Emotiva XPA-5 amplifier

[piker]

I have done some reading around about amplifiers, and it seems like the majority of people here recommend settling on a used and respected amp from brands such as Adcom, or Parasound. I really want to stay away from used and would like to remain under the $1000 price point, and so I just finished purchasing one of the Emotiva XPA-5's from their website. It's brand new and has a 5 year warranty. Also I should get 30 days to try out the product and make sure it's what I really want. If I don't like it I can send it back. To me, those two factors are worth it for the peace of mind alone.

I am currently running Polk M70's for the front L & R, M60's for surrounds, the CS2 center, and PSW505 sub. Since the specs for the XPA-5 show 200watts per channel, and the CS2 is rated for 175watts, is that going to cause a problem? Or is it only an issue if I was to crank the volume up towards maximum?

I have the Onkyo TX-NR808 right now. I am aware that since I'm running 5.1 with bi-amped fronts (that makes 7 channels being used, right?) I'm likely only getting 55-65 watts per channel in reality.

Do you think I will really notice an improvement in what I hear with this amp? I am not completely satisfied with how my M70's sound right now. To me, the 60's sounded better as fronts. They seemed to play louder and more clearly than the 70's do. I'm not sure if it's because of the lack of power or not. The 70's to me sound flat and lifeless right now. Hopefully the XPA-5 brings these to life. I seriously hope I don't regret this purchase.

Anyone else with the XPA-5 care to chime in with a before and after opinion? I haven't seen too much about this amp on here. I do know there are a few members who own it though.

[heiney9]

Do you think I will really notice an improvement in what I hear with this amp? I am not completely satisfied with how my M70's sound right now. To me, the 60's sounded better as fronts. They seemed to play louder and more clearly than the 70's do. I'm not sure if it's because of the lack of power or not. The 70's to me sound flat and lifeless right now. Hopefully the XPA-5 brings these to life. I seriously hope I don't regret this purchase.

Anyone else with the XPA-5 care to chime in with a before and after opinion? I haven't seen too much about this amp on here. I do know there are a few members who own it though.

Welcome, it seems you've already bought the amp so I don't understand why ask questions after the fact. Not to mention there are hundreds of threads answering your questions and more.

Let us know what you think once you get it hooked up.

H9

[piker]

I would like to think that I'll hear a similar difference to what I have with my car right now. From the factory, Subaru installed the most craptastic sounding factory deck I've ever heard before. It absolutely sucked! I installed a Kenwood DVD/NAV deck about a year later and it boosted the watts from about 15 per channel from the factory to I think 45 per channel now. The sound difference was quite amazing. It really brought the speakers to life and they sounded better. I'm hoping that is the kind of difference I will be getting here with the amp.

[cnh]

Personally, I haven't heard any Emotivas and am one of those that favor the Adcom/Parasound advice above! But I can tell you that 200 watts of clean power per channel to your M-70s will bring you to another level in terms of what those speakers can 'do' and is well worth trying!

I ran M-70s on a Denon AVR 2807 (110 W/channel) and then tacked on an Adcom GFA-555 (original) and the 70s really opened up and had bolder tighter bass, more authority, better imaging, cleaner mids and highs. Since the Emo has a 30 day return policy all you can lose is the shipping fees?

Finally, you can't 'damage' your speakers with 200 watts of good quality power...just use common sense and don't clip the amp. But that's not very likely with a high current model!

Good Luck!

cnh

[piker]

Welcome, it seems you've already bought the amp so I don't understand why ask questions after the fact. Not to mention there are hundreds of threads answering your questions and more.

Let us know what you think once you get it hooked up.

H9

I'm really looking for some reassurance here. Also I haven't really read about any before and after comparisons. I'm hoping to get a few responses like that.

[piker]

Personally, I haven't heard any Emotivas and am one of those that favor the Adcom/Parasound advice above! But I can tell you that 200 watts of clean power per channel to your M-70s will bring you to another level in terms of what those speakers can 'do' and is well worth trying!

I ran M-70s on a Denon AVR 2807 (110 W/channel) and then tacked on an Adcom GFA-555 (original) and the 70s really opened up and had bolder tighter bass, more authority, better imaging, cleaner mids and highs. Since the Emo has a 30 day return policy all you can lose is the shipping fees?

Good Luck!

cnh

Thank you! This is what I was wanting to know. Super fast responses guys!

[cfrizz]

Welcome to Club Polk Piker!

I think that you will be amazed by the improvement that will happen when you add the amp.

I always recommend getting a 5 channel amp of at least 200wpc and be done with this particular upgrade.

All of your speakers will show what they are truly capable of producing once they get the power that they need to operate to their full potential.

None of your speakers will be hurt since they will only take the power that they need at any given time. What's important is that the power will be there when they need it. The only way to damage the speakers is if you get too carried away with the volume, which will probably damage your hearing before the speakers give out!

