[Rouslanbel]

How exactly do you have this set up? Oppo to preamp to speakers?  How then do you watch a movie with the same front speakers?  Forgive the ignorance.
Thanks,
Robert

Oppo could serve as a preamp and has dedicated XLR outputs (used for my main speakers for both music and movies). You could also used the rest of the outputs (RCA only) for surround speakers (5.1 or 7.1 setup). http://www.oppodigital.com/blu-ray-bdp-105/blu-ray-BDP-105-Images.aspx

[Rouslanbel]

Maybe I'll get there someday   I'm going to try the CIA 500w monos and the Emotiva 500w monos first.  (I'm going to spend all the $$$$$ on the speakers first, not that $5,000 for a pair of amps is cheap)  I may dip into the XPA-1L as well.  Rouslanbel, let me know if you do get the XPA-1Ls and how they sound, I'm just worried there is not enough "Umph" to really handle the 7s.  I have been told 200W is nice, but when you up the ante to 500W, it's a near religious experience.

Robert

Emotiva usually rate their amps very conservatively. If you look at their test results (they publish them too http://shop.emotiva.com/collections/amplifiers/products/xpa-1l)

XPA-1L can provide > 350Watts of RMS into 8 Ohms speakers (rated at 250Watts into 8 Ohms and 500 Watts into 4 ohms).

Now, your speakers (the same as mine) are 6 ohms - the conservative rating should be around  375 watts at least.


If this is not enough, there is bigger brother  XPA-1 (1,000 watts RMS @ 4 ohm / 500 watts RMS @ 8 ohm ) for $999 MSRP or even bigger beast from their reference series -

XPR -1 ( 1,750 watts into 4 Ohms / 1000 watts; into 8 Ohms) for $1499 MSRP

[Malbec Man]

Thanks for all your replies.  I really appreciate the help, even if I can't implement it for another 2 months or so (I know, I make most "type A" people look "type z").  It has been said many times that CIAudio amps are magical with VS speakers.  Albert could have chosen any brand of amp to power the VS-11mk2s, but he chose them.  I can't think of a much better complement.  The Emotiva amps (specifically the XPA-1 and XPR-1) have really struck a tune with many magazine reviewers.  They are also less than half for the same power or just over half for double.  I'm really going to have to try both in the end I think.

I am going to have to run XLR balanced cables to the amps regardless due to the distance (~50ft) from component cabinet in the back of the room to the amps in the front.  They travel through a PVC pipe in the walls that also carries cables for the surround and subwoofer, so I assume over this distance balanced cables are the way to go.  Both amps have balanced inputs, but the CIAudio is not a balanced amp and the Emotiva is, would this factor into the decision at all?  Or are there good shielded RCA cables that can make that run without the sound suffering?

THE 7's LOVE POWER.  GOOD, CLEAN POWER.  They are not 94 db sensitive - only the top module, maybe, is that high.  The bass cabinet is in the high 80's.  You can't begin to compare the 7's to any of the 4's or 5's for "driveability".  I drove these speakers with 1 300.1 VAC amp, then 2 as monos.  Nowhere near as responsive as now, driving them with a pair of VAC Statement 450's.  You need not only power, but current to control the bass drivers well.

If this is not enough, there is bigger brother  XPA-1 (1,000 watts RMS @ 4 ohm / 500 watts RMS @ 8 ohm ) for $999 MSRP or even bigger beast from their reference series - XPR -1 ( 1,750 watts into 4 Ohms / 1000 watts; into 8 Ohms) for $1499 MSRP

I'm taking both of your advice to heart.  Albert himself suggested there was a significant difference between using the CIAudio D-200 and the D-500.  I assume the CIAudio amps qualify as "good, clean power" or VS wouldn't have used them in the first place.  Are Emotiva amps considered "good, clean power", or do they loose some of that beauty when driven like a beast?

[roscoeiii]

If you are going to be in Atlanta, find dealers who will let you audition a number of amps with the speakers. And I would talk with Albert about what he recommends (and about whether the 7s are actually 97 dB or not).

But ultimately, audition, audition, audition.

Power is not always the be-all, end-all. But know what your speakers need. While 4s are not 7s, I found that the 90w Rogue tube amp was far superior to my 250w Butler hybrid. But the Butler was better with my SP Tech Minis. Neither speaker was driving the amps anywhere near clipping.

