Comments on: How to: Double your home theater receiver's power

Today's receivers are jam-packed with features, the one thing they lack is power. Emotiva Audio's XPA power amplifier can boost your home theater's sound.

[popthis]

I have two XPA-3s and love them. You can get one XPA-3 and have it run your front 3 channels and use the amplifier for the back or I use one XPA-3 for the front left and right and the other for the center and backs. It's also easy to hook up the 12v triggers to your receiver to have it shut off the amps when you shut down your receiver.

[peterwhite]

Great post, good tip. Thanks

[clarkdb17]

Steve,

You think you could get around to doing a review on Emotiva's Speakers? I'm wondering how they compare to the Aperions.

[bbambiggeorge]

does it handle 7.1 surround sound

[knucklehead90]

I have the Emotiva UPA-7 7 channel amp. With 125wpc ALL channels driven it definitely can do 7.1.

[ratmice]

well, the 7 channel amp does, as long as your receiver has 7.1 pre-outs.

[pharmd]

Great review!

[jeezmo]

But Steve.. Why spend for amps in a integrated receiver then, Are there pre amp only multi-channel systems? I know there are for stereo systems.

[knucklehead90]

There are, I use the Onkyo SC885 7.1 preamp processor. A very nice unit.

[hk2000]

You're absolutely right. this was meant for those who already have a receiver, but if you're in the market for a receiver, look for the Onkyo sc885 - under $800. from accessories for less. I got one, and it sounds great.

[blppt]

Harman/Kardon and NAD are two mainstream receiver brands who actually deliver the rated power in most of their receivers.

http://www.geocities.com/area51/hollow/3401/ratevsac.htm

[V3audiodesign]

You are right... But you would have to AT LEAST use a NAD T 775 HD to get a true 100 per channel and it would run you $3000 to do so. This amp at $800 is a bargain... if it actually is a quality product, which I have yet to confirm.. or deny.

[stepyourgameup]

I have an XPA 3 and I love it.

[Josh BSN]

I own the xpa-5, I run it with a Denon AVR-2106 through to my Klipsch RF-83s, which are highly sensitive speakers. I couldn't believe the difference going from using the Denon's integrated amp to this beast!

[mjbg666]

Hey! Thanks to YOU, Mr. Guttenberg, I just placed an order for the UPA7 -- told the sales guy to send you a personal thank you for your article on this product! Only downside is, I have to wait THREE WHOLE DAYS before the amp gets to me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[knucklehead90]

Drop in at the Emotiva Lounge and read some of the reviews posted about that amp.

http://emotivalounge.proboards.com/index.cgi?

[mjbg666]

Hey Knucklehead90,
Thanks for that reference. Read the posts, oddly enough most of the hissing noises were connected to HK receivers, which I used to have (a really good one), and which also gave my connection noise problems. Hopefully with my Pioneer VSX92TXH, this will not be an issue. BUT, I will certainly be on the lookout for any hissing and will make sure the amp is NOT the culprit or ... back it goes! Thanks for the heads-up!

[knucklehead90]

I'd like to see Steve - or anyone else - do a review on Emotiva's latest speakers. I have the ERT towers and they are a great sounding speaker. I also use the ERD-1 surrounds, all driven by the Emotiva UPA-7/Onkyo SC885 combo. For under $5K I don't think you can do better than this.

[Daniel514bama]

To those who didn't know the truth about most receivers until this article, welcome to the world of better quality audio! You have to be careful though because it's a slippery slope once you experience a fantastic upgrade that you'll find yourself hooked like me. And if you fall down that slope and get hooked you'll start looking into other upgrades like bi-wiring, bi-amping, upgrading cables, then new speakers... etc. I'm be facetious of course but you get the idea. Separate amplification is a world of difference for many systems and you'll find yourself drawn in if you have the slightest interest in audio as a hobby.

