having hard time to decide

CaligulaPolk
CaligulaPolk Posts: 1,650
edited August 2009 in Electronics
Emotiva XPA -3 or XPA 5 AMP...

can anyone chime .02 and pics of your setup to help me decide...

i figured if i buy xpa 3 then upgrade upa 2 , id lose some watts and both for same price as xpa 5.

ill only shell extra $250 extra instead 299 for upa 2... hmmmmmm

wife and i spoke tonight about xpa 3 and she approves but i wanna pay 250 extra instead of 300.. basically xpa 5 would be on "sale" as xpa 3 if i shell out

550 plus 250 = 800.. xpa 3 is on sale only 50 bucks off without shipping cost.

am i making sense? or will i be happy with upa 7 for $629? or xpa 5 and upa 2 for 7 channel ? please help polkie fellow out. I plan to buy tomorrow.. so suggest now!!!! Read and not leaving comments are






















bullshit2pa.jpg!! :D
I am 100% BORN DEAF and No I am not kidding! :D Why am I here? My wife's hearing! :p

My Home Theater Rig || Television: 58" Panasonic TH-58PZ800U Viera Plasma || Power Conditioner: Power Monster HTS 3600 MKII || Receiver: Onkyo TX-SR805 || Blu-Ray/Gaming: 60 Gigabytes Playstation 3 || Amplifier: Emotiva XPA-5 || Fronts: Polk Audio RT800i || Center: Polk Audio CS245i || Surrounds: TBA|| Subwoofer: TBA
Post edited by CaligulaPolk on
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  • comfortablycurt
    comfortablycurt Posts: 6,745
    edited August 2009
    I'd just go for the XPA-5.

    Another option would be to get the XPA-3 now, and use it to power your fronts and center. Pick up an XPA-2 later on, and use it to power the front L/R, and use the XPA-3 to power the center/surrounds.

    Are you planning on running 5.1 or 7.1?
    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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  • CaligulaPolk
    CaligulaPolk Posts: 1,650
    edited August 2009
    comfortablycurt wrote: »
    I'd just go for the XPA-5.

    Another option would be to get the XPA-3 now, and use it to power your fronts and center. Pick up an XPA-2 later on, and use it to power the front L/R, and use the XPA-3 to power the center/surrounds.

    Are you planning on running 5.1 or 7.1?

    5.1 for now........ i will run 7.1 when most of blu-ray are 7.1 movies.


    wow 13 viewers are bsing.. hahahah just kidding :D
    I am 100% BORN DEAF and No I am not kidding! :D Why am I here? My wife's hearing! :p

    My Home Theater Rig || Television: 58" Panasonic TH-58PZ800U Viera Plasma || Power Conditioner: Power Monster HTS 3600 MKII || Receiver: Onkyo TX-SR805 || Blu-Ray/Gaming: 60 Gigabytes Playstation 3 || Amplifier: Emotiva XPA-5 || Fronts: Polk Audio RT800i || Center: Polk Audio CS245i || Surrounds: TBA|| Subwoofer: TBA
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  • comfortablycurt
    comfortablycurt Posts: 6,745
    edited August 2009
    In that case...

    I'd just go for the XPA-5 for now to power your whole setup. When you decide to jump to 7.1, pick up an XPA-2 to power the front L/R, and use the XPA-5 to power the rest of the speakers.

    Just my $.02
    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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  • CaligulaPolk
    CaligulaPolk Posts: 1,650
    edited August 2009
    anyone else?? any Emo owners at this hour? I can go to emotiva.com forums but i want polkies experience. :D C'mon I DONT
    2754512924_ff6cab1393.jpgBITE!!!

    thanks for your time as always ,curt! :D
    I am 100% BORN DEAF and No I am not kidding! :D Why am I here? My wife's hearing! :p

    My Home Theater Rig || Television: 58" Panasonic TH-58PZ800U Viera Plasma || Power Conditioner: Power Monster HTS 3600 MKII || Receiver: Onkyo TX-SR805 || Blu-Ray/Gaming: 60 Gigabytes Playstation 3 || Amplifier: Emotiva XPA-5 || Fronts: Polk Audio RT800i || Center: Polk Audio CS245i || Surrounds: TBA|| Subwoofer: TBA
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  • jimmydep
    jimmydep Posts: 1,305
    edited August 2009
    I'd go for XPA-5




    P1020028.jpg
    P1020035.jpg




    Jimmy
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  • CaligulaPolk
    CaligulaPolk Posts: 1,650
    edited August 2009
    jimmydep wrote: »
    I'd go for XPA-5




