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Post by srpawski on Aug 20, 2016 6:37:37 GMT -5
I was able to pick up last years' model Denon AVR-X3200W, the Denon twin to my Marantz SR-5010, for half price. I just couldn't resist. I am going to replace my old non-pre out Denon AVR-991 that I moved to my exercise room in order to drive my home theater using my XPA amp with the Marantz as pre/pro. The exercise room is a 3.1 channel system with a pair of in ceiling Def Tech 6.5DI and a Def Tech 5.5LCR which I hogged into the wall precisely centered between the in ceiling pair. This allows me to drive the system with an amp using the new Denon as a pre/pro. The system is used for all channel stereo music and occasional Netflix.
I was going to drive the in ceiling pair with a Bas X 300 and drive the in wall LCR off of the receiver. The receiver is rated at 105 wpc 2 channels driven 8 ohms. I'm not sure if it would be wise to get a Bas X 500 to drive all 3 speakers since it's only rated for 80 watts with more than 2 channels driven. I would think there ought not to be much of a unbalanced effect created by driving the in wall off the receiver at the lower power level especially if I tweak the balance between the pair and it out. Any thoughts? The room is 20x20 at the end of the staircase in the basement. My other option is an XPA 3 gen 3 and it will stick out too far off the bookcase it will sit on, so with the Bas X smaller form factor and the much smaller price tag I'm not really sold on doing that. I think I would be better served using the money saved and getting a new subwoofer. I am looking at the wireless subs and the Martin Logan Dynamo 1000W looks to have the best and closest specs to my SVS SB2000s in my HT which I absolutely love. I like the idea of the clean built in look of the wireless instead of adapting a non wireless sub for the job. There are placement issues in this set up that would warrant wireless instead of going wired.
Also, what is the recommended breathing room for a Bas X? Is it stackable with the receiver or should it be treated as an XPA?
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Post by garbulky on Aug 20, 2016 7:59:32 GMT -5
Well you have an XPA-5....what do you think about it soundwise? I think a subwoofer is always a good thing.
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Post by rbk123 on Aug 20, 2016 8:26:06 GMT -5
Yes - the 80W of the BasX will run circles around the 105W of the Denon. |
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Post by srpawski on Aug 20, 2016 8:42:26 GMT -5
I love my XPA 5.
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Post by garbulky on Aug 20, 2016 9:23:01 GMT -5
Great! Coming from a price performance/intended function aspect. Since these are to power in wall speakers which I assume aren't the main units for your house, I would just stick with your in built amps. They are for your exercise room after all. Stick a subwoofer if you like to give it some nice oomph  However if you can't do without the sound of an XPA-5, then get yourself an XPA-5 gen 1 or 2 for use. Or maybe a 5 channel bas-x. If the UPA-500 was anything to go by, it sounded fine, but it wasn't the exact equal of an XPA-X series amp. But there was nothing wrong with it. It gets loud with nothing bad sticking out. The Bas-x looks very similar to the UPA-500 (and 200) however I have been told they are different or better in some way. I haven't heard the Bas-x. |
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Post by srpawski on Aug 20, 2016 9:34:21 GMT -5
It's not at all the main house system. I definitely want to put an amp on it being I have the capability so that's why I was thinking about a Bas x except I was thinking about the two channel to power the in ceiling pair a little more muscular instead of the 5 channel so all 3 get something. The in wall is to really fill in the back a bit.
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Post by srpawski on Aug 20, 2016 14:54:38 GMT -5
Hmm.... suppose if I wanted to ensure equal levels and proper love to all speakers, I could get a pair of Bas X 300s...... Just thought about that, but the savings would basically be gone, however, the right footprint would be achieved. I measured again and I simply don't have the space to put an XPA where I need it to go without it hanging over the edge and looking stupid. Hence, go with one Bas X 500, or go with a pair of Bas X 300s, since the power would be almost doubled up? I would think comparing apples to apples Emotiva amp to Emotiva amp there would be a noticeable difference driving with 80 Emotiva watts vs 150 Emotiva watts. I mean, that should work, shouldn't it? Putting a center channel speaker on either the right or left terminal of a stereo amp? www.soundandvision.com/content/can-i-use-stereo-amp-amplify-single-speaker#s7XrcUiEhCLvRb5J.97Looking at doing the first of the three possible options in the article above: Q Will I damage a stereo amplifier by using it to amplify only one channel—in this case, my system’s center speaker?—Richard Regan
A No, but there are conditions. Depending on the capabilities of your amplifier, you'll have several options to work with. The first, and easiest, is to use only a single channel of the stereo amp to power your center speaker. Just run the mono center channel output of your preamp to the amp’s right or left channel input and connect the speaker to its corresponding output.Read more at www.soundandvision.com/content/can-i-use-stereo-amp-amplify-single-speaker#mqliPhzgJw3CbmV1.99 |
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Post by garbulky on Aug 20, 2016 15:07:42 GMT -5
How about a used UPA-700? You could get it used for about $350-400 I presume. Gives you 7 channels at 80 watts a channel. |
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Post by srpawski on Aug 20, 2016 15:12:11 GMT -5
That would work, too, or a Bas X 700. I guess I am more concerned about getting the most output using the smaller footprint that this amp or the UPA footprint brings since I really can't get an XPA to fit properly. Saving some cash at the same time is also nice, but I guess I am also interested in seeing how much bang I can get out of the smaller footprint that brings it as closest to the XPA that I can get.
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Post by leonski on Aug 29, 2016 23:35:21 GMT -5
The difference between 80 and 105 watts is LESS THAN 1db. So, no, it won't be a problem
You SHOULD look at amp GAIN which will effect how it ramps up in loudness as you turn it up. Ideally, the amps should match -+1db or so.
As for Stacking? I'm ALWAYS against. Heat kills amps.
What is the sensitivity of the proposed speakers? How LOUD do you like it? Room size and any treatments?
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Post by srpawski on Aug 30, 2016 17:48:48 GMT -5
I went with a pair of the A-300s and I am not disappointed. I am running the center channel off of one of the channels on one of the amps. It sounds fantastic. The sensitivity is 89 and 90db, so decent but not great. I never would consider direct stacking. I made a sub shelf to put one of them on giving about 4 inches of space between them. The don't get any warmer than they do when they are off and not in use.
The new AVR and the amps really made things louder and crisper as I was hoping. I am glad I spent the extra instead of getting an A-500 as I really think doubling the power made a difference. The sound in this room plays quite loud since it is an exercise room. The room is 20 X 20 no treatments. Previous to the upgrade I noticed the same speakers on the verge of clipping. The extra loudness also benefitted from the different gain adjustments afforded into the newer receiver technology which I gather is due to the Audyssy advances even though I don't use it.
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