What amp to get?

lildodoo
lildodoo Posts: 5
edited March 2009 in Electronics
Hello, I need some advice on what amp to get for my setup. I have been reading up on several different ones and have narrowed it down to 3:

Emotiva XPA-5
Parasound 5250
Sunfire TGA-5400

I do not have the chance to listen to them so I am only going on reviews that I have read. My setup is rti a7, csi a6, fxi a6, and pioneer vsx-92txh. Any recommendations are greatly appreciated.

Thanks
Post edited by lildodoo on
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  • hearingimpared
    hearingimpared Posts: 21,136
    edited March 2009
    Welcome to Club Polk lildodoo!
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  • CRESCENDOPOWER
    CRESCENDOPOWER Posts: 153
    edited March 2009
    Your speakers are not speakers that are extremely difficult to drive, and your receiver is not junk. If you don’t have a subwoofer buy one, and don’t go cheap, spend at least $800 plus for a new one. Leave your front speakers running full range if you can, and filter off the lows to your rears, and center.

    Welcome to Polk!
    Buy Polk ****!:D

    http://www.soundandvisionmag.com/assets/image/12222003154728.jpg
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  • leroyjr1
    leroyjr1 Posts: 8,785
    edited March 2009
    Those all are great amps and also look at Rotel 1075 and 1095. There's a guys on the forum selling a rotel 1095 which is a monster of an amp and will push your RTI A series speakers very well.
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  • thsmith
    thsmith Posts: 6,082
    edited March 2009
    WHat are you looking to do with a new AMP ? As someone said above you have a good AVR. Are you wanting more from your mains you might try just a 2 channel AMP if your AVR has pre-outs.

    I like the old Carver TFMs and have had good luck with them.

    Welcome to the club.
    Speakers: SDA-1C (most all the goodies)
    Preamp: Joule Electra LA-150 MKII SE
    Amp: Wright WPA 50-50 EAT KT88s
    Analog: Marantz TT-15S1 MBS Glider SL| Wright WPP100C Amperex BB 6er5 and 7316 & WPM-100 SUT
    Digital: Mac mini 2.3GHz dual-core i5 8g RAM 1.5 TB HDD Music Server Amarra (memory play) - USB - W4S DAC 2
    Cables: Mits S3 IC and Spk cables| PS Audio PCs
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  • CRESCENDOPOWER
    CRESCENDOPOWER Posts: 153
    edited March 2009
    thsmith wrote: »
    WHat are you looking to do with a new AMP ? As someone said above you have a good AVR. Are you wanting more from your mains you might try just a 2 channel AMP if your AVR has pre-outs.

    I like the old Carver TFMs and have had good luck with them.

    Welcome to the club.

    I agree. For the money, he would be much better off with a used 2-channel amp, my preference is Rotel, and a huge powered subwoofer.
    Buy Polk ****!:D

    http://www.soundandvisionmag.com/assets/image/12222003154728.jpg
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  • lildodoo
    lildodoo Posts: 5
    edited March 2009
    Thanks for all the advise.....my AVR does have pre-outs and I am looking to get more out of my mains. When I had talk to a polk audio tech support he had recommended me to run all my speakers off an amp.
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  • ViperZ
    ViperZ Posts: 2,046
    edited March 2009
    lildodoo wrote: »
    Thanks for all the advise.....my AVR does have pre-outs and I am looking to get more out of my mains. When I had talk to a polk audio tech support he had recommended me to run all my speakers off an amp.

    It might be worth trying to get a 2-channel amp first and see if you like it with the mains? But if you are willing to go all the way, then all three are excellent :).
    Panasonic PT-AE4000U projector for movies
    Carada 106" Precision Series (Classic Cinema White)
    Denon AVR-X3600H pre/pro
    Outlaw 770 7-channel amplifier
    B&W CDM1-SE fronts
    B&W CDM-CNT center
    B&W CDM1 rears on MoPADs
    JBL SP8CII in-ceiling height speakers
    Samsung DTB-H260F OTA HDTV tuner
    DUAL NHT SubTwo subwoofers
    Oppo BDP-93 Blu-Ray player
    Belkin PF60 Power Center
    Harmony 1100 RF remote with RF extender
    Sony XBR-X950G 55" 4K HDR Smart TV + PS3 in the living room
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  • Sherardp
    Sherardp Posts: 8,038
    edited March 2009
    Agree with the others, nice 2 channel amp as the Pioneer you have should do well driving the other speakers. Again add a nice sub, SVS, Epik and you will have an amazing setup.
    Shoot the jumper.....................BALLIN.............!!!!!