Have you purchased the IC's that you are going to need to hook up the amp to your receiver? If not, check out Blue Jeans Cable or Monoprice for those.

Congrats on your purchase, and let us know what you think once you have a chance.

[piker]

None of your speakers will be hurt since they will only take the power that they need at any given time. What's important is that the power will be there when they need it. The only way to damage the speakers is if you get too carried away with the volume, which will probably damage your hearing before the speakers give out!

Have you purchased the IC's that you are going to need to hook up the amp to your receiver? If not, check out Blue Jeans Cable or Monoprice for those.

Congrats on your purchase, and let us know what you think once you have a chance.

Thank you for the informative response, cfrizz! I am glad to hear that I shouldn't have a problem running this amp as long as I'm not trying to bring the house down with pure volume. I don't necessarily need more volume than I have now. I simply wish for a richer, more full sounding performance. I want the extra dynamic punch to be there when its asked for.

I purchased five of the below from monoprice. I'm hoping I ordered the right ones. I read a couple reviews that mentioned using these as interconnects from receivers to amplifier. When comparing them to the cables that Emotiva sells for $19 a piece on their website they look very much alike.

http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?c_id=102&cp_id=10236&cs_id=1023603&p_id=2680&seq=1&format=2

[cfrizz]

Those will work just fine. Be sure to post back once you get it all put together.:smile:


Thank you for the informative response, cfrizz! I am glad to hear that I shouldn't have a problem running this amp as long as I'm not trying to bring the house down with pure volume. I don't necessarily need more volume than I have now. I simply wish for a richer, more full sounding performance. I want the extra dynamic punch to be there when its asked for.

I purchased five of the below from monoprice. I'm hoping I ordered the right ones. I read a couple reviews that mentioned using these as interconnects from receivers to amplifier. When comparing them to the cables that Emotiva sells for $19 a piece on their website they look very much alike.

http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?c_id=102&cp_id=10236&cs_id=1023603&p_id=2680&seq=1&format=2

[krauley]

Piker as you can see from my sign that i was in the same boat as you. I got that xpa- 5 hooked up and it was diffinitely worth the $$$. No regrets here! Also i have a cs1 upfront and while it may not be rated as high as the 200 wpc the xpa gives up, youll loose your hearing long before the speaker will crack just like cfrizz pointed out.

Enjoy! :smile:

[piker]

Thanks krauley. I'll post up my initial impressions once I get everything... hopefully by this time next week.

I have come up with one more question. Would it be a bad idea to put the amp on an end table which has the PSW505 only a couple inches under it? Electromagnetic interference? If so, I'll likely have to move the sub to the side of my seating area, as I do not have any wall space left up front. My computer desk is taking up the left corner of the room, and the right side has a closet door so I can't place anything there.

[Geoff4rfc]

I'm really looking for some reassurance here. Also I haven't really read about any before and after comparisons. I'm hoping to get a few responses like that.

I've got a very similar set up as you do. My 70's and CS2 do quite well from the XPA-3. My 807 pumps good juice into my 40's and 30's. Of course, my Epik has it's own amp so all is well.

There are a lot more better amps out there, but for the price, I have no regrets with my XPA-3 and would do it again in a heart beat.

As others have mentioned, be sure to post your results, thoughts and maybe some photos.

Congratulations.

[apphd]

Thanks krauley. I'll post up my initial impressions once I get everything... hopefully by this time next week.

I have come up with one more question. Would it be a bad idea to put the amp on an end table which has the PSW505 only a couple inches under it? Electromagnetic interference? If so, I'll likely have to move the sub to the side of my seating area, as I do not have any wall space left up front. My computer desk is taking up the left corner of the room, and the right side has a closet door so I can't place anything there.

You shouldn't have any concerns of Electromagnetic interference, but I would avoid it just due to vibrations. This may not be a real concern, with a HT sub, but I remember a stress test lab where I used to work used shake and bake chambers that had 15" or 20" drivers, and used sub sonic freqs. to rattle the bejeebers out of products for testing.

Paired up with your gear and your adversion to used amps, I think you will be more than happy with the Emo amp.

[piker]

I found a table that will work to set the amp on top of. It should give me about a foot of space between the amp and the sub, which I'm sure is an ample (pun intended) enough amount of room between the two devices.

[george daniel]

Well,, let us know your impressions,,I know there has been alot of Emo bashing in the past,,but having heard them at Axpona in Atlanta,,I must admit that their HT and 2ch rooms did not souind bad at all.Good luck with your system and welcome to CP

[ctank]

I just added two UPA-1s 200 watts each..mono block amps..i have Polk Monitor70s..i am useing a HarmanKardon 3490..in a2.1set'up..as the pre-amp..and it really opened them up..sound stage is very good..the low end on my M70s really get low..and yes mids are much better and the highs and upper mids are sweet!..You will hear much more with the 200 watts..are there better amps out there?..yes...but cost lots more too...Emotiva amps like you said come with 5 years on them...Luv them .

