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Post by bjornb17 on Jan 29, 2019 14:47:51 GMT -5
Hi all - it's been a minute since I've been on this forum. About 10 years ago I purchased an Emotiva UPA-7 which has served me well for that whole 10 years. It actually still works great, but I'm building a new home with a better home theater room and am upgrading my system now.
My speakers will consist of: Polk RTi12 mains, Polk CSi5 center, and 4 Polk RTi in-wall and 4 in-ceiling, plus two subs (Likely SVS SB16-Ultras) for a 7.2.4 system
My main question is to confirm if the current Emotiva equipment is a good fit for my new system. My old system has RTi10's with the UPA-7 and a Harman Kardon pre-amp. The HK pre-amp was on the warmer side which helped tame the neutral/bright amp and bright speakers. I've heard the current Gen 3 XPA amps are slightly more on the warm side compared to the UPA-7. Is that true? If so, that is good news for me. I would like to use a XPA-DR3 for the front 3 speakers (the towers have a demanding impedance curve that likes to have a lot of power) and an 8 channel custom XPA with 4 stereo modules for the 8 surround channels. Does that sound like a good fit? If not, what do you recommend?
Now, moving on to the pre-amp, my top two picks are the RMC-1 or a Yamaha Aventage CX-A5200. Both are top end from their respective manufacturers by the Yamaha is about half the cost. Also current Yamaha products seem to have a nice warm sound which should pair well with my bright speakers (I have a new Yamaha stereo amp paired with some RTi bookshelves and it sounds just about perfect to me). What is the sound signature like on the RMC-1 and how does it compare to a top end Yamaha pre-amp?
Thanks and I look forward to your input!
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Post by Casey Leedom on Jan 29, 2019 16:14:09 GMT -5
Depending on what your cost sensitivity is you could go with an XPA-3 ($1,199, 3 mono modules) or XPA-DR3 ($1,999, 3 differential reference mono modules) for your front three speakers and an XPA-8 ($1,399, 4 stereo modules) for all of your surround and ceiling channels.
Or, if you really wanted to constrain costs, you could go with an XPA-11 with 3 mono and 4 stereo modules) for $1999.
If you think that there's any chance that you'll go to a bigger speaker configuration you should probably go with the XPA-3 or XPA-DR3 and an XPA-10 or XPA-12 to cover the additional potential channels.
Casey
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Post by creimes on Jan 29, 2019 17:27:13 GMT -5
Have you considered changing your speakers, I have owned those Polk's in the past and moving away from them at that time to some Monitor Audio speakers it was noticeably a change for me in the right direction, I didn't find those Polk's resolving enough to bring out changes in my system, of course this is all personal preference but speakers can be the weak link in one's system. Also Emotiva amps IMO are very neutral and what goes in comes out. The Airmotiv line from Emotiva has been well reviewed.
Chad
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Post by bjornb17 on Jan 29, 2019 17:27:48 GMT -5
Depending on what your cost sensitivity is you could go with an XPA-3 ($1,199, 3 mono modules) or XPA-DR3 ($1,999, 3 differential reference mono modules) for your front three speakers and an XPA-8 ($1,399, 4 stereo modules) for all of your surround and ceiling channels. Or, if you really wanted to constrain costs, you could go with an XPA-11 with 3 mono and 4 stereo modules) for $1999. If you think that there's any chance that you'll go to a bigger speaker configuration you should probably go with the XPA-3 or XPA-DR3 and an XPA-10 or XPA-12 to cover the additional potential channels. Casey Great, I'm definitely down for the 3+8 configuration as long as the sound signature of the amps fits well with the speakers/pre-amp. |
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Post by bjornb17 on Jan 29, 2019 17:30:41 GMT -5
Depending on what your cost sensitivity is you could go with an XPA-3 ($1,199, 3 mono modules) or XPA-DR3 ($1,999, 3 differential reference mono modules) for your front three speakers and an XPA-8 ($1,399, 4 stereo modules) for all of your surround and ceiling channels. Or, if you really wanted to constrain costs, you could go with an XPA-11 with 3 mono and 4 stereo modules) for $1999. If you think that there's any chance that you'll go to a bigger speaker configuration you should probably go with the XPA-3 or XPA-DR3 and an XPA-10 or XPA-12 to cover the additional potential channels. Casey Great, I'm definitely down for the 3+8 configuration as long as the sound signature of the amps fits well with the speakers/pre-amp. Amusingly enough the Polk speakers are the one part of my system I'm totally content with and they look really cool. I'm sure there is better stuff out there (even though I still think these are great) but since I am not feeling the speaker itch (other than new subs) I'll probably stick with these for now. In my home office setup with RTi4's + SVS SB1000 and calibrated, I find it to be surprisingly tight and musical - the sub makes a world of difference and makes the speakers shine. |
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Post by creimes on Jan 29, 2019 19:11:07 GMT -5
Great, I'm definitely down for the 3+8 configuration as long as the sound signature of the amps fits well with the speakers/pre-amp. Amusingly enough the Polk speakers are the one part of my system I'm totally content with and they look really cool. I'm sure there is better stuff out there (even though I still think these are great) but since I am not feeling the speaker itch (other than new subs) I'll probably stick with these for now. In my home office setup with RTi4's + SVS SB1000 and calibrated, I find it to be surprisingly tight and musical - the sub makes a world of difference and makes the speakers shine. Great than no worries on that haha, I just wanted to share my experience with speakers, I found once I started upgrading components my speakers became the next thing that I found that needed upgrading. Many say the Marantz 8802a is a nice prepro and can be had for a good deal these days, basically anything in this hobby is personal preference, and is usually why some of us change things out on a regular basis just trying different gear. |
