leans
Minor Hero
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Post by leans on Jun 24, 2015 9:39:55 GMT -5
So I have been researching for over a month and my search has lead me to Emotiva. This is my first attempt at building a 2-channel system so I have a few questions. I will be placing this in my home office. The speakers I will use are the KEF ls50 with a SVS sb-2000 sub. I was thinking about purchasing the XPA-200 along with the XDA-2 (my music will come from my computer). What limitations will I have with this system? Is there a better option? Please guide me in the right direction. Thanks in advance.
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Post by pedrocols on Jun 24, 2015 9:57:02 GMT -5
I seems a pretty good set up if you ask me.
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Post by novisnick on Jun 24, 2015 10:15:50 GMT -5
Welcome to our/your little nut house!  So glad you found us!!   Love to have a little more info like, the size of your room? What's in it? Affects sound and what type of music? This info will better help us help you. Also, what is your budget and long term ideas for your home office? I mine as well give you the full treatment and offer a very large glass of Emo Kool-Aid!!!
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Post by repeetavx on Jun 24, 2015 10:19:05 GMT -5
It's all about your budget. We could recommend more expensive options like monoblocks and such. But the improvement in sound would be incremental. The XDA-2 with an XPA-200 is a really good choice. Especially for a home office.
How are you going to hook up your sub? And where are you going to be controlling your volume?
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Post by garbulky on Jun 24, 2015 10:42:04 GMT -5
Is this a nearfield setup? As in are the speakers going to sit on your desk? Or can the speakers be far apart and you sit far apart? If it's a nearfield setup, I wouldn't spend tons of money on it due to its inherent limitations. I reccomend a set of Emotiva airmotiv 4's and a DC-1. This way you save on the amp. You can upgrade to a larger airmotiv setup if you wish. They are very nice performers.  The subwoofer would be helpful. The DC-1 is better than the XDA-2 but I'm not sure if the benfits can be realized in a nearfield setup. However it has a very nice headphone output which would be useful. |
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Post by drtrey3 on Jun 24, 2015 11:00:51 GMT -5
I listen to my Airmotiv 4's and a nuforce udac every work day, and they are very satisfying. Using the DC-1 as a dac would be much, much better. But as was said, your plan should make you happy as well.
Welcome!
Trey
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leans
Minor Hero
Posts: 11
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Post by leans on Jun 24, 2015 12:29:07 GMT -5
It's all about your budget. We could recommend more expensive options like monoblocks and such. But the improvement in sound would be incremental. The XDA-2 with an XPA-200 is a really good choice. Especially for a home office . How are you going to hook up your sub? And where are you going to be controlling your volume? My budget for amp, dac, pre amp is 1,500 max but i would like to spend less if i can (hence leaning towards the XPA-200 and XDA-2) . I emailed Emotiva and they told me I could hookup my sub to the XDA-2(but this still confuses me when I look at pictures of the inputs and outputs of the XDA-2). My 3 biggest questions are: 1) should I get the XPA-2 over the XPA-200
2) should I get a separate pre amp? (maybe UMC-1?)
I was looking at the XDA-2 because it could be my pre amp and dac but hooking up the sub still confuses me.
So now I'm thinking XPA-200 or XPA-2 with UMC-1 and XDA-2
Please correct me if this will not work or if you have a better suggestion. Thanks!
I will be placing this system in my office but not on my desk, my room is 14 x 14. I have an empty wall adjacent to my desk where I will place the system so I have plenty of space to move the speakers around and all the components will be on a stand in between the speakers. |
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Post by geebo on Jun 24, 2015 12:38:26 GMT -5
Welcome to the Lounge!
Do you already have the speakers? If not you might want to consider some Airmotivs. They sound great and make an amp unnecessary. I currently drive a pair of A5s with the XDA-2 and it's quite an impressive little system.
Otherwise, the XPA-200/XDA-2 ought to do nicely in your intended application.
