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Post by stoopalini on Mar 26, 2014 11:23:39 GMT -5
I'm considering an UPA-500 with a UMC-200 for my living room, but not sure if the 80wpc will be enough to drive my speakers to reference levels. The speakers are 4 NHT Super Ones, matching Super Center, and I have a decent 12" shiva sub in a custom enclosure. These speakers have an 86dB sensitivity rating. The room is vaulted in the center, about 18' deep by 22' wide, is open at the rear, and seating position is about 12' from the mains. Ignore the side speakers in this diagram, as they're not in the room.  I found some sensitivity calculators on line, just not sure how much I can trust them. One of these calculators said I should see 96dB at the seated position with 80wpc and 2 speakers. I'm curious to see what the Emotiva experts think about this. |
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DYohn
Emo VIPs 
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Post by DYohn on Mar 26, 2014 11:26:37 GMT -5
Should be fine. Try it and see. You have a 30-day return policy on the amp. If it's not enough you can send it back and move up to the X series.
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Post by frenchyfranky on Mar 26, 2014 11:28:51 GMT -5
Welcome to the lounge, the UPA-500 would do the job but I can understand that you like to drive a little bit high volume, in this case you should consider the XPA-5 with 86dB eff speakers.
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Post by Dark Ranger on Mar 26, 2014 12:18:51 GMT -5
I'm not an "Emotiva Expert," but I'll offer an opinion. "Reference Level" is usually considered as 105 dB peaks from the five satellite speakers at the listening position and up to 115 dB peaks from the subwoofer at the listening position. This is very loud. For the most part, dB levels will be significantly less. I think the UPA-500 will be OK. The amplifier is advertised at 80 wpc (into 8 ohms) all channels driven at a specific level of distortion. However, 80 watts is not a brick wall and the "all channels driven" requirement is not typically seen in home listening environments. The spare power from "underused channels" such as surrounds can be reallocated when needed (such as to the fronts). In addition, you'll likely get a very slight bump in apparent output due to boundary effects with the speakers close to the wall. I also recommend configuring the five satellites to SMALL and using an appropriate crossover. The amplifier won't have to waste power trying to reproduce lower frequencies through the five satellites, you've got a nice subwoofer for that. The UPA-500 is a surprisingly potent amplifier, sounds great, and has a nice 2RU form factor. Give it a try.  |
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Post by stoopalini on Mar 26, 2014 13:37:41 GMT -5
Thanks for the input guys, all valid points and I think I'll give it a shot. I do like to listen to reference levels on occasion, but it's not too often; If the system won't drive to reference levels without distortion, then I won't push it that high. I'm more excited about the clean signal path for critical listening with music without having to go out to the studio room; since my wife and I are both musicians, we appreciate a clean reproduction of music tracks |
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Post by pedrocols on Mar 26, 2014 14:43:35 GMT -5
I used the upa-500 with some paradigms studio 100s for a while and it got loud enough to disturb the neighbors. You can see the UPA-500 in this pic...  |
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Post by bobcel on Mar 26, 2014 14:49:22 GMT -5
Hey Stoopalini
FWIW I ran a pair of NHT SB2, also 86db with my IPS-1. Sound wonderful. I have them retired to my office now and currently running them with a little "Indeed class T TriPath 25wX2" amp I picked up off flea-bay and they sound great there too. I think you will not have a problem running them with the UPA. Good clean power, NHT loves that.
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Post by stoopalini on Mar 26, 2014 15:00:46 GMT -5
Great to hear! These amps are current limited, right? So as the impedance changes with different frequencies, the wattage will increase accordingly? I'm told the NHTs can experience significant impedance swings with different frequencies and having an amp without voltage limiting is what you want here.
I'm 99% confident the Emotiva amps aren't voltage limited, just wanted to be sure.
