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EMOTIVA Thread [TECHNICAL TALK ONLY] - Page 50

post #1471 of 1604
6/18/08 at 6:51am
Johnla, Thanks for that review. I need a refresher on this stuff every so often.

Ray
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post #1472 of 1604
6/21/08 at 6:20am
wondering if this is possible I have the xpa-5 and i have my center channel, fronts and rears hooked up, my question is that my center channels is a bi wireable deftech 2002 rated at 250 max. could I get the xpa-3 and bi wire the speaker and use the other two channels for my and surrounds, if so how would I hook it up.coming out of my yamaha reciever is only one rca pre out for the center unlike all my other pre out which it has a red/white one even if I can't bi wire the center can I still get the xpa-3 use it for my center and surrounds, and then use the xpa-5 and use it for the fronts and rears that would leave me one vacant slot on the xpa-5 could that be used for anything?
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post #1473 of 1604
6/21/08 at 7:43am
matthew, what you are proposing is bi-amping and not bi-wiring. To bi-wire, all you need is one amp output channel and four conductors. At the amp, the two red wires get twisted together and the two black wires get twisted together and connected to the single red and single black output terminals respectively. At the speaker, remove the jumpers between the top and bottom input terminals and connect the four individual conductors to their respective inputs. If using the same gauge wire on all four conductors, it doesn't matter which one goes to which terminal as long as red and black is maintained. You can do this with all of your speakers without buying another amplifier. Hope this helps and happy listening.
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post #1474 of 1604
6/21/08 at 9:46am
"Bi-wiring" makes no sense ... just use a larger gauge wire and you'll achieve the same effect.
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post #1475 of 1604
6/21/08 at 12:37pm
let me try and say it this another way (first I am very new to this). I have a yam 7.1 reciever,also 7 speakers one which is bi ampable not bi wireing I as you have pointed out. I have a 5 channel amplifier I want to ampify the last two channels. If I have a bi ample center speaker and want to amplify my surrounds (the only two speakers not amplified will the 3 channel amp work. Or would biampimg my center with a amplifier instead of my reciever fry it since it rated at 250 max. wouldn't bi amping it since the 3 channel amplifier puts out 200 watts fry it. Wouldn't that be feeding the center 400 watts
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post #1476 of 1604
6/21/08 at 12:40pm
If you have a 7.1 receiver, 7 speakers, and a 5-channel amp, I'd run the fronts and center, maybe a pair of the surrounds, on the external amp, and leave the surrounds to be powered by the Yamaha.
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post #1477 of 1604
6/21/08 at 1:47pm
Quote:


"Bi-wiring" makes no sense ... just use a larger gauge wire and you'll achieve the same effect.

If you have 16/4 wire, it can make sense to "bi-wire" if you have very long runs




Any news on the new amps?

I put in a pre-order but I have heard nothing, I really want to XPA-3 amp.
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post #1478 of 1604
6/21/08 at 2:14pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by penngray View Post

If you have 16/4 wire, it can make sense to "bi-wire" if you have very long runs




Any news on the new amps?

I put in a pre-order but I have heard nothing, I really want to XPA-3 amp.

So you're saying someone spent the time and money to run 4x speaker wire, but only ran 16 AWG?

As I said, it only serves to increase the effective AWG. However I doubt anyone would run 4x16 wire. If they're thinking about running 4x wire, I'm sure they're smart enough to run 4x14 or 4x12.
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post #1479 of 1604
6/21/08 at 5:11pm
^^^ And you'd still have the relatively tiny (AWG-wise) choke points in the amp itself.
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post #1480 of 1604
6/22/08 at 6:17pm
Hi everyone. Hoping maybe someone can help me decide which amp I should buy. I will list my equipment and room dimensions below but first let me tell you what problem I am trying to correct. Although I have recently upgraded to some nice speakers (see below) I am still not getting the clarity I would like to hear from the center channel when on normal to low volume setting. Hoping a new amp will help since I am currently using a 105W older Denon amp (AVR 3300). Can anyone tell me if the LPA-1 would be a huge improvement for this problem or do I need to spring for the larger XPA-5 given my room dimensions (see below)? By the way I plan to continue using the Denon as my processor until I can afford to upgrade that shortly. Thank you kindly for your input and help.

Room:
17'x17'x18' vaulted ceiling
1 side of room is 90% open and I also have a 5' doorway opening on the rear wall. Floor is carpet. Seating is against backwall and surround speakers are mounted on side walls 8' high directly to the side of the seating area not in the rear of the listening area.

