Upgrade Itch

[songmeesay]

I'm been running a XPA-3 for my center and surrounds and 2 UPA-1's for the l/r for the last 9 years; all gen 1. I recently upgraded the system for Atmos and well, you know how it goes, once I upgrade one thing I've gone down the rabbit hole of upgrading others. So I added 2 a-100's to power the 4 tops.

I'm running monitor audio gold 300's for the front l/r and the matching gold 350 for center. Surrounds are also ma gold wall mounts and atmos are canton gle pro's. I've been looking into the XPA-9 as an all in one but wondering if I'd be gaining or losing anything besides components footprint and more wattage on all channels? Or should I just be happy with the current set up for another 5 or so years since the prices have jumped so much since I even looked at another Emo amp?

I should add this is for 95% home theater use.

[garbulky]

For a (relatively) cheap upgrade I would just say replace the fronts with Emotiva PA-1 amps. You'll save on space and it would be a fully balanced front end. Plus it's one of the best amps I've heard.

[songmeesay]

Funny I was just reading threads about those and how you pondered bi-amping your speakers with them.

[DYohn]

The only real consideration for those of us afflicted with upgraditis is can you afford it? If the answer is yes then DOO EEET.

[davidl81]

Oct 24, 2019 10:13:40 GMT -5 songmeesay said:

I'm been running a XPA-3 for my center and surrounds and 2 UPA-1's for the l/r for the last 9 years; all gen 1. I recently upgraded the system for Atmos and well, you know how it goes, once I upgrade one thing I've gone down the rabbit hole of upgrading others. So I added 2 a-100's to power the 4 tops.

I'm running monitor audio gold 300's for the front l/r and the matching gold 350 for center. Surrounds are also ma gold wall mounts and atmos are canton gle pro's. I've been looking into the XPA-9 as an all in one but wondering if I'd be gaining or losing anything besides components footprint and more wattage on all channels? Or should I just be happy with the current set up for another 5 or so years since the prices have jumped so much since I even looked at another Emo amp?

I should add this is for 95% home theater use.

I just went from an XPA-5 G2 and a Basx A-700 set up (I also have a DR-2 on my L/R channel) and I replaced the XPA-5 and the A-700 with the XPA-9 G3.  Overall I have been very happy with the XPA-9.  I can't do an apples to apples comparisonwith the XPA-5 because I also replaced my pre/pro at the same time.  So even though I find the SQ much improved in movies with the XPA-9 it very well may be the upgrade form the Marantz 8802 to my RMC-1 that is giving me the improvement.

But I will say that getting rid of the extra amps and going down to the XPA-9 is a very nice setup.  Plus I can go XLR on all channels now.  

[songmeesay]

Damn it. So basically yes I should upgrade in some way. Whether it's the pa-1's or the xpa-9. Just to toss into the mix been looking at the xpa-5 as well just to run the 5 bed channels and keeping the a-100's for the atmos channels.

I just upgraded my pre pro as well but stuck with marantz. Went from sr7005 to an AV7705.

[davidl81]

Oct 24, 2019 11:00:10 GMT -5 songmeesay said:

Damn it. So basically yes I should upgrade in some way. Whether it's the pa-1's or the xpa-9. Just to toss into the mix been looking at the xpa-5 as well just to run the 5 bed channels and keeping the a-100's for the atmos channels.

I just upgraded my pre pro as well but stuck with marantz. Went from sr7005 to an AV7705.

I would just look at the cost of going from the XPA-5 to a XPA-9.  It will depend a lot on if you are going new or used though.  If new I think the difference is like $400 or so.  I would think you could sell your A-100's and make up a good bit of that difference.  The Atmos speakers run off of the stereo channels of my XPA-9 and they work out great for me.

[songmeesay]

Yeah I've been keeping an eye on used gen 2 xpa-5's and looks like 800-900 roughly. I'm sure I can offload the xpa-3 and upa-1's for that same amount.

[davidl81]

Oct 24, 2019 11:18:23 GMT -5 songmeesay said:

Yeah I've been keeping an eye on used gen 2 xpa-5's and looks like 800-900 roughly. I'm sure I can offload the xpa-3 and upa-1's for that same amount.

