever, however. Or I may buff them out with the new Mod4x (four Orb in one) at some point.
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Post by Dark Ranger on Nov 5, 2013 13:35:10 GMT -5
Hi jhanken!
Welcome to the Lounge. Thanks for sharing your system details with us. So far I've been unable to locate detailed specifications about your speakers, but I'll keep looking. That said, I tend to agree with Garbulky on the UPA-500. It's a fantastic amplifier and will drive the Orb speakers with authority. The older UPA-5 is indeed a more powerful amplifier, and if you can find one, go for it. If not, the UPA-500 is being offered at a great price right now. It's a good way to get your feet wet in the world of Emotiva.
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Post by Dark Ranger on Nov 5, 2013 13:48:35 GMT -5
I am looking at maybe getting a used UPA-5 for $450 plus shipping, not sure if that is a good price. It seems the UPA-5 was sold for $549 + $25 shipping back in the day. This capture from Archive.org is November 2009. I'd recommend asking the owner about the warranty status. Some UPA-5 amplifiers may be nearing the end of coverage. |
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Post by jhanken on Nov 5, 2013 14:01:50 GMT -5
Hmm, that might make $450 a bit steep if it is heading out of warranty. I agree the price on the UPA-500 is so amazing right now, and I think it would sound great. Meditate on this, I will. |
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Post by garbulky on Nov 5, 2013 14:27:09 GMT -5
Interesting, thanks, Garbulky. I see you are a fan of Speakers with a capital "S"! Those Axioms look impressive, I have never heard any. I guess the thing with the Orbs are that I originally purchased them in the house, purely for WAF, then came to love those little suckers. I may not have them forever, however. Or I may buff them out with the new Mod4x (four Orb in one) at some point. The axioms are great! I really like them and so do my friends. However I know some people that don't.... Their main downside is that they are picky with placement. They sound good to okay just plonked down whereever but shine only when placement is optimized by OCD levels. Also they reach LOW so if your room isn't ideal you may get bass humps. There's plenty of great stuff on the market at that price range so it's not the only game in town. I would personally not go with orbs if you were planning on upgrading (but that's just me). I prefer large floorstanders. As for the UPA-5. It is well worth the $500 he is asking even used. It features five separate amp blades and doesn't mess around. The UPA-500 uses a single amp blade. The UPA-5 is sort of a hybrid amp between the UPA-500 and the XPA-5. It is closer to the X-series amps than the new u-series amps. It's a beast. But the upa-500 is no joke either.  |
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Post by creimes on Nov 5, 2013 15:58:15 GMT -5
Don't worry about the UPA-500 being under powered, I ran my 5 channels off it with ease and it sounded great, but upgraditis is a terrible thing  , for $349 with 5 years warranty I would recommend it for your system. Chad |
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Post by dally on Nov 5, 2013 15:59:04 GMT -5
I would agree with the above posters recomending the UPA-500,and UPA-5, BUT only if you are planning on keeping the orbs for a LONG time. If you think you might be tempted to upgrade within the next few years, I would STRONGLY recommend that you go with the XPA-5 now. This way you dont have to start over again in the future.In my opinion the XPA-5 is a much better value than the upa-500. Like garbulky said,the upa-500 has a single amp blade.It has two output devices per channel, and a small transformer. The XPA-5 with 5 blades, 6 devices per channel, and 1200VA is just so much more robust. Just look at the internal pics on Emo's site and you'll see what I mean.I think your just getting more for your money this way.Also don't worry about hurting your orbs with the XPA-5. As long as you don't get totally CRAZY with the volume knob,you'll have little to worry about.
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Post by novisnick on Nov 5, 2013 16:04:48 GMT -5
Head room , head room and why make a second purchase later. My vote,,,,,,,,XPA-5 gen 2. Pound for pound the best amp for the dollar that Emotiva has for sale!
IMHO
Peace,
Nick
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Post by novisnick on Nov 5, 2013 16:07:23 GMT -5
Don't worry about the UPA-500 being under powered, I ran my 5 channels off it with ease and it sounded great, but upgraditis is a terrible thing , for $349 with 5 years warranty I would recommend it for your system. Chad And that's why creimes has an XPA-5 gen 2,,,,,,,,,,, He,,,,,,,,,,,He,,,,,,,,,, Peace, Nick  |
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Post by deltadube on Nov 5, 2013 16:16:41 GMT -5
Head room , head room and why make a second purchase later. My vote,,,,,,,,XPA-5 gen 2. Pound for pound the best amp for the dollar that Emotiva has for sale! IMHO Peace, Nick Come on Nick he needs 5 xpr 1s eh.. lets get serious eh! cheers |
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Post by novisnick on Nov 5, 2013 16:25:44 GMT -5
How about 2 XPR-5 s so he can bi-amp, it's only money,,,,,,,,,,,
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,HIS $$$$$$$$$$$$$$
Hummmmmmm,,,,,,,,,,,,,not now,,I'm thinking,,,,,,,,,,,,,He,,,,,,,,He,,,,,,,,,,
Peace,
Nick
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Post by jhanken on Nov 5, 2013 16:41:19 GMT -5
If you think you might be tempted to upgrade within the next few years, I would STRONGLY recommend that you go with the XPA-5 now. This way you dont have to start over again in the future.In my opinion the XPA-5 is a much better value than the upa-500.... Also don't worry about hurting your orbs with the XPA-5. As long as you don't get totally CRAZY with the volume knob,you'll have little to worry about. This is what I am thinking, if I don't get crazy, I shouldn't necessarily see smoke rolling out of my Orbs, and in five years, I can send them off to college with the kids and shop for something new. Probably we will all be running 11.3 systems with telepathic digital connections by then anyway. I am sure I would be happy with the UPA-500 with my current setup, it just would not likely be my amp for good. Plus, and not that this really matters, but would look pretty puny next to the Luxman. |
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Post by jhanken on Nov 5, 2013 16:43:51 GMT -5
Don't worry about the UPA-500 being under powered, I ran my 5 channels off it with ease and it sounded great, but upgraditis is a terrible thing , for $349 with 5 years warranty I would recommend it for your system. Chad And that's why creimes has an XPA-5 gen 2,,,,,,,,,,, He,,,,,,,,,,,He,,,,,,,,,, Peace, Nick Indeed. Do as I say, not as I do? I appreciate the advice, creimes, and I gratefully take it in the spirit in which was given. |
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Post by Dark Ranger on Nov 5, 2013 16:47:25 GMT -5
Go with your gut feeling in this case. You'll likely have less buyer's remorse. |
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Post by jhanken on Nov 5, 2013 17:37:13 GMT -5
...resistance....crumbling....can't...take much.... more...
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, for $349 with 5 years warranty I would recommend it for your system.
