Post by SDMonkey on Feb 7, 2009 8:21:13 GMT -5
I have only had the UPA-7 a couple days now, but what a difference in SQ. I have been using a Yamaha RX-V1300 (100 watts per channel x6 with 2 extra main channels) for about 7 years now. I upgraded my from Energy Take 5 speakers to Energy C-1's about 3-4 years ago. I noticed the Yamaha was working pretty hard and the sound at higher volumes became harsh and details were no longer clean and clear. For sometime I thought I needed to replace my speakers. I had always wanted separates but could never afford them until I found Emotiva. I was injured on the job and spent a lot of time reading AVS forum where I discovered Emotiva by clicking on the different advertisement banners. I read everything I could find on Emotiva on the internet and this forum here. A big Thank You to all the members who helped me understand how to make this dream a reality.
My first impressions of the UPA-7 was "Wow this is big and beautiful". I hooked everything up very carefully and powered it up. The show of red lights for each channel and then all blue was very satisfying to say the least. I have to say this amp just looks awesome with all the other gear. I did not have much time to listen to it but right away I noticed that every thing was clearer, crisper, more detailed in every way. The speakers are more lively and the surrounds have greater impact. I can hear things more defined with greater impact. All of this in the 30 minutes I was able to play with my toy.
I was finally able to watch a couple movies and raise the volume really high, like I have before with the power of the Yamaha. Only this time it remained clean and clear with no harshness. It used to go loud with Yamaha but the SQ diminished greatly as the volume went up and would hurt my ears going down to -30. The UPA-7 gets things really loud at -40 and when the volume is raised to -30 it remained clear and clean, very surprised by how good it sounded considering how poorly the Yamaha performed at these same levels. I did not know what to expect from the UPA-7 since so many recommended the XPA-5, I had even talked myself into an XPA-5 just for more horse power. My speakers and set up really don't need all the extra power plus the UPA-7 fits into my budget. I was limited on space and a small budget with the reality of what my goals are for the long run. The UPA-7 was the perfect match and fit in every way. I am very surprised at just how much an improvement the UPA-7 has made. Even at lower volumes the details and effects are so much more lively than before. If anyone is like me with a question of "will it make an improvement over my receiver" the simple answer is going to be helll yaaaa! The UPA-7 has really shown me a new world of A/V gear, I wish I would have found Emotiva a long time ago. Hearing is believing, now I understand what so many were saying about needing to hear Emotiva amps. I am more than very satisfied with UPA-7 and highly recommend this amp.
This is my first step into separates and I am loving it. The next step on my list is the UMC-1 to replace the Yamaha. I can see a lot of Emo gear making its way into my cabinet over the next year or two. ;D
My current setup is in 5.1 and I am using the extra 2 channels on the amp for a set of speakers I have in the back yard. I have not listened to any CDs yet since I had to remove my Cd player to make room for the UPA-7. I will do more testing tomorrow and see if I can post some pictures.
I did some additional testing with some music CD's in 2 channel only and I would have never believed that my Energy C-1 book shelf speakers could sound that good, It never sounded like it does now, not ever with the Yamaha powering them. It's hard for me explain it, but it was totally different in a good way. I listened to Vicente fernandez new CD Para Siempre to start off with. The sound of trumpets,guitars, violins, vocals and all the other elements in the background were very distinct and pronounced. Every note, every instrument, and all the vocals were clean and clear with no distortion or harshness at loud volumes, and it does get really loud. I had Josh Groban CD on hand and decided why not try it out. I was very impressed by the details I was hearing that I had not heard before. It seems that the subtile details were showing themselves and really made me smile. The instruments were so much more powering and dramatic than before. I had just the two bookshelfs on and I was simply shocked at the way my speakers are performing. I used to only listen to music in DTS NEO/ 6 channel stereo because it never sounded very good in stereo only, but I think that is going to change now. This amp has given me a whole new set of speakers, it really has been that much of an improvement over the Yamaha's power. I think the XPA-5 would have been overkill for my modest setup based on how the UPA-7 has brought new life into my system with commanding authority.
Update:
I have watched many movies now and can not say enough about the performance of this amp. The UPA-7 has made it so much more enjoyable. I always thought it sounded good but now it sounds freaking awesome. I tend to turn things up a lot more these days when watching a movie or listening to music. The WAF is constantly complaining that I have it too loud.
