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Post by davidl81 on Aug 22, 2015 23:09:53 GMT -5
I have a question that I am looking for some help with. I just purchased a pair of Mirage OMD-28 speakers and I am looking to maybe upgrade on my Amps. Right now my set up is as shows below
Miarge OMD-C2 center
OMD-28 l/R
OMD-5 surround side and rear
omni can in ceiling speakers
svs plus 12 sub
(Dolby atmos 11.1 set up)
marantz sr 7009 source unit
xpa-5 on center l/r
upa-700 on surrounds
marantz running the ceiling speakers
Used in media room appx 15x18 8ft ceilings
95 percent home theather and 5 percent 2 channel music
When listing to the towers they sound good, but not quite as impactful as I hoped for. Everything I read is saying that the OMD-28's need power. My question is would the monoblocks provide any difference over the xpr-2 since most of my use is in a home theather setting? I plan on switching the l/r over to the bigger amps then run the center and surrounds off of the xpa-5. I may run the ceiling speakers off of the upa-700 or off of the reciever. Any input would be great.
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hemster
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Particle Manufacturer
...still listening... still watching
Posts: 51,951
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Post by hemster on Aug 22, 2015 23:31:59 GMT -5
David, I'm not an expert but I did stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night!  Now, looking at your setup I can offer a couple of words of advice. The XPA-2 is a fine amp. It bats way above it's league. Given your listening preference, I doubt if you will benefit from monoblocks of similar size as the XPA-2. so feeding the front L/R speakers off an XPA-2 is a prudent idea, IMHO. If you'd said your listening preference was mostly music rather than HT I would have had a different answer perhaps. The 5% music time will put a smile on your face with the XPA-2. Using a UPA-700 on the surrounds is fine, and I bet you'll be pleased with your 11.1 Atmos setup. Just a thought - have you considered adding another subwoofer? That may make a bigger impact on the overall experience. Just my 2 cents. Good luck and keep us posted on your progress. |
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Post by novisnick on Aug 22, 2015 23:50:11 GMT -5
I have a question that I am looking for some help with. I just purchased a pair of Mirage OMD-28 speakers and I am looking to maybe upgrade on my Amps. Right now my set up is as shows below Miarge OMD-C2 center OMD-28 l/R OMD-5 surround side and rear omni can in ceiling speakers svs plus 12 plus (Dolby atmos 11.1 set up) marantz sr 7009 source unit xpa-5 on center l/r upa-700 on surrounds marantz running the ceiling speakers Used in media room appx 15x18 8ft ceilings 95 percent home theather and 5 percent 2 channel music When listing to the towers they sound good, but not quite as impactful as I hoped for. Everything I read is saying that the OMD-28's need power. My question is would the monoblocks provide any difference over the xpr-2 since most of my use is in a home theather setting? I plan on switching the l/r over to the bigger amps then run the center and surrounds off of the xpa-5. I may run the ceiling speakers off of the upa-700 or off of the reciever. Any input would be great. Like Mana from Heaven!,,,,,,,,if you hang out with us nuts for awhile you'll understand exactly what that means!,,,,,,it's all good brother! Now let me get to your question,,,,,,,MONOBLOCKS will make you more of a two channel guy! I promise! IMHO you won't give up your HT but the commanding power and dynamics will blow you away. I must confess,,,,,,,I am a MONOBLOCKS kind of guy! Nice setup you you have there,  I'd be really happy too! |
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Post by novisnick on Aug 22, 2015 23:52:03 GMT -5
David, I'm not an expert but I did stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night! Now, looking at your setup I can offer a couple of words of advice. The XPA-2 is a fine amp. It bats way above it's league. Given your listening preference, I doubt if you will benefit from monoblocks of similar size as the XPA-2. so feeding the front L/R speakers off an XPA-2 is a prudent idea, IMHO. If you'd said your listening preference was mostly music rather than HT I would have had a different answer perhaps. The 5% music time will put a smile on your face with the XPA-2. Using a UPA-700 on the surrounds is fine, and I bet you'll be pleased with your 11.1 Atmos setup. Just a thought - have you considered adding another subwoofer? That may make a bigger impact on the overall experience. Just my 2 cents. Good luck and keep us posted on your progress. Sage advice,,,,,,,,or is it ,,,,,advice from a sage? Either way, it's smart ! |
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Post by creimes on Aug 23, 2015 0:06:33 GMT -5
Having never owned either of those amps I cannot specifically suggest either but only give advice from my experience with other Emotiva amps, the best ones I have owned were the XPA-1L's but that being said I really only noticed a slight difference with jazz or classical and for movies never noticed any difference to my XPA-5, XPA-2, UPA-1's or XPA-100's Like Hemster mentioned I'm sure the XPA-2 would be great but if you really have your heart set on the amps you mentioned I would go XPR-2 cause man who doesn't want an XPR amp  , for 95% movie watching I don't see the need for monoblocks but in the end it's really what you would like to have sitting in your rack. Hope that helps Chad |
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Post by swissie on Aug 23, 2015 1:57:58 GMT -5
I'm with Hemster - add another sub! You can get a splitter from Emotiva if your Marantz doesn't have two Sub outputs. I'm assuming you are using fairly good XLR cables. If not, this might be a good upgrade as well.
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LCSeminole
Global Moderator
Res firma mitescere nescit.
Posts: 20,850
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Post by LCSeminole on Aug 23, 2015 9:40:19 GMT -5
I too agree with Hemster. Another SVS PB12+ subwoofer will have a bigger and more satisfying effect on your overall listening experience. My room is only slightly larger than yours at 17x19, and a second PB12+ made a huge impact.
