Some talk me out of getting an Emotiva
JohnLocke88
Posts: 1,150
Hey guys; I've been talking about it for ages, but I think it's finally time to upgrade to an external amp just to see what all the rage is about.
Of course, I've seen the legions of people supporting Emotiva, but some of the bigger names here on the forums seem to not approve; this disapproval ranging from indifference to outright hostility.
I am asking for those that DO NOT LIKE EMOTIVA, to chime in as to the reasons they think other amps are better, and similarly, to suggest other amps. I am primarily looking for a five channel and possibly another two channel amplifier for 70% HT / 20% games (PSS3) and 10% music.
I have been looking at Adcom, been reading reviews and it seems that the GFA-5500 (2ch) and the GFA-7500 are something I might look into. (Possibly bi-amping the front channels with the 7500, if I only got that one.) These will in all likelihood be powering CSi5, RTi10s, and a pair of TC80i's.
As you might be able to tell, I've been contemplating getting an Emotiva for some time, but I'm not convinced dropping money on an external amplifier is a good idea, unless I'm sure the outcome is worth the money.
Finally, my intention with this thread is not to discredit or disparge Emotiva, or its fans, but instead to gain insight as to why those who DO dislike Emotiva to step forward.
I have seen this (Ricardo's Emotiva story)
http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?t=78497&highlight=emotiva+sucks
but stopped reading after I saw that it had 1,200 replies.
Of course, I've seen the legions of people supporting Emotiva, but some of the bigger names here on the forums seem to not approve; this disapproval ranging from indifference to outright hostility.
I am asking for those that DO NOT LIKE EMOTIVA, to chime in as to the reasons they think other amps are better, and similarly, to suggest other amps. I am primarily looking for a five channel and possibly another two channel amplifier for 70% HT / 20% games (PSS3) and 10% music.
I have been looking at Adcom, been reading reviews and it seems that the GFA-5500 (2ch) and the GFA-7500 are something I might look into. (Possibly bi-amping the front channels with the 7500, if I only got that one.) These will in all likelihood be powering CSi5, RTi10s, and a pair of TC80i's.
As you might be able to tell, I've been contemplating getting an Emotiva for some time, but I'm not convinced dropping money on an external amplifier is a good idea, unless I'm sure the outcome is worth the money.
Finally, my intention with this thread is not to discredit or disparge Emotiva, or its fans, but instead to gain insight as to why those who DO dislike Emotiva to step forward.
I have seen this (Ricardo's Emotiva story)
http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?t=78497&highlight=emotiva+sucks
but stopped reading after I saw that it had 1,200 replies.
Post edited by JohnLocke88 on
Comments
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Just buy it and report back on how well you like it. Nobody else's opinion really matters except yours. If you don't like it, return it or move it along in our FM or audiogon.
Audio is a journey, not a destination, you have to walk the path yourself.DKG999
HT System: LSi9, LSiCx2, LSiFX, LSi7, SVS 20-39 PC+, B&K 507.s2 AVR, B&K Ref 125.2, Tripplite LCR-2400, Cambridge 650BD, Signal Cable PC/SC, BJC IC, Samsung 55" LED
Music System: Magnepan 1.6QR, SVS SB12+, ARC pre, Parasound HCA1500 vertically bi-amped, Jolida CDP, Pro-Ject RM5.1SE TT, Pro-Ject TubeBox SE phono pre, SBT, PS Audio DLIII DAC -
Get the EMOTIVA AMP. If you don't like it, you have 30 days to return it.SRT For Life; SDA Forever!
The SRT SEISMIC System:
Four main satellite speakers, six powered subs, two dedicated for LFE channel, two center speakers for over/under screen placement and three Control Centers. Amaze your friends, terrorize your neighbors, seize the audio bragging rights for your state. Go ahead, buy it; you only go around once. -
Try it out, if u decide against it, go for a Sunfire.Shoot the jumper.....................BALLIN.............!!!!!
Home Theater Pics in the Showcase :cool:
http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showcase/view.php?userid=73580 -
70% HT / 20% games (PSS3) and 10% music.
