What amp to get?

**lildodoo** · 03-03-2009 03:38 PM

Hello, I need some advice on what amp to get for my setup. I have been reading up on several different ones and have narrowed it down to 3:

Emotiva XPA-5
Parasound 5250
Sunfire TGA-5400

I do not have the chance to listen to them so I am only going on reviews that I have read. My setup is rti a7, csi a6, fxi a6, and pioneer vsx-92txh. Any recommendations are greatly appreciated.

Thanks

**hearingimpared** · 03-03-2009 03:39 PM

Welcome to Club Polk lildodoo!

**CRESCENDOPOWER** · 03-03-2009 03:56 PM

Your speakers are not speakers that are extremely difficult to drive, and your receiver is not junk. If you don’t have a subwoofer buy one, and don’t go cheap, spend at least $800 plus for a new one. Leave your front speakers running full range if you can, and filter off the lows to your rears, and center.

Welcome to Polk!

**leroyjr1** · 03-03-2009 04:07 PM

Those all are great amps and also look at Rotel 1075 and 1095. There's a guys on the forum selling a rotel 1095 which is a monster of an amp and will push your RTI A series speakers very well.

**thsmith** · 03-03-2009 04:30 PM

WHat are you looking to do with a new AMP ? As someone said above you have a good AVR. Are you wanting more from your mains you might try just a 2 channel AMP if your AVR has pre-outs.

I like the old Carver TFMs and have had good luck with them.

Welcome to the club.

**CRESCENDOPOWER** · 03-03-2009 04:34 PM

Originally Posted by thsmith

WHat are you looking to do with a new AMP ? As someone said above you have a good AVR. Are you wanting more from your mains you might try just a 2 channel AMP if your AVR has pre-outs.

I like the old Carver TFMs and have had good luck with them.

Welcome to the club.

I agree. For the money, he would be much better off with a used 2-channel amp, my preference is Rotel, and a huge powered subwoofer.

**lildodoo** · 03-03-2009 05:23 PM

Thanks for all the advise.....my AVR does have pre-outs and I am looking to get more out of my mains. When I had talk to a polk audio tech support he had recommended me to run all my speakers off an amp.

**ViperZ** · 03-03-2009 06:06 PM

Originally Posted by lildodoo

Thanks for all the advise.....my AVR does have pre-outs and I am looking to get more out of my mains. When I had talk to a polk audio tech support he had recommended me to run all my speakers off an amp.

It might be worth trying to get a 2-channel amp first and see if you like it with the mains? But if you are willing to go all the way, then all three are excellent :).

**Sherardp** · 03-03-2009 06:18 PM

Agree with the others, nice 2 channel amp as the Pioneer you have should do well driving the other speakers. Again add a nice sub, SVS, Epik and you will have an amazing setup.

**MADGSF** · 03-03-2009 06:35 PM

All good advice above but I would suggest that if you are going to amp the front R/L you should amp the CSiA6 too. Maybe a nice 3 channel amp?

**cfrizz** · 03-03-2009 07:51 PM

I totally agree with the Polk tech. Get a 5 channel amp & don't look back. All 3 of those amps will do your speakers proud.

I have had a Parasound amp and now have a Sunfire amp.

All your speakers will benefit from being amped & it's an upgrade that will stay with you through all other upgrades. Do it once & do it right the first time around with a 5 channel amp.

Welcome to Club Polk!:)

Originally Posted by lildodoo

Thanks for all the advise.....my AVR does have pre-outs and I am looking to get more out of my mains. When I had talk to a polk audio tech support he had recommended me to run all my speakers off an amp.

**Sherardp** · 03-03-2009 08:19 PM

Sunfires are great amps( mine in the mail and waiting) from what I gather, and fairly inexpensive. I suggest audiogon as you can find some pretty good deals on them there.

**nooshinjohn** · 03-03-2009 09:12 PM

that the sunfire tga 5400 or look at the older cinema grand series and save a few bucks... same great amp and better looking too!

**NewHTguy** · 03-03-2009 09:38 PM

Audioadvisor.com has good open-box/factory refreshed deals on Parasound and have some nice clearance prices on Velo subs. My Parasound was an OB and it was perfect. I also agree with what the others have said. Start with a nice two-channel and let your receiver handle the rest. You can always buy a three-channel later on if you REALLY need it, but I don't see why you would. Just my two cents

**Mike21** · 03-04-2009 02:01 AM

Hi lil.

IMHO, you should get a new receiever w/ at least 200wpc.

Your fronts and center are rated up to 300w and your current receiver is putting out only 130wpc, if that.

Your Fxi A6s are rated to 150w, but I'm pretty sure thay can take (and would love) up to 225w.

My Dalis are rated up to 150w and I'm driving them with a 200wpc amp. This was a big improvemnt from driving them with my Onk 805 rated also rated @130w x 7. I have no doubt my Dalis could take 300w so long as I didn't get crazy with the volume.