I finally had a chance to run all 7 channels for music using the extra set of speakers outside. The speakers outside never went very loud until now. I can say the UPA-7 has changed everything for the better. I am really happy I saved $250 bucks and have an amp that can handle what ever I through at it without breaking a sweat. This is in a tight spot but never gets hot, just barely warm after hours and hours of use.
My first impressions of the UPA-7 was "Wow this is big and beautiful". I hooked everything up very carefully and powered it up. The show of red lights for each channel and then all blue was very satisfying to say the least. I have to say this amp just looks awesome with all the other gear. I did not have much time to listen to it but right away I noticed that every thing was clearer, crisper, more detailed in every way. The speakers are more lively and the surrounds have greater impact. I can hear things more defined with greater impact. All of this in the 30 minutes I was able to play with my toy.
I was finally able to watch a couple movies and raise the volume really high, like I have before with the power of the Yamaha. Only this time it remained clean and clear with no harshness. It used to go loud with Yamaha but the SQ diminished greatly as the volume went up and would hurt my ears going down to -30. The UPA-7 gets things really loud at -40 and when the volume is raised to -30 it remained clear and clean, very surprised by how good it sounded considering how poorly the Yamaha performed at these same levels. I did not know what to expect from the UPA-7 since so many recommended the XPA-5, I had even talked myself into an XPA-5 just for more horse power. My speakers and set up really don't need all the extra power plus the UPA-7 fits into my budget. I was limited on space and a small budget with the reality of what my goals are for the long run. The UPA-7 was the perfect match and fit in every way. I am very surprised at just how much an improvement the UPA-7 has made. Even at lower volumes the details and effects are so much more lively than before. If anyone is like me with a question of "will it make an improvement over my receiver" the simple answer is going to be helll yaaaa! The UPA-7 has really shown me a new world of A/V gear, I wish I would have found Emotiva a long time ago. Hearing is believing, now I understand what so many were saying about needing to hear Emotiva amps. I am more than very satisfied with UPA-7 and highly recommend this amp.
This is my first step into separates and I am loving it. The next step on my list is the UMC-1 to replace the Yamaha. I can see a lot of Emo gear making its way into my cabinet over the next year or two. ;D
My current setup is in 5.1 and I am using the extra 2 channels on the amp for a set of speakers I have in the back yard. I have not listened to any CDs yet since I had to remove my Cd player to make room for the UPA-7. I will do more testing tomorrow and see if I can post some pictures.
I did some additional testing with some music CD's in 2 channel only and I would have never believed that my Energy C-1 book shelf speakers could sound that good, It never sounded like it does now, not ever with the Yamaha powering them. It's hard for me explain it, but it was totally different in a good way. I listened to Vicente fernandez new CD Para Siempre to start off with. The sound of trumpets,guitars, violins, vocals and all the other elements in the background were very distinct and pronounced. Every note, every instrument, and all the vocals were clean and clear with no distortion or harshness at loud volumes, and it does get really loud. I had Josh Groban CD on hand and decided why not try it out. I was very impressed by the details I was hearing that I had not heard before. It seems that the subtile details were showing themselves and really made me smile. The instruments were so much more powering and dramatic than before. I had just the two bookshelfs on and I was simply shocked at the way my speakers are performing. I used to only listen to music in DTS NEO/ 6 channel stereo because it never sounded very good in stereo only, but I think that is going to change now. This amp has given me a whole new set of speakers, it really has been that much of an improvement over the Yamaha's power. I think the XPA-5 would have been overkill for my modest setup based on how the UPA-7 has brought new life into my system with commanding authority.
Update:
I have watched many movies now and can not say enough about the performance of this amp. The UPA-7 has made it so much more enjoyable. I always thought it sounded good but now it sounds freaking awesome. I tend to turn things up a lot more these days when watching a movie or listening to music. The WAF is constantly complaining that I have it too loud.
I finally had a chance to run all 7 channels for music using the extra set of speakers outside. The speakers outside never went very loud until now. I can say the UPA-7 has changed everything for the better. I am really happy I saved $250 bucks and have an amp that can handle what ever I through at it without breaking a sweat. This is in a tight spot but never gets hot, just barely warm after hours and hours of use.
