I Just Can't Win With These Amps!

metal83

I'm not in the mood to mess with these amps tonight, so i'm just surfing the net.
What are some good used amps to look at, Adcom, Rotel...etc....but what model numbers?

Hawkeye

B&K. Ref 7250. Buy it and be done! Nice product which I've had in my HT for about 9 or 10 years. Never a lick of trouble since the day I bought it.

Gordon

metal83

Thanks Hawkeye.

Anyone else have any used amp suggestions for me to look at. I've looked on Audiogon and have not heard of any of those amps..lol

F1nut

Time to get your research on.

metal83

Well in my defense, maybe i shouldn't of said "any". I have heard of a few of them, like Krell, Mcintosh, Rotel, and NAD.

And i've heard of Adcom, but they don't have any listed.

I suppose if i decided to get a used amp, yeah i'd better do some research. I was just looking to be pointed in the right direction in regards to specific models.

F1nut

What's your budget? 2 channel or multi?

metal83

F1nut wrote: »

What's your budget? 2 channel or multi?

If i were to buy a used amp, my budget would be around $500, $800 max (what i paid for the Emo amps). And i'd want something with at least 3 channels for my front stage.

I figure i might as well weigh all my options and browse around before i decide what i'm doing with these Emotiva amps.

Toolfan66

Dude this NEWS SUCKS, I have not had one issue with the XPA-3. you,and me got them about the same time frame as well. Glad to hear they will take care of it but it would drive me nuts as well. Hope it all works out in the end.

HB27

could be something as a gain issue between amps and avr. you might want to let Emotiva know what you're running
hb

thsmith

Carver TFM-42, 45, 55, 75

metal83

So i've spent the morning messing around with both of these amps. And everything seems to be straightened out.

I talked to Lonnie from Emotiva again today, he explained everything to me in great detail. The XPA-5 is going back because of the hum, excessive hiss, and the channel 1 issue. The first amp i had was fine, and i feel i got nervous because of lack of knowledge, i'll admit that.

My XPA-3 is working just how it should, i'm keeping it, and i'm now happy!

Thank you everyone for contributing to this thread. It's nice to know you guys are so willing to help people out, even when sometimes it's like beating a dead horse. Thank you all very much!


Thanks,
Dan

Face

Well, what happened? You're not getting off that easy.

apphd

Good news glad to hear every thing is squared away.

But yeh what he said;)

Face wrote: »

Well, what happened? You're not getting off that easy.

metal83

Face wrote: »

Well, what happened? You're not getting off that easy.

Well the XPA-5, according to Lonnie from Emotiva, definitely has something strange going on with it considering the issues i was having. He's sending me a call tag and covering the shipping for me. And they still haven't charged me the additional $300 for the XPA-5, so of course i don't have to worry about that as they aren't going to charge me now.

Since my XPA-3 does not produce a hum from the drivers in my speakers, and i can only hear a slight hiss from the tweeters no more than a couple inches away, he said (as well as some of you have) that it's normal. My XPA-3 is hooked back up now, and running practically silent. I have to put my ear right up to the amp to hear any sort of noise at all. Unlike the XPA-5 where i could hear it, and my drivers, humming from my couch.

I'm still going to look into the electrical work here in my apt, and try to deal with the flourescent lights in my bedroom ceiling, just for piece of mind.

But regardless i feel a lot better now. I'm currently sitting on my couch with the volume muted, and i can't hear a thing. The XPA-5 was really bothering me because i could hear everything when sitting on my couch. I honestly feel like my lack of knowledge on amplifiers, was a big culprit in me thinking something may have been wrong with the XPA-3.

So i did not get unlucky getting two bum amps, i did get one bum amp though which happend to be the second one. Maybe it was a sign that i should save the $300 and keep the XPA-3...lol

At least i've learned a little bit, and at the very least i got to compare the XPA-3 and XPA-5 sound wise, so that's a plus. I've literally unhooked everything from my system and started from scratch. I tried it out all three ways, with the XPA-3, XPA-5, and just using my AVR, and of course i ran and saved three different MCACC files (one for each setup). I switched everything back and fourth a few times, comparing them all and using different sources. Given my setup, the XPA-5 made no difference compared to the XPA-3. And i couldn't really hear much of a difference at with having my surround speakers hooked up to an external amp. I think my Pio Elite 92 is perfectly capable of powering my surrounds just fine. However, i certainly noticed the difference, and a big one at that, running my fronts through either of these amps, vs my AVR.

