I just sold my old amplifier and now I need an amp. I don't know much about the power match. I would like to hear your advices on choosing an emotiva amp. I listen to digital music, mostly from my kodi server. I use Emotiva stealth DC-1 as a DAC and preamp. The speakers I have are Monitor Audio Gold 10. Here are the parameters of the speakers. Emotiva A-100 seems to have the same form factor as my DC-1. But the rated power is only 50W per channel. I will not play music super loud (I do like symphony music). I'm wondering if A-100 is enough for my purpose? Any other recommendation?
Thanks,
Drivers: One 1" Dome Tweeter, One 6 1/2" Mid-Bass Driver
The A-100 will be fine. The Dc-1 monoblocks would be even better. They are fully balanced units. But they will cost more.
Transport: Sony UBP-X700 UHD-Blu ray player spdif PC using Musiland Digital Times WASAPI via BNC connection - DAC: DC-1->XLR XPA-1 , RCA->Basx A-100 CD: Denon DCD 600 PCM 61 DAC. RCA Amp: XPA-1 gen 2 using XLR connections. Speakers: Axiom Audio m80 V3, Sennheisser HD700 headphones. two pairs 12 guage each bi-wire speaker cables per monoblock Headphone amp: Basx A-100 (INCREDIBLE VALUE!!)
Personally I would scoop up one of the XPA-2 stereo amps listed for sale in the Emporium section. Excellent power and headroom and it would pair nicely with your set up. The Emotiva amps are built like tanks so I would not worry that much about warranty on a used one as long as you receive it functional it should stay that way. Simply keep the DC-1 as a preamp/DAC and hook up the amp. Tons of power and gobs of headroom. Most likely the last amp you will ever buy.
Having owned Monitor Audio speakers they deserve nice components in front of them, do you have a budget in mind, if you are looking at Emotiva in general my vote is either a discontinued SA-250 or a pair of XPA-1L or even a Gen 3 XPA-2.
Chad
Main: Pre/Pro- Schiit Freya+ Amplifiers- Emotiva MPS-1 Speakers- Chane 700 Series Sources- Shield Pro, M2 MacBook Air Display- Hisense 75U78KM
The A-100 will be fine. The Dc-1 monoblocks would be even better. They are fully balanced units. But they will cost more.
Thanks! I searched DC-1 but that's the DAC, right?
Sorry the DC-1 is a DAC not an amp. There is an upcoming unreleased monoblock set made out of ICE amplifiers that are fully balanced that are matched to the size of the DC-1. So they are quite small but powerful. I think like 150 watts in to 8 ohms per channel or something. But they are not out yet. I think it's called the PA-1 or something like that.
Last Edit: May 30, 2017 9:41:40 GMT -5 by garbulky
Transport: Sony UBP-X700 UHD-Blu ray player spdif PC using Musiland Digital Times WASAPI via BNC connection - DAC: DC-1->XLR XPA-1 , RCA->Basx A-100 CD: Denon DCD 600 PCM 61 DAC. RCA Amp: XPA-1 gen 2 using XLR connections. Speakers: Axiom Audio m80 V3, Sennheisser HD700 headphones. two pairs 12 guage each bi-wire speaker cables per monoblock Headphone amp: Basx A-100 (INCREDIBLE VALUE!!)
Thanks! I searched DC-1 but that's the DAC, right?
Sorry the DC-1 is a DAC not an amp. There is an upcoming unreleased monoblock set made out of ICE amplifiers that are fully balanced that are matched to the size of the DC-1. So they are quite small but powerful. I think like 150 watts in to 8 ohms per channel or something. But they are not out yet.
Would make a killer system IMHO
Last Edit: May 30, 2017 9:17:01 GMT -5 by novisnick
RMC-1 Oppo UDP 203 ATV4K XPR-1’s UPA-500 A-700 Paradigm Studio 100's V5, CC 690V5, ADP 590 V5 X 4, Rosenut Atmos - RSL C34E (4) PSA S3000i (2) LG OLED65C8PUA - Calibrated Mapletree custom switching Sherbourn C-12 fans McIntosh C220 Bob Latino M-125 Monoblocks Rega RP6 + Ania Pro Lehmann Decade Mac Mini SOtM sMS-200ultra Plus sMS-500 sNH-10G Switch Hub Mytek Brooklyn Sbooster BOTW ZMF Cocobolo Auteur Focal Clears
What was wrong with the OLD amp? Just old? Noisy? Or some musically unsatisfying trait? Got the 'itch'?
