CurtPalme.com Home Theater Forum

WanMan · Joined: 19 Mar 2006 Posts: 10270

I am thinking of pulling the plastic out of my wallet and getting two Emotiva XPA-5's. Kind of hard to beat the price considering what you get, but since I don't know of anyone personally that has been using them--someone I know is planning to buy them--I figured I'd ask around.

Also thinking of trying a pair of their Ultra Sub 12's.

Nashou66 · Joined: 12 Jan 2007 Posts: 16171 Location: West Seneca NY

Where have you been for over two weeks!!!

Athanasios

ecrabb · Posted: Sun Jul 04, 2010 11:25 pm Post subject:

Two weeks? He hasn't posted in over a month! Welcome back, Wan! Wink

A guy I know switched from an older Outlaw to an XPA-5, and he really liked his. Plenty of power, clean, well-built. They seem like a hell of a value to me. If I didn't already have my Crown's, I'd probably go with Emotiva.

Why a pair? Bi-amping? What speakers?

You might be able to do better than a pair of the Emotiva subs, though. My M&K's are pretty similar subs, and while they're nice and clean for music, the deep bass is really lacking for movies... A sealed 12 just won't go deep enough, and so neither will a pair.

Check out Elemental Designs... For about the same price, as the pair of Emotivas, consider a single A5-350... It's going to dig a lot deeper than the Emotivas will... Way better for movies. In-room, you'll probably have usable bass down into the 15-18hz ballpark.

http://www.edesignaudio.com/product_info.php?cPath=2_41&products_id=618

SC

WanMan · Joined: 19 Mar 2006 Posts: 10270

SC, I wonder how that compares to the Paradigm PW-2200 I have. I used the PW in a 12x14 room from 2003-2007 and then initial popping-On sound it made (not a nice thing to hear, but considered 'normal' back then by 'digm) deteriorated into an almost continuous micro-popping condition when any audio signal was sent to it. Most unfortunate.

The PW (and lower PS) lines are discontinued at Paradigm and they have not yet replied with the 'appropriate' replacement series. Not sure I want to drop another $700-800 on another Paradigm subwoofer. I am sure their better stuff is more reliable, but just not in the budget for now.

I am still using my Paradigm Reference Studio 100's, ADP surrounds, and CC. I thought they were v1 (version 1), but I just looked and they are v2. Anyway, these things were never properly powered, which is why upon enlightenment of Emotiva I am looking to drop some dough.

I know I'll need a new processors as my current Elite VSX45TX is also from 2002. What will be interesting is getting a less costly AVR to handle rear-channel amplification only. But as I now lean less against Emotiva for the sub, I know nothing of ED, and little additional on what to consider. I'm open to B-stock, but in speakers/subwoofers Atlanta isn't much of a flee market.

greg_mitch · Joined: 03 May 2006 Posts: 5320

garyfritz · Joined: 08 Apr 2006 Posts: 12088 Location: Fort Collins, CO

$200 for something that replaces TWO MFW-15's!? You have my attention! Tell us more!

ecrabb · Posted: Mon Jul 05, 2010 11:31 pm Post subject:

As usual, your follow-up post has me even more confused than the first, Wan... Wink

So if you're going to use a new AVR to power the surrounds, and you're using a powered sub (or subs) then I'm even more confounded why you'd need a pair of XPA-5's... Why not a single XPA-3 into your LCR's? Or, assuming the Studio 100's are biampable, two XPA-3's?

First, are you going 5.1? 6.1? 7.1?

As for the subs... I've never heard the Paradigm... But, take a look at Craigsub's old ranking thread...
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=768150

Almost every high-performance sub is going to use at least a 15", if not an 18" driver (possibly multiple drivers), and it's going to be in a pretty large cabinet, and probably ported. You just can't get great deep bass without a big driver in a large cabinet (or going to an IB sub).

Your Paradigm has a bigger amp than my old M&K's, but Paradigm is just using the power along with equalization to try to overcome the lack of low-frequency extension of a small sealed cabinet. So, your Paradigm probably has a tad more usable deep bass, but not that much.