It was made for you.Political Correctness'.........defined
"A doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a t-u-r-d by the clean end."
President of Club Polk -
JohnLocke88 wrote: »As you might be able to tell, I've been contemplating getting an Emotiva for some time, but I'm not convinced dropping money on an external amplifier is a good idea, unless I'm sure the outcome is worth the money.
I ordered speaker wire today to upgrade my HT that cost more than the Emotiva, so the few dollars an Emotiva costs is worth the money. Assuming the Emotiva works.Lumin X1 file player, Westminster Labs interconnect cable
Sony XA-5400ES SACD; Pass XP-22 pre; X600.5 amps
Magico S5 MKII Mcast Rose speakers; SPOD spikes
Shunyata Triton v3/Typhon QR on source, Denali 2000 (2) on amps
Shunyata Sigma XLR analog ICs, Sigma speaker cables
Shunyata Sigma HC (2), Sigma Analog, Sigma Digital, Z Anaconda (3) power cables
Mapleshade Samson V.3 four shelf solid maple rack, Micropoint brass footers
Three 20 amp circuits. -
It was made for you.
Ding,ding,ding
Jesse's right,, 70 % HT,, then it was made for consumers like yourself. Me,,I'm thinking about trying a Bryston,, one of these Big A$$ 4 B thingeys. Good luck in your journey.JC approves....he told me so. (F-1 nut) -
JohnLocke88 wrote: »Hey guys; I've been talking about it for ages, but I think it's finally time to upgrade to an external amp just to see what all the rage is about.
Of course, I've seen the legions of people supporting Emotiva, but some of the bigger names here on the forums seem to not approve; this disapproval ranging from indifference to outright hostility.
I am asking for those that DO NOT LIKE EMOTIVA, to chime in as to the reasons they think other amps are better, and similarly, to suggest other amps. I am primarily looking for a five channel and possibly another two channel amplifier for 70% HT / 20% games (PSS3) and 10% music.
I have been looking at Adcom, been reading reviews and it seems that the GFA-5500 (2ch) and the GFA-7500 are something I might look into. (Possibly bi-amping the front channels with the 7500, if I only got that one.) These will in all likelihood be powering CSi5, RTi10s, and a pair of TC80i's.
As you might be able to tell, I've been contemplating getting an Emotiva for some time, but I'm not convinced dropping money on an external amplifier is a good idea, unless I'm sure the outcome is worth the money.
Finally, my intention with this thread is not to discredit or disparge Emotiva, or its fans, but instead to gain insight as to why those who DO dislike Emotiva to step forward.
I have seen this (Ricardo's Emotiva story)
http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?t=78497&highlight=emotiva+sucks
but stopped reading after I saw that it had 1,200 replies.
First suggestion is not to only look on the Polk Forums. Try AVSForum, Home Theater Shack, Audioholics, AVForums.
Second Emotiva does allow you to try their product for 30 days.
Third, do you have a budget that allows you to get a more expensive amp?
I had the chance at length to play around with one of the XPA series amps. Directly compared to my older Crown DC300A and a new NAD Amp. I was impressed with both the build quality and the SQ of this amp especially given it's price point. -
I agree with the others, try the Emotiva. I own amps from Adcom, Marsh, and Carver. The Emotiva compares favorably to all of them (in fact I prefer it to the others with my setup). I have had good luck with mine.
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Get Emotiva. Very nice amps and the people of the company are down to earth and easy to talk to. Call them and talk to Dann G. or Lonnie, if you have any worries or have some questions.engtaz
I love how music can brighten up a bad day. -
Oh good grief. Get it or don't get it. There is no right or wrong answer here. Emo isn't the be all to end all, nor is it garbage. It's a decent amp at a decent price. Try & hear for yourself whether or not you like it.
If not, then check out Outlaw Audio. Or get something used from Audiogon.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 -
Go for it:DLinn AV5140 fronts
Linn AV5120 Center
Linn AV5140 Rears
M&K MX-70 Sub for Music
Odyssey Mono-Blocs
SVS Ultra-13 Gloss Black:D -
There will always be the HI/FI guys MID/FI guys, and well the guys that can get what ever they can piece together. More power to us all, in the end its all about enjoying what you got or can have. Do i want better? well hell yes i do. Wether it be a Yamaha,Emotiva,Krell, and of course Tubes. Get what you can do your homework and if you can Listen to all you can, Cause it's all about enjoying the Movies and Music with the best products you can afford. Me i am a very anal person, and i have to have things match up the best i can.
My biggest advice is to stray away from the cheap **** systems that come in one box put that money away and save a few more bennys and buy used.
Larry. -
If I hadn't joined the ICE Club I wouldn't even consider giving up my XPA-5. It plays very well with RTis and LSis
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Get a used Parasound instead.Sharp Elite 70
Anthem D2V 3D
Parasound 5250
Parasound HCA 1000 A
Parasound HCA 1000
Oppo BDP 95
Von Schweikert VR4 Jr R/L Fronts
Von Schweikert LCR 4 Center
Totem Mask Surrounds X4
Hsu ULS-15 Quad Drive Subwoofers
Sony PS3
Squeezebox Touch
Polk Atrium 7s on the patio just to keep my foot in the door. -
I am all for the sunfire as well. I would get one of these for the center and surrounds...Try it out, if u decide against it, go for a Sunfire.
http://www.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?ampsmult&1246731630&/Sunfire-Cinema-Grand-200w-x-5-
...and one of these for the mains.
http://www.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?ampstran&1246751911&/Sunfire-300-Sunfire-300-Stereo
This combination could be the last amps you ever need. My signature 7x400 is phenominal... this one is on ebay now.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=300314690319&_trkparms=tab%3DWatching. If you could score this one for less than 1650.00 you will have quite the deal on your hands. You wont be disappointed! If you have any questions at all Bob Carver will even answer them personallyThe Gear... Carver "Statement" Mono-blocks, Mcintosh C2800 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 MiND2 Shunyata Triton
“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
How many flies need to be buzzing a dead horse before you guys stop beating it? -
Oh Lord, Kumbaya. Yes! I hear it to. Wait a minute...Not! :rolleyes:
LQQk at this:
http://www.ayonaudiousa.com/english/triton/f-triton.htm
Shiny! Can that thing also generate a force-field?
cnhCurrently orbiting Bowie's Blackstar.!
Polk Lsi-7s, Def Tech 8" sub, HK 3490, HK HD 990 (CDP/DAC), AKG Q701s
[sig. changed on a monthly basis as I rotate in and out of my stash] -
The Emotiva story thread proved that Emotiva rules for us mere mortals despite the efforts of some the elitists in here to put it down. I think even some of them may have turned the page and have softened their opinion on this success story.
Success story??? LOL
It fits a niche in the entry level HT/audio world. Don't kid yourself.
Enough said!Political Correctness'.........defined
"A doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a t-u-r-d by the clean end."
President of Club Polk -
Of course Emo & Outlaw are successes Jesse. They are filling a long over do niche in the audio market that has allowed a lot more people to fully realize & enjoy their gear without going bankrupt doing so.
That is probably what's got audio snobs noses out of joint. Separates are NO longer just the domain of those who have lots of money.
Oh well....TOO DAMN BAD!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 -
Filling a long over do niche??? The niche market for entry level gear has plenty of offerings already. Emo and Outlaw are but two more with Emo leading as the flavor of the month. However, that doesn't make them a success.Political Correctness'.........defined
"A doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a t-u-r-d by the clean end."
President of Club Polk -
Emo and Outlaw are not even in the same league...