    Home Theater Pics in the Showcase :cool:

    http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showcase/view.php?userid=73580
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  • MADGSF
    MADGSF Posts: 603
    edited March 2009
    All good advice above but I would suggest that if you are going to amp the front R/L you should amp the CSiA6 too. Maybe a nice 3 channel amp?
    AVR: Elite VSX-21TXH
    Amplifier: B&K 7250 Series ii
    Misc: Velodyne SMS-1
    Mains: RTi-10
    Center: CSi-5
    Rear: Boston DSi460
    Sub: SVS PC-Ultra
    TV: Panasonic TC-P58V10
    DVD: Panasonic DMP-BD60K
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  • cfrizz
    cfrizz Posts: 13,415
    edited March 2009
    I totally agree with the Polk tech. Get a 5 channel amp & don't look back. All 3 of those amps will do your speakers proud.

    I have had a Parasound amp and now have a Sunfire amp.

    All your speakers will benefit from being amped & it's an upgrade that will stay with you through all other upgrades. Do it once & do it right the first time around with a 5 channel amp.

    Welcome to Club Polk!:)
    lildodoo wrote: »
    Thanks for all the advise.....my AVR does have pre-outs and I am looking to get more out of my mains. When I had talk to a polk audio tech support he had recommended me to run all my speakers off an amp.
    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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  • Sherardp
    Sherardp Posts: 8,038
    edited March 2009
    Sunfires are great amps( mine in the mail and waiting) from what I gather, and fairly inexpensive. I suggest audiogon as you can find some pretty good deals on them there.
    Shoot the jumper.....................BALLIN.............!!!!!

    Home Theater Pics in the Showcase :cool:

    http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showcase/view.php?userid=73580
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  • nooshinjohn
    nooshinjohn Posts: 25,597
    edited March 2009
    that the sunfire tga 5400 or look at the older cinema grand series and save a few bucks... same great amp and better looking too!
    The Gear... Carver "Statement" Mono-blocks, Mcintosh C2300 Arcam AVR20, Oppo UDP-203 4K Blu-ray player, Sony XBR70x850B 4k, Polk Audio Legend L800 with height modules, L400 Center Channel Polk audio AB800 "in-wall" surrounds. Marantz MM7025 stereo amp. Simaudio Moon 680d DSD

    “When once a Republic is corrupted, there is no possibility of remedying any of the growing evils but by removing the corruption and restoring its lost principles; every other correction is either useless or a new evil.”— Thomas Jefferson
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  • NewHTguy
    NewHTguy Posts: 584
    edited March 2009
    Audioadvisor.com has good open-box/factory refreshed deals on Parasound and have some nice clearance prices on Velo subs. My Parasound was an OB and it was perfect. I also agree with what the others have said. Start with a nice two-channel and let your receiver handle the rest. You can always buy a three-channel later on if you REALLY need it, but I don't see why you would. Just my two cents
    MAIN: Polk Lsi9s; Polk PSW505; Lsic (in box); Onkyo SR-875; Parasound 2250; Cambridge Audio 740C; LG BD370
    OFFICE: Polk Lsi7; REL T3; HK 3490; CA 840W; Onkyo C-S5VL
    BENCHED: CS20; OWM3s
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  • Mike21
    Mike21 Posts: 252
    edited March 2009
    Hi lil.

    IMHO, you should get a new receiever w/ at least 200wpc.

    Your fronts and center are rated up to 300w and your current receiver is putting out only 130wpc, if that.

    Your Fxi A6s are rated to 150w, but I'm pretty sure thay can take (and would love) up to 225w.

    My Dalis are rated up to 150w and I'm driving them with a 200wpc amp. This was a big improvemnt from driving them with my Onk 805 rated also rated @130w x 7. I have no doubt my Dalis could take 300w so long as I didn't get crazy with the volume.