[jcandy]

I really want to stay away from used and would like to remain under the $1000 price point, and so I just finished purchasing one of the Emotiva XPA-5's from their website.
You made an excellent choice. Just remember to use your legs when lifting it!

[devani]

let us know how you like the sound...i also had XPA-5 at one time

[ranger]

devani, I guess you didn't like it? Why?

[krauley]

You made an excellent choice. Just remember to use your legs when lifting it!

This is probably the most important text typed in this thread! I AGREE 100%! :eek: At the very least get some help getting that bad boy into place. :biggrin:

[cfrizz]

:rolleyes:Oh please, lets's not start.

In most cases he probably simply moved on in his quest of sampling as much gear as he can get his hands on that his wallet will allow.

This happens a lot in this hobby, it's called upgraditis.:biggrin:


devani, I guess you didn't like it? Why?

[nguyendot]

I would like to think that I'll hear a similar difference to what I have with my car right now. From the factory, Subaru installed the most craptastic sounding factory deck I've ever heard before. It absolutely sucked! I installed a Kenwood DVD/NAV deck about a year later and it boosted the watts from about 15 per channel from the factory to I think 45 per channel now. The sound difference was quite amazing. It really brought the speakers to life and they sounded better. I'm hoping that is the kind of difference I will be getting here with the amp.

I very much doubt your NAV deck puts out 45/channel. It probably has a 10 amp fuse in the back, or 15. Do the math, 14.4v x 10=144 watts. Or 216w with a 15a fuse.

It's very different home vs car. A home receiver will put out closer to its rating than a car unit will. Even so, the biamp is useless on the receiver, you're probably getting closer to 30w/channel with all channels driven. Then again how often are all channels driven? The bi-amp is really only useful when driving two channels, and even then you're really only getting 40w/channel or so. An external amp will drive your speakers better, and generally sound better. Emotiva has mixed reviews on this forum, so you just have to try it for yourself.

[Sherardp]

Welcome to the club, definitely post your thoughts. I tried to get an Emotiva amp, but after they asked for $1000.00 to ship, I moved on. They look pretty, but I have never had the opportunity to experience one. Love the Sunfire I ended up with though.

[piker]

I should be receiving the amp today. FedEx tracking shows that it's out on a truck for delivery right now.

I miscalculated the length of IC cables I'd need. Ordered 6' cables, got them in yesterday, and I don't think they will work out. The cables will be hanging in the air instead of running along the ground. I ordered another set of 10' yesterday. Monoprice looks to have a good return policy with no restocking fees. I just have to pay return shipping.

If only I had picked out a TV stand with just a couple more inches of depth, because then I could set the receiver and amp side by side. Instead I had to go with the narrowest depth I could find. Yeah it looks nice, but it isn't very manageable now. The XPA-5 will be lonely on the table to the side.

[piker]

I just added two UPA-1s 200 watts each..mono block amps..i have Polk Monitor70s..i am useing a HarmanKardon 3490..in a2.1set'up..as the pre-amp..and it really opened them up..sound stage is very good..the low end on my M70s really get low..and yes mids are much better and the highs and upper mids are sweet!..You will hear much more with the 200 watts..are there better amps out there?..yes...but cost lots more too...Emotiva amps like you said come with 5 years on them...Luv them .

What do you have your crossover set to on the 70's?

[EndersShadow]

I miscalculated the length of IC cables I'd need. Ordered 6' cables, got them in yesterday, and I don't think they will work out. The cables will be hanging in the air instead of running along the ground. I ordered another set of 10' yesterday. Monoprice looks to have a good return policy with no restocking fees. I just have to pay return shipping.

If it was me I would return the monoprice IC's and buy some better ones like from SignalCable or BlueJeansCable. With the amount you spent on the AVR and Amp you want to make sure the signal between the two is as clean as possible. SignalCable or BlueJeanCable interconnects are great at doing that are are sold at bargain prices compared to most IC's.

If you can find a way to keep them short that would be prefered as my set of 5 SignalCables cost me like 110 for 3 footers. However they are much better than my Monoprice IC's I had before (both the regular and premium ones)

[ctank]

@piker...my Polk sub is set at.. 2 clicks before halfway....and the Hz is set about 80hz..M70s running at full..no bi-amp on them..the 200 watts and that the mono amps have 80,000ufs each..when playing at say about -30 db on the H/K..the output from my M70s are so much better...very open sound stage...mids are sweet, highs are well clean!..Guys i know Polk has them Rti9s i would luv to have those..but i really luv they way my Monitor 70 sound..very musical!...I have too say i will never use anything else..Mono amps that is..i am not on here pushing Emotiva Amps..i have had a Carver amp before back in the 90,s it was as good as these monos i have now..i sold it...wish i had it back..i will upgrade to a 7.2 processor soon..and add more amps..i have the H/K2600 in a 5.1 set'up..useing a Niles A/B Amp switch..so i can use both amps with just my M70s..and i do have two subs..one for each amp..i am new here guys so please forgive me if i miss a post..or put something in the wrong post..just trying too fit in here..

