5-channel setup - opinion needed!

[nickg69]

First of all, thanks to the staff members for accepting me into this fantastic club!  I've read many threads before joining and I know I will be chatting with some of the top Emo experts on the planet!

I'm just getting ready to enter the Emotiva universe by placing my first order, taking also advantage of the Summer sale.  I'm Italian, therefore getting eveything shipped to Italy is extremely expensive (bottom line by the time I've paid duties, tax and shipping the stuff is apprx. 70% (!) more expensive than it is for a US-based client).  Nevertheless, even with this steep increase on the price tag the Emo amps are still quite appealing and competitive vs. other viable solutions available over here, therefore I will try them out.

The main pieces of my setup are as follows:
Pro-ject 1X-pression Carbon Classic turntable
Pro-ject phono pre-amp tube box DS
Denon AVR 3313
Denon DBT 3313
and last but not least my wonderful Dynaudio Excite X38s
plus the other usual stuff: PS4, XBOX, sat decoder, etc.

I used to have KEF Q5s and I still have the KEF i60c center and KEF Q1's as surrounds, but these will all be swapped in due time with the Dynaudio Excite line corresponding pieces (next up is the Excite X24 center speaker).

As any of you can notice, I'm in obvious need of an upgrade in terms of amplification.  Furthermore, I listen to a lot of 2-channel music, both through the turntable and through plain CDs, therefore I'm leaning towards giving priority to my fronts.  However, I do enjoy surround sound as well, both in terms of movies and with DVD-As, SACDs and audio Blurays (lots of these have been coming out lately...pretty amazing stuff).

My first solution was one of "one-stop shopping": pick up an XPA-5 and end it there.  [SOLUTION A]

Then after having done some homework, I came to understand that if you really prioritise your 2-channel listening experience, you can't avoid buying the XPA-2, which I understand is the beast of the whole XPA collection and really enhances your stereo experience.  I could accompany this with an XPA-3 for center and surrounds, but that takes me slightly out of my budget, but I can still pull it off if I want to (always keep in mind that I need to add a 70% to anything I buy from Emotiva).  [SOLUTION B: XPA-2 plus XPA-3]

Third solution, get an XPA-2, add an XPA-100 for my center speaker and let the Denon take care of surrounds. [SOLUTION C].  I can always add another amp for surrounds in the future (by the way, do you think I need one anyway?  Please provide feedback on this as well)  I must admit this seems to me the most reasonable option to me.

Then I started reading about the XPA-1Ls...and things got really messed up.  To make a long story short, my final orientation would be the following [SOLUTION D]:
2 x XPA-1Ls for my Dynaudio X38s 
1 x XPA 100 for my future X24 center speaker

I know any and all of these solutions work and make sense one way or another and for one reason or another, and I know these options have been thoroughly analyzed many times before, however I would really appreciate your opinions on this so that you can help me make up my mind and put in my order!

Thanks in advance for your opinions!

Nick


 

[restless]

Another option would be the 2 XPA-1ls, and the XPA3.

You may be happier with that solution in the long run, but as always, YMMV.

The main problem is once you go MONOBLOCK, it is hard to do otherwise. And you may also find that having adequate power to all speakers makes a significant enhancement to the enjoyment of some of the later Blurays and their 5.1/7.1 mixes, as opposed to some of the earlier efforts. Some titles have more information in the rear channels now.

[nickg69]

Jun 12, 2015 11:40:59 GMT -5 restless said:

Another option would be the 2 XPA-1ls, and the XPA3.

You may be happier with that solution in the long run, but as always, YMMV.

The main problem is once you go MONOBLOCK, it is hard to do otherwise. And you may also find that having adequate power to all speakers makes a significant enhancement to the enjoyment of some of the later Blurays and their 5.1/7.1 mixes, as opposed to some of the earlier efforts. Some titles have more information in the rear channels now.