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Post by deltadube on Jun 24, 2015 12:46:48 GMT -5
So I have been researching for over a month and my search has lead me to Emotiva. This is my first attempt at building a 2-channel system so I have a few questions. I will be placing this in my home office. The speakers I will use are the KEF ls50 with a SVS sb-2000 sub. I was thinking about purchasing the XPA-200 along with the XDA-2 (my music will come from my computer). What limitations will I have with this system? Is there a better option? Please guide me in the right direction. Thanks in advance. welcome to the nut house eh.. lol I might suggest looking at the powersoundaudio.com subs psa instead of the 2000.. for just a little more money get a lot more sub.. cheers.. |
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leans
Minor Hero
Posts: 11
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Post by leans on Jun 24, 2015 12:48:41 GMT -5
Welcome to the Lounge! Do you already have the speakers? If not you might want to consider some Airmotivs. They sound great and make an amp unnecessary. I currently drive a pair of A5s with the XDA-2 and it's quite an impressive little system. Otherwise, the XPA-200/XDA-2 ought to do nicely in your intended application. I do not have the speakers yet, I was planning on ordering everything at the same time just to make sure I knew exactly what I needed. I had not thought of that but you setup looks very nice and convenient, I just really wanted to put together a system dedicated to 2 channel. I guess the look of it and piecing everything together is what makes me want to take a more difficult route lol. |
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leans
Minor Hero
Posts: 11
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Post by leans on Jun 24, 2015 12:49:52 GMT -5
welcome to the nut house eh.. lol I might suggest looking at the powersoundaudio.com subs psa instead of the 2000.. for just a little more money get a lot more sub.. cheers.. I will look into that! thank you |
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Post by sparky14 on Jun 24, 2015 14:03:06 GMT -5
Well, I have the XDA-2 and XPA-200 setup. And I am darned happy with it. I run a similar setup, driving Cambridge Aero2 bookshelf speakers and a Def Tech sub. While you don't have the "sub out" option like a receiver, there are ways to connect the sub. I use the RCA output from the DAC with a Y-splitter to sum the signal to the sub. I've also run speaker wire to the sub and use the subs high pass to the speakers. Both ways work fine. I do recommend using the XLR connection between dac and amp. Gives a little more oomph than the RCA connection. My only complaint with my system is that with my wife at home and two ~10 year old daughters...I don't get to use my system nearly enough. Outside of that, it's great! |
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Post by Hair Nick on Jun 24, 2015 14:24:26 GMT -5
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leans
Minor Hero
Posts: 11
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Post by leans on Jun 24, 2015 15:16:30 GMT -5
Well, I have the XDA-2 and XPA-200 setup. And I am darned happy with it. I run a similar setup, driving Cambridge Aero2 bookshelf speakers and a Def Tech sub. While you don't have the "sub out" option like a receiver, there are ways to connect the sub. I use the RCA output from the DAC with a Y-splitter to sum the signal to the sub. I've also run speaker wire to the sub and use the subs high pass to the speakers. Both ways work fine. I do recommend using the XLR connection between dac and amp. Gives a little more oomph than the RCA connection. My only complaint with my system is that with my wife at home and two ~10 year old daughters...I don't get to use my system nearly enough. Outside of that, it's great! Thatnk you! You have reassured me as I was starting to doubts! I'm glad you like the setup! |
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leans
Minor Hero
Posts: 11
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Post by leans on Jun 24, 2015 15:17:31 GMT -5
Thanks! I'm actually very surprised by the number of people that are willing to help out on this forum! Great to be a part of it! |
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Post by knucklehead on Jun 24, 2015 15:26:21 GMT -5
If you want to save a lot of money get one of these - you'll have lots of bucks left over for music. |
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Post by repeetavx on Jun 24, 2015 16:08:33 GMT -5
Ok, so I've been looking at those KEF speakers you want, and now I want to hear them!