[ctank]

Oh i do have all Polk speakers everywhere else too..

[piker]

I got the amp set up and was able to play around with it for a couple hours. I tested a variety of sources.

First I put in Kung Fu Panda (2 comes out this week!) and watched a couple scenes of that. I noticed the center channel dialog was cleaner and easier to understand now. I forgot I was listening to a speaker. It's now more like I am actually hearing someone speak in front of me. That part impressed me quite a bit.

Watching the scene where Tai Lung escapes prison, I was able to hear the added dynamics the amp has to offer. Spears being thrown and smashing off of rock walls, chains grinding against stone... it all sounds good. Overall it seems to have added clean and clear power, which actually makes more of a difference than I thought it would.

I haven't noticed a huge increase in overall volume, but I can now listen at the same levels as I have been with the Onkyo and I can hear things more clearly and in-your-face than I ever have. It is a lot more like being in a movie theater. I need to try a couple more movies throughout the week to verify the improvements. I have a few demo worthy blu-rays I am very familiar with and I will try those out.

The second thing I decided to try was music. After putting in the M70's about a week ago, I felt like they sounded flat and weren't providing the sound that they were hyped up to have. After the XPA-5 installation, I now have a chance to hear what the speakers are capable of. It's not flat sounding anymore, but full and enhanced. The music sounds substantially better than before. The M70's have popped their low-end cherry. The midrange seems to be the most improved. The higher I crank the volume, the more I can tell the amp is doing its job.

I also tried some tracks from Rock Band 2. It sounded great. It was like being right there in a concert. If only RB had better than Dolby Digital audio, but it still sounded pretty awesome. I then stuck in Dirt 3 which is brand new. This game is like pure sex for the ears. I wanted to keep turning up the volume but I knew I'd start to piss off the neighbors. I finished my gaming run with a chapter from Uncharted 2 on the PS3. This game does use lossless PCM surround sound, and it really shines. The soundtrack is superb, and the voice acting matches it. It's a shining example of why having a good surround sound is a must for gaming.

Overall impressions are good. I've never had the opportunity to listen to a home theater amplifier before. I have nothing to compare this XPA-5 to, except for my Onkyo TX-NR808 receiver. Although it's a good midrange receiver on its own, I'm happy I got this amp. It provides clean and crystal clear power that the Onkyo just can't match.

I know a lot of members here use amps mainly for music listening and home theater. Surely, gaming is an afterthought for a lot of people, but it seems to be a perfect fit for the Emotiva XPA-5.

[audiocr381ve]

I got the amp set up and was able to play around with it for a couple hours. I tested a variety of sources.

First I put in Kung Fu Panda (2 comes out this week!) and watched a couple scenes of that. I noticed the center channel dialog was cleaner and easier to understand now. I forgot I was listening to a speaker. It's now more like I am actually hearing someone speak in front of me. That part impressed me quite a bit.

Watching the scene where Tai Lung escapes prison, I was able to hear the added dynamics the amp has to offer. Spears being thrown and smashing off of rock walls, chains grinding against stone... it all sounds good. Overall it seems to have added clean and clear power, which actually makes more of a difference than I thought it would.

I haven't noticed a huge increase in overall volume, but I can now listen at the same levels as I have been with the Onkyo and I can hear things more clearly and in-your-face than I ever have. It is a lot more like being in a movie theater. I need to try a couple more movies throughout the week to verify the improvements. I have a few demo worthy blu-rays I am very familiar with and I will try those out.

The second thing I decided to try was music. After putting in the M70's about a week ago, I felt like they sounded flat and weren't providing the sound that they were hyped up to have. After the XPA-5 installation, I now have a chance to hear what the speakers are capable of. It's not flat sounding anymore, but full and enhanced. The music sounds substantially better than before. The M70's have popped their low-end cherry. The midrange seems to be the most improved. The higher I crank the volume, the more I can tell the amp is doing its job.

I also tried some tracks from Rock Band 2. It sounded great. It was like being right there in a concert. If only RB had better than Dolby Digital audio, but it still sounded pretty awesome. I then stuck in Dirt 3 which is brand new. This game is like pure sex for the ears. I wanted to keep turning up the volume but I knew I'd start to piss off the neighbors. I finished my gaming run with a chapter from Uncharted 2 on the PS3. This game does use lossless PCM surround sound, and it really shines. The soundtrack is superb, and the voice acting matches it. It's a shining example of why having a good surround sound is a must for gaming.