    P1020028.jpg
    P1020035.jpg




    Jimmy

    did u know how much it was on sale last time? how much did u pay for it if u dont mind me asking...
    I am 100% BORN DEAF and No I am not kidding! :D Why am I here? My wife's hearing! :p

    My Home Theater Rig || Television: 58" Panasonic TH-58PZ800U Viera Plasma || Power Conditioner: Power Monster HTS 3600 MKII || Receiver: Onkyo TX-SR805 || Blu-Ray/Gaming: 60 Gigabytes Playstation 3 || Amplifier: Emotiva XPA-5 || Fronts: Polk Audio RT800i || Center: Polk Audio CS245i || Surrounds: TBA|| Subwoofer: TBA
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  • jimmydep
    jimmydep Posts: 1,305
    edited August 2009
    I paid $799 + $25 for shipping......I haven't seen the XPA-5 on sale.

    I like the Emotiva better than my Sunfire for the LSI's


    Jimmy
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  • CaligulaPolk
    CaligulaPolk Posts: 1,650
    edited August 2009
    jimmydep wrote: »
    I paid $799 + $25 for shipping......I haven't seen the XPA-5 on sale.

    I like the Emotiva better than my Sunfire for the LSI's


    Jimmy

    no tax? $824 firm? how long did it take emotiva to send you ur amp?
    I am 100% BORN DEAF and No I am not kidding! :D Why am I here? My wife's hearing! :p

    My Home Theater Rig || Television: 58" Panasonic TH-58PZ800U Viera Plasma || Power Conditioner: Power Monster HTS 3600 MKII || Receiver: Onkyo TX-SR805 || Blu-Ray/Gaming: 60 Gigabytes Playstation 3 || Amplifier: Emotiva XPA-5 || Fronts: Polk Audio RT800i || Center: Polk Audio CS245i || Surrounds: TBA|| Subwoofer: TBA
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  • jimmydep
    jimmydep Posts: 1,305
    edited August 2009
    No Tax $824 total to my door within 5 days of purchase....they shipped the same day, from Tennessee I think.....I was very pleased with the customer service. It came double boxed and this baby is heavy.


    JD
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  • LessisNevermore
    LessisNevermore Posts: 1,519
    edited August 2009
    XPA-5.

    Same experience as jimmydep.
    Great amp regardless of price.
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  • CaligulaPolk
    CaligulaPolk Posts: 1,650
    edited August 2009
    great!! thanks for replies..

    Gotta go to bed, been reading on emo forum and its getting late got to get up in the morning to go to work :D

    i think shelling 300 bucks for upa 2 for xpa 3 seem silly and more costly. thanks for the decision and hopefully i get to buy tomorrow.. gonna be busy day tomorrow
    I am 100% BORN DEAF and No I am not kidding! :D Why am I here? My wife's hearing! :p

    My Home Theater Rig || Television: 58" Panasonic TH-58PZ800U Viera Plasma || Power Conditioner: Power Monster HTS 3600 MKII || Receiver: Onkyo TX-SR805 || Blu-Ray/Gaming: 60 Gigabytes Playstation 3 || Amplifier: Emotiva XPA-5 || Fronts: Polk Audio RT800i || Center: Polk Audio CS245i || Surrounds: TBA|| Subwoofer: TBA
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  • apphd
    apphd Posts: 1,514
    edited August 2009
    CaligulaPolk, have your wife give them a call and see what B-stock they have. They do not list B stock until they have a quant. and then it is usually a forum post. So they may have what ever you decide on in B stock for a little more savings.
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  • mdk5068
    mdk5068 Posts: 204
    edited August 2009
    +1 typically they slash about 150-200 off the price for b stock, or thats the price they quoted to me when I asked about the xpa-5.


    apphd wrote: »
    CaligulaPolk, have your wife give them a call and see what B-stock they have. They do not list B stock until they have a quant. and then it is usually a forum post. So they may have what ever you decide on in B stock for a little more savings.
    Bulls make money.
    Bears make money.
    Pigs get slaughtered.
    ...
    You, my friend, are the bacon.
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  • Ricardo
    Ricardo Posts: 10,636
    edited August 2009
    CaligulaPolk wrote: »
    wife and i spoke tonight about xpa 3 and she approves

    Does she have a car already? ;)
    _________________________________________________
    ***\\\\\........................... My Audio Journey ............................./////***

    2008 & 2010 Football Pool WINNER
    SOPA
    Thank God for different opinions. Imagine the world if we all wanted the same woman
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  • CaligulaPolk
    CaligulaPolk Posts: 1,650
    edited August 2009
    apphd wrote: »
    CaligulaPolk, have your wife give them a call and see what B-stock they have. They do not list B stock until they have a quant. and then it is usually a forum post. So they may have what ever you decide on in B stock for a little more savings.