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DLAW
Minor Hero
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Post by DLAW on Jan 31, 2019 9:54:35 GMT -5
Hi all - it's been a minute since I've been on this forum. About 10 years ago I purchased an Emotiva UPA-7 which has served me well for that whole 10 years. It actually still works great, but I'm building a new home with a better home theater room and am upgrading my system now. My speakers will consist of: Polk RTi12 mains, Polk CSi5 center, and 4 Polk RTi in-wall and 4 in-ceiling, plus two subs (Likely SVS SB16-Ultras) for a 7.2.4 system My main question is to confirm if the current Emotiva equipment is a good fit for my new system. My old system has RTi10's with the UPA-7 and a Harman Kardon pre-amp. The HK pre-amp was on the warmer side which helped tame the neutral/bright amp and bright speakers. I've heard the current Gen 3 XPA amps are slightly more on the warm side compared to the UPA-7. Is that true? If so, that is good news for me. I would like to use a XPA-DR3 for the front 3 speakers (the towers have a demanding impedance curve that likes to have a lot of power) and an 8 channel custom XPA with 4 stereo modules for the 8 surround channels. Does that sound like a good fit? If not, what do you recommend? Now, moving on to the pre-amp, my top two picks are the RMC-1 or a Yamaha Aventage CX-A5200. Both are top end from their respective manufacturers by the Yamaha is about half the cost. Also current Yamaha products seem to have a nice warm sound which should pair well with my bright speakers (I have a new Yamaha stereo amp paired with some RTi bookshelves and it sounds just about perfect to me). What is the sound signature like on the RMC-1 and how does it compare to a top end Yamaha pre-amp? Thanks and I look forward to your input! The Polk Rti12 (500 watts )and CSi5 (200 watts) have the higher power ratings than the in-walls and ceiling speakers (100-125 watts) but both have about same sensitivity 89-90. I would get at least 200 watts for the front stage (maybe a XPA-7) and try to reuse the upa-7 for the heights. As far a processors go XMC-2 or whatever Atmos/ DTS-X built- in model XMC since you are going with 11 channels. This way you save money that can go towards the amps and subs. I had the Yamaha CXA5000 and it uses similar Sabre Dacs as the CX5200 and it was not warm but neutral not bright and it was hooked up to a Sherbourn 5/1500a which is a little on the warm side. I liked the Yamaha but needed the Atmos/DTSX. BTW... I had the Rti10s and Csi3 and Rti4s...they sounded great in my gameroom but had to let go once the baby arrived. |
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jan 31, 2019 17:29:02 GMT -5
When I auditioned electronics for my Monitor Audio c-cam speakers with their somewhat sterile to slight bright sound did not play well with Yamaha. Glad to read they have warmed some. I liked Yamaha higher end equipment in the 80's. I've never know HK to be warm.
I have not read any post of XMC not matching up well with anything, it's pretty neutral, meaning you have no restrictions for future speaker selection..
I would be very surprise if anyone can tell one Emo amp to another as significantly different sound signature with your Polks. Get what you need, it'll work.
The UPA-7 was a great amp & wouldn't consider NOT using it.
Maybe it's just a placebo effect, but I like amp/pre-amp the same manufacturer, though it rarely ever happened in my systems.
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Post by garbulky on Jan 31, 2019 21:08:41 GMT -5
So if I was you (I had a UPA-2) I don't know if I would go your direction. My friend and I heard the XPA-2 gen 3 vs a Bas-X A-300 . We preferred the A-300 which I thought had a more natural sound. I think the difference was that the XPA-2 had a slight difference in treble (sounded a little artificial to me). However the XPA-2 gen 3 had slightly better dynamics and bass slam.
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Post by bjornb17 on Feb 3, 2019 9:54:40 GMT -5
When I auditioned electronics for my Monitor Audio c-cam speakers with their somewhat sterile to slight bright sound did not play well with Yamaha. Glad to read they have warmed some. I liked Yamaha higher end equipment in the 80's. I've never know HK to be warm. I have not read any post of XMC not matching up well with anything, it's pretty neutral, meaning you have no restrictions for future speaker selection.. I would be very surprise if anyone can tell one Emo amp to another as significantly different sound signature with your Polks. Get what you need, it'll work. The UPA-7 was a great amp & wouldn't consider NOT using it. Maybe it's just a placebo effect, but I like amp/pre-amp the same manufacturer, though it rarely ever happened in my systems. I hadn't considered that option, and I see that Emotiva offers the trim upgrade on the UPA-7 to make it match the newer stuff. So, I will probably get a XPA-DR3 for the fronts, and re-purpose the UPA-7 for surrounds and ceiling speakers. Since I'll have 8 surround/ceiling speakers and only 7 channels, I'll probably connect 2 ceiling speakers per channel for 2 channels (4 ohm load) so they all have sound, but at least the house will be set up for 7.2.4 if I ever need it down the road. I just got a Yamaha Aventage RX-A780 to use as an interim measure only new house is up, currently have it set up with UPA-7 for front 2 mains (RTi12's) and SVS sub and sounds awesome! |
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