rog1
Seeker Of Truth
Posts: 4 
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Post by rog1 on Dec 22, 2016 14:23:39 GMT -5
The Emotiva TA-100 is an excellent buy for $339. I've used it for the past two weeks with a pair of Klipsch RF-82 II floorstanding speakers for stereo music only and am very happy! I demo'd it against a cheap $200 Sony STR-DH770 7.2 channel AV receiver and ended up keeping the TA-100. They sounded generally the same to me in an A/B test, but I like the Emotiva brand/rep and the simplicity/quality. Loved the sound of these together - was grinning for the first hour of listening (upgraded from a pair of M-Audio BX5a Deluxe powered monitors). Pros- Powerful and clean amplification: 50 watts/channel is plenty of power for my speakers (98dB sensitivity) in my small 15'x12'x12' bedroom. I usually only listen at 30/80 volume and it is plenty loud (~75 dB). Didn't hear any distortion when cranking it up and doubt there will be any. Haven't noticed it getting warm/hot.
- Great digital inputs: I use the USB (external DAC) input for my desktop (Spotify and web browsing) and the optical input with both my TV (movies) and Chromecast Audio (Spotify). Very surprised that none of the cheaper AV receivers or stereo amplifiers offer this type of external USB DAC functionality (who the hell wants to plug in a USB flash drive to listen to music?)
- Solid steel construction and minimalistic design: Way better than the cheap plastic on most budget AV receivers.
- Convenience: Love that I don't need a stack of 3 big component boxes (pre-amp/amp/DAC/etc) just to listen to "hifi" music. Very easy to move/set-up in a new location (moved set-up from bedroom to living room for a holiday party and it was very easy). Binding posts are great.
Cons/Suggestions- Bluetooth should be built-in: Feels clunky to have to plug-in a dongle and the $50 price seems high when USB bluetooth dongles go for $3 on ebay... Is apt-x licensing really that expensive?
- Remote feels like junk: I get that cost savings are needed somewhere, but this remote feels super cheap and some of the buttons are a bit convoluted (FM mono/stereo probably doesn't need a dedicated button - FM tuning would've been much more useful). The plastic is too lightweight and holding it does not inspire confidence or happiness. Really wish this was more solid feeling. Please go check out some competitor HDTV/receiver plastic remotes - many feel much better!
- Blue backlight dimming: Why not provide the ability to go to 0%? Could see this being very distracting when watching movies (big blue light-up knob).
- Headphone/speaker/line-out output selector: Would be great to have the ability to switch between headphone and speaker outputs. I would love to be able to leave my headphones plugged into the front, but this automatically disables my speaker output. Would also be great to be able to plug in my powered studio monitors to the TA-100's line-outs with an input toggle.
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Post by Axis on Dec 22, 2016 19:12:42 GMT -5
Very good. I want to see Emotiva make it even more compact and easy to move/setup. Not just any built in Bluetooth. The latest greatest and fastest. Bluetooth Transmitter ! I am using the one in my Sony 1070 A/V receiver all the time with my Bluetooth headphones and little Sony rechargeable Bluetooth speakers so I can listen to TV anywhere around my house. Excellent write up rog1 and welcome aboard.  Cheers Mike |
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Post by williamvd4 on Jan 8, 2017 22:56:13 GMT -5
How is the power coming from the headphone output? Between this and the a-100, but leaning a-100 for cost
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Post by novisnick on Jan 8, 2017 23:04:37 GMT -5
How is the power coming from the headphone output? Between this and the a-100, but leaning a-100 for cost What are your goals? You do have a source? For everything you het from the TA-100, its a gamer!! Hard to beat the value it is a bit more than the a-100 in price but the value is 5 Times that. 7 available inputs! Damn skippy! |
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Post by williamvd4 on Jan 8, 2017 23:57:00 GMT -5
How is the power coming from the headphone output? Between this and the a-100, but leaning a-100 for cost What are your goals? You do have a source? For everything you het from the TA-100, its a gamer!! Hard to beat the value it is a bit more than the a-100 in price but the value is 5 Times that. 7 available inputs! Damn skippy!
I would be using either as a desktop amp for Wavecrests. Been looking for a while for something decent that would do good running both speakers and headphones. |
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Post by novisnick on Jan 9, 2017 0:07:39 GMT -5
What are your goals? You do have a source? For everything you het from the TA-100, its a gamer!! Hard to beat the value it is a bit more than the a-100 in price but the value is 5 Times that. 7 available inputs! Damn skippy!
I would be using either as a desktop amp for Wavecrests. Been looking for a while for something decent that would do good running both speakers and headphones. Sorry, I dont know what Wavecrest is. Pay a little more now and not have to worry about more inputs if youmever add another source, even connectivity to a cellphone via a dongle. |
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Post by knucklehead on Jan 9, 2017 0:29:56 GMT -5
I find it interesting that Emotiva calls this a "Stereo Preamp/DAC/Tuner with Integrated Amplifier". A stereo preamp AND an integrated amplifier?
It seems they tripped all over themselves to not call this what it is: It's a RECEIVER!
Why the deception?
It's either a good product or it isn't and using convoluted terms to avoid that nasty word 'receiver' won't make it sound any better.
Just my $.02 worth.