    Ill call them myself and what is B stock??

    Ricardo wrote: »
    Does she have a car already? ;)

    no but we are going to look for one this weekend :D and a canon camera for her, she want to go photography school so i support that. time for her to do something different...
    I am 100% BORN DEAF and No I am not kidding! :D Why am I here? My wife's hearing! :p

    My Home Theater Rig || Television: 58" Panasonic TH-58PZ800U Viera Plasma || Power Conditioner: Power Monster HTS 3600 MKII || Receiver: Onkyo TX-SR805 || Blu-Ray/Gaming: 60 Gigabytes Playstation 3 || Amplifier: Emotiva XPA-5 || Fronts: Polk Audio RT800i || Center: Polk Audio CS245i || Surrounds: TBA|| Subwoofer: TBA
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  • Ricardo
    Ricardo Posts: 10,636
    edited August 2009
    CaligulaPolk wrote: »
    Ill call them myself and what is B stock??

    Ok; I have to ask; how can you call them yourself? Is there some kind of voice to text phones????

    B stock might be units with slight cosmetic damage, returns, etc; usually carry the same warranty and you save some $.
    _________________________________________________
    ***\\\\\........................... My Audio Journey ............................./////***

    2008 & 2010 Football Pool WINNER
    SOPA
    Thank God for different opinions. Imagine the world if we all wanted the same woman
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  • WilliamM2
    WilliamM2 Posts: 4,788
    edited August 2009
    What's with the stupid pictures?
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  • LessisNevermore
    LessisNevermore Posts: 1,519
    edited August 2009
    WilliamM2 wrote: »
    What's with the stupid pictures?

    DamnStraight.png
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  • TECHNOKID
    TECHNOKID Posts: 4,298
    edited August 2009
    1. Xpa-3 is a great improvement to the sound stage which is the most important of your HT or Xpa-5 if you for example intend to use presence speakers in a 2 channels mode (power ungry).

    2. Surround never use as much power ( NOT as power ungry)...

    3. Your rear channels, if you are/were serious about using wireless rear, you will not be using much power from your system amp(s)/AVR since the power actually come from the builted in amp of the wireless receiver (unless of course you decide to have an amp at the rear)

    4. Your Xpa-3 using pre-out of the AVR for the LCR frees that power from the AVR that will distribute just that much extra to the 4th and 5th channels (of course if using wirelss for the 6th and 7th)...

    If this is the route you really want to go, do you think the extra power expense is justified?
    B stock might be units with slight cosmetic damage, returns, etc; usually carry the same warranty and you save some $.
    Then such may potentially allow you to get the 5 for close to the price of the 3!

    Cheers!
    TK
    DARE TO SOAR:
    “Your attitude, almost always determine your altitude in life” ;)
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  • engtaz
    engtaz Posts: 7,666
    edited August 2009
    Talk to Dann G or Lonnie if your your still having trouble trying to figure it out which unit.
    engtaz

    I love how music can brighten up a bad day.
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  • CaligulaPolk
    CaligulaPolk Posts: 1,650
    edited August 2009
    WilliamM2 wrote: »
    What's with the stupid pictures?

    whats with the stupid post?
    I am 100% BORN DEAF and No I am not kidding! :D Why am I here? My wife's hearing! :p

    My Home Theater Rig || Television: 58" Panasonic TH-58PZ800U Viera Plasma || Power Conditioner: Power Monster HTS 3600 MKII || Receiver: Onkyo TX-SR805 || Blu-Ray/Gaming: 60 Gigabytes Playstation 3 || Amplifier: Emotiva XPA-5 || Fronts: Polk Audio RT800i || Center: Polk Audio CS245i || Surrounds: TBA|| Subwoofer: TBA
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  • CaligulaPolk
    CaligulaPolk Posts: 1,650
    edited August 2009
    Ricardo wrote: »
    Ok; I have to ask; how can you call them yourself? Is there some kind of voice to text phones????