Overall impressions are good. I've never had the opportunity to listen to a home theater amplifier before. I have nothing to compare this XPA-5 to, except for my Onkyo TX-NR808 receiver. Although it's a good midrange receiver on its own, I'm happy I got this amp. It provides clean and crystal clear power that the Onkyo just can't match.

I know a lot of members here use amps mainly for music listening and home theater. Surely, gaming is an afterthought for a lot of people, but it seems to be a perfect fit for the Emotiva XPA-5.

That's awesome. I'm glad you didn't include any of the audio snob buzz words, it was just a remarkable improvement that was very audible and I'm happy for ya.

I have the Emotiva XDA-1 Digital Audio Converter coming in this Friday. It acts as both a preamp and a DAC. This would be an awesome upgrade to your system. The price of the XDA-1 of $349 shipped is absolutely ridiculous.

[ctank]

Thanks for posting on your XPA-5..nice post..I am hearing a lot about that Amp..and its been all good...i have the H/K3490 and when i add my UPA-1s..them amp sreally open up my Polks 70s too..you are right the low end really opening up on them..and the XDA-1 i hear people like that pre-amp a lot too..great pice on it..My H/K3490 has 120 watts x2 and 30,000ufs..but it just can not putout the power my two mono block Emotivas can..@..Audiocr381ve...please let us know how you like your XDA-1..i am thinking really hard on that one too..

[ranger]

What does the XDA-1 do? Where does it fit in a system that already has a receiver and amplifier such as the XPA-5?

[EndersShadow]

What does the XDA-1 do? Where does it fit in a system that already has a receiver and amplifier such as the XPA-5?

Since it acts as a pre, it replaced the receiver in the setup. It however lacks any power connections for speakers and relies on an external amp to power them.

However it looks to be setup to run only a 2 channel stereo setup, not a full 5.1 one.

[cfrizz]

Terrific review Piker, and you explained the benefits of separate amplification perfectly!

Now that you know, I doubt that you will ever go back to just running a receiver again.

Congratulations & enjoy!

[piker]

Terrific review Piker, and you explained the benefits of separate amplification perfectly!

Now that you know, I doubt that you will ever go back to just running a receiver again.

Congratulations & enjoy!

Thank you. I don't believe I will ever go without an amplifier again, and I'll also rethink my future purchases. No more looking at mid to high end receivers for me. Amps are where it's at.

[piker]

I have the Emotiva XDA-1 Digital Audio Converter coming in this Friday. It acts as both a preamp and a DAC. This would be an awesome upgrade to your system. The price of the XDA-1 of $349 shipped is absolutely ridiculous.

Looking at that preamp it doesn't have any HDMI and doesn't seem to support surround sound. It couldn't replace my TX-NR808 receiver.

On the other hand, the UMC-1 would be a direct replacement for the 808. I just don't feel like getting rid of the network playback, because I find myself using it often.

[EndersShadow]

Looking at that preamp it doesn't have any HDMI and doesn't seem to support surround sound. It couldn't replace my TX-NR808 receiver.

On the other hand, the UMC-1 would be a direct replacement for the 808. I just don't feel like getting rid of the network playback, because I find myself using it often.

The UMC-1 has had a bunch of problems and honestly I would suggest you stay away from it. Look at something like a refurbished Maratnz AV7005 from Accessories4less.com, or another pre but honestly would suggest just staying w/ your Onkyo for now.

If you did anything I would suggest putting all your gear but your sub and amp on a APC S15 battery backup (http://www.vanns.com/shop/servlet/item/features/753163336/apc-s15?s_c=site_search) (the silver one). That or there are other options from companies like Panamax, Furman, ect. I just like the APC since it basically is giving you a free battery backup as most power conditioners cost about that much.

That would help keep all your gear from potentially having problems in the future.

[Sherardp]

Excellent review, make sure you run the calibration software your receiver uses again since installing the amp.

[ctank]

EndersShadow..thank you for say that about..the UMC-1..thats what i have been reading about it..they are having some software issue's ..i have been in the Emotiva Lounge..and the one's who have it..are having to do reset,s update's or sending it back in for service..but they also are saying that when it's up a running it's great..

[ctank]

piker..you are going to have lots of fun with your new amp..the guys in here are great..they have help me out lots!..

[la9ers]

How much different is the xpa-5 to the xpa-3? I actually have the same setup as piker onkyo 808, m70's, m60's, CS2 and been looking a different amps to see what is good. By getting the xpa-3 and letting the receiver do the center and surrounds would that still be okay?