Maybe sometime though i'll grab a 2 channel amp for 2 channel listening, and use the XPA-3 for my center and surrounds. But for now, i'm happy, and relieved that i can just sit back and enjoy, and stop worrying.

reeltrouble1

metal83 wrote: »

It's nice to know you guys are so willing to help people out, even when sometimes it's like beating a dead horse.

Or Emu............

Glad it worked out.

RT1

cnh

metal83 wrote: »

Well the XPA-5, according to Lonnie from Emotiva, definitely has something strange going on with it considering the issues i was having. He's sending me a call tag and covering the shipping for me. And they still haven't charged me the additional $300 for the XPA-5, so of course i don't have to worry about that as they aren't going to charge me now.

Since my XPA-3 does not produce a hum from the drivers in my speakers, and i can only hear a slight hiss from the tweeters no more than a couple inches away, he said (as well as some of you have) that it's normal. My XPA-3 is hooked back up now, and running practically silent. I have to put my ear right up to the amp to hear any sort of noise at all. Unlike the XPA-5 where i could hear it, and my drivers, humming from my couch.

I'm still going to look into the electrical work here in my apt, and try to deal with the flourescent lights in my bedroom ceiling, just for piece of mind.

But regardless i feel a lot better now. I'm currently sitting on my couch with the volume muted, and i can't hear a thing. The XPA-5 was really bothering me because i could hear everything when sitting on my couch. I honestly feel like my lack of knowledge on amplifiers, was a big culprit in me thinking something may have been wrong with the XPA-3.

So i did not get unlucky getting two bum amps, i did get one bum amp though which happend to be the second one. Maybe it was a sign that i should save the $300 and keep the XPA-3...lol

At least i've learned a little bit, and at the very least i got to compare the XPA-3 and XPA-5 sound wise, so that's a plus. I've literally unhooked everything from my system and started from scratch. I tried it out all three ways, with the XPA-3, XPA-5, and just using my AVR, and of course i ran and saved three different MCACC files (one for each setup). I switched everything back and fourth a few times, comparing them all and using different sources. Given my setup, the XPA-5 made no difference compared to the XPA-3. And i couldn't really hear much of a difference at with having my surround speakers hooked up to an external amp. I think my Pio Elite 92 is perfectly capable of powering my surrounds just fine. However, i certainly noticed the difference, and a big one at that, running my fronts through either of these amps, vs my AVR.

Maybe sometime though i'll grab a 2 channel amp for 2 channel listening, and use the XPA-3 for my center and surrounds. But for now, i'm happy, and relieved that i can just sit back and enjoy, and stop worrying.

Good news. I agree with you at the end. I'm not even going to bother with a 3 channel amp. Going directly to two--so I can use one rig for STEREO and HT. For me, the fronts are all that matter--2 channel. Powering surrounds not as big a deal, again IMHO.

cnh

cfrizz

Glad you're happy Metal. Enjoy.

Retro152

metal83 wrote: »

Well the XPA-5, according to Lonnie from Emotiva, definitely has something strange going on with it considering the issues i was having. He's sending me a call tag and covering the shipping for me. And they still haven't charged me the additional $300 for the XPA-5, so of course i don't have to worry about that as they aren't going to charge me now.

Since my XPA-3 does not produce a hum from the drivers in my speakers, and i can only hear a slight hiss from the tweeters no more than a couple inches away, he said (as well as some of you have) that it's normal. My XPA-3 is hooked back up now, and running practically silent. I have to put my ear right up to the amp to hear any sort of noise at all. Unlike the XPA-5 where i could hear it, and my drivers, humming from my couch.

I'm still going to look into the electrical work here in my apt, and try to deal with the flourescent lights in my bedroom ceiling, just for piece of mind.

But regardless i feel a lot better now. I'm currently sitting on my couch with the volume muted, and i can't hear a thing. The XPA-5 was really bothering me because i could hear everything when sitting on my couch. I honestly feel like my lack of knowledge on amplifiers, was a big culprit in me thinking something may have been wrong with the XPA-3.

So i did not get unlucky getting two bum amps, i did get one bum amp though which happend to be the second one. Maybe it was a sign that i should save the $300 and keep the XPA-3...lol

At least i've learned a little bit, and at the very least i got to compare the XPA-3 and XPA-5 sound wise, so that's a plus. I've literally unhooked everything from my system and started from scratch. I tried it out all three ways, with the XPA-3, XPA-5, and just using my AVR, and of course i ran and saved three different MCACC files (one for each setup). I switched everything back and fourth a few times, comparing them all and using different sources. Given my setup, the XPA-5 made no difference compared to the XPA-3. And i couldn't really hear much of a difference at with having my surround speakers hooked up to an external amp. I think my Pio Elite 92 is perfectly capable of powering my surrounds just fine. However, i certainly noticed the difference, and a big one at that, running my fronts through either of these amps, vs my AVR.