[JackD201]

Hi Malbec Man,

Just for the sake of clarity, do you mean VR-7 HSE or VR-7 SE?

HSE (image couresy of ceedee)



SE (image courtesy of violetmachan)

[Malbec Man]

Hi Malbec Man,

Just for the sake of clarity, do you mean VR-7 HSE or VR-7 SE?

Sorry about that, I never actually said did I?  I'm specifically looking at VR-7SEmk2 speakers.  The technical data on the 7semk2 is they are 94db efficient in the M/T module and mid 80s on the bass module.  Jack, thanks for the pictures!  A simple mind like mine can use all the help it can get!

Robert

[roscoeiii]

Can you post the specs on these speakers? Or a link to those specs? They will help with recommendations.

[Malbec Man]

I have spent the last 3 hours looking for specs on VR-7 SE MKII and cannot find any.  I did find the MKI version's owners manual and it does indeed say 94db efficient.  There must be something to be said about the amplifiers response time I would imagine (even if we are talking microseconds).  The faster it can move the driver the better, but then you also need control.

Robert

[Gopher]

My father drives a pair of early VS design speakers (Clearfield Continentals) with an Emotiva amp and he loves it...   I don't care for his system matching or sense of synergy though and far preferred those speakers driven with Plinius.

[neekomax]

My father drives a pair of early VS design speakers (Clearfield Continentals) with an Emotiva amp and he loves it...   I don't care for his system matching or sense of synergy though and far preferred those speakers driven with Plinius.

I heard that system, I think! 

[roscoeiii]

I have spent the last 3 hours looking for specs on VR-7 SE MKII and cannot find any.  I did find the MKI version's owners manual and it does indeed say 94db efficient.  There must be something to be said about the amplifiers response time I would imagine (even if we are talking microseconds).  The faster it can move the driver the better, but then you also need control.

Robert

Not clear on your connection to response time. I'd get in touch with Von Schweikert and see if you can track the specs down. Or maybe someone here has a manual that they can send you.

[azhtnut]

I recently purchased a XPR-2 for the lower end of a bi-amp of my upgraded VR4jrs (with VR4SR MK3 drivers and crossovers).   The XPR-2 has 5 hours or so on it , but so far I find it to to be boomy and lacking the tightness and punch that I am looking for.  I am hoping a 50 or 100 hour burn in will help. 

It is replacing a McIntosh MC-402 for cost reasons and is paired with a MC-275 tube on midrange and high end.  Right now the MC-275 is outclassing the Emotiva by a wide margin, which shouldn't be too surprising.

Hopefully the Emotiva improves in the remaining 3 weeks of trade-in period or it will likely go back to be replaced by another Mac amp.

Marty

[roscoeiii]

I recently purchased a XPR-2 for the lower end of a bi-amp of my upgraded VR4jrs (with VR4SR MK3 drivers and crossovers).   The XPR-2 has 5 hours or so on it , but so far I find it to to be boomy and lacking the tightness and punch that I am looking for.  I am hoping a 50 or 100 hour burn in will help. 

It is replacing a McIntosh MC-402 for cost reasons and is paired with a MC-275 tube on midrange and high end.  Right now the MC-275 is outclassing the Emotiva by a wide margin, which shouldn't be too surprising.

Hopefully the Emotiva improves in the remaining 3 weeks of trade-in period or it will likely go back to be replaced by another Mac amp.

Marty

Hmm, keep us informed. On the bass modules, I am surprised that the XPR-2 is impacting the sound in that way. I'd think it'd be a solid bass module amp. Look forward to hearing if this changes over time.

[SundayNiagara]

I recently purchased a XPR-2 for the lower end of a bi-amp of my upgraded VR4jrs (with VR4SR MK3 drivers and crossovers).   The XPR-2 has 5 hours or so on it , but so far I find it to to be boomy and lacking the tightness and punch that I am looking for.  I am hoping a 50 or 100 hour burn in will help. 

It is replacing a McIntosh MC-402 for cost reasons and is paired with a MC-275 tube on midrange and high end.  Right now the MC-275 is outclassing the Emotiva by a wide margin, which shouldn't be too surprising.