Equipment:
Mitsubishi HD 1000U Projector with 10' screen
Toshiba HD-A1 DVD Player
Denon AVR3300 Receiver (Speakers are hooked up from 5.1 analog ouputs of the A1 to the analog inputs of the AVR3300 so that I can receive some of the new lossless HD audio formats.
Dish HD Receiver
All PSB speakers, T55 L&R Front, C60 Center, B25 Rear surrounds
M&K VX-1250 Sub
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post #1481 of 1604
6/22/08 at 8:06pm
There are things you can do to improve clarity of the center channel that will have a much bigger effect than just changing the amplification.

1) Move the seating away from the wall. It's very bad for sound, especially for bass.

2) How is the center channel set up? Is it in a cabinet? On top of the TV? On a shelf above or below the TV? Also, where is it aimed?
It should be aimed at the listening position (where the ear level is), not over your head or at your legs/feet. Also, if it's on a shelf, it should be at the edge of the shelf or over the edge, not back with shelf surface open between the front of the speaker and the edge of the shelf.

3) Kind of a stupid question, but have to ask... How have you calibrated the speakers? I'm assuming you have level-matched the speakers properly. A lot of people (including me) run the center channel a few dB hot to help with dialog intelligibility. Plus, do you have all the speaker distances and everything set properly?

4) Do you have a coffee table between the couch and the TV? If so, you could be getting bad reflections off of it. Try breaking up the surface with different objects, or just put some pillows or a blanket on the top to reduce the sound reflecting off of it and back up at you, which can smear the sound a bit.
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post #1482 of 1604
6/23/08 at 4:35am
Quote:
Originally Posted by cyberbri View Post

There are things you can do to improve clarity of the center channel that will have a much bigger effect than just changing the amplification.

1) Move the seating away from the wall. It's very bad for sound, especially for bass.

Will do.

2) How is the center channel set up? Is it in a cabinet? On top of the TV? On a shelf above or below the TV? Also, where is it aimed?
It should be aimed at the listening position (where the ear level is), not over your head or at your legs/feet. Also, if it's on a shelf, it should be at the edge of the shelf or over the edge, not back with shelf surface open between the front of the speaker and the edge of the shelf.

Center channel is 24" off the floor on a stand, at the edge of the shelf, underneath and at the center of the screen facing listener at about a 3 degree upward angle.

3) Kind of a stupid question, but have to ask... How have you calibrated the speakers? I'm assuming you have level-matched the speakers properly. A lot of people (including me) run the center channel a few dB hot to help with dialog intelligibility. Plus, do you have all the speaker distances and everything set properly?

I measured speaker distance using a tape measure and an SPL meter (Radio Shack) and HD Avia disc test tones. I too am running CC about 2DB hot.


4) Do you have a coffee table between the couch and the TV? If so, you could be getting bad reflections off of it. Try breaking up the surface with different objects, or just put some pillows or a blanket on the top to reduce the sound reflecting off of it and back up at you, which can smear the sound a bit.

Yes I do have a coffee table between couch and TV, will move it to see if it helps, good idea. Where do I put the pillows or blanket that you mentioned?
Thank you so much for taking time to reply and try and help, I really do appreciate your time and advice. Have a great day.
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post #1483 of 1604
6/23/08 at 7:04am
He wants you to try and cover the coffee table to minimize reflections.
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post #1484 of 1604
6/23/08 at 1:34pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by usp1 View Post

He wants you to try and cover the coffee table to minimize reflections.


Thanks USP1 for the clarification.
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post #1485 of 1604
6/23/08 at 3:46pm
golffnutt I am very new to all the reciever/amp stuff, just read my previous post. I had a sony reciever and I was very unhappy with it, then I bought the yamaha rx-v663. It was a improvement but not what I was expecting from all the positive reviews from this site. I bought the emotiva xpa-5 and I can tell a hugh difference, I mean a hugh difference. I still want a little more so I was going to make some accoustical panels/bass traps but since it seems you can't go to lowes or home depot and pick up the materials so I will purchase them from the links cyberbri gave me(thanks). Emotiva makes a awesome product, after the panels/bass trap I am considering the emotiva xpa-2, since I have gotten the xpa-5 I seem to want to listen to all my favorite cd's again because they sound so much better, but the xpa-2 is suppose to be better for music, and I also want to finish out my set up for 7.1.. I can't even hear the speakers that aren't hooked up to the xpa-5 now so its just another excuse. So do I recommend the xpa-5, yep but if I had to do it over I would have done the panels/traps first to have a starting reference point, I wouldn't have gotten the yamaha I would have gotten the emotiva mmc-1, because I am now a hugh emotiva fan . I like cyberbri,s approach if you can fix it without blowing money you don't need to thats the best way to go of course, but in my case it was time to do a little updating. I am done ranting good luck with your decision golffnutt
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post #1486 of 1604
6/23/08 at 4:03pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by matthew1975 View Post

