maseline_98 Posted June 23, 2008 Share Posted June 23, 2008 I've been waiting around to get into the HDMI game for sound options. I currently have the RF-7 setup being powered by my Marantz SR-8400. It does an okay job, but I know I can get a lot more out of them with some new equipment(plus, it's always fun to buy new stuff :oP). Having said that, I'm looking for an inexpensive option to help me along with this dilemma and came across Emotiva. I was looking at the XPA-5 for power, but am afraid that the non-discrete amps in it might not do the job. Does anybody else have any other inexpensive options? Also, I was wondering how this holds up the Rotels? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jzoz01 Posted June 24, 2008 Share Posted June 24, 2008 Budget? If you're looking for bang for the buck I'd look at used. Sunfire is a great choice and you can pick up a 200w x5 Cinema Grand for about $1k on audiogon. They work great with Klipsch. The RF-7 may be efficient, but it'll dip down to well below 3 ohm in certain frequencies. The Sunfires handle low impedience like a champ. I ran Sunfire on my RF-7s and on my Logans and couldn't have been happier. Edit: You can pick up used Rotel fairly cheap as well, but personally I've never been too impressed with them. I realise they are very popular, but to me they've always kinda sounded like every other Japanese amp. Cheap power, but kinda bland. YMMV though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TNRabbit Posted June 24, 2008 Share Posted June 24, 2008 I second the Sunfire option. Outlaw Audio is also highly recommended and apparently an EXCELLENT bargain. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bhenry Posted June 24, 2008 Share Posted June 24, 2008 I would check out B&K, too. Great equipment AND made right here in the USA! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SWL Posted June 24, 2008 Share Posted June 24, 2008 Inexpensive..........Pro-amps like Crown, QSC etc. will get the job done with RF-7's. I power my 7's with Crown amps and they rock. [Y] YMMV [] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arky Posted June 24, 2008 Share Posted June 24, 2008 7's like clean power, search for old threads. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CECAA850 Posted June 25, 2008 Share Posted June 25, 2008 Inexpensive..........Pro-amps like Crown, QSC etc. will get the job done with RF-7's. I power my 7's with Crown amps and they rock. YMMV Ditto. QSC is a great match as well. Just be sure to put quiet fans in! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doobie2 Posted June 27, 2008 Share Posted June 27, 2008 I bought a Emotiva LPA-1 (B stock with 5 year warrennty) 7 channnel for $400....Great sound for the $. I went entry level to 'try them, but plan on upgrading with another Emotiva. Check their forum, they don't have many unhappy customers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Youthman Posted June 27, 2008 Moderators Share Posted June 27, 2008 I too have considered Emotiva. Seems like they have a great product. I am considering the XPA-5 Multichannel Amp. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gilbertma Posted June 27, 2008 Share Posted June 27, 2008 I just finalized my pre-order for the Emotiva amps XPA-2 (250 x2) and XPA-3 (200 x3) today as I received an email saying they had arrived and were shipping next week. I too had considered the XPA-5 but I wanted that little bit of extra headroom for the mains. One drawback to the XPA-2/-3 combo is the combined weight of almost 150 lbs! When you have 90 lb mains, 70 lb surrounds and a +200 lb sub it becomes just another heavy piece of the puzzle. Don't forget free shipping on Emotiva stuff until July 15th, I'm probably saving almost a hundred bucks from shipping on those heavy amps. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
InVeNtOr Posted June 27, 2008 Share Posted June 27, 2008 let me know how the Emotiva 3 channel amp works out. i may end up getting the same thing. i am also thinking about the acurus 200x3, but the Emotiva looks a little better, balanced inputs too! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Youthman Posted June 27, 2008 Moderators Share Posted June 27, 2008 That's gonna be a sweet setup gilbert. Be sure to post a review of the amps once you get it all setup. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maseline_98 Posted July 8, 2008 Author Share Posted July 8, 2008 I second the Sunfire option. Outlaw Audio is also highly recommended and apparently an EXCELLENT bargain. What models should I be checking out for the Sunfire and Outlaw?(new/used/discontinued)? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fish Posted July 8, 2008 Share Posted July 8, 2008 I had an Outlaw 7125,really nice amp with lotsa power.I had a Rotel 1075 and 1095,very nice and powerful(keep value Very well),the 1075 was a lot like my lpa1,not really any better.I would say I prefered the Outlaw over the Emo by 5%,at twice the price though.I also had a Parasound(my favorite)157 watts per ch but 3x the price of the Emo 10% better,all I should have ever needed.I've owned many Carver amps and a Sunfire sub so I have no doubt the Sunfire is a good option.I had a BK 2ch amp,again pretty nice,not better than the rest but similar. The point I guess is most of these solid amps sound good,and very similar in the same $ range.After having 500 watts per channel hooked up for a short time,I decided 125 watts would really do all I needed until a real bargain came along.Double your money it can get better,double your power,it can get better.I've been very happy with my lpa1,soon to be the 5 ch X 200 watt version when their prepros are ready.They can easily compete with any I've owned mentioned,for quite a bit less,well worth an audition at least. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gilbertma Posted July 9, 2008 Share Posted July 9, 2008 I just posted this over at the Emotiva Lounge: Just got my XPA-2 and XPA-3 yesterday......... holy cr@p the XPA-2 seriously rocks with the RF-7's! I have my Denon running as the pre amp until the UMC comes out and I got it up to about -15 on the volume knob and it was incredibly loud and still clear with lots more left to go (I think the Denon will go up to +18). In another thread someone mentioned that the XPA-2 was at another level higher than the XPA-5 and I found that to be the case with the XPA-3 also. This is not to say that there is anything wrong with the XPA-3, it's still a fantastic amp and I started out yesterday by hooking up the mains and the center to it for an initial test drive and was very pleased. But then I put the mains on the XPA-2 and it was like blasting off on a rocketship, very nice work Emotiva on producing such a great amp. Someone also mentioned that their LEDs were just barely moving on their XPA-2, I was getting mine to move about halfway through the range at -15(very loud) so I have lots of headroom and the amp was not even getting hot(just warm). The RF-7's are notorious for being too bright with certain amps but I found the highs to be perfect for my liking and the bass really tightened up nicely. Great amp for these speakers, I'm really glad I spent the extra $649 for the XPA-2/-3 over the XPA-5 which was my initial plan. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Audio Flynn Posted July 9, 2008 Share Posted July 9, 2008 http://www.sherwoodusa.com/nc_cat_hts.html I have the 1999 vintage of these and have never had a problem. I would buy the new preamp and find a used 5 channel power amp. DAC sound has very little jitter so I have had no shortfalls in perfromance to encourage me to upgrade. I have friends who have been very pleased with Outlaw as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.