Do I need an amp with A7s and CSi A6?

[Hannzz]

Hi Guys:

I have RtiA7s front CC CSiA6 FXiA4 surround running them with Yamaha a2000. I like the sound, however, my friend came over last night and suggested me to add Emotiva XPA-3 or 5 to my system. My question is, is it really add more to what I have now. Will the sound quality improve significantly? Is it worth to spend $600/$800? Thanks for your comment.

[tonyb]

Your receiver is well equiped to run those speaks. An amp will give you better clarity and make your speakers perform with more dynamics. Now to what degree those improvments will be noticable is up to your ears and a host of other variables. Maybe better if you could borrow an amp for a few days and see if the coin outlay is worth it to you.

[F1nut]

my friend came over last night and suggested me to add Emotiva XPA-3 or 5 to my system.

Not much of a friend.

[cfrizz]

Welcome to Club Polk.

If your friend has an amp he is willing to bring over and let you listen to it hooked up to your speakers, you will quickly hear a difference.

An XPA 3-5 will allow your speakers to operate to their full potential, it is an upgrade that you can use on any other speakers you get in the future.

The only way you will know is to try it out for yourself. I will say that upgrading to a 200wpc amp was by far the biggest improvement I ever made to my system and I will never have less than that driving my speakers.

[Toolfan66]

Yes an external amp will change how you listen to music and movies you think they sound good now? You won't be thinking that after you add an amp.

In short yes it's worth the $500-$800

[SugarmillMan]

An amp will make a world of difference to you. You will never look back.

[rooftop59]

Not much of a friend.

or in other words, you may want to consider a warmer amp to add to your system since the RTiAs are already on the bright side. Look at parasound, NAD, rotel, etc. It will make a huge difference. Whether that difference makes a significant difference to you and is worth the money to you, that is something only you can answer. I would suggest buying a used amp like one mentioned above in the 150-200 wpc range. you should be able to get one for under 300 bones. Try it out. If you like it and feel it was worth the investment get an amp for your center channel. If you don't think it makes enough of a difference, you can sell it for about what you paid assuming you got a good deal.

Good luck.

[SugarmillMan]

This is very good advice. If you do decide to buy that amp, you certainly will want to "future proof" your purchase by getting one with slightly more power than you need right now but large enough to power your next setup. You can't harm your speakers unless you really blast them.

or in other words, you may want to consider a warmer amp to add to your system since the RTiAs are already on the bright side. Look at parasound, NAD, rotel, etc. It will make a huge difference. Whether that difference makes a significant difference to you and is worth the money to you, that is something only you can answer. I would suggest buying a used amp like one mentioned above in the 150-200 wpc range. you should be able to get one for under 300 bones. Try it out. If you like it and feel it was worth the investment get an amp for your center channel. If you don't think it makes enough of a difference, you can sell it for about what you paid assuming you got a good deal.

Good luck.

[snake1]

I must say i wish i could hear an emotiva hooked to my 12s to see how it sounds. The majority consensus here is negative toward them but folks that post their systems on the Polk FB page use them a LOT and when i ask them they have nothing but glowing reviews about them. As a matter of fact many of the systems are the rti or rtia line! It's something to think about! And it's definitely tempting to try the water with emotivas.

[SugarmillMan]

I must say i wish i could hear an emotiva hooked to my 12s to see how it sounds. The majority consensus here is negative toward them but folks that post their systems on the Polk FB page use them a LOT and when i ask them they have nothing but glowing reviews about them. As a matter of fact many of the systems are the rti or rtia line! It's something to think about! And it's definitely tempting to try the water with emotivas.

Don't be misled by these folks.
An properly set up Emotiva amplifier will sound wonderful in your set up and give you a new level of listening pleasure. I don't own one but they have a fine reputation for making a solidly built, value based amplifiers. Just as Ford and Honda make fine, value based cars, not eveyone needs to drive a Jaguar. If these folks want to recommend that you only purchase a $7000 McIntosh amp, maybe they have a reality problem.

[snake1]

You don't even have to go that high really. A 1500-2500 parasound is expensive in my budget. Something in the upper hundreds is much more attainable for people like me.