[Geoff4rfc]

How much different is the xpa-5 to the xpa-3? I actually have the same setup as piker onkyo 808, m70's, m60's, CS2 and been looking a different amps to see what is good. By getting the xpa-3 and letting the receiver do the center and surrounds would that still be okay?

With an XPA-3, why don't you just let the amp take care of the center as well as the front L & R and let the receiver do the surrounds?

[la9ers]

With an XPA-3, why don't you just let the amp take care of the center as well as the front L & R and let the receiver do the surrounds?

Yes you are right.... I meant to say for the xpa-3 to control L-C-R.

How do you like your xpa-3 with the onkyo and speakers? Do you recommend it? Night and day difference?

thanks.

[Geoff4rfc]

Yes you are right.... I meant to say for the xpa-3 to control L-C-R.

How do you like your xpa-3 with the onkyo and speakers? Do you recommend it? Night and day difference?

thanks.

Well, I'll be honest with you, it's not night and day, but, I really enjoy the XPA-3. My speakers sound great and I really love my set up.

Yes, I definitely recommend the Emo to any set up.

[TECHNOKID]

Reported again, so soon to vanish!

[piker]

If you can afford the XPA-5 over XPA-3 I would go with the 5. It's only $200 more. I also debated going with the 3 and just running the front sound stage, but now I'm glad I didn't go that route.

Has anyone used a 5 channel amp to bi-amp front R&L and run surrounds through receiver? That may be cool too.

[EndersShadow]

Has anyone used a 5 channel amp to bi-amp front R&L and run surrounds through receiver? That may be cool too.

I have attempted to bi-amp in all possible configurations. Basically its not worth it so dont do it.

If you want to check out why in more detail, search my username both here and on AVSFORUM. I dont feel like rehashing it lol....

[piker]

I'll take your word for it. I'm already happy with the way it sounds so I doubt I'll change anything. I think I'm done with upgrades for the rest of the year. Time to enjoy what I've put my hard earned money into.

[EndersShadow]

I'll take your word for it. I'm already happy with the way it sounds so I doubt I'll change anything. I think I'm done with upgrades for the rest of the year. Time to enjoy what I've put my hard earned money into.

Boom goes the dynamite!

Enjoy your system and let us know if you need help tweaking when that time/twinge comes....:wink:

[piker]

Boom goes the dynamite!

Enjoy your system and let us know if you need help tweaking when that time/twinge comes....:wink:

I could certainly use some help tweaking some things. I ran the Audyssey setup on my Onkyo over lunch today and it came back with crossovers of 40 for all 5 speakers.

I normally run the crossover at 60 or 80. I've gone back and forth trying to figure out what I like better. At 40 my sub doesn't get a workout at all, but at 80 it gets more of the lower frequencies.

I can't decide what sounds better. Also the Audyssey setup sets my surrounds way too loud. Even though they match the fronts in db rating, the surrounds are way louder than the fronts. It doesn't matter how many times I run the setup with the mic, it's always too loud, and so I end up increasing the fronts db rating a few notches in order to compensate. Is this a bad idea?

Polk M70 fronts, M60 surrounds, CS2 center, PSW505 sub.

[EndersShadow]

I could certainly use some help tweaking some things. I ran the Audyssey setup on my Onkyo over lunch today and it came back with crossovers of 40 for all 5 speakers.

Most suggest going to start with between 70-80hz to start with. You can play around and move the crossover above what Audyssey does and be fine, but never never move it below what Audyssey sets it at. The reason is that if Audyssey sets it at say 100 and you go to 80, Audyssey is not EQ'ing anything between 80-100hz, since it set the crossover at 100. That make sense?

So what I would do if your not getting enough bass is move your Fronts to 70hz, your center to 80hz (or even higher if you wanted), Surrounds at 80hz. Then set the LFE or sub to 80hz (or 100 if you really like bass).

Regarding setting your surrounds too loud, I would not increase your fronts to go over them, but rather pull your surrounds lower till you get it how you want. Last thing you want to do is clip the signal to your speakers and running stuff too hot can do that for sure.

Its gonna be trial and error for the first couple weeks with a new amp figuring out how you like it set. Your settings and mine might be different, but those should give you a good starting point.

[piker]

That is some very good advice you gave me. I didn't even think about the repercussions of lowering the crossover points below what Audyssey provides. Good to know.

I will try the settings you suggested and see how it sounds. I know that the Onkyo's show 80hz as the THX certified crossover point and the LPF of LFE is 120. Is it better to have the LFE set closer to the main speakers crossover? Does that create a more seamless soundscape?

[EndersShadow]

I will try the settings you suggested and see how it sounds. I know that the Onkyo's show 80hz as the THX certified crossover point and the LPF of LFE is 120. Is it better to have the LFE set closer to the main speakers crossover? Does that create a more seamless soundscape?