Hopefully the Emotiva improves in the remaining 3 weeks of trade-in period or it will likely go back to be replaced by another Mac amp.

Marty

Beware of amp input sensitivities!

[Malbec Man]

I'm surprised of the "boomy-ness" as well.  I know it can't be the speakers.  Usually solid state is "tight" or "harsh" if anything, and by looking at the measurements on the Emotiva site, the XPA-2s are fairly flat in their response.  I'd be very interested to know how the sound develops over time.  I still have some time before I make the purchase of my own amps, so your experience here is invaluable.  I know I can try out any number of amps and send them back, but I would at least like to know a general consensus before I get something others know will not match well.

Roscoeiii - by amp response time I was referring to the amps ability to receive the audio signal, amplify/convert the sin wave, and send it back to the speakers.  I know this in on the order of microseconds, but in general amps with shorter signal pathways produce more "dynamic" sound.  The amp needs to be able to send a signal to the driver much faster than the driver can react.  If not, the driver can move unwontedly resulting in some amount of unwanted sound.  In the case of a bass driver, this would sound "boomy" or "muddy" sound. 

[violetmachan]

Robert

the VSA vr 7se in original form is 89db and with mods and upgrades.......mark 2 level one and level two...........goes down to 86db.....i may be wrong !....even after living with the 7se for 7 years and taking it to the limit of it's upgrade status

it's probably the best floorstanding full range passive speaker design  of Albert ...provided you run them with clean high current amps ......the bd's don't make much difference

I ran them with levinson 33h, Lamm ml 1.1, long demo with the Dartzeel108.....and finally...... the tenors 350m with tenor preamps ....the last combo do.really made them sing

activeviolet

[Toaster]

No experience with the power amps, but the XSP-1 preamp is even better than I expected, so the Emotiva stuff does seem to be high quality despite the relatively low prices.

[htradtk]

Just checked out the Emotiva web site, just as I thought, Designed in Nashville, TN  ; assembled in China.  Emotiva may be good stuff, keep our manufacturing here!

[Malbec Man]

It seems the Emotiva reviewers were correct with the XPS-1 pre-amp and members here seem to agree. . . I'll keep that in mind. 

Albert really loves the CIAudio gear, and I'm sure they are phenomenal (as well as being made in 'merica!).  I just wonder if the Emotiva XPR-1s are "good clean power".  For $5,000 I can have what may potentially be the finest solid state amps on planet Earth (CIA) pushing 500w (biwire) into each speaker . . . or for a mere $200 more I can have four (yes 4!) 1kw amps.  One for each bass and M/T module.  If the 7s will eat up whatever power you give them, would it not make sense to have each speaker module getting all the power it could ever use?  I am not wedded to either, just a thought.  Albert suggested against getting used Krell or Levinson amps as he feels a new pair of CIA at 500w would make you cry if you bought expensive used amplifiers first.  I also asked about Pass Labs and Plinius.  He felt the Pass Labs amps were good, but felt you would have to get up to their XA100.5s to get enough power to drive 7s, and at that level of cash, there were many other options better.  One of which was the Plinius, which he seemed to like very much.  I was looking at the specifically the SA-103, but if anything went wrong or needed tweaking, the shear cost of shipping 83lbs to New Zealand and back (not to mention not being able to listen to your speakers) make it a less attractive choice.  I have never heard a bad word about the Plinius, but Albert said if you don't look at it and just use your ears, the CIAudio sounds more neutral/true and is a better deal overall (they are made in CA and weigh MUCH less for shipping).

activeviolet - I was ogling over your amp pictures.  I have never seen an amp look that beautiful!  I have also never heard of Tenor until your post.  Makes the aforementioned CIA, Emotiva, Krell, Levinson, Pass, and Plinius look downright ugly!

[roscoeiii]

For $5,000 I can have what may potentially be the finest solid state amps on planet Earth (CIA)

That may be overstating things a bit much.

IIRC, those amps aren't even using the highest level Class D modules made by Hypex.

Don't get too caught up in the hype (and there is a lot of hype for the Hypex ncore, the class D module above what CI Audio uses). Try to listen to as much as possible. Find what you like that way. Preferably in your own home.