RTI-A7 and Emotiva XPA-3

justlord

Considering the RTI-A7 and the RTI-A6 for my front stage. My surrounds will be powered by the Onkyo, which are the vintage RTi-25 (handles 125 watts). No need to convince me that I need a separate amp since I'm using an Onkyo NR-807 (135 watts, 2-ch driven). Since I'm on a tight budget, I intend to add the Emotiva XPA-3 to power those speakers. Would this be enough power for the mains, or would any of you recommend an alternative amp?

Justin

jbooker82

Why not a XPA 5 and run the whole system off of an external amplifier?

justlord

I'm still considering it, but budget will probably talk the loudest. Budget aside, will the RTi-25 (which handles 125 watts) be able to withstand this much power?

jbooker82

It should be fine. You do more damage by underpower a speaker than over powering. Underpowering causes the avr to send out a rough distorted signal because it is strugling to produce the power. You are really bettering your self by getting the XPA3 at $599 but if your buying new the XPA5 is $769 so your looking at 169 bucks to add two more powered channels to your setup.

Later on to add the two extra channels it going to cost more than $169 bucks.

justlord

Thank you jbooker. Both of these upgrades are really looking good as the time gets closer, and I am looking forward to some good action in my home theater and music :-)

jbooker82

Ethire one would be a huge up grade but for $169 to step up up to a 5 channel would be the way to go. I am currently running a 3 channel but eventually I will upgrade to a powered 5 channel system. I will probably add another Carver amplifier instead of getting a different 5 channel amp.

gfong

As stated above the 5 channel would be ideal, but if you do decide to go with the 3 channel amp you can use the Onkyo to power the back speakers and all would be fine.

cfrizz

Welcome to Club Polk Justlord! JBooker has given you some excellent advice. I also recommend going with the XPA-5 and be done with this upgrade it's just an additional 169.00. It will cost you more to add another 2 channel later on down the line. An XPA-2 is normally 799.00. I'd rather pay 169.00 for the extra 2 channels on the XPA-5.

Toolfan66

Great advice above but I am going to go against the grain.. The XPA-3 with the RTi-A7's and the CSi-A6 will be a GREAT COMBO!!!

My opinon is stick with your budget save the $169 put it away and add to it then down the road upgrade your receiver the a Pioneer SC series get the FXi-A6 surrounds and be done!!!

This is just my opionon and for the record it's biased.. LOL!!:cheesygrin::cheesygrin:

Getting the XPA-5 now and picking up the FXi-A6's down the road is a great idea as well..


Welcome and enjoy!!!

justlord

I won't be upgrading the pre-amp anytime soon since I acquired this unit just last year, maybe two, and it has everything I need for now (except for maybe a zone 1 12v trigger, but hey, I'm not picky. lol).

The next upgrade is to replace my Polk's vintage powered-sub with Hsu's VTF-3 MK4. So far, I'm pretty close to my $2000 budget for upgrading my system with what I have already :-)

pdxfj

I have the same front speakers as you and am one generation newer on the Onkyo (808) and am running an older 5ch Sony ES amp.

I ran the Sony in 5ch mode for a while (120x5) and it was ok.. One thing I can do with it is bridge channels together to make a 3ch amp (200x2, 120x1). This really woke up my A7's and A6 center. The Onkyo is powering my surrounds and back surrounds. Everything sounds great with this configuration.

Totally up to you if you want to go with either the 3 or 5 channel amp. Speaking from my experience using the AVR to just power the surrounds works fine.

nguyendot

How did it wake up your center, considering it's running the same power bridged and not?

pdxfj

I really don't know what changed, but something did when I bridged the amp. The 7's really woke up and the center improved in clarity and depth.

It is a bit of an odd amp as you can change its configuration to suit your needs. 2ch, 3ch, 4ch, 5ch, Bridged 2ch, Bridged 2ch + Center and an extra set of stereo inputs that have different signal path which is geared towards music and does sound quite a bit different than the other inputs you'd use for HT.

NewHTguy

Keep in mind that you're not just gettting two more channels with the XPA5, you're also getting a larger transformer 1200 VA versus 850VA with the XPA3. So you may get more power/performance from running three channels of the XPA5 than you would from the XPA 3.

Actually, if two-channel is a priority I would go with the XPA-2 for $100 more. Then you will have kick-a$$ stereo whenyou rund the fronts at a large setting. That Onk has plenty of power for a center and surrounds, especially if you cross them over at 80hz, which is what most people do for HT.

justlord

Thank you for your reply NewHTguy. I've thinking on some ideas for when I do pick up the new amp. I've heard some movie theater enthusiasts take advantage of the XPA-3 (or 5) capabilities, by lowering the frequency crossover to the sub down to 50 Hz, on the RTi A7's. I take it that this still wouldn't tax the Emotiva's or the Onkyo too much (since the Onkyo is no longer powering the speakers directly).

NewHTguy

justlord wrote: »

Thank you for your reply NewHTguy. I've thinking on some ideas for when I do pick up the new amp. I've heard some movie theater enthusiasts take advantage of the XPA-3 (or 5) capabilities, by lowering the frequency crossover to the sub down to 50 Hz, on the RTi A7's. I take it that this still wouldn't tax the Emotiva's or the Onkyo too much (since the Onkyo is no longer powering the speakers directly).

The lower frequencies require the most power. One of the benefits of a sub is that it takes the strain off the receiver, assuming you do not send the full signal to the fronts; that is if you cross the fronts over at 60 or 80 hz. This is fairly common with a HT application. BUT, a lot of people prefer two channel without a sub, unless you specifically choose one that is very "musical." So if two channel were a priority, you could either 1) use a fairly musical sub, or 2) give your fronts a lot of power so that they can dig as deep as possible. I prefer the latter, but that is personal preference.

FWIW, my suggestion to go with the XPA-2 was just food for thought *IF* your priority is stereo. I suspect the XPA5 is the safe way to go and provides the most "value."

inspiredsports

post 17 reported as spam for removal (I think all 7 posts in CP by romantiffany posts so far are spam leading to his eBay auction of Mac gear)

Upstatemax

Have you looked at used at all?

For around $750 you should be able to pick up something like a Parasound HCA-2205A(AT) that would rock your setup...

A good amp like a Parasound will last a LONG time, and they are also pretty musical, something the Emotiva line up is not known for.