golffnutt I am very new to all the reciever/amp stuff, just read my previous post. I had a sony reciever and I was very unhappy with it, then I bought the yamaha rx-v663. It was a improvement but not what I was expecting from all the positive reviews from this site. I bought the emotiva xpa-5 and I can tell a hugh difference, I mean a hugh difference. I still want a little more so I was going to make some accoustical panels/bass traps but since it seems you can't go to lowes or home depot and pick up the materials so I will purchase them from the links cyberbri gave me(thanks). Emotiva makes a awesome product, after the panels/bass trap I am considering the emotiva xpa-2, since I have gotten the xpa-5 I seem to want to listen to all my favorite cd's again because they sound so much better, but the xpa-2 is suppose to be better for music, and I also want to finish out my set up for 7.1.. I can't even hear the speakers that aren't hooked up to the xpa-5 now so its just another excuse. So do I recommend the xpa-5, yep but if I had to do it over I would have done the panels/traps first to have a starting reference point, I wouldn't have gotten the yamaha I would have gotten the emotiva mmc-1, because I am now a hugh emotiva fan . I like cyberbri,s approach if you can fix it without blowing money you don't need to thats the best way to go of course, but in my case it was time to do a little updating. I am done ranting good luck with your decision golffnutt

Matthew1975 thank you very much for taking the time in relating your personal experience with the Emotiva amps. I very much appreciate your time and honesty in your personal experience. Thanks again and have a great evening.
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post #1487 of 1604
6/23/08 at 5:08pm
no problem, I think if you decide to get the xpa-5 you won't be sorry(atleast I wasn't), I know nothing of the lpa-1 but i am sure its a quality product. I assume you know they are replacing the lpa-1 soon(as of july), thats why its onsale now the upa-7 is the replacement.
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post #1488 of 1604
6/23/08 at 7:47pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by matthew1975 View Post

no problem, I think if you decide to get the xpa-5 you won't be sorry(atleast I wasn't), I know nothing of the lpa-1 but i am sure its a quality product. I assume you know they are replacing the lpa-1 soon(as of july), thats why its onsale now the upa-7 is the replacement.

I would love to get the XPA-5 but right now money is tight since I just bought the 5 new PSB speakers and projector. As for the new UPA-7, sometimes new is not necessarily better. Too often manufacturers in this business change just to build a less expensive version of the existing model so that they can improve their margins. Not saying this is what Emotiva is doing the UPA-7 but if the LPA-1 is as good as everyone says it is then why change after just a year or two on the market. I am not one who likes to test the waters immediately upon a new product on the market. I like to wait a while and see what others have to say, make sure there are no bugs, etc. Patience in this hobby is definitely a virtue, I have learned this the hard way thru the years. I do appreciate your time and comments though. Still haven't totally convinced myself that Emotiva is the way to go but I am leaning HEAVILY in their direction. Have a great evening and thanks a million for your input.
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post #1489 of 1604
6/23/08 at 7:50pm
Glad it's working out for you! I'm very jealous of the new toy!
And an XPA-2 for the mains and the 5-channel one for the rest of the speakers would be very sweet indeed. Be careful, though, because you'll start wanting to upgrade your speakers, and your sub, and your display, and everything! lol
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post #1490 of 1604
6/23/08 at 10:04pm
Just thought i'd throw my thoughts out there. I bought an LPA-1 a few months ago and couldn't be more pleased. I actually auditioned several amps including some $2k 200wpc amps...to be honest it was hard for me to appreciate any improvement over the LPA-1. The LPA-1seems extremely well made and sounds amazing in both multichannel and stereo. Even with a large room this amp delivers. Having 7 channels is icing on the cake (the 50wpc work great for my back surrounds).

So far I'm very impressed with Emotiva. I'd highly recommend them to anyone seeking a quality product at a bargain price.
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post #1491 of 1604
6/23/08 at 11:50pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by golffnutt View Post

As for the new UPA-7, sometimes new is not necessarily better.

UPA-7 will give the #6 and #7 channels equal power ... as opposed to the bridgeable configuration on the LPA-1 ... and the price (reportedly) will be higher. That having been said, there have been a few reports of QA issues with the XPA-5's over on the Emotiva forum
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post #1492 of 1604
6/24/08 at 6:09am
Quote:
Originally Posted by nm4710 View Post

Just thought i'd throw my thoughts out there. I bought an LPA-1 a few months ago and couldn't be more pleased. I actually auditioned several amps including some $2k 200wpc amps...to be honest it was hard for me to appreciate any improvement over the LPA-1. The LPA-1seems extremely well made and sounds amazing in both multichannel and stereo. Even with a large room this amp delivers. Having 7 channels is icing on the cake (the 50wpc work great for my back surrounds).

