New guy just bought XPA-5 Gen3 today have some questions

[cmptrgydv]

Hi I just ordered a XPA-5 Gen3 amp by accident. Was just trying to check different costs using PayPal and other payment options I have. But one to many clicks and it’s ordered.
I did get a $360 discount so that was cool.
But I was waiting to get on this forum to ask some questions I have.

The first thing I need to know is that the modules are all common ground.
My front speakers are a pair of Polk SDA SRS’s which must use common ground amp’s
I’m assuming that they are common ground, or it would say otherwise.

Now I had planned on just getting the two-channel modal but decided to go ahead
And get the five channel after reading on this forum you cannot buy and add modules
On your own.

But now for my next question. There are of course 5 modules. Is there any particular way you should use modules for right and left and center channels. Or is it just how you want to use them. And what RCA jacks from preamp you hook up to what module.



And how you want to have it organized.



I have never owned any Emotiva equipment, so this is all new to me.

[AudioHTIT]

Sept 9, 2024 19:42:25 GMT -5 cmptrgydv said:

Hi I just ordered a XPA-5 Gen3 amp by accident. Was just trying to check different costs using PayPal and other payment options I have. But one to many clicks and it’s ordered.
I did get a $360 discount so that was cool.
But I was waiting to get on this forum to ask some questions I have.

The first thing I need to know is that the modules are all common ground.
My front speakers are a pair of Polk SDA SRS’s which must use common ground amp’s
I’m assuming that they are common ground, or it would say otherwise.

Now I had planned on just getting the two-channel modal but decided to go ahead
And get the five channel after reading on this forum you cannot buy and add modules
On your own.

But now for my next question. There are of course 5 modules. Is there any particular way you should use modules for right and left and center channels. Or is it just how you want to use them. And what RCA jacks from preamp you hook up to what module.

And how you want to have it organized.

I have never owned any Emotiva equipment, so this is all new to me.

I would say they are not common ground, the modules are designed to operate independently, but you should contact Emotiva support to be sure of compatibility with your speakers (maybe KeithL will chime in).

How you hook the channels up is totally up to you, they’re five identical modules, but I have a thing about symmetry, so I’d want the center channel in the center 😮 If it were me, the channels on the right would go right, and left to the left. So looking from the rear maybe RSurr, Right, Center, Left, LSurr. The RCAs would come from the corresponding outputs. Again, roll it your way!

[KeithL]

The regular XPA Gen3 amps (the multi-channel ones) are common grounded.
They should have no trouble with Polk SRS speakers.
And we have had no reports of issues with running a pair of Polk SRS speakers from one of them.

The XPA-DR (fully differential) amps are NOT common grounded.
And those speakers should NOT be used with ANY fully differential amplifier.
(Fully differential amplifiers are NOT common grounded.)

We have had a few reports of unusual issues with those speakers and our XPA-HC1 amps specifically.
(So we're not recommending that you use those with the Polk SRS speakers.)  

Sept 10, 2024 10:16:07 GMT -5 AudioHTIT said:

Sept 9, 2024 19:42:25 GMT -5 cmptrgydv said:

Hi I just ordered a XPA-5 Gen3 amp by accident. Was just trying to check different costs using PayPal and other payment options I have. But one to many clicks and it’s ordered.
I did get a $360 discount so that was cool.
But I was waiting to get on this forum to ask some questions I have.

The first thing I need to know is that the modules are all common ground.
My front speakers are a pair of Polk SDA SRS’s which must use common ground amp’s
I’m assuming that they are common ground, or it would say otherwise.

Now I had planned on just getting the two-channel modal but decided to go ahead
And get the five channel after reading on this forum you cannot buy and add modules
On your own.

But now for my next question. There are of course 5 modules. Is there any particular way you should use modules for right and left and center channels. Or is it just how you want to use them. And what RCA jacks from preamp you hook up to what module.

And how you want to have it organized.

I have never owned any Emotiva equipment, so this is all new to me.

I would say they are not common ground, the modules are designed to operate independently, but you should contact Emotiva support to be sure of compatibility with your speakers (maybe KeithL will chime in).

How you hook the channels up is totally up to you, they’re five identical modules, but I have a thing about symmetry, so I’d want the center channel in the center 😮 If it were me, the channels on the right would go right, and left to the left. So looking from the rear maybe RSurr, Right, Center, Left, LSurr. The RCAs would come from the corresponding outputs. Again, roll it your way!

[cmptrgydv]

Thanks for the replies I called Emotiva and they are common grounded. I kind of thought they would have to be since the modules are all using the same power supply. they shipped my amp out today so looking forward to hooking this bad boy up. I was using a Carver TFM 45 for the polks it will be interesting to compare these two amp's 

[leonski]

First? ONE power supply for all channels......That should tell 'ya.

As for which I'd use? I just would not put the 2 active right NEXT to one another for heating purposes.

If 3 channels? 1 - 3 - 5 would do....


Funny, (to me, anyway) that you should use a Carver amp with Polk SDA speakers. After all, Carver had

the competition in the form of 'Sonic Hologram'..... For a while I wanted the C1 preamp....


Unplugged and OFF for an hour?   A meter will define ground in about 5 seconds.

[cmptrgydv]

Hi Leonski LOL I Just bought the Polk SDA SRS's two years ago I got a really great deal on them from someone that lived 10 miles from me. they belonged to his dad who had passed away years ago and them SRS's were in the original box's for years in a finished basement. they look brand new I mean really new with all the sales info and documents with them. I had two TFM 45 carver amp's and two TFM 15 amp's in my just put it there room LOL had not used them in awhile. now when I was younger I always read about bi amping speakers but never actually did it. of course the SRS's can be bi amped and I just happened to have two TFM 45's just dying to be bi amped with those SRS's ( I know way over kill) but I had to I couldn't help myself. the thought of bi amping them SRS's was keeping me awake at night. I ended up buying a Onkyo  TX-RZ840  AV receiver because it was the only AV receiver I could find that had outputs for the front, center, and back channels. so that is were I am today just bought the XPA gen3 to replace the carver amps.