XPA-3 Question

Toolfan66

if i am only using it for my RTi A9's am i getting 250 watts per channel? am i understanding this right?

leroyjr1

I think it's either 225 or 250. Check the website.

Systems

TOOLFORLIFEFAN wrote: »

if i am only using it for my RTi A9's am i getting 250 watts per channel? am i understanding this right?

It depends on the impedance of those 9's.

metal83

8 ohm rating:
3 channels - 8 ohm = 200 watts per channel
2 channels - 8 ohm = 225 watts per channel
1 channels - 8 ohm = 300 watts per channel

This is straight from the Emotiva website...http://emotiva.com/xpa3.shtm

leroyjr1

Are you going to run center off the amp?

comfortablycurt

For the little difference that would be made, I'd be running the fronts and center off of the amp. That would give you a much better overall front soundstage. The extra 25 watts per channel you'd get by just powering the fronts wouldn't make to huge of a difference.

Toolfan66

comfortablycurt wrote: »

For the little difference that would be made, I'd be running the fronts and center off of the amp. That would give you a much better overall front soundstage. The extra 25 watts per channel you'd get by just powering the fronts wouldn't make to huge of a difference.

I have it hooked up with the center as well. i was just curious if i was understanding it right, if you were to only use 2 channels you would be getting more watts.

Thanks.

tonyb

Having the front 3 speakers on the amp is the way to go.But I have to ask,why the concern over 25 watts?? I'm hopeing you don't think they will play louder,do you?

Toolfan66

tonyb wrote: »

Having the front 3 speakers on the amp is the way to go.But I have to ask,why the concern over 25 watts?? I'm hopeing you don't think they will play louder,do you?

No concern, i would'nt run it w/o the center. was just wondering if thats the way it works. wanted to know if i was understanding that it works that way.
so does the same work for my receiver since my amp is powering my center and two mains as well? since i am new to having an amp just wanting to learn some things that is all.

Thanks for the help.

Sherardp

3 channels driven = 200 wpc, if you were only to drive the 9s without the center then that would be 2 channels driven = 225 wpc. Also since you have added an external amp be sure to allow the AVR to auto cal again or use a radioshack SPL meter to bring all channels to an even level @ 75 db or THX recommended 85db.

sdcfan18

Sherardp wrote: »

3 channels driven = 200 wpc, if you were only to drive the 9s without the center then that would be 2 channels driven = 225 wpc. Also since you have added an external amp be sure to allow the AVR to auto cal again or use a radioshack SPL meter to bring all channels to an even level @ 75 db or THX recommended 85db.

This is something that I've never understood. Why is 75dB the magic number? Doesn't that number have a lot to do with volume your AVR is set at? Wouldn't it be good advice just to have all the number the same, not necessarily 75dB or 85dB? Just a question...

mmadden28

You're not really pushing more wattage, you're getting more available dynamic headroom--just more potential power available if the speakers demand it.

sdcfan18

mmadden28 wrote: »

You're not really pushing more wattage, you're getting more available dynamic headroom--just more potential power available if the speakers demand it.

OK, that sounds good to me...now how is that done? I have an SPL meter, so I assume that it's pretty easy. Where would I put the volume on the AVR to start? Right now I had the Yamaha on -30dB and set the SPL to ~63dB. On these settings, my speaker levels won't go high enough for me to get into the 75 dB range.

Thanks in advance

I apologize for the thread jack, this just really has me interested now!

Toolfan66

sdcfan18 wrote: »

OK, that sounds good to me...now how is that done? I have an SPL meter, so I assume that it's pretty easy. Where would I put the volume on the AVR to start? Right now I had the Yamaha on -30dB and set the SPL to ~63dB. On these settings, my speaker levels won't go high enough for me to get into the 75 dB range.

Thanks in advance

I apologize for the thread jack, this just really has me interested now!

Don't worry bout the jack im very interested as well.

cfrizz

Basically 0 is @ reference level for the receiver. So set the receiver to 0 then run the test mode & make adjustments to the volume through your receiver until all your speakers are around 75-80 by the spl meter.

That way all will be matched & the sound will be cohesive. The odds of you listening to a movie at reference level is slim to none.

Usually what I find is that the L/R speakers are already there, but I have to tweek the center & back channels to get them up to reference.

sdcfan18 wrote: »

OK, that sounds good to me...now how is that done? I have an SPL meter, so I assume that it's pretty easy. Where would I put the volume on the AVR to start? Right now I had the Yamaha on -30dB and set the SPL to ~63dB. On these settings, my speaker levels won't go high enough for me to get into the 75 dB range.

Thanks in advance

I apologize for the thread jack, this just really has me interested now!

sdcfan18

Thanks! Just finished making the adjustments, they were pretty easy, lol.

Another question related to this. I understand that I will almost never get the volume to 0dB on the AVR (just tried it and I've NEVER listened to them that loud). That being said, I was always told that turning your AVR up to the dB's on the + side was a major no no. I was told that going past 0 wasn't good for your speakers or AVR. Now that I'm using the Emotiva, does that rule still apply? Am I going to hurt anything by going over 0?

cfrizz

Most likely you will eventually hurt your ears!:D That is the whole point of calibrating your speakers by adjusting all of them to reference level internally, you more than likely won't have to ever hit your volume button until you get to 0! I trust that you set the meter to the closest number you have to reference level.

sdcfan18 wrote: »

Thanks! Just finished making the adjustments, they were pretty easy, lol.

Another question related to this. I understand that I will almost never get the volume to 0dB on the AVR (just tried it and I've NEVER listened to them that loud). That being said, I was always told that turning your AVR up to the dB's on the + side was a major no no. I was told that going past 0 wasn't good for your speakers or AVR. Now that I'm using the Emotiva, does that rule still apply? Am I going to hurt anything by going over 0?

sdcfan18

cfrizz wrote: »

Most likely you will eventually hurt your ears!:D That is the whole point of calibrating your speakers by adjusting all of them to reference level internally, you more than likely won't have to ever hit your volume button until you get to 0! I trust that you set the meter to the closest number you have to reference level.

You had me until you got there. What do you mean? Sorry!:o

cfrizz

OK you set your meter to the closest # that is the reference level. My RS meter gives increments of 10, so I set it at 80. Then I ran the test tones for the speakers & make adjustments as needed.

My left speaker was right on the money. my center channel had to go up 1 notch, my right channel had to come down a notch. & my sub had to come down a notch. I will have to rerun it when I finally get my back speakers hooked up again.

sdcfan18

cfrizz wrote: »

OK you set your meter to the closest # that is the reference level. My RS meter gives increments of 10, so I set it at 80. Then I ran the test tones for the speakers & make adjustments as needed.

My left speaker was right on the money. my center channel had to go up 1 notch, my right channel had to come down a notch. & my sub had to come down a notch. I will have to rerun it when I finally get my back speakers hooked up again.

OHHHHH!!!!!!! Gotcha. Yeah, I set my SPL to 70, but the display read 75 once I changed the AVR settings.

Thanks again!

cnh

OK,

Let's say you have an Onkyo 800 series and you have your 8 pre-outs. If you were to buy an XPA-3 you would power the L/Center/R channels with the XPA-3 right. Then you'd be left with the other 2-4 channels. You would wire those to the Onkyo which has less power--would that be a problem in balancing the surrounds with your fronts--

I assume not because a lot of people seem to be running such a configuration?

cnh

cfrizz

Yes the Onkyo has less power, but you should calibrate all of your speakers once you get the amp & everything would be matched to output the same volume.

cnh

cfrizz wrote: »

Yes the Onkyo has less power, but you should calibrate all of your speakers once you get the amp & everything would be matched to output the same volume.

Thanks,

That sounds right. Now all I have to do is save for the extra amp! All of you have sold me on these Emotiva amps!

cnh

Retro152

cnh wrote: »

Thanks,

That sounds right. Now all I have to do is save for the extra amp! All of you have sold me on these Emotiva amps!

cnh

Its really a nice buy for the money. I just got my Xpa-3 two days ago, and noticed a marked difference in sound quality from my front 3. The sale ends monday for the Xpa-3, but a new sale begins for the Xpa-2 at $719 and Upa-2 at $269, With free shipping included. If you can swing any of them i think you will be impressed.

parasomia

Retro,

The new sale starts Monday? I am considering the XPA-3 and UPA-2. I am more leaning to the UPA-2 for now since I'll only be running 2 Chan for now. Then I figured later this year I can pick up the xpa-5. If a sale starts on the UPA-2 on Monday then I'll wait a few days to order

The UPA-2 is 185w x2 at 4ohms. Anyone think this will be fine for a pair of LSi9's? Trying to watch my money for now I know I could go with the XPA-3 and then add to it later as well. But something tells me when I actually complete my HT, I'll just want the XPA-5 running it.

metal83

metal83 wrote: »

8 ohm rating:
3 channels - 8 ohm = 200 watts per channel
2 channels - 8 ohm = 225 watts per channel
1 channels - 8 ohm = 300 watts per channel

This is straight from the Emotiva website...http://emotiva.com/xpa3.shtm

I found out that this is actually an error on their website according to Emotiva, it's actually.......
2 channels - 8 ohm = 250 watts per channel.

Mike Reeter

They are selling an XPA-3 for 5 bills...damn that sounds like a pretty sweet deal

metal83

Mike Reeter wrote: »

They are selling an XPA-3 for 5 bills...damn that sounds like a pretty sweet deal

Buy one before the price goes back to $650...:D

Mike Reeter

metal83 wrote: »

Buy one before the price goes back to $650...:D

I'm very tempted to do just that.I have an Adcom 5503 (200x3) powering my RTi12's and CSi5 center.

I just like the looks of the Emo's.

Retro152

parasomia wrote: »

Retro,

The new sale starts Monday? I am considering the XPA-3 and UPA-2. I am more leaning to the UPA-2 for now since I'll only be running 2 Chan for now. Then I figured later this year I can pick up the xpa-5. If a sale starts on the UPA-2 on Monday then I'll wait a few days to order

The UPA-2 is 185w x2 at 4ohms. Anyone think this will be fine for a pair of LSi9's? Trying to watch my money for now I know I could go with the XPA-3 and then add to it later as well. But something tells me when I actually complete my HT, I'll just want the XPA-5 running it.

Yes got this info off the Emo forum. I dont know much about the LSi9's other than the fact they love power. Think the Upa-2 would hold you over fine until the Xpa-5 comes back into stock at the end of february. 185w x 2 into 4 ohms will be better than any A/V receiver can offer. You can always sell off the Upa-2 when your ready for the Xpa-5.

cfrizz

Oh good grief, rather than doing all that buying & selling, just utilize a little patience & get the XPA 5 when it comes back in stock!