I had such a hard time explaining to friends the benefits of a quality dedicated amplifier. That is until they come over and hear the difference for them selves. I have a pioneer elite receiver that is no slouch, but it can't hold a candle to my Sunfire Cinema Grand (400W per channel @ 4ohm). If you're now interested in a separate amp, don't just jump on the Emotiva because of one recommendation. Go get your read on in some audio forums like Audioholics or Polk and learn about the many fine amplifier companies out there like B&K, Adcom, Krell, Sunfire, Parasound, Marantz and Earthquake (my next amp). My last point is after you've done your research and visited your local hifi shop to do some listening, buy used equipment (try audiogon.com) from audiophiles because any true enthusiast takes very good care of their stuff and you'll get it for about half price. Then when you want to upgrade again you can resell for the same price IF you take care of it. Cheers

[V3audiodesign]

"My last point is after you've done your research and visited your local hifi shop to do some listening, buy used equipment.." you mean after you wasted hours of the guys time who owns a hi-fi shop and is trying to keep his doors open to "enlighten" people like you?

[Daniel514bama]

V3audiodesign,

You're missing the whole point here. This article (and my post) is an attempt to educate newbs to the wonders of higher end audio. The problem is when people are just getting started they typically can't afford to go plunk down a huge wad of cash on a NEW amp. They need some hand holding and in time (if you?re a good sales person) they will buy some NEW equipment from you in the future once you've built a good relationship with them and they get really hooked. That's how if worked for me. I bought used to start with years ago, but these days I don't have a problem buying new especially since I now have better income and also a friend at a local hifi shop who likes to see me coming. So yes, I think you're looking at this wrong. You should be happy to see visitors because if they don't buy something now, they might in the future if they pick up that you love audio... and not just a buck!

[dktran31]

that thing weighs as much as 3 normal receivers but it is surely worth the price, i would love to purchase one and hook it up to my denon

[jscott418]

No doubt, I have a AVR2106 from Denon and you would think with efficient speakers like Polks that it would be enough. But No, it seems in today's receivers the amplifier gets last thought when designing.
Even though Denon does provide a pretty good transformer. It has a lot more to do these days. Makes a good powered sub woofer even more important to take some of that stress away from the receivers amplifier. I wish I could afford a separate amplifier. I guess a look on ebay is in order.

[Daniel514bama]

If you can't swing a big 5 channel amp right away, look for a used 3 channel amp and drive your surrounds with your receiver. It works great since the majority of sound comes from the left, right and center channels anyway.

[scag2112]

How does this hook up to your receiver? This is new to me

thanks

[AdamB5000]

See the "pre-out" part of the receiver he circled in the picture above? You run RCA-style cables from each 'port' on the receiver to the corresponding input on the amp (RF -> RF, C -> C, etc). Plug the amp into the wall. Connect the speaker wire from the amp to the speakers. Boom. Power.

I'd love to roll with an amp, but I think my Denon 1802 only has pre-outs for fronts, center and sub. I guess I could do what was mentioned in an above comment and run the fronts/center from an external amp and power my surrounds from the Denon. But my how I'd love a pre/pro with a five channel amp. Mmmmmm.

[HayesMyers]

Denon? Polk? I prefer Mirage myself. but who's to say. My fav sub is 200 watts, (800peak) with 2 8" woofers. insane bass and insane jazz and and..well. yeah. whatever you do consume.

[Nuggits63]

Great post! I've been looking for Emotiva amps for quite some time.

I own a pair of Klipsch RF-63's and I was thinking about purchasing an Emotiva XPA-2; what do you guys think?

[steve u]

In the USA there is a Federal Trade Commission(FTC) regulation on Amplifier power ratings stemming from the inflated ratings of the 60's.
Simply stated: "All channels driven into 8 ohms (unless the Amp will not drive 8 ohm) for 8 hours continuous in a normal room". No refrigeration (unless shipped that way), breeze boxes blowing onto the UUT. The power claim must include the rated distortion.. There can be additional claims for alternate values, but the basic 8 ohm claim must be true