Yes, that's what I thought.  I agree that recent audio blurays are pretty amazing and have a lot of detail coming out of the back speakers, so it probably does make sense to amp all channels up.  At this point the options are quite limited and it's basically down to either XPA-2 + XPA-3 or 2 x XPA-1L + XPA-3.  I need to run some numbers and see what it all adds up to after tax, duties and shipment.  Then again, I'm not gonna spend all that money and then not get the monos for a $250 difference, am I???

[vcautokid]

I would go with the XPA-1L x 2 for the front 2 speakers first. Save up for a XPA-3 for the rest. You said yourself that 2 channel music listening is a focus of your system. Put the best up front. Your receiver is more than able to drive the rest for the time being. Also since the XPA-1L would drive the front 2 left/right speakers, your AV receiver is less burdened by the front Left/Right, and can perform well for the rest.

You could go with an XPA-5 and take care of the whole thing. Yes it is all eggs in one basket, but the XPA-5 is very capable, and has been an Emotiva popular amplifier for some time now. It is a good one. Stereophile liked the XPA-5 quite a bit too.

An XPA-2 is less money than 2 XPA-1L, though not Mono Blocks, still offers up a powerful strong idea in that your 2 channel music listen is still important, and it does the dynamics, and control part very well. Will drive those Dynaudio's amazingly. Very high current output makes your front left and right speakers know who's boss. I had an XPA-2 driving Magnepans with ease, and power to spare. A winner!

Synapses, you can win in any combination or one XPA-5 and put power and life into your system. The X series was made just to do that in its price, and more without peer.

[Gary Cook]

Jun 15, 2015 6:22:21 GMT -5 vcautokid said:

I would go with the XPA-1L x 2 for the front 2 speakers first. Save up for a XPA-3 for the rest.

This would be my suggestion, gives you superb stereo sound straight up, fits the short term and long term budgets and has an upgrade path.

Cheers
Gary

[novisnick]

My Esteemed colleagues have given you your answer, join the MONOBLOCK SOCIETY and enjoy some of the best amps per dollar on the planet!!,,,,,,,just a little bias on my part but still true!!!

When Emo goes world wide with B&M ,,,,I don't think they will be able to keep up with demand for this GREAT AMP!!!

Now go ahead and drink from the cup of enlightenment!!!,,,,,,,,I'll pour,,,,he,,,,he,,,,he,,,,,,    


                                                                           

[klinemj]

Given you like 2 channel, I will throw you a curve. Get some nCore Hypex amps and build them yourself. It is easy and they sound GREAT. And, you can get into very powerful monoblocks for around $1500 total for 2 channels. Sweet...

Mark

[deltadube]

get 2 xpa 1s and and xpa 3 sounds great .. then pick up the xsp 1 analog pre amp.. sweet sounds... or if the budget just get the xpa 5..

cheers..

[vneal]

I am a Pro-Ject fan for turntables and like the Dynalab speakers. You cannot go wrong with Emotiva for amps or preamps. IMHO the XPA5 is a bargain if 5 channels are your thing

[nickg69]

Thanks for the feedback guys...I've decided to go Xpa-1L + Xpa3...It was a close call but at the end the opportunity of entering the monoblock society made the difference, how could I pass up?? I'm putting in my order this week...

[novisnick]

Jun 18, 2015 0:42:48 GMT -5 nickg69 said:

Thanks for the feedback guys...I've decided to go Xpa-1L + Xpa3...It was a close call but at the end the opportunity of entering the monoblock society made the difference, how could I pass up?? I'm putting in my order this week...

We'll be glad to look at your paperwork and get your key all po,is he'd up for the secret initiation the the Grand Society!!    

I still feel that you may loose out on a future opportunity  if you don't spring for the XPA-5, at its current discount price the idea of me purchasing another has crossed my mind. Atmos ya know, or even other zones!

                                                       

[novisnick]

Jun 18, 2015 0:42:48 GMT -5 nickg69 said:

Thanks for the feedback guys...I've decided to go Xpa-1L + Xpa3...It was a close call but at the end the opportunity of entering the monoblock society made the difference, how could I pass up?? I'm putting in my order this week...

Also, the additional cost per watt is cheap! Cheap! ?