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Post by The History Kid on Jun 8, 2017 16:33:17 GMT -5
I think you're on the right track with the A-100. I haven't heard any of the BasX gear yet, but I have messed with the U-Series stuff and enjoyed it. I can't imagine the BasX quality has gone down. 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. I don't think many people - especially those who are new to the audio world understand the concept of SPL and SQ either. Nor do they understand what distortion does, where it occurs, how it can impact your listening experience, etc. That being said, most speakers around today are not THAT inefficient. I don't know about most of you, but even living in a house I rarely scrape 95 dB. My most inefficient speaker is 94 dB at 1 watt at 1 meter - btw. Even if I had a speaker rated at 85 dB, I could get where I wanted with 25 watts. I understand room has to do with it too, but still... |
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Post by Axis on Jun 8, 2017 16:43:58 GMT -5
I think you're on the right track with the A-100. I haven't heard any of the BasX gear yet, but I have messed with the U-Series stuff and enjoyed it. I can't imagine the BasX quality has gone down. 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. I don't think many people - especially those who are new to the audio world understand the concept of SPL and SQ either. Nor do they understand what distortion does, where it occurs, how it can impact your listening experience, etc. That being said, most speakers around today are not THAT inefficient. I don't know about most of you, but even living in a house I rarely scrape 95 dB. My most inefficient speaker is 94 dB at 1 watt at 1 meter - btw. Even if I had a speaker rated at 85 dB, I could get where I wanted with 25 watts. I understand room has to do with it too, but still... Headroom my friend can be a very nice thing to have. Lonnie used to say the XPA-1 was fast. Not your typical term from someone that designs amps. He did not say it but a couple times but those in the know knew what he was talking about. You have to figure these things out for yourself when it comes right down to it. You will get more opinions on this matter than any subject out there on any forum that you visit. What will you have that needs that output and headroom in the future ? Who knows what anyone needs for there current system or future system but the one that is building it. They need to know these things if they intend to be successful in building there system. This is a forum full of what I call Audio nuts. I do not mean that as derogatory to anyone. This is a hobby in my opinion that anyone can join and be little or big and be happy. |
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Post by The History Kid on Jun 8, 2017 16:51:13 GMT -5
Ah make no mistake, I understand about headroom. I guess my point is that people who are looking at others with casual listening habits and insisting they load up on amplification 2-5x what their speakers are even rated at. Headroom is fine, but headroom above the maximum threshold of what your speaker can provide is a bit much.
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Post by Axis on Jun 8, 2017 17:17:36 GMT -5
Ah make no mistake, I understand about headroom. I guess my point is that people who are looking at others with casual listening habits and insisting they load up on amplification 2-5x what their speakers are even rated at. Headroom is fine, but headroom above the maximum threshold of what your speaker can provide is a bit much. I agree that you do not need a pair of XPR-1's unless you have a system that needs it. Goodness gracious a thousand watts is not needed for most folks out there. A BasX amp will provide the output most folks need. The XPA amps will do that also. There has been testimony here for years that say the XPA amps provide a better listening experience. I believe them. I have not needed that much output in an amp but if I get the Emotiva T2 floor standing speakers I will go with the XPA amps over the BasX amps. I will make that decision. The BasX amps may drive those speakers but I will decide to provide them more output based on my experience. I have been recommending to folks they don't need high powered amps for the most part for a long time but everyone needs to decide for themselves. neo likes symphony music and his 88 dB efficient speakers are not very tailored to that. I would suggest that the OP may want to look at investing in better speakers for not volume but performance before spending money on an amp. Speakers then amp to go with it. If you want to stay with small inefficient speakers and be happy you still need considerable output. The BasX amps have that. They are not little toy amps like someone would think. They have muscle that goes way past there price range. |
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Post by novisnick on Jun 8, 2017 17:23:14 GMT -5
Ah make no mistake, I understand about headroom. I guess my point is that people who are looking at others with casual listening habits and insisting they load up on amplification 2-5x what their speakers are even rated at. Headroom is fine, but headroom above the maximum threshold of what your speaker can provide is a bit much. Slow down,,,,,, 😋 Im not convinced of that at all. Ive owned a set of Klipsch 28, not an expensive model by any strech but extremely easy to drive. I have used a fast variety of amps with them and each step up in power HAD made a difference in their sound, sometimes significantly. Im not speaking of volum achieved but a change in tonality and authority in which they presented the music. Some speakers achieve this change in characteristics and some don't. The Klipsch and KEF LS50 have both made that transformation IMHO.  |
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Post by novisnick on Jun 8, 2017 17:24:43 GMT -5
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 I own a matching fan unit, if your interested PM me |
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Post by leonski on Jun 9, 2017 1:33:17 GMT -5
Still remains that OP has 88db Sensitive speakers. Unless lost in a cavern, and with moderate listening habits, he surely doesn't need -1 levels of power.
5 watts is +7db or 95db with 50watt peaks being at 105db. That's LOUD.
Add for 2 speakers and substract for distance. Add a smidge for room gain. Double the power (+3db) for giggles and that should be enough, shouldn't it?
I'm still waiting to find out WHY the change? Either dead amp or 'the itch' are popular answers.
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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 ? 