IMO, your front 3 deserve better than 130w. :)

**metal83** · 03-04-2009 02:47 AM

Originally Posted by lildodoo

Hello, I need some advice on what amp to get for my setup. I have been reading up on several different ones and have narrowed it down to 3:

Emotiva XPA-5
Parasound 5250
Sunfire TGA-5400

I do not have the chance to listen to them so I am only going on reviews that I have read. My setup is rti a7, csi a6, fxi a6, and pioneer vsx-92txh. Any recommendations are greatly appreciated.

Thanks

I have my RTi A7's and CSi A6 running off of an XPA-3, and they sound fantastic! Big improvement in every way!

I'm running my rears (RTi A3's) off of my Pioneer Elite 92, and honestly i couldn't tell a difference with them hooked up to an external Amp. I had the XPA-3 and XPA-5 at the same exact time, compared quite a bit, heard no difference what so ever, so i stuck with the XPA-3 and actually sent the XPA-5 back yesterday.

I haven't heard the other Amps you listed though, so i can't comment on those.
But the XPA-3 is great!

Just my opinion of course.
Good luck! :D

**leroyjr1** · 03-04-2009 02:57 AM

Originally Posted by Mike21

Hi lil.

IMHO, you should get a new receiever w/ at least 200wpc.

Your fronts and center are rated up to 300w and your current receiver is putting out only 130wpc, if that.

Your Fxi A6s are rated to 150w, but I'm pretty sure thay can take (and would love) up to 225w.

My Dalis are rated up to 150w and I'm driving them with a 200wpc amp. This was a big improvemnt from driving them with my Onk 805 rated also rated @130w x 7. I have no doubt my Dalis could take 300w so long as I didn't get crazy with the volume.

IMO, your front 3 deserve better than 130w. :)

A receiver with at least 200 watts.

**comfortablycurt** · 03-04-2009 03:07 AM

Originally Posted by leroyjr1

A receiver with at least 200 watts.

Do they even make those? I've never seen one...not in surround sound receivers anyway.

**polktiger** · 03-04-2009 07:55 AM

Originally Posted by comfortablycurt

Do they even make those? I've never seen one...not in surround sound receivers anyway.

Sunfire had one. Their new model may even be 400. I can't remember. But it was also pretty darn expensive.

**cfrizz** · 03-04-2009 12:24 PM

Why spend money twice, when he can get all his speakers amped at one time & be done with that upgrade.

My back speakers saw a massive improvement when I hooked them up to my Sunfire. It was like night & day.

As I've said all speakers benefit from more power, including the surrounds. So get a 5 channel & be done with it.:)

Originally Posted by NewHTguy

Start with a nice two-channel and let your receiver handle the rest. You can always buy a three-channel later on if you REALLY need it, but I don't see why you would. Just my two cents

**doug lang** · 03-04-2009 01:00 PM

My vote would be the 5400 sunfire which is a 5 channel. I have always had sunfire never a problem. The sunfire's run cool which for me is the way to go.

**metal83** · 03-04-2009 01:42 PM

I'd love to get my hands on one of those Sunfire Amps.
I definitely couldn't afford them brand new though.

**Sherardp** · 03-04-2009 02:02 PM

Originally Posted by metal83

I'd love to get my hands on one of those Sunfire Amps.
I definitely couldn't afford them brand new though.

Sure you can, You can get them new for around 1200 or so now.

**metal83** · 03-04-2009 09:50 PM

Originally Posted by Sherardp

Sure you can, You can get them new for around 1200 or so now.

Where?
I've searched around a bit and can't find anything new for that price.

**Sherardp** · 03-04-2009 10:12 PM

Originally Posted by metal83

Where?
I've searched around a bit and can't find anything new for that price.

http://www.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls....-200-x-5---NEW

Email Santy, they have 5200,5400,7200,7400 in stock. Tell him you know me through webforum and he just sent an amp to me in Japan.

**nooshinjohn** · 03-04-2009 10:12 PM

Originally Posted by metal83

Where?
I've searched around a bit and can't find anything new for that price.

Im down for one as well for that kind of money... actually make it two, one for me and the other for ebay:D

**nooshinjohn** · 03-04-2009 10:13 PM

off by 400.00

**Sherardp** · 03-04-2009 10:59 PM

Originally Posted by nooshinjohn

off by 400.00

Nope as they will go down allot lower in price.

**metal83** · 03-04-2009 11:10 PM

Well that is extremely tempting, especially since i'm getting my yearly bonus next week.
If by any chance they still have some by then i just may go for it!

**nooshinjohn** · 03-05-2009 08:43 PM

I can get my hands of a sunfire cinema signature 5x400 for 1300.00, struck a deal on it while working on my sig7....

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