If you want something really musical, the Paradigm is probably more than adequate... But, if you want to FEEL the bass, and have it shake your guts when the big machines walk, or when explosions go off, a 12" sub (or a pair of them) aren't going to cut it.

Considering you're looking at separates amps, it seems like you're trying to accomplish something performance-wise, but stay within a reasonable budget... Given that, I'd use a mid-range AVR to do your decoding and HDMI switching and to power your surrounds, an XPA-3 to power the Paradigm LCR's, and at least something like an eD A5-350 for a sub.

Take a look at the A5-350...
http://www.edesignaudio.com/product_info.php?products_id=618

The Epik Empire...
http://www.epiksubwoofers.com/empire.html

The HSU VTF Mk 3...
http://www.hsuresearch.com/products/vtf-3-mk3.html

All are similar price range, but a totally different performance league than your Paradigm, my M&K's, or similar 12" subs in sealed enclosures.

Or, if you have the time, tools, space, etc. then there are numerous DIY routes like Greg's. That's a whole other thing...

SC

WanMan · Joined: 19 Mar 2006 Posts: 10270

greg_mitch · Joined: 03 May 2006 Posts: 5320

greg_mitch · Joined: 03 May 2006 Posts: 5320

Hey SC...which sub did eD bring to your place at your meet awhile back? You might have had your sub level a bit hot because it bottomed a few times but it was producing some nice clean bass. I thought it was one of their smaller offerings...like the a2 something or other.

Wan -

If you just want a lot of power...it seems like most online retailers are clearing out their old stock of the Crown XLS amps. You can get an XLS 802 for $300 and probably a few coupons to be had to reduce that a bit...(try SALUTE).

That is 500 W/ch @ 8 ohms...should fry those Paradigms pretty easily.

ecrabb · Posted: Tue Jul 06, 2010 1:28 am Post subject:

WanMan · Joined: 19 Mar 2006 Posts: 10270

I went ahead and bought two XPA-5's. Will continue to research and debate (with myself) on the woofer.

WanMan · Joined: 19 Mar 2006 Posts: 10270

Well, they arrived. FedEx crew wanted sympathy because the boxes were 'heavy'. I was thinking, work smarter, not harder. Time to rattle the roof.

WanMan · Joined: 19 Mar 2006 Posts: 10270

Pic

ecrabb · Posted: Fri Jul 09, 2010 2:38 pm Post subject:

Sweet!!! Can't wait to hear what you think!

OK, you STILL haven't answered my question, Wan... Maybe third time's a charm... Wink

You're biamping, then?

SC

WanMan · Joined: 19 Mar 2006 Posts: 10270

Oh, yes. I wish to bi-amp the front three channels. Either that or I am in need of some additional channels. Smile

ecrabb · Posted: Fri Jul 09, 2010 7:19 pm Post subject:

Wow... You should have power to burn. Should be clean to levels WAY beyond what you'll ever normally listen to.

Still, with two 5-channel amps, you'll have 4 unused channels... Why not use those to power the 4 surrounds and go with a prepro with balanced outputs like the Integra DHC-80.1 or 40.1? That would be perfect with the XPA-5's! That will also keep things much cleaner looking and sounding than using an AVR to drive the surrounds. The amp and speaker cabling will look SWEET!

SC

greg_mitch · Joined: 03 May 2006 Posts: 5320

ecrabb · Posted: Fri Jul 09, 2010 11:41 pm Post subject:

You're right, Greg... Keep forgetting that. Never mind.

So, yeah - you'd need an 80.1 or a used DHC-9.9 like mine to get balanced XLRs. An 80.1 or 9.9 running those two Emotivas would be bad-ass.

SC

EDIT - There's a 9.9 on the 'gon right now for $1200. Too much, IMHO... Might be able to deal on that a little.

greg_mitch · Joined: 03 May 2006 Posts: 5320