    B stock might be units with slight cosmetic damage, returns, etc; usually carry the same warranty and you save some $.


    www.sorensonvrs.com


    ok, i called emotiva.. they dont have class b or offer any discount and said wont be offering sale for a long time on xpa-5...
    I am 100% BORN DEAF and No I am not kidding! :D Why am I here? My wife's hearing! :p

    My Home Theater Rig || Television: 58" Panasonic TH-58PZ800U Viera Plasma || Power Conditioner: Power Monster HTS 3600 MKII || Receiver: Onkyo TX-SR805 || Blu-Ray/Gaming: 60 Gigabytes Playstation 3 || Amplifier: Emotiva XPA-5 || Fronts: Polk Audio RT800i || Center: Polk Audio CS245i || Surrounds: TBA|| Subwoofer: TBA
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  • CaligulaPolk
    CaligulaPolk Posts: 1,650
    edited August 2009
    Jimmy, or any emo amp owner, can you take a pic of your back of xpa 5 connected to your avr. so i can get an idea what hook up would be. I HAVE NO IDEA :D
    I am 100% BORN DEAF and No I am not kidding! :D Why am I here? My wife's hearing! :p

    My Home Theater Rig || Television: 58" Panasonic TH-58PZ800U Viera Plasma || Power Conditioner: Power Monster HTS 3600 MKII || Receiver: Onkyo TX-SR805 || Blu-Ray/Gaming: 60 Gigabytes Playstation 3 || Amplifier: Emotiva XPA-5 || Fronts: Polk Audio RT800i || Center: Polk Audio CS245i || Surrounds: TBA|| Subwoofer: TBA
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  • Ricardo
    Ricardo Posts: 10,636
    edited August 2009
    CaligulaPolk wrote: »
    www.sorensonvrs.com

    Cool; so you use them as a bridge to communicate with anyone?
    _________________________________________________
    ***\\\\\........................... My Audio Journey ............................./////***

    2008 & 2010 Football Pool WINNER
    SOPA
    Thank God for different opinions. Imagine the world if we all wanted the same woman
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  • jimmydep
    jimmydep Posts: 1,305
    edited August 2009
    It's pretty simple, you connect the pre outs on the AVR using RCA type interconnects, to the input of the amp then connect the corresponding speakers to the speaker terminals on the amp. If you have a 12volt trigger on the AVR you can connect a 3.5mm stereo or mono mini jack wire to the emmo to turn it on with the receiver. This wire does not come with the amp. I'll post some pics tonight.

    Jimmy
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  • CaligulaPolk
    CaligulaPolk Posts: 1,650
    edited August 2009
    Ricardo wrote: »
    Cool; so you use them as a bridge to communicate with anyone?

    yes anyone.
    jimmydep wrote: »
    I'll post some pics tonight.

    Jimmy


    THANK YOU! hope its not doable for you..
    I am 100% BORN DEAF and No I am not kidding! :D Why am I here? My wife's hearing! :p

    My Home Theater Rig || Television: 58" Panasonic TH-58PZ800U Viera Plasma || Power Conditioner: Power Monster HTS 3600 MKII || Receiver: Onkyo TX-SR805 || Blu-Ray/Gaming: 60 Gigabytes Playstation 3 || Amplifier: Emotiva XPA-5 || Fronts: Polk Audio RT800i || Center: Polk Audio CS245i || Surrounds: TBA|| Subwoofer: TBA
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  • engtaz
    engtaz Posts: 7,666
    edited August 2009
    Here is the manual.

    http://emotiva.com/manuals/XPA-5%20Amplifier%20Manual_Final_v1pt06.pdf
    engtaz

    I love how music can brighten up a bad day.
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  • PSOVLSK
    PSOVLSK Posts: 5,292
    edited August 2009
    Another option is used. I bought a package deal from a guy and got an XPA-5,
    LMC-1, and a Panamax 4300 for $700-800 (don't remember exactly). The XPA-5 was only about 3 months old and was spotless. The LMC-1 had a couple of issues, but Emotiva repaired it for me at no cost.

    My experience had been good product and good customer service.
    Things work out best for those who make the best of the way things work out.-John Wooden
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  • jimmydep
    jimmydep Posts: 1,305
    edited August 2009
    caligulapolk wrote: »
    jimmy, or any emo amp owner, can you take a pic of your back of xpa 5 connected to your avr. So i can get an idea what hook up would be. I have no idea :d


    OK Curt you asked for a picture......good luck, I didn't realize how many wires there were back there, good thing my wife doesn't see them...



    P1020048.jpg
    P1020045_edited.jpg


    I've got to figure out a way to clean this up.

    I hope this answers most of your questions. BTW I'm bi-amping the front speakers, hence the splitter.

    Jimmy
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  • jimmydep
    jimmydep Posts: 1,305
    edited August 2009
    Here's one I forgot



    P1020043.jpg






    Jimmy
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