What about the SYSTEM didn't make it for you?
Maybe a sub? Take up the lowest octave which I find really nice for Symphonic music. Tympani sound so much better that way.
Magnepan MG1.6qr HSU Research VTF-2 MK3 2x Parasound A23 Parasound P5 MonoPrice 4x1 Toslink Switch Panasonic 820 Blue Ray Player x4 @3foot runs of 10ga Belden speaker wire. GRADO SR80e on-ear headphones iMac as music server (2009) Panamax 5510 w/) ISO transformer PSAudio SOLOIST 20amp outlet on its own circuit LG 65" C3 OLED display
Parasound's Z series sound really nice, have great build quality and are compact. I have their Zdac which is built like a tank. Link: Parasound Zamp v3
- 45 watts per channel into 8 Ω - 90 watts bridged into 8 Ω mono - Fully discrete circuitry with Toroid power transformer
That's a cool little amp. Good power, and if you are using more sensitive speakers PLENTY.
I didn't bother looking for a price, but I suspect it'll hold its value fairly well.
Magnepan MG1.6qr HSU Research VTF-2 MK3 2x Parasound A23 Parasound P5 MonoPrice 4x1 Toslink Switch Panasonic 820 Blue Ray Player x4 @3foot runs of 10ga Belden speaker wire. GRADO SR80e on-ear headphones iMac as music server (2009) Panamax 5510 w/) ISO transformer PSAudio SOLOIST 20amp outlet on its own circuit LG 65" C3 OLED display
I'd STILL like to know what was unsatisfying about the old amp. If it broke, thats one thing, but if you 'got the itch' than that's something else altogether.
88db sensitive speakers are pretty good at turning electricity into sound. 5 watts continuous is +7db with another 10db for 50 watt peaks. That's pretty darn loud. Especially in a smaller than medium sized room. or Near Field.
Magnepan MG1.6qr HSU Research VTF-2 MK3 2x Parasound A23 Parasound P5 MonoPrice 4x1 Toslink Switch Panasonic 820 Blue Ray Player x4 @3foot runs of 10ga Belden speaker wire. GRADO SR80e on-ear headphones iMac as music server (2009) Panamax 5510 w/) ISO transformer PSAudio SOLOIST 20amp outlet on its own circuit LG 65" C3 OLED display
The OP stated they did not listen at high levels. XPA amps would be overkill. The A-100 sounds about right IMO.
XPA overkill has been the topic of many a discussion here. What do you do ? Do you listen with gear that would benefit from it ? Does high power benefit everyone ? Do you only need what you need ?
novisnick will tell you that a pair of XPR-1's will sound best with everything. Myself I like high power but only if I need it. I have not needed it for a long time because I live in an apartment and can not use it. Who is right ? I think both. knucklehead is right if you do not need it but both of us may be wrong if you can use it now or in the future, There is something to be said for overkill in the realm of Audio. Then again there is something to be said for just what you need.
The OP stated they did not listen at high levels. XPA amps would be overkill. The A-100 sounds about right IMO.
XPA overkill has been the topic of many a discussion here. What do you do ? Do you listen with gear that would benefit from it ? Does high power benefit everyone ? Do you only need what you need ?
novisnick will tell you that a pair of XPR-1's will sound best with everything. Myself I like high power but only if I need it. I have not needed it for a long time because I live in an apartment and can not use it. Who is right ? I think both. knucklehead is right if you do not need it but both of us may be wrong if you can use it now or in the future, There is something to be said for overkill in the realm of Audio. Then again there is something to be said for just what you need.
XPA overkill has been the topic of many a discussion here. What do you do ? Do you listen with gear that would benefit from it ? Does high power benefit everyone ? Do you only need what you need ?
novisnick will tell you that a pair of XPR-1's will sound best with everything. Myself I like high power but only if I need it. I have not needed it for a long time because I live in an apartment and can not use it. Who is right ? I think both. knucklehead is right if you do not need it but both of us may be wrong if you can use it now or in the future, There is something to be said for overkill in the realm of Audio. Then again there is something to be said for just what you need.
Just as many notes as I required. Neither more or less.
He was saying it was perfect and he was right and everyone else was wrong.
Do your own thing.
Home Theater: Samsung PN51F8500,Sony STR-DN1070,OPPO BDP-103,Xfinity X1,Sony SS-K70ED,SS-CNK10ED,SS-K10ED Two Channel: Emotiva USP-1,UPA-2,ERC-1,T2's,Sub 10 PC: Emotiva DC-1,SP-1,5S