Some folks like some overlap between the sub and their mains, some dont. Thats a total preference call. For me I have my mains (LSi 15's) @ 70 and my sub (PSW125) @80 because my sub needs all the help it can get lol.

I have my center however set at 90 right now so that I am getting lots of clear dialog from it. Like you I am still tweaking my setup.

Also keep in mind you want to ensure the physical dial on the sub is all the way up if your using the LFE in (which I am assuming you are). If your still wanting a bit more bass, then turn the gain knob on the sub up a bit.

[kuntasensei]

I will try the settings you suggested and see how it sounds. I know that the Onkyo's show 80hz as the THX certified crossover point and the LPF of LFE is 120. Is it better to have the LFE set closer to the main speakers crossover? Does that create a more seamless soundscape?

LPF of LFE doesn't do what you think, and it should always be set to 120Hz. The LFE channel is brickwall filtered at 120Hz by design, so the only way to completely reproduce it with your subwoofer is to leave LPF of LFE at 120Hz on the receiver and set the filter on your subwoofer itself to bypass or to its highest point. This prevents the filter on the sub from cascading with the digital crossover on the AVR, which would create a gap in frequency response. Please note: The LPF of LFE control does NOT overlap in any way with the crossovers set in the AVR, as it only low-pass filters the LFE channel - not the redirected bass from the other channels as determined by each channel's crossover point.

The only reason the LPF of LFE control exists on THX receivers is to maintain legacy compatibility with THX-spec'd subs that were designed not to reproduce above 80Hz. However, this throws out any harmonics in the 80-120Hz range that are present in the LFE channel and should not be used UNLESS you're using a THX-spec'd sub. Don't worry that this will make your sub easier to localize, because mixers typically don't put audio above 80Hz in the LFE channel anyway.

Also, please note that Audyssey does not change this setting (because there'd be no way to test for it anyway), and they recommend leaving it at 120Hz.

[kuntasensei]

Also the Audyssey setup sets my surrounds way too loud. Even though they match the fronts in db rating, the surrounds are way louder than the fronts. It doesn't matter how many times I run the setup with the mic, it's always too loud, and so I end up increasing the fronts db rating a few notches in order to compensate. Is this a bad idea?

The first question is: Are you using a tripod or boom mic stand to do your Audyssey setup? This is absolutely a must. If you hold the mic during setup, you introduce low frequency vibration that can throw off calibration. If you place it in the seats, the mic capsule is so low that it throws off readings and reflections from seatbacks will play hell with the measurements. Ideally, you want to place the mic on a tripod or boom mic stand and place the mic at ear level for each position, making sure that the mic capsule is slightly above the seatbacks so it doesn't reflect/absorb the sound. Tripods can be had on the cheap for about $20 on Amazon. In many cases, it is also good to do a couple of your mic positions at varied heights if you notice a change in sound when you raise and lower your head. This would also be a good indication that you need to toy with your speaker placement a bit.

Also, you should run every mic position that Audyssey lets you so that it can have more data on your room acoustics. The mic should be pointed straight up, such that the front three channels are roughly at a right angle to the mic capsule, because the mic response curves are batch calibrated for grazing incidence.

[piker]

I'll have to try the setup with a tripod when I get a chance. After running the setup I've noticed it sets all my speakers to about -9db and the center to -12db... therefore it results in quieter operation than I had before I ran Audyssey.

[pdxfj]

Not sure what this is worth but...

I have a similar setup and at lest for me I found my system likes having everything crossed over at 60hz, with Audyssey setting the sub at 120hz.

With my 808 and amp (older 5ch Sony ES) my M70's and CS2 really came alive at 60hz. 80hz sounded ok but was a little harsh and rather flat.

Even have my di-pole surrounds and standard (mono-pole) back surrounds also set at 60hz which is a little higher than what Audyssey suggested.

Tried the CS2 and M70's at 50hz but they started to sound muddy.

[kuntasensei]

Another thing to note about your 808: Audyssey DynamicEQ boosts the surround presence a little the further you get from reference. If, after a proper calibration with a tripod, you feel like the surrounds are overpowering the front soundstage, look in the menu for DynamicEQ's options and change the offset from 0 to 5, 10, or 15. This changes the point where the boost zeroes out, effectively changing the boost in surround presence and bass that DynamicEQ applies as you get further from reference. You can also change the Intellivolume setting to give volume a boost or cut to change the amount of boost DynamicEQ applies. Another way to change the offset, if you don't care about 0 on the volume readout equaling reference level, is to bump up all your channel trims equally a few dB.

[kuntasensei]

I have a similar setup and at lest for me I found my system likes having everything crossed over at 60hz, with Audyssey setting the sub at 120hz.
And again, so we're clear... Audyssey doesn't set your sub at anything. The crossover points of the individual channels determine where the transition to the subwoofer occurs. LPF of LFE isn't changed by Audyssey, nor is it applied to the entire subwoofer output - just the LFE channel.