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Post by vneal on Aug 23, 2015 10:07:48 GMT -5
Your speakers have an impedance of 6 Ohms nominal / 3.5 Ohms minimum and their Room Efficiency is 87 dB which is a little on the inefficient side but the power you have and your room size should sound very satisfying. Don't get me wrong with unlimited income yes the mono blocks will sound better but I direct that usually to someone listening to 75% 2.1 or 2.2
A second subwoofer will improve sound all around. I have not heard you model Mirage speakers. I would generally consider Mirage a speaker line more directed to Home Theater. Since your model is their signature model if you are not totally satisfied with the sound consider replacing your front speakers with another brand. Speakers do make the most impact on the listening experience
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Post by repeetavx on Aug 23, 2015 10:50:39 GMT -5
I have a question that I am looking for some help with. I just purchased a pair of Mirage OMD-28 speakers and I am looking to maybe upgrade on my Amps. My question is would the monoblocks provide any difference over the xpr-2 since most of my use is in a home theather setting? The XPR line is currently Emotivas statement line of amplifiers. I doubt that you could do better than an XPR-2, unless you were running $20,000.00 a piece speakers. Then you would need a pair of XPR-1s. The XPR line does sound different than the XPA line. A pair of XPA-1s would probably match the XPA-5 better. But with multi-channel sound, these differences aren't as noticeable. I have found that you get the clearest, cleanest sound, when you have very short speaker cables. (You can set monoblock amplifiers next to your speakers for the shortest possible speaker cable). A centralized two channel amp won't accommodate that type of setup. All of that said. If I were you, I would do with your speakers what I did with my speakers. Passive Bi-amp with a pair of two channel amplifiers sitting next to your speakers with the shortest possible speaker wire. I'm using XPA-2s. You might want to use a pair of XPR-2s. This will give you the best possible two channel experience, and insure maximum power and dynamics for theater presentation. So plan carefully. Consider room treatments, a second sub-woofer, and rack logistics. This is your room. Enjoy the journey. |
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Post by vneal on Aug 23, 2015 15:17:21 GMT -5
No offense 2',4'6'8'10 speaker cables. No sound difference even in the most critical system
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Post by Boomzilla on Aug 23, 2015 15:24:23 GMT -5
OK - As almost always, I've got to go against the flow. In a VERY high end, highly-resolving, stereo-only system, one might, but only might, be able to tell any difference between mono blocks and the XPA-2. In 99% of the systems out there, the XPA-2 is a better choice and for less money. Why better? Reread the second sentence.
Were I using a Marantz front end for 95% home theater use, I'd never even consider mono blocks, period.
As to the second sub being a better improvement, I can agree.
Cordially - Boomzilla
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Post by garbulky on Aug 23, 2015 15:56:27 GMT -5
The XPA-2 is a beast. Since you do home theater pretty much all the time, the demands on subtlety etc. aren't that important. XPA-2 or if you are insistent XPR-2. Either works.
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Post by tchaik on Aug 23, 2015 16:58:58 GMT -5
if it was primarily music listening, i would go with two XPA-1's over the XPR-2. that was the recommendation of lonnie when i spoke with him at the last emofest 2 years ago.
with the appropriate ancillary equipment, he felt that the dual differential design of the XPA-1"s was the game changer in resolution, noise floor, purity and all other possible parameters one might choose.
since i use my system about 60/40 on the home theater side, i am extremely happy with the XPR-2.
either way. both options have tons of dynamics and power.
tchaik………
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Post by davidl81 on Aug 23, 2015 20:39:37 GMT -5
So it seems that for mostly HT use I could "get away" with just an XPA-2. That does save a little over $1000 over dual monoblocks.
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Post by davidl81 on Aug 31, 2015 17:29:17 GMT -5
I just bought a 6 month old xpa-2 and I'm looking forward to getting that bad boy installed. I think I will get the sub as well. I may wait a few months for the wife to calm down a tad.
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Post by creimes on Aug 31, 2015 20:07:13 GMT -5
I just bought a 6 month old xpa-2 and I'm looking forward to getting that bad boy installed. I think I will get the sub as well. I may wait a few months for the wife to calm down a tad. Can't go wrong with the XPA-2, great amp for a great price, I should know |
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Post by davidl81 on Sept 4, 2015 22:00:32 GMT -5
So I installed the xpa-2 today and I'm very impressed with the difference. The speakers have just come to life with the extra headroom. Even at moderate volume they sound so much fuller and stronger than before. I'm happy with the choice. Now on to the 2nd sub.
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Post by novisnick on Sept 4, 2015 22:24:30 GMT -5
So I installed the xpa-2 today and I'm very impressed with the difference. The speakers have just come to life with the extra headroom. Even at moderate volume they sound so much fuller and stronger than before. I'm happy with the choice. Now on to the 2nd sub. XPA-2? Or XPR-2 like the thread states? Im confused,,,,,,,again,,,,he,,,,,,he,,,,,he,,,,,, |
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Post by garbulky on Sept 4, 2015 22:26:17 GMT -5
Glad to hear the result of this thread. The XPA-2 used to be Emotiva's flagship stereo amplifier for years. This was the best they had for stereo power amps and it shows!  The second sub will do you well! If you have an XSP-1 it will complement it and the rest of your system well I found the system to have slightly better bass but more importantly to be somewhat faster at everything. |
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Post by davidl81 on Sept 4, 2015 22:29:17 GMT -5
I did the xpa-2. My first thought was to go with an xpr-2, but this thread convinced me that the xpa-2 was all I needed. The xpr-2 would have given me more power, but I don't know if I really needed to spend the extra $1000 on it. Gar, XSP-1, oh no not more things to buy |
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I'd be really happy too!
, for 95% movie watching I don't see the need for monoblocks but in the end it's really what you would like to have sitting in your rack.
The second sub will do you well! If you have an XSP-1 it will complement it and the rest of your system well 