So far I'm very impressed with Emotiva. I'd highly recommend them to anyone seeking a quality product at a bargain price.

+1
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post #1493 of 1604
6/24/08 at 1:46pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bigred7078 View Post

+1

Quote:
Originally Posted by nm4710 View Post

Just thought i'd throw my thoughts out there. I bought an LPA-1 a few months ago and couldn't be more pleased. I actually auditioned several amps including some $2k 200wpc amps...to be honest it was hard for me to appreciate any improvement over the LPA-1. The LPA-1seems extremely well made and sounds amazing in both multichannel and stereo. Even with a large room this amp delivers. Having 7 channels is icing on the cake (the 50wpc work great for my back surrounds).

So far I'm very impressed with Emotiva. I'd highly recommend them to anyone seeking a quality product at a bargain price.

Totally agree. The LPA-1 is a great product at a great price. I bought mine 3 weeks ago and have it powering Infinity Primus 360's and 150's. My listening room is very large (5,700 cf) and it does a great job of driving my speakers.
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post #1494 of 1604
6/24/08 at 4:54pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Augmont View Post

Totally agree. The LPA-1 is a great product at a great price. I bought mine 3 weeks ago and have it powering Infinity Primus 360's and 150's. My listening room is very large (5,700 cf) and it does a great job of driving my speakers.


Thank you Augmont. Very comforting to know the LPA-1 is giving you the power needed for such a large room as you have. This is one of my BIG concerns with buying the LPA-1 that it sounds like I can eliminate. Thanks again and hope you have a great evening.
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post #1495 of 1604
6/25/08 at 9:31pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by penngray View Post

If you have 16/4 wire, it can make sense to "bi-wire" if you have very long runs




Any news on the new amps?

I put in a pre-order but I have heard nothing, I really want to XPA-3 amp.

From the Summer of Love topic in the Announcements forum:

ALL items in the Emotiva store ship free until July 15th. XPA-2s, XPA-3s, and UPA-7s will be in stock the first of July.

Doug
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post #1496 of 1604
6/26/08 at 10:42am
Quote:
Originally Posted by golffnutt View Post

Thank you Augmont. Very comforting to know the LPA-1 is giving you the power needed for such a large room as you have. This is one of my BIG concerns with buying the LPA-1 that it sounds like I can eliminate. Thanks again and hope you have a great evening.

Golfnut- dont sit on the fence too long - the lpa-1 is an unbeleivably good amp at the current 449 price. And as has happened with emotiva's other products that were being phased out they are likely to get sold out in a hurry.
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post #1497 of 1604
6/26/08 at 3:52pm
Just picked up a RSP-1, RPA-1 and a DMC-1....

unbelieveable stuff... i love it
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post #1498 of 1604
6/27/08 at 12:55pm
Just received my emails for pre-order upa-7 and xpa-3.

But now the confusion starts again...why wouldnt I just by the LPA-7 at the discounted price? I would save $200.

What does the UPA-7 have that the LPA-7 doesnt. Im a big believer that amps really dont change year to year. I can not really find much difference, what did I miss?
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post #1499 of 1604
6/27/08 at 1:20pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by penngray View Post

Just received my emails for pre-order upa-7 and xpa-3.

But now the confusion starts again...why wouldnt I just by the LPA-7 at the discounted price? I would save $200.

What does the UPA-7 have that the LPA-7 doesnt. Im a big believer that amps really dont change year to year. I can not really find much difference, what did I miss?

You mean the LPA-1? And its 125x5 and 2x50 or 125x5 and 1x100

see the 6th and 7th channels actually dont have the full rated 125 watts. But they are bridgeable for just a 6th channel that is rated at 100 watts.

The UPA-7 is a full 125x7 amp. Due to that and the rise of production costs are why you pay more now. Otherwise the LPA-1 is a very good amp and you wont find any others at this price again.
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post #1500 of 1604
6/27/08 at 2:27pm
Very nice people over at Emotiva, from what I am told they build a lot of other high ends stuff for other manufactures, via Jade Design. I am seriously thinking of getting there new Pre/Pro when it comes out, the UMC-1 or there higher end unit. Still debating on there Amps, the LPA-1 is a steal at the price there selling it at, even though I have a NAD silver series Amp I am thinking of getting the XPA-3 or 5 or maybe the LPA-1.
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