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Post by Boomzilla on Mar 28, 2014 8:00:49 GMT -5
Should be fine. Try it and see. You have a 30-day return policy on the amp. If it's not enough you can send it back and move up to the X series. ^^ What he said! |
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Post by Chuckienutcase on Mar 28, 2014 8:26:19 GMT -5
I'm not an "Emotiva Expert," but I'll offer an opinion. "Reference Level" is usually considered as 105 dB peaks from the satellite speakers at the listening position and up to 115 dB peaks from the subwoofer at the listening position. This is very loud. For the most part, dB levels will be significantly less. I think the UPA-500 will be OK. The amplifier is advertised at 80 wpc (into 8 ohms) all channels driven at a specific level of distortion. However, 80 watts is not a brick wall and the "all channels driven" requirement is not typically seen in home listening environments. The spare power from "underused channels" such as surrounds can be reallocated when needed (such as to the fronts). In addition, you'll likely get a very slight bump in apparent output due to boundary effects with the speakers close to the wall. I also recommend configuring the satellites to SMALL and using an appropriate crossover. The amplifier won't have to waste power trying to reproduce lower frequencies through the satellites, you've got a nice subwoofer for that. The UPA-500 is a surprisingly potent amplifier, sounds great, and has a nice 2RU form factor. Give it a try. I agree with Dark Ranger, however, I would configure all 5 speakers " to SMALL and using an appropriate crossover." |
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Mar 28, 2014 8:28:15 GMT -5
I agree with the above also, but where are the guests getting these strange screen names?
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Post by frenchyfranky on Mar 28, 2014 17:47:29 GMT -5
I agree with the above also, but where are the guests getting these strange screen names? Mmmmmmm...! Chuckie, are you sometime playing chess with yourself...? |
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Post by Dark Ranger on Mar 28, 2014 20:47:48 GMT -5
I agree with Dark Ranger, however, I would configure all 5 speakers " to SMALL and using an appropriate crossover." Hi Chuckienutcase (or is he really @chuckienut in disguise? You decide...). I should have been more precise. By "satellite" I simply meant the five main speakers. Five satellites + subwoofer as it were. It would have been better for me to say I also recommend configuring the five satellites to SMALL and using an appropriate crossover. What sort of penance is required to cleanse me of my wrong-doing?  |
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Post by jlafrenz on Mar 28, 2014 21:10:11 GMT -5
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Post by novisnick on Mar 28, 2014 21:14:27 GMT -5
I agree with Dark Ranger, however, I would configure all 5 speakers " to SMALL and using an appropriate crossover." Hi Chuckienutcase (or is he really @chuckienut in disguise? You decide...). I should have been more precise. By "satellite" I simply meant the five main speakers. Five satellites + subwoofer as it were. It would have been better for me to say I also recommend configuring the five satellites to SMALL and using an appropriate crossover. What sort of penance is required to cleanse me of my wrong-doing? I think one hour of two channel at medium to high volume should cover your penance,,,,,,,,don't you? |
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Post by Dark Ranger on Mar 28, 2014 21:32:20 GMT -5
I think one hour of two channel at medium to high volume should cover your penance,,,,,,,,don't you? Whew. I think that's fair and reasonable. I feared the worst, such as 96 hours of listening to self-help cassette tapes on a BOSE Acoustimass system.  |
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Post by novisnick on Mar 28, 2014 22:04:59 GMT -5
DR,,,,that would leave a mark!
My power is out and I'm in the dark on battery power!
Don't know how long that will last,,,,,my penance,,,,I guess!!
Arggg!
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Mar 29, 2014 0:31:33 GMT -5
Yes to all!
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Post by wizardofoz on Mar 29, 2014 1:27:05 GMT -5
not sure about the crown link... I came up with 86db and @ 105db level it gave me over 1400 watts...
I would be more comfortable with suggesting an XPA5 or XPA3 for the LCR and maybe the UPA200 for the surrounds - I don't think the UPA500 will do well power wise even with only the LR riven at higher SPL's without perhaps some possibility of clipping which will not be good for your speakers or the amp.
thats just my opinion and how I would tackle it.
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Post by jlafrenz on Mar 29, 2014 7:54:41 GMT -5
not sure about the crown link... I came up with 86db and @ 105db level it gave me over 1400 watts... I would be more comfortable with suggesting an XPA5 or XPA3 for the LCR and maybe the UPA200 for the surrounds - I don't think the UPA500 will do well power wise even with only the LR riven at higher SPL's without perhaps some possibility of clipping which will not be good for your speakers or the amp. thats just my opinion and how I would tackle it. Here is another calculator that gives different results. www.doctorproaudio.com/doctor/calculadores_en.htmI wonder why there is such a difference? |
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