    IMO, your front 3 deserve better than 130w. :)
    ____________________________________________
    Home Theater 32"LG LCD; Comcast; 7.1 Onkyo 805; Fronts: Polk M50s; Center: Polk CS2; Sides: Polk M40s; Rear: B&W LM1s; Subs: (2) Sony 12" x 100w; Samsung 1500BDP; Toshiba A-2 HD-DVDP.
    PC stereo: Viper custom PC: Windows XP; ASIO4ALL; JRiver Jukebox> Pop Pulse USB to S/PDIF conv> Monarchy DIP > Musiland MD10 DAC > Parasound 2100 pre> Aragon 4004 MKII amp> Dali Ikon6 towers; Sunfire True Sub; PSA Duet, Ultimate outlet and Noise Harvestors.
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  • metal83
    metal83 Posts: 1,219
    edited March 2009
    lildodoo wrote: »
    Hello, I need some advice on what amp to get for my setup. I have been reading up on several different ones and have narrowed it down to 3:

    Emotiva XPA-5
    Parasound 5250
    Sunfire TGA-5400

    I do not have the chance to listen to them so I am only going on reviews that I have read. My setup is rti a7, csi a6, fxi a6, and pioneer vsx-92txh. Any recommendations are greatly appreciated.

    Thanks

    I have my RTi A7's and CSi A6 running off of an XPA-3, and they sound fantastic! Big improvement in every way!

    I'm running my rears (RTi A3's) off of my Pioneer Elite 92, and honestly i couldn't tell a difference with them hooked up to an external Amp. I had the XPA-3 and XPA-5 at the same exact time, compared quite a bit, heard no difference what so ever, so i stuck with the XPA-3 and actually sent the XPA-5 back yesterday.

    I haven't heard the other Amps you listed though, so i can't comment on those.
    But the XPA-3 is great!

    Just my opinion of course.
    Good luck! :D
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  • leroyjr1
    leroyjr1 Posts: 8,785
    edited March 2009
    Mike21 wrote: »
    Hi lil.

    IMHO, you should get a new receiever w/ at least 200wpc.

    Your fronts and center are rated up to 300w and your current receiver is putting out only 130wpc, if that.

    Your Fxi A6s are rated to 150w, but I'm pretty sure thay can take (and would love) up to 225w.

    My Dalis are rated up to 150w and I'm driving them with a 200wpc amp. This was a big improvemnt from driving them with my Onk 805 rated also rated @130w x 7. I have no doubt my Dalis could take 300w so long as I didn't get crazy with the volume.

    IMO, your front 3 deserve better than 130w. :)




    A receiver with at least 200 watts.:confused:
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  • comfortablycurt
    comfortablycurt Posts: 6,745
    edited March 2009
    leroyjr1 wrote: »
    A receiver with at least 200 watts.:confused:

    Do they even make those? I've never seen one...not in surround sound receivers anyway.
    The nirvana inducer-
    APC H10 Power Conditioner
    Marantz UD5005 universal player
    Parasound Halo P5 preamp
    Parasound HCA-1200II power amp
    PolkAudio LSi9's/PolkAudio SDA 2A's/PolkAudio Monitor 7A's
    Audioquest Speaker Cables and IC's
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  • polktiger
    polktiger Posts: 556
    edited March 2009
    comfortablycurt wrote: »
    Do they even make those? I've never seen one...not in surround sound receivers anyway.

    Sunfire had one. Their new model may even be 400. I can't remember. But it was also pretty darn expensive.
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  • cfrizz
    cfrizz Posts: 13,415
    edited March 2009
    Why spend money twice, when he can get all his speakers amped at one time & be done with that upgrade.

    My back speakers saw a massive improvement when I hooked them up to my Sunfire. It was like night & day.

    As I've said all speakers benefit from more power, including the surrounds. So get a 5 channel & be done with it.:)
    NewHTguy wrote: »
    Start with a nice two-channel and let your receiver handle the rest. You can always buy a three-channel later on if you REALLY need it, but I don't see why you would. Just my two cents
    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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  • doug lang
    doug lang Posts: 261
    edited March 2009
    My vote would be the 5400 sunfire which is a 5 channel. I have always had sunfire never a problem. The sunfire's run cool which for me is the way to go.
    Oppo bdp 93 Blue Ray
    Integra DTR-80-2
    Polk LSi9s (mains)
    Polk LSiC (center)
    Polk LSiFXs (surrounds)
    Sub SVS 20-39+
    Samsung 60" Led 3-d
    Blue Jean Cables
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  • metal83
    metal83 Posts: 1,219
    edited March 2009
    I'd love to get my hands on one of those Sunfire Amps.
    I definitely couldn't afford them brand new though.
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  • Sherardp
    Sherardp Posts: 8,038
    edited March 2009
    metal83 wrote: »
    I'd love to get my hands on one of those Sunfire Amps.
    I definitely couldn't afford them brand new though.