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Post by niuguy on Jan 9, 2017 0:48:14 GMT -5
I find it interesting that Emotiva calls this a "Stereo Preamp/DAC/Tuner with Integrated Amplifier". A stereo preamp AND an integrated amplifier? It seems they tripped all over themselves to not call this what it is: It's a RECEIVER! Why the deception? It's either a good product or it isn't and using convoluted terms to avoid that nasty word 'receiver' won't make it sound any better. Just my $.02 worth. You're not wrong...it's basically a receiver. But your use of "deceptive" is hyperbole. |
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Post by Dan Laufman on Jan 9, 2017 0:59:21 GMT -5
TA-100 = Tuner Amp 100 watts So deceptive. I hate myself. Not.  |
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Post by Jim on Jan 9, 2017 6:09:02 GMT -5
I find it interesting that Emotiva calls this a "Stereo Preamp/DAC/Tuner with Integrated Amplifier". A stereo preamp AND an integrated amplifier? It seems they tripped all over themselves to not call this what it is: It's a RECEIVER! Why the deception? It's either a good product or it isn't and using convoluted terms to avoid that nasty word 'receiver' won't make it sound any better. Just my $.02 worth. You're not wrong...it's basically a receiver. But your use of "deceptive" is hyperbole. Yeah. Hyperbole or just being melodramatic. I think you're looking for some drama that isn't there... |
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Post by MusicHead on Jan 9, 2017 7:23:22 GMT -5
I would be using either as a desktop amp for Wavecrests. Been looking for a while for something decent that would do good running both speakers and headphones. Sorry, I dont know what Wavecrest is. Pay a little more now and not have to worry about more inputs if youmever add another source, even connectivity to a cellphone via a dongle. |
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rog1
Seeker Of Truth
Posts: 4
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Post by rog1 on Jan 9, 2017 15:46:57 GMT -5
Seems like the TA-100 would work for the Wavecrests (8ohm, 86 db sensitivity), depending on your room size and desired listening volume (typical and dynamic peak). I'm no expert, but I just looked on google for "required amplifier watts" and "speaker spl calculator" to see some rough numbers for my speakers (which are admittedly much more efficient than yours).
Although I'm not familiar with the headphone amp differences between the TA-100 and A-100, I would definitely get the TA-100. The incremental $130 in price is worth it to have all of the digital/analog inputs and built-in DAC.
What do you currently use as a source/DAC/amp for the Wavecrests? If you get the TA-100, you can have it all in one compact package which is easily portable/swappable.
Dan: I think the TA-100 fills a much neglected niche. Weird how convoluted the stereo receiver market is... prices are all over the place (comparable Yamaha integrated stereo receiver costs 2x-3x as much as a TA-100).
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Post by Michael14 on Jan 9, 2017 16:01:12 GMT -5
Any thoughts as to the Emotiva TA-100 vs. Onkyo TX-8160? Thanks in advance!
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Post by MusicHead on Jan 9, 2017 17:12:36 GMT -5
I have no direct experience with either, however looking at the specs, the one for the TA-100 is much more detailed and upfront. Even comparing the power specs, I can see that Onkyo is semi-fudging it: Onkyo: 80 W/Ch (8 Ohms, 20 Hz−20 kHz, 0.1%, 2 Channels Driven Emotiva: 50 watts RMS per channel (20 Hz – 20 kHz; THD < 0.02%; into 8 Ohms) Notice the significantly higher THD spec'd by Onkyo. If you think of the typical THD vs Power curve, you would have something like this (for a "100 Watt" amp):  As you can see, depending on which point of the THD curve you pick, the same amp can be specified as having any power between approximately 75W and 110W. Now, while I would not be terribly concerned about a 50W vs 80W difference even at the same exact conditions and I have no idea of how that curve would look for the TA-100 and the TX-8160, I'd personally trust more Emotiva. The Onkyo looks like a nice unit, do not take me wrong (and it has built-in BT and Wi-Fi). Just saying that going only by reputation for solid and clean amplification I'd personally go with Emotiva. |
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Post by Michael14 on Jan 9, 2017 17:33:39 GMT -5
Thanks for the quick response, Sensei. That's some incredibly helpful stuff to consider. And yes, the built-in Wi-Fi and other bells-and-whistles in the Onkyo are tempting.
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Post by Dan Laufman on Jan 9, 2017 18:45:02 GMT -5
The proof is in the sound... and the TA-100 rocks.
50 watts per channel from Emotiva sounds like 100 from these other brands... just saying.
Give it 30 days in your own home and I believe you'll be thrilled.
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Post by rbk123 on Jan 9, 2017 19:39:36 GMT -5
Um.. in NIUGuy's defense he never said the name "TA-100" was deceptive.
Drama? Perhaps. More likely a reflexive response to Marketing's unending wordsmithing. They're obviously not using the "r" word for a reason/reasons, but that doesn't mean they're being deceptive.
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Post by MusicHead on Jan 9, 2017 20:02:40 GMT -5
The proof is in the sound... and the TA-100 rocks. 50 watts per channel from Emotiva sounds like 100 from these other brands... just saying. Give it 30 days in your own home and I believe you'll be thrilled. As the owner of a Fusion 8100, rated at "only" 7x65W or 2x110W I can say by first hand experience Dan is not hyping up his stuff :-) |
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Post by Michael14 on Jan 10, 2017 11:35:37 GMT -5
Quick functional q - the TA-100 doesn't have a high-pass filter for the speaker outputs, correct? I'd love to ease the burden of my mains (KEF LS50) and have only my subwoofer play <80Hz or so. Thanks!
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Post by novisnick on Jan 10, 2017 11:41:09 GMT -5
Quick functional q - the TA-100 doesn't have a high-pass filter for the speaker outputs, correct? I'd love to ease the burden of my mains (KEF LS50) and have only my subwoofer play <80Hz or so. Thanks! The LS50s produce rather nice bass. I supplement mine with a pair od 8" subs when the mood or music hits me. Im not aware of any filters though. Im not sure how the tone controls work on this unit, do they only control the speakers? And still deliver the same signal to the sub out? Good question, one that I'd like answered as well. |
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