If you have heard both, you will know why there is a price difference...HT: Ninja Master LSi9s, Ninja Master LSiC, Slightly Modded LSiFXs, Modded LSi7s, Outlaw LFM-1 EX and Polk PSW125
Outlaw 970 Preamp, Outlaw 7700 Amp, Velodyne SMS-1, Oppo BDP-83,
2 APC H-15s and a Panamax 5400 for good measure
Stereo: DIY Alix Music Server, DODD Audio Battery Tube Buffer, Modded DAC-60 and MF V-Link (for now), DIY Silver ICs, Battery Powered Class D SDS-254 Amp, and GR-Research N2X Speakers -
Only in your opinion Jesse. If they go under, then they will not be successful. So long as they keep selling their gear and making enough profit to keep going, they ARE successful.
This is hardly rocket science. Tweeter was successful till they went under, but they had a good 30 year run before it happened.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 -
No one said that they were in the same league as other companies, that wasn't the point.
There is ALWAYS something better out there to buy. All that is being said that it is a good starting point to get your feet wet in separates if you don't have a lot of money to do so.Emo and Outlaw are not even in the same league...
If you have heard both, you will know why there is a price difference...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 -
No one said that they were in the same league as other companies, that wasn't the point.
There is ALWAYS something better out there to buy. All that is being said that it is a good starting point to get your feet wet in separates if you don't have a lot of money to do so.
you tell em frizzSamsung pn64f8500
Sonus faber venere 2.5
Sf venere center
Oppo 105d
Squeezebox touch
Parasound hca1500a
Apc power filter
Audioquest cables asst
Polk rtia3 SB
Polk fxia6 sl,sr
Dual hsu vtf3 mk3 -
Success story??? LOL
It fits a niche in the entry level HT/audio world. Don't kid yourself.
Enough said!
Kinda like almost everything sold today under the Polk Audio name? I can't believe how many proclaimed "audiophlies" there are on a forum of a mass market entry level manufacture.
Then again, I'm reminded pretty regularly when I see folks with more money wrapped up in interconnects than what they have in their speakers. -
I sense anger....fear. Fear leads to anger, anger leads to hatred. Hate leads to suffering. Suffering leads to Bose. Do you hear that buzzing noise?
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Kinda like almost everything sold today under the Polk Audio name? I can't believe how many proclaimed "audiophlies" there are on a forum of a mass market entry level manufacture.
Then again, I'm reminded pretty regularly when I see folks with more money wrapped up in interconnects than what they have in their speakers.
Huh -
Only in your opinion Jesse. If they go under, then they will not be successful. So long as they keep selling their gear and making enough profit to keep going, they ARE successful.
This is hardly rocket science. Tweeter was successful till they went under, but they had a good 30 year run before it happened.
Who's talking about staying in business? I'm talking about being successful in making a product that receives critical acclaim. Bose has been in business for a long time, I wouldn't call anything they've made successful.Matt34 wrote:Kinda like almost everything sold today under the Polk Audio name? I can't believe how many proclaimed "audiophlies" there are on a forum of a mass market entry level manufacture.
Then again, I'm reminded pretty regularly when I see folks with more money wrapped up in interconnects than what they have in their speakers.
You obviously don't get what this place is about.Political Correctness'.........defined
"A doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a t-u-r-d by the clean end."
President of Club Polk -
hearingimpared wrote: »Huh
x2
What?
I wasn't aware that Polk LSi's and the vintage SDA's were such entry level equipment. Sure, they don't cost 30,000 dollars a pair, but not everyone has that kind of scratch.
Is it possible that some people use Polk speakers because they...like how they sound?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 -
Kinda like almost everything sold today under the Polk Audio name? I can't believe how many proclaimed "audiophlies" there are on a forum of a mass market entry level manufacture.
Then again, I'm reminded pretty regularly when I see folks with more money wrapped up in interconnects than what they have in their speakers.
WTH!!! -
"As you might be able to tell, I've been contemplating getting an Emotiva for some time, but I'm not convinced dropping money on an external amplifier is a good idea, unless I'm sure the outcome is worth the money."
XPA-5 is worth the money. This afternoon, with my LSi9s, Coltrane was in the room. Or so it seemed. (Must admit, it doesn't always seem that way, but it did today.)
Perhaps one day Emotiva will build an amp with a vacuum tube sticking out of the top, thereby disarming all criticism.