    Sure you can, You can get them new for around 1200 or so now.
    Shoot the jumper.....................BALLIN.............!!!!!

    Home Theater Pics in the Showcase :cool:

    http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showcase/view.php?userid=73580
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  • metal83
    metal83 Posts: 1,219
    edited March 2009
    Sherardp wrote: »
    Sure you can, You can get them new for around 1200 or so now.

    Where?
    I've searched around a bit and can't find anything new for that price.
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  • Sherardp
    Sherardp Posts: 8,038
    edited March 2009
    metal83 wrote: »
    Where?
    I've searched around a bit and can't find anything new for that price.

    http://www.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?ampsmult&1240721633&/Sunfire-tga-5200-200-x-5---NEW

    Email Santy, they have 5200,5400,7200,7400 in stock. Tell him you know me through webforum and he just sent an amp to me in Japan.
    Shoot the jumper.....................BALLIN.............!!!!!

    Home Theater Pics in the Showcase :cool:

    http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showcase/view.php?userid=73580
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  • nooshinjohn
    nooshinjohn Posts: 25,597
    edited March 2009
    metal83 wrote: »
    Where?
    I've searched around a bit and can't find anything new for that price.

    Im down for one as well for that kind of money... actually make it two, one for me and the other for ebay:D
    The Gear... Carver "Statement" Mono-blocks, Mcintosh C2300 Arcam AVR20, Oppo UDP-203 4K Blu-ray player, Sony XBR70x850B 4k, Polk Audio Legend L800 with height modules, L400 Center Channel Polk audio AB800 "in-wall" surrounds. Marantz MM7025 stereo amp. Simaudio Moon 680d DSD

    “When once a Republic is corrupted, there is no possibility of remedying any of the growing evils but by removing the corruption and restoring its lost principles; every other correction is either useless or a new evil.”— Thomas Jefferson
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  • nooshinjohn
    nooshinjohn Posts: 25,597
    edited March 2009
    off by 400.00
    The Gear... Carver "Statement" Mono-blocks, Mcintosh C2300 Arcam AVR20, Oppo UDP-203 4K Blu-ray player, Sony XBR70x850B 4k, Polk Audio Legend L800 with height modules, L400 Center Channel Polk audio AB800 "in-wall" surrounds. Marantz MM7025 stereo amp. Simaudio Moon 680d DSD

    “When once a Republic is corrupted, there is no possibility of remedying any of the growing evils but by removing the corruption and restoring its lost principles; every other correction is either useless or a new evil.”— Thomas Jefferson
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  • Sherardp
    Sherardp Posts: 8,038
    edited March 2009
    nooshinjohn wrote: »
    off by 400.00

    Nope as they will go down allot lower in price.
    Shoot the jumper.....................BALLIN.............!!!!!

    Home Theater Pics in the Showcase :cool:

    http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showcase/view.php?userid=73580
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  • metal83
    metal83 Posts: 1,219
    edited March 2009
    Well that is extremely tempting, especially since i'm getting my yearly bonus next week.
    If by any chance they still have some by then i just may go for it!
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  • nooshinjohn
    nooshinjohn Posts: 25,597
    edited March 2009
    I can get my hands of a sunfire cinema signature 5x400 for 1300.00, struck a deal on it while working on my sig7....
    The Gear... Carver "Statement" Mono-blocks, Mcintosh C2300 Arcam AVR20, Oppo UDP-203 4K Blu-ray player, Sony XBR70x850B 4k, Polk Audio Legend L800 with height modules, L400 Center Channel Polk audio AB800 "in-wall" surrounds. Marantz MM7025 stereo amp. Simaudio Moon 680d DSD

    “When once a Republic is corrupted, there is no possibility of remedying any of the growing evils but by removing the corruption and restoring its lost principles; every other correction is either useless or a new evil.”— Thomas Jefferson
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