See http://ask.audyssey.com/entries/321931-lpf-on-lfe
and http://ask.audyssey.com/entries/93934-lfe-vs-subwoofer-signal

[piker]

I'm not telling anyone what they should do here, but for me personally, I bumped up the front stage about 3db and left the surrounds where they were. Now everything sounds more cohesive to my ears. I'm getting more sound out of the front, which is more like how it was before I re-ran Audyssey.

Maybe I need to go splurge on an SPL meter. That would be things dialed in most accurately, wouldn't it?

[piker]

Back to the subject of the XPA-5 now... I was watching a blu-ray movie tonight and a scene came up where I knew that someone was about to fire a gun, and when the shot finally went off it actually startled me. That's the sort of dynamic sound I was hoping for when purchasing the amp. Just like when they throw those sudden, loud surprise crashes or bangs at you in theaters and you sort of jump. Then you feel retarded because people around you didn't move a hair.

[kuntasensei]

I'm not telling anyone what they should do here, but for me personally, I bumped up the front stage about 3db and left the surrounds where they were. Now everything sounds more cohesive to my ears. I'm getting more sound out of the front, which is more like how it was before I re-ran Audyssey.

Maybe I need to go splurge on an SPL meter. That would be things dialed in most accurately, wouldn't it?

Like I said, Dynamic EQ gradually dials back the surrounds as you turn it louder. So if you balanced it at a certain volume, the balance will be different when you change from that volume. In other words, at 0 (reference level), all channels are at the same level. As you back down from 0, Dynamic EQ gradually bumps up the presence of the surrounds. Audyssey's theory on this is that movies are mixed for reference level, and as you get below reference level, your impression of surround presence rolls off. Personally, I've done a few runs of Audyssey that left my system like what you're describing - too heavy on surrounds. But once you get a tripod and can do a proper run with all positions, I'm willing to bet it will be more balanced.

Regardless, if it sounds good to you, that's what matters. Don't get too hung up on whether it strictly adheres to reference standards.

[EndersShadow]

Maybe I need to go splurge on an SPL meter. That would be things dialed in most accurately, wouldn't it?

It would help greatly. I would suggest the analog one over the digital (although I bought the digital myself) since its more accurate I believe.

[piker]

I got the SPL meter. Now do you suggest resetting the AVR to stock before using it? Or should I just re-run Audyssey and then use the SPL afterwards to tweak things?

[EndersShadow]

Rre-run Audyssey and then use the SPL afterwards to tweak things?

^This. Once Audyssey has set everything, use the SPL meter to dial every speaker independently to 75 SPL. I believe it will be under levels in your AVR.

[kuntasensei]

I strongly recommend that you not use the receiver's internal tones with the SPL meter. Get a calibration disc, turn off Dynamic EQ, then check each channel with a test disc and make note of how much boost/cut each channel needs. This lets you measure the post-equalization level of each channel instead of the non-equalized noise tone that you'll get from the internal test tones. Once you have them all balanced that way, re-enable Dynamic EQ.

Again, you have to disable Dynamic EQ before calibrating with a disc because it raises surround presence as you get lower than reference.

[piker]

I think I'm going to have to do it again the way you mentioned kuntasensei. First I tried after running Audyssey and then using the receivers built-in test tones but that seems flawed. I was able to get a reading of 0dB on the front sound stage but the rear sound stage wasn't even close, even though those sound louder to me.

I'll try the Digital Video Essentials disc I have.

It seems really hard to get everything dialed in right ever since I got this amp. I like the amp, but dang is it frustrating to find the right balance between all speakers.

[williamgauci]

I have been saving up for a few months eating bag lunches and putting the saving to my "Amp Fund". It's the only way I could get the wife to let me scratch my upgrade fever.

Anyhow, I've been checking reviews on the XPA-5 and I have been wondering if it's worth the sacrifice. I'm glad to see that some people feel so. It's going to be a couple more months before I get to pull the trigger, but I'm looking forward to seeing how it improves the system. I am looking at the amp first with the intention of upgrading to some bigger floor standing RTi-7's and I figure trying to power them off of my older receiver is a waste of money.

Glad to see that you're happy with the purchase Piker. Hopefully I'll be able to add my impressions soon. Lastly, I'm not sure about the odyssey setup, but I know my Yamaha settings were way different from my SPL setup. The SPL was made a big improvement in the over all sound.

[BigA524]

I was running an onkyo with some rti10s. I didnt think I was gettin mucj oyt of the speakers until i bout the xpa3. I feel the same way as piker. Clean clear sound. For music on my end you def need a sub. The speakers for me dont put enough bass on my end.
For me the crossover is set at 100hz. I think it sounds better. Enjoy that emo. I play the system pretty much everyday no matter what I listening to.