Should I pick up an Emotiva UPA-2?

[Dr_jitsu]

Its ridiculously cheap (clearance saled at $299) and I have been very pleased w/ my XPA-5.

I am running my front stage off the XPA-5 (Klipsch RF-7 mains, rc 64 center and RF-82 wides).

I am upgrading my rear wides to RF-82's and going w/ rf-52's as surrounds. I was planning to use my Onkyo TX NR 3008 to power the rear wides and surrounds, but am wondering if the sq will be improved w/ an additional amp.

The Onk is rated at 135 watts in a 9.2 configuration, but we all know avr's never bench at the advertised numbers. The Klipsch are efficient, but I am thinking I might do well to pick up the UPA.

What do the experts here think?

 

[DonH50]

I think not unless you are just dying to spend the money. Running only rears, and Klipsch at that, your Onkyo should have plenty of power. Onkyo has a decent rep for keeping reasonable power to all channels.

That said, I wonder if you shouldn't run your side surrounds off the XPA instead of the wides? I don't have them so don't really know; how much signal content is in the wides compared to the surrounds?

 

[Dr_jitsu]

Thanks Don...In a bench test by audioholics the 5008 (which has a better amp than my 3008) produced about 70 watts per channel when driving 5 channels. I figured that the 3008 should produce a true 70 watts for 4 channels.

 

[DonH50]

From 70 W to 125 W is 2.5 dB headroom, hardly worth it if power is the only consideration. In this case, I'd use the money for music...

 

[Dr_jitsu]

I get music for free....just kidding, I would never illegally download music. From Pirate Bay to U torrent. And then burn it to disk using media Monkey. Not me. No. Never.

 

[DonH50]

As a musician, and despite the paltry payment the artists receive, I have never owned illegal music.

 

[Phelonious Ponk]

Other than hearing people declare it "midfi" and all that implies...I've never heard a bad thing said about Emotiva gear. It seems to be very well-respected by those who have actually experienced it. With that said, I suspect your Onkyo is doing the job just fine.

Tim

 

[NorthStar]

At that price, just buy a stack of them, and get ready for your friend's Christmas presents.

Not only you'll gain much more love and respect, but you'll live better for it as well.

Emotiva is the Real Value Deal!

* Did you know that the UMC-1 is on clearance right now for only $499!
...I mean, this is an audiophile pre/pro for crying out loud!
=> http://www.emotiva.com/umc1.shtm

Cheers,
Bob

P.S. Your Onkyo 3008 receiver is just fine to power all your surrounds and even more...
And sound quality wise, that would be up to you in your own setup to experiment.
...After all, each loudspeaker has the perfect amplifier match!

* Buy some Blu-rays and SACDs instead with the money.

 

[FrantzM]

Hi

I have heard there were some problems with the software on the UMC-1 can someone comfirm this? THe features are good and he price is riht there .An interesting product

 

[NorthStar]

Hi

I have heard there were some problems with the software on the UMC-1 can someone comfirm this? THe features are good and he price is riht there .An interesting product

Almost all fixed now!

* At that low price there is simply NOTHING ON THIS PLANET that can even approach it!

---> There is a new firmware update coming real soon that will take care of the last small remaining issues of the original UMC-1 surround sound processor.

- A new UMC-1 (with HDMI version 1.4 for 3D) is the new kid on the block ($699).

- A higher end XMC-1 pre/pro ($999 or so) is coming real soon too; perhaps in the 4th quarter, or the first quarter of next year.
> It has eleven (11) HDMI Inputs (v. 1.4)!!!

*** I invite you to visit the Emotiva Website and also the Lounge and gather some more info. Great forums with a great bunch of people.
...And a great company too. Right up there with Oppo.

Also, their products come with a 5-year warranty.
And if you buy the UMC-1, you'll receive a 40% discount this is fraud towards your next upgrade pre/pro!

Now, tell me where you can find a Better deal than that! That is What's Real Best!

________________________

Normally I let people free to explore on their own the tremendous value and exceptional performance of many (most if not all) Emotiva products; but this time I give you the direct link to their Website.
=> http://www.emotiva.com/

And if you need more, just visit their forums; the Emotiva Lounge.
=> http://emotivalounge.proboards.com/index.cgi

 

[Dr_jitsu]

The UMC has a 32 bit dac....I am tempted to sell my 3008 to my friend, pick up the UMC and 2 UPA2's (so I can still run 9 speakers...oh wait, the UMC-1 is 7.1). Of course I could no longer watch 3d, but that has been a disappointment anyway.

 

[NorthStar]

Take a walk on the wild side: keep your 3008 and just add nine (9) Emotiva XPA-1 monoblocks!

 

[FrantzM]

Almost all fixed now!

* At that low price there is simply NOTHING ON THIS PLANET that can even approach it!

---> There is a new firmware update coming real soon that will take care of the last small remaining issues of the original UMC-1 surround sound processor.

- A new UMC-1 (with HDMI version 1.4 for 3D) is the new kid on the block ($699).

- A higher end XMC-1 pre/pro ($999 or so) is coming real soon too; perhaps in the 4th quarter, or the first quarter of next year.
> It has eleven (11) HDMI Inputs (v. 1.4)!!!

*** I invite you to visit the Emotiva Website and also the Lounge and gather some more info. Great forums with a great bunch of people.
...And a great company too. Right up there with Oppo.

Also, their products come with a 5-year warranty.
And if you buy the UMC-1, you'll receive a 40% discount this is fraud towards your next upgrade pre/pro!

Now, tell me where you can find a Better deal than that! That is What's Real Best!

________________________

Normally I let people free to explore on their own the tremendous value and exceptional performance of many (most if not all) Emotiva products; but this time I give you the direct link to their Website.
=> http://www.emotiva.com/

And if you need more, just visit their forums; the Emotiva Lounge.
=> http://emotivalounge.proboards.com/index.cgi

I was about to post the same. Got this info fro the AVS forum ...Companies that are producing such cost effective products should be commanded.

 

[NorthStar]

Indeed Frantz!

Emotiva and Oppo are all about True Value, Real World Performance, Quality Build, and Customer Support.

Emotiva with their five-year warranty is truly unique.

Of course there is Bryston, but Emotiva products cost peanuts compared to Bryston.

 

[Dr_jitsu]

Take a walk on the wild side: keep your 3008 and just add nine (9) Emotiva XPA-1 monoblocks!

LOL....I already have the XPA-5, so 2 will do

 

[Dr_jitsu]

Indeed Frantz!

Emotiva and Oppo are all about True Value, Real World Performance, Quality Build, and Customer Support.

Emotiva with their five-year warranty is truly unique.

Of course there is Bryston, but Emotiva products cost peanuts compared to Bryston.

My first XPA-5 was DOA, and the support was fantastic....the guy on the other end was polite, funny, and had another unit out to me w/ in a few days. No fuss no muss.

However the service I got from Oppo was borderline abusive. The tech kept saying "Oh my God, Oh my God!!!" every 10 seconds when we were trying to sort out the problems I had w/ the unit. I finally sent it back in and it was a bad hdmi. I posted about it on AVS and (surprise surprise...they sell Oppo) got a ban threat.

 

[NorthStar]

Thanks for sharing that Doctor!

* That is very bad from AVS Forum; I don't post there anymore...

 

[Dr_jitsu]

I keep to the Klipsch sub forum where people are pretty nice.

 

[NorthStar]

...And here at WBF.

 

[Dr_jitsu]

But of course