[cowtrimmer]

I must say i wish i could hear an emotiva hooked to my 12s to see how it sounds. The majority consensus here is negative toward them but folks that post their systems on the Polk FB page use them a LOT and when i ask them they have nothing but glowing reviews about them. As a matter of fact many of the systems are the rti or rtia line! It's something to think about! And it's definitely tempting to try the water with emotivas.

With insightful responses like #3 above is it really any wonder that anyone even dare ask a question.

[SugarmillMan]

There are many amplifier choices in this price range. If you conduct a good search of this forum and others you will find many possibilities.

[snake1]

Well, there must be something people are hearing when it comes to these. A few here do have first hand experience with it but, as I said earlier, others have had much better results. I'd like to hear them for myself!

[snake1]

My apologies to the OP! I didn't mean to throw in on the 'emotiva stuff'. The discussion about these amps is becoming a lot like the speaker cable debate... Pointless til someone tries it and hears it themselves.

[F1nut]

Well, there must be something people are hearing when it comes to these. A few here do have first hand experience with it but, as I said earlier, others have had much better results. I'd like to hear them for myself!

It goes like this. Someone gets into HT, they buy a less than capable AVR and wonder why their rig doesn't knock their socks off. They ask and get advice to either buy a better AVR or add an amp. Since they already own the AVR, they look around for an amp. They see a brand new amp that's cheaper than anything else, buy it and then proclaim it's the best thing since sliced bread without ever owning an amp before. They are the target audience for a company like emo. Funny thing tho...if they had purchased a TOTL AVR to begin with, they wouldn't need an amp. Another thing, by the time they are finished buying the less than AVR and the amp, they've spent as much as they would have with a TOTL AVR.

Do those amps work for HT? Sure, it's no where near as critical as 2 channel music. Are there better choices even if only for HT? Damn right.

[tommyt21]

I noticed only a minor difference adding a XPA-3 and it was mainly in the surround speakers. I run a 7.1 so that makes some sense. If you want to get a big increase in sound for less than or similar to the funds as needed for a Emotiva look at doing a X-over mod. One of the biggest sound difference I have experinced with my gear was after modding my center channel speaker with Clarity Cap ESA's, doing the A7's next.

Look for VR3 Mods

[F1nut]

With insightful responses like #3 above is it really any wonder that anyone even dare ask a question.

Wow, amazing how you never address the subject matter at hand. Really makes one wonder why you're even here.

[zingo]

Your A7s would benefit from a separate amp, and your receiver already can provide the pre-out!

[Hannzz]

Hi Guys: Thanks for your responses..... First of all please note this thread was created last year in 2011 so suddenly got more responses in last few days than it was intially created a year ago :).

Secondly, I had purchase emotiva XPA-5 amp in Jan 2012...now A7s and CsiA6 is more responsive than without amp. Thanks again....

[mwk455]

It's always a good idea to have a amp. It brings out the ability of your speakers.

[F1nut]

Secondly, I had purchase emotiva XPA-5 amp in Jan 2012...

I rest my case.

[cowtrimmer]

Wow, amazing how you never address the subject matter at hand. Really makes one wonder why you're even here.

It took you a week to come up with an answer and you have a lot more practice at this than me, give it some time. LOL

[F1nut]

Yeah, you're not all that bright. I answered snake1's post in less than an hour.

[sagasa]

Snake, i have rti12 and powered by emotiva xpa2 and i am very satisfy the way it sound, this speaker needs power to sing, without
power it is useless. remember power power and power. more headroom.

[F1nut]

this speaker needs power to sing, without
power it is useless. remember power power and power. more headroom.

If power is everything to you, you should have bought a pro amp.

[SugarmillMan]

To follow up on the original OP, I think spending $600 to $800 on additional amps will make a world of difference in your A7s and CSi6. You will never regret this upgrade.

[snake1]

Snake, i have rti12 and powered by emotiva xpa2 and i am very satisfy the way it sound, this speaker needs power to sing, without
power it is useless. remember power power and power. more headroom.

Thanks for the suggestion on the xpa2 but just today I bought a Parasound 2250. Should do for as long as I need one! Thanks though!

[SugarmillMan]

Thanks for the suggestion on the xpa2 but just today I bought a Parasound 2250. Should do for as long as I need one! Thanks though!

Wow. You certainly made a great choice. You will enjoy that amp for a long time and have plenty of power when you upgrade speakers (as we all do). Nice selection.