Time to add an amp

wutadumsn23
wutadumsn23 Posts: 3,702
edited January 2009 in Electronics
It's tax time, and as the title states, it is time for me to add an amp to my system. I am currently shopping around for an Emo, only problem is I am going to be limited by my center channel. I was thinking about the XPA-5, which is fine for my fronts (Monitor 70's) recommended amplifier power is 20-275W per channel, but my center (CS2) recommended amplifier power is only 20-175W per channel. Even the XPA-3 is too much for my center (only by about 25W though) Long story short, I want to get as close to the high end of all 3 of my speakers without grossly overpowing my center, or underpowering my fronts. I may be asking for alot, just want some suggestions, I have looked at Adcom's and they are a bit out of my price range, any ideas would be welcomed. Thanks guys. Oh and my budget is around $500-$1000
HT Rig
Receiver- Onkyo TX-SR806
Mains- Polk Audio Monitor 70
Center- Polk Audio CS2
Surrounds- Polk Audio TSi 500's :D
Sub- Polk Audio PSW125
Retired- Polk Audio Monitor 40's
T.V.- 60" Sony SXRD KDS-60A2000 LCoS
Blu-Ray- 80 GB PS3


2 CH rig (in progress)
Polk Audio Monitor 10A's :cool:

It's not that I'm insensitive, I just don't care.. :D
Post edited by wutadumsn23 on
· Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Comments

  • Hilbert
    Hilbert Posts: 316
    edited January 2009
    If you're thinking xpa 5 then my advice is buy it. Now. Today. I had one pushing monitor 50s, 30s, and cs1 and it sounded very good. The amp made them sound like new speakers. I still have it, pushing LSis, and it sounds great.

    It's true I never experimented with maximum achievable loudness with the monitors, which perhaps you are eager to do; but it got pretty loud at times and the speakers didn't seem to suffer.

    These speaker power ratings are (someone correct me if I'm wrong) approximate and hypothetical, and you won't be sending them more than 175 watts unless the volume is way way up, which is unlikely to occur except in a massively inebriated state around 3 a.m., after which blown speakers will seem like the least of your problems. So get the amp by all means. I predict you will be delighted with the result.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • george daniel
    george daniel Posts: 12,096
    edited January 2009
    I don't think that you can ever have enough power/current that you or I wiil be able to afford,;),go for the high current/power,, you are not going to hurt anything as long as you remain "responsible" with the volume control.Your speakers will thank you. Good luck,and have fun.
    JC approves....he told me so. (F-1 nut)
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Ricardo
    Ricardo Posts: 10,634
    edited January 2009
    Hilbert is right on. You can have a 500 watts driving speakers that have a range of 20-175W, and you will be able to go LOUD without risking anything. You'll burn your speakers faster if you use a low power amp and push your speakers too hard.
    _________________________________________________
    ***\\\\\........................... My Audio Journey ............................./////***

    2008 & 2010 Football Pool WINNER
    SOPA
    Thank God for different opinions. Imagine the world if we all wanted the same woman
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Hawkeye
    Hawkeye Posts: 1,313
    edited January 2009
    Get the biggest amp you can afford. More speakers are damaged by underpowered amps than over, unless you frequently go to 11. My speaks are rated to 250 watts and my amps produce nearly 1000 watts @ 4 Ohms. Do you think I'm afraid?

    Gordon
    2 Channel -
    Martin Logan Spire, 2 JL Audio F112 subs
    McIntosh C1000 Controller with Tube pre amp, 2 MC501 amplifiers, MD1K Transport & DAC, MR-88 Tuner
    WireWorld Eclipse 6.0 speaker wire and jumpers, Eclipse 5^2 Squared Balanced IC's. Silver Eclipse PCs (5)
    Symposium Rollerblocks 2+ (16)Black Diamond Racing Mk 3 pits (8)
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • danlarson
    danlarson Posts: 89
    edited January 2009
    buy the emo, then a better center channel speaker...
    And get the xpa-5 you can use the extra current when pushing fewer channels.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • thuffman03
    thuffman03 Posts: 1,325
    edited January 2009
    Having more power than you speakers can handle is not a bad thing. Just remember not to crank it way up. I have 280watts going to a Definitive Technology C1 center and it is only rated at up to 180. Most of the time I am not exceeding 50 watts at high volume.
    Sunfire TGP, Sunfire Cinema Grand, Sunfire 300~2 (2), Sunfire True Sub (2),Carver ALS Platinum, Carver AL III, TFM-55, C-19, C-9, TX-8, SDA-490t, SDA-390t
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • craigpsu
    craigpsu Posts: 106
    edited January 2009
    I am also looking into amps, and was wondering what the best way was to compare power output, NAD uses IHF dynamic, while some of the others list maximum continous (not always at 4 ohms). Is there any adivce on comparing specs? Let's say your speakers are rated for 250W, and the amp says maximum continous is 300W, does that necessarily mean you will be getting 300 to your speakers or is that maximum continous achievable at higher volumes? My question is for Lsi speakers 250W, how much power should I be looking to drive them with.
    LSi15s, LSiC, LSiFX, LC80F/X, microPro 4000, Pioneer Elite SC-07, XPA-2, XPA-5, PS3
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • thuffman03
    thuffman03 Posts: 1,325
    edited January 2009
    Most of the time I am not putting any more than 3 watts into my speakers. Some songs I like loud it will jump up to 100 watts but most of the time that is the base and that is not a sustained output.

    My Thiels are 4 ohm and my Carver TFM 25 is rated at 350 watts into 4 ohms and when I do crank it up if I get above 150 wats it is way to loud for me.

    Most of my listening is between 3 and 10 watts. When they say an amp can do lets say 200 wpc sustained I would not want to be in the room when you hit that mark. It will be very loud. Though you want an amp that has enough in reserve so you don't start to clip when the power is needed.
    Sunfire TGP, Sunfire Cinema Grand, Sunfire 300~2 (2), Sunfire True Sub (2),Carver ALS Platinum, Carver AL III, TFM-55, C-19, C-9, TX-8, SDA-490t, SDA-390t
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • wutadumsn23
    wutadumsn23 Posts: 3,702
    edited January 2009
    Cool, thanks for the advice guys. I was pretty sure I wasn't going to hurt anything by hooking up my CS1 to the Emo, just wanted to hear from the real experts. The XPA-5's are currently sold out at Emotiva.com, but should be back in stock in Feb. One more thing though, would I be better off getting an XPA-3 for just my fronts and my center, which is all I want to amp for now and add an XPA-2 later? Or just bite the bullet and get the XPA-5, since I want to eventually feed power to my whole 5.1 system. The XPA-3 would better match my center, but not send as much juice to my mains.
    HT Rig
    Receiver- Onkyo TX-SR806
    Mains- Polk Audio Monitor 70
    Center- Polk Audio CS2
    Surrounds- Polk Audio TSi 500's :D
    Sub- Polk Audio PSW125
    Retired- Polk Audio Monitor 40's
    T.V.- 60" Sony SXRD KDS-60A2000 LCoS
    Blu-Ray- 80 GB PS3


    2 CH rig (in progress)
    Polk Audio Monitor 10A's :cool:

    It's not that I'm insensitive, I just don't care.. :D
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • cfrizz
    cfrizz Posts: 13,415
    edited January 2009
    Bite the bullet & get the XPA-5 and be done with that particular upgrade all of your speakers will thank you.

    They will have all the power they need whenever they need it. Your ears will give out before the amp or the speakers do!
    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
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter