Need help just learning

[windwalker]

Hello everyone I'm new and hope you all will be willing to help me , I currently have a certain vega cv 1800 pro audio amp I have intergrated into my current 5.1 surround system ? I have a Yamaha receiver it's not in front of me now but I think it's a very good receiver not sure but I think it's a something 775 model? Anyway , the receiver isn't sending a strong enough signal to the vega amp so I'm having to run it through a carver pre amp to increase the signal to get the vega amp to use it supposedly to that's a common problem when you try to intergrate pro and home audio ? I'm the. Having to use 1/4 in phone jacks ( what I call a guitar plug ) and 50' xlr cables to the speakers !!! UGG ! Anyway I'm getting a low hum from the two cv xls 215"s and it's driving me crazy ! I'm ready to get rid of the vega amp ( sorry the whole purpose of the vega amp was to drive my two XLS 215 speakers ) they are rated at 250 amps minimum rms . I have two klipsh towers rated at 150 amps as my rear surrounds . I just don't think the system sounds very good and I'm not happy with the whole thing ! However, I have found three emotiva XPA 100"s one XPA 200 all gen 1and 1 A100 gen 2 With a 2500 dollar factory refurbished onkyo receiver still in the box, all for $ 1300 cash, do you think this would solve my problems ? Will I need anything else ? Should get the sound I want ?

[garbulky]

Unfortunately no I don't think this would solve all your problems. I think you're problem right now is that everything is a big mish mash including your speakers.
I have to confess I haven't heard your system. But if I were you...unless all that you are looking for is really loud SPLs and all that, look elsewhere for speakers.
Go straight for a pre processor. The Emotiva amps are okay. But instead I would buy a single used XPA-5 gen 1 or gen 2. You can get them used for about $750. Excellent value. Spend the rest on say a used UMC-200. Or wait a bit as Emotiva is about release what looks to be a scaled down version of the XMC-1.

Right now your current idea to go with amps of differing powers (though workable) and different speakers none of which provide you (imo haven't heard them) that last bit of articulation is not the most streamlined solution imo.
I'm not trying to diss your setup, just trying to give you the best advise I can.

I have found unless you have a good resolving speaker the differences in amps and electronics are very slight. Once you have one that can show all these differences, then electronic things become more worthwhile. Until then they are not that important imo.

The XPA-5 will provide a huge amount of power for your Cerwin Vegas as they will take the most juice being the front speakers. The srrounds should not take a lot of pwoer. So the unused power of your XPA-5 will go towards the front giving you more than the 250 watts per channel the XPA-5 is rated for. Its front power is closer to that of an XPA-2 due to the other speakers not requriing as much.

If you haven't already you absolutely need one of these (or more). Stick it behind your couch on the wall at head level. Best value for your money improvement and should rank at the top of your upgrades. Good luck in your audio journey! Howe exciting!
www.atsacoustics.com/item--ATS-Acoustic-Panel-24-x-48-x-2--1001.html

[windwalker]

Ok garbulky I'm kind of understanding you but not really, please speak in laymans terms I get that you're saying that I need better quality speakers but I don't understand spf"s and a few other things ? I started to look at the five channel amp's but I've also been told that the best sound comes from single amps one per channel I'm never going to be able to afford such a high and receiver as the Onkyo that this man is throwing in the deal with that not give me A high quality receiver to get me a good enough signal to the Emotiva amps to accomplish what I'm trying to do without starting all over. My main concern right now is to do away with the pro audio as it is causing problems in my system because I really don't know what I'm doing enough to be able to combatthe extra noise it creates. Would the XP a 100's not give enough power to each individual so when Vega speaker? Can anyone else help guide me in The right direction

[windwalker]

Please forgive some of my typos I'm speaking the text instead of typing

[stiehl11]

Jan 18, 2016 12:44:24 GMT -5 windwalker said:

Hello everyone I'm new and hope you all will be willing to help me , I currently have a certain vega cv 1800 pro audio amp I have intergrated into my current 5.1 surround system ? I have a Yamaha receiver it's not in front of me now but I think it's a very good receiver not sure but I think it's a something 775 model? Anyway , the receiver isn't sending a strong enough signal to the vega amp so I'm having to run it through a carver pre amp to increase the signal to get the vega amp to use it supposedly to that's a common problem when you try to intergrate pro and home audio ? I'm the. Having to use 1/4 in phone jacks ( what I call a guitar plug ) and 50' xlr cables to the speakers !!! UGG ! Anyway I'm getting a low hum from the two cv xls 215"s and it's driving me crazy ! I'm ready to get rid of the vega amp ( sorry the whole purpose of the vega amp was to drive my two XLS 215 speakers ) they are rated at 250 amps minimum rms . I have two klipsh towers rated at 150 amps as my rear surrounds . I just don't think the system sounds very good and I'm not happy with the whole thing ! However, I have found three emotiva XPA 100"s one XPA 200 all gen 1and 1 A100 gen 2 With a 2500 dollar factory refurbished onkyo receiver still in the box, all for $ 1300 cash, do you think this would solve my problems ? Will I need anything else ? Should get the sound I want ?

The quick answer: yes, no, maybe...

The long answer: First I would be weary of getting $4,500 worth of gear for $1,300 cash unless you personally know the seller. I wouldn't know if it's hot, broken, or legit. But, I've found that if a deal is too good to be true, it usually is. If you could score just that line up of amps for $1,300 to your door it would be a steal.

Second (and assuming everything is on the up and up and in good working condition); yes, it will likely solve most of your problems. I'm trying to visualize the hodge-podge of gear you have and the rats nest of wires you must have. You're probably getting your hum from your cables and your amp. Getting rid of that amp will be the best thing for your sound. By getting good amps (again, assuming everything is working properly) you can ditch your work around of going to the Carver pre-amp and having to use 1/4" connectors. And that brings me to...

Third; no, it will not be the only thing you'll need. I'm going on the assumption that your cables are as much of a hodge-podge as your gear. Throw all of them out and start fresh. You're likely getting some of your hum from them because of interference. While replacing all your cables won't 100% ensure no hum/interference (after you get rid of that amp and your work around), it'll be one less thing you have to troubleshoot if there's still a hum. Look to monoprice.com if you're on a budget or bluejeanscables.com if you have a little more in the budget. Of course, there's more expensive out there. But this will get you to "basic" on a budget.

Lastly; maybe it might get you the sound that you want. Cerwin Vega makes LOUD speakers; if that's the sound you want then you're on your way. They are also very efficient in that they make a lot of noise from not a lot of power. Because of that electrical interference that would normally be "invisible" on less efficient speakers will be readily apparent to you the listener's ears. After all the above, you may need additional suppression of unwanted "hum". But, you'll be on your way to getting the sound that you want (pending Cerwin Vega is the sound that you want).

[windwalker]

Thank you Stiehl, I do have quality cables all bought from monoprice , I I have monster cables 24 karat gold plated carry bowl yens etc. etc. I don't really know what kind of sale and I'm after other than earth shaking heart pounding excitement kind of sound I believe the cerwin vega sspeakers are 6 ohms speakers would VX PA 101 for each speaker be enough for them

[stiehl11]

Jan 18, 2016 14:27:46 GMT -5 windwalker said:

Thank you Stiehl, I do have quality cables all bought from monoprice , I I have monster cables 24 karat gold plated carry bowl yens etc. etc. I don't really know what kind of sale and I'm after other than earth shaking heart pounding excitement kind of sound I believe the cerwin vega sspeakers are 6 ohms speakers would VX PA 101 for each speaker be enough for them

Well, Cerwin Vega will definitely give you that! I remember back in the day I yearned for Cerwin Vega towers when all I wanted was to rock out to the extreme! The XPA-100 will definitely give you enough power for the CWs you have. The CWs will love the power and you'll love the sound!

[knucklehead]

How are you connecting your Yamaha AVR to the back of that amp? How are you connecting the speakers to the amp? The Yamaha does not have XLR out jacks and all your amp accepts is XLR input. The speaker out jacks are Speakon connectors and regular binding posts. Apparently your speakers accept Speakon connections - is that correct? I'm not familiar with any of the CV pro stuff. You can make all this work but why the 50' cable runs? Fans too loud coming from the amp? Common problem with single speed fans in pro amps is fans running continuous when it would have only taken a few more bucks to install variable speed fans.