Worth upgrading to External Amp?

Theheadsn

EDIT** Seems Polk likes to make their email ad's very cryptic. I guess the ad only works for the TSx Series, even though when you click the link it takes you to whole floor standing section. Corrected the post to reflect.

Opinion time boys and girls. I'm thinking on upgrading to an external amp. For now and future setups. I got to thinking though, do I really need to?

These are my options:
1) Buy an XPA-3, let the SC-37 power the rears
2) Buy an XPA-5

I use my speakers for 95% HT/Gaming, luckily I have a dedicated man cave, but its in my garage. Its been actually tuned into a room. Insulated, drywall, 9 foot ceiling. But I have a glass slider on one side and the garage door on the door. Still have the concrete floor but have a rug with a ton of things to absorb the bouncing sound waves. The rooms about 17x19, not huge but not small.

Would either of the options be way to much for my set up? Should I just stick with what I have now? I eventually plan on upgrading to the RTiA's, not sure on 7s or 9s.

I'm a power hungry kinda guy, I love my system loud. I also like it clean. It doesn't have to be pin dropping clean, but I don't want "cheap car stereo" loud. Right now I usually run my SC-37 at around -22db, if I go any louder then that, it seems to go no where. Think of a car that hits its peak performance but can still go higher in the RPM, at that point your just burning up the motor.

Any suggestions would be stellar, not sure when Emotiva's deal ends though.

chumlie

Where are you seeing the A'9s at buy one get one ?

BlueFox

Speakers are probably the most important component. Get the absolute best you can afford. Go a little into debt if need be, but get great speakers.

Theheadsn

hmmm I think I may have read the email wrong... now that I'm really looking at it, I think its just for the TSx series. Kinda BS sales ad, when you click the link it takes you to the Floor Standing Speaking page on the Polk website. Makes you think it all floor standing speakers on sale.... grr.. Owell, makes my choice a little easy ha

Should I get an external amp now and save for better speakers?

rpf65

A third option would be getting RTI A5's and take advantage of the SVS sale on their sb-2000. Your AVR will have no problem powering them, probably will do a decent job with the A7's also.

chumlie

I would decide on speakers first. You have a pretty beefy receiver and can get power amp later if needed. Pretty nice system as it sits but think you would be better served with that SVS rpf65 suggested and see how what you have sounds.

WLDock

You have a great AVR but as others have said, speakers and sub might be a better upgrade path. The new EMO amp will cost $639 or $799. So it looks like your in southern Cal....IMO a craigslist oasis! Many options there in the used market....more for your money.

Here is a nice buy:

NHT VT-2 Tower Speaker Pair & VS-2 Center Speaker - $500
http://losangeles.craigslist.org/sgv/ele/5299569745.html

Could power them with this Parasound 5-ch amp.

PARASOUND HCA-1205A high current power amplifier - $400
http://inlandempire.craigslist.org/ele/5254477110.html
Use 4 channels to bi-amp the upper inputs(mid/tweets) and lower inputs (subs). Then use the 5th channel for the center, and use your AVR for your current surround channels.

Here are some other nice speaker options:

Golden Ear Triton Seven Towers/Pair - $800
http://losangeles.craigslist.org/lgb/ele/5291648425.html
Golden Ear Super Center XL - $450
http://losangeles.craigslist.org/lgb/ele/5291646913.html

Polk Audio LSi15 floor standing & LSiC center channel speakers - $850
https://inlandempire.craigslist.org/ele/5291622999.html

POLK RTI A9 Tower Speakers - $600
https://inlandempire.craigslist.org/ele/5283119660.html

Polk Audio SDA SRS 2 - $600
http://sandiego.craigslist.org/csd/ele/5325196646.html

Find more funds and replace your sub:
SVS PC-2000 Powered Cylinder Subwoofer ($549) - $549
http://losangeles.craigslist.org/lac/ele/5328387794.html

Other amps:

B&K Components AV5000 series II Amplifier - $420
http://orangecounty.craigslist.org/ele/5327950724.html

Adcom GFA-7500 Amplifier - $500
https://orangecounty.craigslist.org/ele/5259334915.html

ATI AT-1802 Amplifier/Amp in Like-New Condition - $460
https://orangecounty.craigslist.org/ele/5332728479.html

Theheadsn

Thanks for all the leads WLDock very much appreciated. I would LOVE to get the Lsi's but then I would defintly need an external amp. Especially the way I listen to music. The RTia's are a good deal, lets see if he still has them. Also hit up the guy about the Adcom, hopefully its not to beat up

WLDock

Man contact the Parasound guy first....its an oldie but goodie!

FEATURES

Circuitry designed by John Curl
THX Ultra-certified
Direct Coupled -- no capacitors or inductors in signal path
DC Servo and relay protection circuits
High bias Class A/AB operation
1.6 kVA Toroid power transformer with independent secondary windings for each channel, 100,000 µF power supply filter capacitance
Independent power supplies for each channel
Input stages use hand matched complementary JFETs
30 beta-matched 15 amp, 50 MHz bipolar output transistor
AC present, standby/normal, current overload indicators
Rear mounted gain controls and rear handles
12 volt DC automatic turn-on circuitry; ground lift switch
Tiffany-style RCA input jacks
Gold-plated 5 way speaker binding posts
Custom designed removable IEC AC cord
3 rack space height front panel
Rack mounting adapter available

SPECIFICATIONS

Continuous Power Output - Each Channel:
140 watts RMS x 5, 20 Hz - 20 kHz, 8 Ω;
200 watts RMS x 5, 20 Hz - 20 kHz, 4 Ω
Current Capacity:
45 amperes peak per channel
Slew Rate:
130 V/µsecond
Power Bandwith:
5 Hz - 100 kHz, +0/-3 dB at 1 watt
Total Harmonic Distortion:
< 0.03 % at full power; < 0.01 % typical levels
IM Distortion:
< 0.03 %
TIM:
unmeasurable
Dynamic Headroom:
> 1.5 dB
Interchannel Crosstalk:
> 80 dB at 1 kHz
> 60 dB at 20 kHz
Input Impedance:
33 k Ω
Input Sensitivity:
1 V for 28.28 V, THX Reference Level; 1.2 V for full output
S/N Ratio:
> 117 dB, full power; > 96 dB, THX Reference Level
Damping Factor:
> 800 at 20 Hz Power Consumption: 1500 watts
Dimensions:
w 17 1/4" x h 5 1/4" x d 19", h 6" with feet
Net Weight:
46 lb.

[Deleted User]

it just occurred to me you could probably just upgrade your Car stereo...

Theheadsn

Ive always heard Parasound's were awesome.