I own two XPA-2s, and I love them. They are huge, heavy monsters designed to deliver lots of current and maximum control over towers with lots of drivers in them. The KEFs would be much easier to drive.
I think that the XPA-200 is a good choice for the KEFs. If you really wanted the ultimate, then a pair of XPA-100s would do it very elegantly.
I can see where bass management is the dilemma in your plans. A used UMC-1 would do the job nicely. It is a wonderful sounding setup with great control over routing, tone, and a great resistive ladder volume control. Using the XDA-2 would be a small but needed upgrade from the internal DACs. But then you couldn't use any internal processing. I think you would be better off with a used XSP-1. Everything is kept in the analog realm.
Of course you could just feed your XPA-200 with balanced interconnects, and the sub with unbalanced. Then set the levels on the sub for listening to double bass to your taste. I am currently listening to "enhanced" bass through my XMC-1 and I like the way it fills my theater.
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leans
Minor Hero
Posts: 11
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Post by leans on Jun 24, 2015 16:17:48 GMT -5
Ok, so I've been looking at those KEF speakers you want, and now I want to hear them! I own two XPA-2s, and I love them. They are huge, heavy monsters designed to deliver lots of current and maximum control over towers with lots of drivers in them. The KEFs would be much easier to drive. I think that the XPA-200 is a good choice for the KEFs. If you really wanted the ultimate, then a pair of XPA-100s would do it very elegantly. I can see where bass management is the dilemma in your plans. A used UMC-1 would do the job nicely. It is a wonderful sounding setup with great control over routing, tone, and a great resistive ladder volume control. Using the XDA-2 would be a small but needed upgrade from the internal DACs. But then you couldn't use any internal processing. I think you would be better off with a used XSP-1. Everything is kept in the analog realm. Of course you could just feed your XPA-200 with balanced interconnects, and the sub with unbalanced. Then set the levels on the sub for listening to double bass to your taste. I am currently listening to "enhanced" bass through my XMC-1 and I like the way it fills my theater. I'm glad you think the speakers look good! You have to hear them in person! The is a store an hour away that I went to just to hear them, can't wait to buy them. Thank you for your help but just to clarify, your suggestion would be XDA-200 with XSP-1 and XDA-2? |
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Post by Boomzilla on Jun 24, 2015 16:35:06 GMT -5
Me, I recommend you stick with the KEF LS50s. They're going to image far better (especially in a desktop, near-field setup) than any other speakers around. Further, if you later want to stand mount them to fill a larger space, they'll do it fine.
Since this is to be a desktop system, maybe consider an integrated amp with a DAC and a subwoofer output. Peachtree makes a most excellent one (with a tube, when you're in the mood for that sound).
Don't go trying for a dreadnaught mono block system for a desktop install.
Keep us posted, AND WELCOME TO THE LOUNGE!
Boomzilla (moniker NOT indicative of listening preferences)
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leans
Minor Hero
Posts: 11
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Post by leans on Jun 24, 2015 16:50:23 GMT -5
Me, I recommend you stick with the KEF LS50s. They're going to image far better (especially in a desktop, near-field setup) than any other speakers around. Further, if you later want to stand mount them to fill a larger space, they'll do it fine. Since this is to be a desktop system, maybe consider an integrated amp with a DAC and a subwoofer output. Peachtree makes a most excellent one (with a tube, when you're in the mood for that sound). Don't go trying for a dreadnaught mono block system for a desktop install. Keep us posted, AND WELCOME TO THE LOUNGE! Boomzilla (moniker NOT indicative of listening preferences) Sorry I wasn't really clear about it in my first post but this will not be a desktop setup. This will be in my home office but the speakers will be on their own stands and the components with have their own stand as well. I will be using this space as my home office/ listening room. |
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So glad you found us!! 
The subwoofer would be helpful. The DC-1 is better than the XDA-2 but I'm not sure if the benfits can be realized in a nearfield setup. However it has a very nice headphone output which would be useful.