Maybe sometime though i'll grab a 2 channel amp for 2 channel listening, and use the XPA-3 for my center and surrounds. But for now, i'm happy, and relieved that i can just sit back and enjoy, and stop worrying.

Great news' Metal. Hope this works out. The Xpa-3 has performed like a champ for me, and TOOL seconds that in his post.:D

metal83

Thanks!

It's working out great now that i have learned a bit more about it all. Talking to the dude that designed this thing has provided some real comfort. I'm loving this freakin thing, and i'm honestly glad the XPA-5 had issues, after comparing them i realized it wasn't worth spending the extra $300 on, especially considering i got the XPA-3 on sale for $500.

It feels damn good to have this **** behind me lol..:p

Retro152

metal83 wrote: »

Thanks!

It's working out great now that i have learned a bit more about it all. Talking to the dude that designed this thing has provided some real comfort. I'm loving this freakin thing, and i'm honestly glad the XPA-5 had issues, after comparing them i realized it wasn't worth spending the extra $300 on, especially considering i got the XPA-3 on sale for $500.

It feels damn good to have this **** behind me lol..:p

I know. You TOOL and myself all purchased these amps within a 2 week period together. Was very disconcerting hearing your troubles. I have been paranoid about mine since your first post regarding your problems. Nice to hear it seems to be working out. Wanna see someone with the same gear do well also.:)

metal83

retro152 wrote: »

I know. You TOOL and myself all purchased these amps within a 2 week period together. Was very disconcerting hearing your troubles. I have been paranoid about mine since your first post regarding your problems. Nice to hear it seems to be working out. Wanna see someone with the same gear do well also.:)

Yeah i hear ya man, i'd be the same way if you two all of sudden had issues. Luckily i just made mountains out of mole hills because i didnt' know any better..lol

And now that i've had the XPA-5 as well, i know i made the right decision buying and keeping the XPA-3.
When i was complaining to my fiancee, she had said it was a sign that i shouldn't of spent my money (to hell with that lol). But, maybe she was right in a sense, i shouldn't of bothered with the XPA-5 at least.

Retro152

metal83 wrote: »

Yeah i hear ya man, i'd be the same way if you two all of sudden had issues. Luckily i just made mountains out of mole hills because i didnt' know any better..lol

And now that i've had the XPA-5 as well, i know i made the right decision buying and keeping the XPA-3.
When i was complaining to my fiancee, she had said it was a sign that i shouldn't of spent my money (to hell with that lol). But, maybe she was right in a sense, i shouldn't of bothered with the XPA-5 at least.

LOL, I cant **** to my wife about any audio trouble. They love to throw it back in your face. Would have reacted the same way with my limited knowledge. Anyway, good luck with it.:D


Pat.

metal83

retro152 wrote: »

LOL, I cant **** to my wife about any audio trouble. They love to throw it back in your face. Would have reacted the same way with my limited knowledge. Anyway, good luck with it.:D


Pat.

I actually didn't even tell her i bought it at first, but she noticed 5 blue lights instead of 3, and made a comment about it...Then she said, "were you ever going to tell me you bought that". I told her no, not if you didn't notice. Probably shouldn't of said that, but i like to push her buttons... haha..:p

Anyways, thanks man, good luck with your gear as well!

cfrizz

You're right you shouldn't have said that, because now you have put it into her head what else will you be dishonest about! I'd be thinking twice that's for sure!

metal83 wrote: »

I actually didn't even tell her i bought it at first, but she noticed 5 blue lights instead of 3, and made a comment about it...Then she said, "were you ever going to tell me you bought that". I told her no, not if you didn't notice. Probably shouldn't of said that, but i like to push her buttons... haha..:p

Anyways, thanks man, good luck with your gear as well!

metal83

cfrizz wrote: »

You're right you shouldn't have said that, because now you have put it into her head what else will you be dishonest about! I'd be thinking twice that's for sure!

I was joking around with her, and she knows that, she knows how i am.
We've been together for 7yrs, the girl can read me like a book. We love pushing each others buttons.


Anyways, back to Audio! lol

hearingimpared

I'm glad everything worked out. This is nothing worse than an unexplained hiss or hum.

BjornB17

i had a bad hissing problem with my UPA-7...i almost called to exchange it but i ended up discovering that it was my pre-amp.... now that i got a new receiver (HK AVR-254) to do the processing, things have been great. UPA-7 rocks!

metal83

Now i need to go look around at home depot or something for a power cord, so i can plug this thing directly into the wall instead of using my Monster Power Center.