Yeah if you are going used then the XPA-5 G2 would be nice.  The cost jump from that to a new XPA-9 is huge and I don't think it would be worth it for the most part.  I looked for a bit for a used XPA-9 G3, but they are pretty rare.

[songmeesay]

Well Emo just got back to me and there is a xpa-9 b stock with minor scratches on the back for $1783 so I pulled the trigger.

[garbulky]

Oct 24, 2019 10:48:01 GMT -5 songmeesay said:

Funny I was just reading threads about those and how you pondered bi-amping your speakers with them.

It would take four amps. (note - you don't need to bi amp for great results!) My speaker has bi amp terminals. I would remove the jumper bridge between them before bi amping.

I would use an XLR splitter to split the XLR output on my DC-1 to have two XLR outputs per channel. One for each mono amp (two amps for the left side, two for the right).

That's pretty much it.

[rbk123]

Any chance you can scratch the itch by upgrading your mains? Not that yours are bad, just that it will make a far greater difference then changing Emo amp generations. Far greater.

[emofrmcgy]

Oct 24, 2019 12:01:18 GMT -5 rbk123 said:

Any chance you can scratch the itch by upgrading your mains? Not that yours are bad, just that it will make a far greater difference then changing Emo amp generations. Far greater.

Or dumping that marantz garbage...gawd you could build something better yourself. 🙄 🙄

[creimes]

Oct 24, 2019 12:33:33 GMT -5 emofrmcgy said:

Oct 24, 2019 12:01:18 GMT -5 rbk123 said:

Any chance you can scratch the itch by upgrading your mains? Not that yours are bad, just that it will make a far greater difference then changing Emo amp generations. Far greater.

Or dumping that marantz garbage...gawd you could build something better yourself. 🙄 🙄

[davidl81]

Oct 24, 2019 11:31:49 GMT -5 songmeesay said:

Well Emo just got back to me and there is a xpa-9 b stock with minor scratches on the back for $1783 so I pulled the trigger.

Let’s us know how you like it after you install it. That’s a pretty good price and by the time you sell all of your other amps I bet your total out of pocket won’t be that bad.
I really have liked mine and I enjoy having less “boxes” in my cabinet.

[songmeesay]

Thanks for everyone's input. Perhaps I will dump the marantz in another 9-10 years and step it up to a rmc-1. I moved from unbalanced to xlr connections and now the trim levels are topped out at -12db on the 5 main speakers so I had to invest in some attenuators.

Too many other costly hobbies aside from this so I have to be equal opportunity. Maybe I won't have the same problem with the xpa-9.

[garbulky]

Oct 24, 2019 15:31:34 GMT -5 songmeesay said:

Thanks for everyone's input. Perhaps I will dump the marantz in another 9-10 years and step it up to a rmc-1. I moved from unbalanced to xlr connections and now the trim levels are topped out at -12db on the 5 main speakers so I had to invest in some attenuators.

Too many other costly hobbies aside from this so I have to be equal opportunity. Maybe I won't have the same problem with the xpa-9.

I prefer your current amps to the xpa gen 3 (I’ve heard the xpa 2 gen 3). So I don’t think it’s going to be an upgrade with an xpa9

[songmeesay]

I dont think I'm expecting anything different, if any, sonically. But the thought of all wires going into one unit was appealing and the "new" factor of it. I'll get it all hooked up and see how it goes. Worse comes worse I'm out $70 or so shipping back within my 30 days.

[emofrmcgy]

Oct 24, 2019 15:31:34 GMT -5 songmeesay said:

Thanks for everyone's input. Perhaps I will dump the marantz in another 9-10 years and step it up to a rmc-1. I moved from unbalanced to xlr connections and now the trim levels are topped out at -12db on the 5 main speakers so I had to invest in some attenuators.

Too many other costly hobbies aside from this so I have to be equal opportunity. Maybe I won't have the same problem with the xpa-9.

My Marantz comment was totally tongue in cheek.. I hope YOU enjoy your system, that's all that matters. 

[songmeesay]

Oh I knew that. It's good motivation to get out and venture into others though. All I've had experience with is Yamaha and Marantz as far as receivers and processors.