Considering Emotiva XPA-5 or Outlaw Model 7125

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justlord
justlord Posts: 33
edited February 2013 in Electronics
I'm considering two different amps to match with my Onkyo NR-807. I will not be able to upgrade my speakers in the near future, but I am currently interested in powering the Polk RTi-A7 and the RTi-A6 for the front soundstage. Both of the amps have advantages that I'm interested in, such Watt/Channel or number of channels.

Would the Outlaw Model 7125 (at 125 watts per channel) be more than enough to power the A7's? What should I be aware of when considering these two amps?

Since the question comes up fairly often, this will be primarily for movies, although music is played on my system fairly often as well.
Post edited by justlord on
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  • zane77
    zane77 Posts: 1,696
    edited February 2013
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    I have the XPA-5 powering my A7's and it does a very good job
    Home Theater
    Onkyo PR-SC5508 Sharp LC-70LE847U
    Emotiva XPA-5 Emotiva XPA-2 Emotiva UPA-2
    Front RTi-A9 Wide RTi-A7 Center CSi-A6 Surround FXi-A6 Rear RTi-A3 Sub 2x PSW505
    Sony BDP-S790 Dishnetwork Hopper/Joey Logitech Harmony One Apple TV
    Two Channel
    Oppo 105D BAT VK-500 w/BatPack SDA SRS 2.3 Dreadnought Squeezebox Touch Apple TV
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  • cfrizz
    cfrizz Posts: 13,415
    edited February 2013
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    You can never have too much power, get an XPA-5 and be done with this particular upgrade. This way you will have enough power to drive just about any speakers you might upgrade to in the future like the LSIM series which require at least a 200wpc @ 8ohms to sound their best. This is an investment that will pay for itself over all the years that you have it and can be used with any other speakers you get.

    It's not that the Outlaw won't work, it just will not allow your speakers to operate to their full potential which is the most important point.

    So get the XPA, hook up all your speakers to it then sit back and enjoy for years to come.
    Marantz AV-7705 PrePro, Classé 5 channel 200wpc Amp, Oppo 103 BluRay, Rotel RCD-1072 CDP, Sony XBR-49X800E TV, Polk S60 Main Speakers, Polk ES30 Center Channel, Polk S15 Surround Speakers SVS SB12-NSD x2
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  • Emlyn
    Emlyn Posts: 4,888
    edited February 2013
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    You haven't mentioned if your system contains a subwoofer. My first consideration for movies would be if I had a really good subwoofer integrated into the system. If you do, you could run your speakers very well with the Outlaw amp. But, if you don't have a subwoofer with bass output significantly better than your Rti's, you might want to consider getting a subwoofer first and spending money on an amp next.

    I owned an XPA-5, and I'd consider it to be overkill for the RTiA7's. I'd probably recommend it for the RTiA9's though.
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  • justlord
    justlord Posts: 33
    edited February 2013
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    Emlyn wrote: »
    You haven't mentioned if your system contains a subwoofer.

    Right now, the subwoofer is the best piece of my home entertainment equipment, since it is a Hsu VTF-3 MK 4 (350 watts, 12-inch woofer, which emits 16-hz loud enough that you can feel it in your bones).
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  • Emlyn
    Emlyn Posts: 4,888
    edited February 2013
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    justlord wrote: »
    Right now, the subwoofer is the best piece of my home entertainment equipment, since it is a Hsu VTF-3 MK 4 (350 watts, 12-inch woofer, which emits 16-hz loud enough that you can feel it in your bones).

    That's an excellent foundation for a home theater system.
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  • falconcry72
    falconcry72 Posts: 3,580
    edited February 2013
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    justlord, I have an XPA-5 I'm looking to get rid of. It's the one that Mark (Emlyn) used to have. :biggrin:
    2-Channel: PC > Schiit Eitr > Audio Research DAC-8 > Audio Research LS-26 > Pass Labs X-250.5 > Magnepan 3.7's

    Living Room: PC > Marantz AV-7703 > Emotiva XPA-5 > Sonus Faber Liuto Towers, Sonus Faber Liuto Center, Sonus Faber Liuto Bookshelves > Dual SVS PC12-Pluses

    Office: Phone/Tablet > AudioEngine B1 > McIntosh D100 > Bryston 4B-ST > Polk Audio LSiM-703's
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  • justlord
    justlord Posts: 33
    edited February 2013
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    @Falconcry72 I hope that it's still available when I'm ready to buy. I wouldn't mind used, as long as it's in good condition. However, it might have to wait another month (at least).
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  • gp4jesus
    gp4jesus Posts: 2,019
    edited February 2013
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    Since the OP has...
    Emlyn wrote: »
    ...an excellent foundation for a home theater system.
    I reccommend which ever amp provides higher SQ. I can't answer that because I haven't heard either amp driving the 'A7s nor do I know how much "heavy lifting" the OP's SW does. My SW carries every thing below 60hz @ 12dB/octave

    Shaloam, Tony
    Samsung 60" QN65Q7FAMFXZA QLED, Outlaw Audio 976 Pre/Pro, Samsung BDP, Amazon Firestick, Phillips CD Changer

    Canare 14 ga - LCR tweeters inside*; Ctr Ch outside
    BJC 10 ga - LCR mids “Foamed” & “Plugged**”, inside* & out
    8 ga Powerline: LR woofers, inside* & out
    *soldered **Rob the Man (Xschop)

    LR: Tri-amped RTi A7 w/Rotels*. Woofers - 980BX; Tweets & Mids - RB981*
    Ctr Ch: Rotel RB981* -> Bi-amped CSi A6
    Surrounds: Rotel 981* -> AR 12 ga -> RTi A3
    *all connected w/Premiere ICs
    5 Subs: Sunfire True SW Signature -> LFE & Ctr Ch; 4 Audio Pro Evidence @ the “Corners”

    Power Conditioning & Distribution:
    4 dedicated 20A feeds; APC H15; 5 Furman Miniport 20s
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