[Big Red Machine]

I plan on running my HT2-TLs with 2 UPA-1's to start.  350 into 4 ohms should be suffcient.  The price is slightly less than the XPA-2, and there are some pretty good owner "reviews" on the emo boards.

Wanna talk amps this weekend before you buy?

[HoosierInOhio]

Wanna talk amps this weekend before you buy?

I assume you mean at AKFest.  I doubt I'll be going now actually.  Was considering it but my GF hasn't been feeling so well lately and 6+ hours in the car won't help her at all.  I will just place my order over the phone for the speakers. 

As for amps, yeah, I haven't decided for sure yet, but there isn't a lot in the budget at this time for them.  I decided to go all in on the speakers, and get better amps later.

[K Shep]

I have seen a few people driving with XPA-2, but not with XPA-3. So wondering if there's a big differences there.

Recently, i've changed from Denon amp to Emotiva UMC-1. Although i can find better clarity and smooth-ness, i still find it lacking the 'sweet sexy' feel.

It also seems like there is not sufficient bass at certain tracks, so could this be due to insufficient power? I can't seems to get the 'kick' in bassy tracks.

ralfale,

I assume your Denon unit is a receiver?  The UMC-1 is a pre/pro not a 2 channel pre-amplifier.  IMO you'll begin to find the clarity and smooth-ness you seek with a 2 channel preamp.  Receivers and prepros have tone control and filters in the signal path that while great for movie watching don't sound as "sexy" as the zero feedback circuits found in a good 2 channel preamp.

Please describe your system.  In other words are you using your HT2-TLs for TV and movie watching in a surround system? 

[sanjaygolf]

I have seen a few people driving with XPA-2, but not with XPA-3. So wondering if there's a big differences there.

Recently, i've changed from Denon amp to Emotiva UMC-1. Although i can find better clarity and smooth-ness, i still find it lacking the 'sweet sexy' feel.

It also seems like there is not sufficient bass at certain tracks, so could this be due to insufficient power? I can't seems to get the 'kick' in bassy tracks.

IMO, the XPA-3 is more of a HT amp. The XPA-2 probably is as well but it's better than the XPA-3 for music. They both have enough power to satisfy your speakers but the sonic signature may not be what your looking for. But I think you're better off buying a tube preamp to try to find the sound you're want.

[ralfale]

Hi All

I sincerely appreciate all the responses to my queries so far.
I use my system more as HT, but i do appreciate good music once a while.
My current system is as below:

SongTower + SongCenter
4 x Mirage Omnisat as surround
SVS PC12+ sub
Emotiva UMC-1 (driven by XPA-3 for 3 front)

Previously i was using Denon AVR-2309 receiver before i switch over to UMC1. As mentioned, i do find improved clarity and smoothless with the switch, but i still feel this is far from the potential for the ST to shine. 

How should i make my setup sound nicer for stereo music?
I am now thinking to offload my XPA3, and replace with a XPA5 for center+4 surround. Will look for another 2 channel amp to drive the ST (After taking suggestions from brothers here)

Thanks all once again. Much appreciated.

[K Shep]

Hi All

I sincerely appreciate all the responses to my queries so far.
I use my system more as HT, but i do appreciate good music once a while.
My current system is as below:

SongTower + SongCenter
4 x Mirage Omnisat as surround
SVS PC12+ sub
Emotiva UMC-1 (driven by XPA-3 for 3 front)

Previously i was using Denon AVR-2309 receiver before i switch over to UMC1. As mentioned, i do find improved clarity and smoothless with the switch, but i still feel this is far from the potential for the ST to shine. 

How should i make my setup sound nicer for stereo music?
I am now thinking to offload my XPA3, and replace with a XPA5 for center+4 surround. Will look for another 2 channel amp to drive the ST (After taking suggestions from brothers here)

Thanks all once again. Much appreciated.

I don't recommend changing your amplifier in order to improve your sound quality, not at the price points you are considering, in an HT system.  You will not hear a difference.  Before you make the switch audition the potential replacement in your system, I guarantee you can't hear an audible difference.

If you are able, address the room.  Not sure if the other members of your family will allow you to install acoustic treatment but that is a direction you may want to consider researching.  Read through the Acoustic Thread on this site and take a look at some of the photos of members rooms and their solutions. 

The XPA-2 is going to sound exactly like the XPA-3 is going to sound exactly like the XPA-5.   

How should you make your setup sound nicer for stereo music?  Treat your room and mix in a good quality preamp.

[OgOgilby]

+1 to Kshep's statement. Room treatments and a quality preamp will make a more audible difference than replacing your amp.

[ralfale]

Thanks guys i will keep that in mind.

Can you point me to the treatment thread you are referring to? What about preamp? Any to recommend?

[Nuance]

Thanks guys i will keep that in mind.

Can you point me to the treatment thread you are referring to? What about preamp? Any to recommend?

What is your price range?

[avahifi]

The secret to economically improving your audio system is pretty simple.  Identify and replace the worse case problem in the chain first.

The worse case problem may be your room acoustics, your speakers, your amplifier, your preamplifier, your DAC, your CD player, maybe even your cables, and not all that unusual, your choice of music, artists, and recording quality.

Far too many people go off on a wrong tangent fixing the wrong thing and overlooking the worse case problem, with expensive and not very satisfactory results.

For example, the desire for "better bass" usually send people looking for bigger speakers and/or a subwoofer.  However, if your amp, preamp, and/or DAC do not actually play back clean and powerful deep bass well, then all the subwoofers in the world won't help much.

If changing interconnect cables or speaker wires makes a obvious difference, this should be a red flag that something in your system is excessively load sensitive, not a good thing. Just having a decent audio tech armed with a sine/square wave generator, load bank, and scope can help you root out many easy to identify problems for a lot lower cost that just starting to replace things or cables randomly.

Would a power amp be your best starting point?  I could not answer that now without a better understanding of the way your system actually works in your room now, and without the information to try and discover the real worst case problem now.

Best regards,

Frank Van Alstine

[K Shep]

I should have written "Acoustic Circle" on this website:

http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?board=73.0

I built my own absorption panels and bass traps, you may check out that thread here:

http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=77849.0

[topher2411]

. . . and not all that unusual, your choice of music, artists, and recording quality.

Hilarious.  +1 for everything else, too.

[Vulcan00]

I think Mr. Van Alstine nailed it.

The secret to economically improving your audio system is pretty simple.  Identify and replace the worse case problem in the chain first.

 

For example, the desire for "better bass" usually send people looking for bigger speakers and/or a subwoofer.  However, if your amp, preamp, and/or DAC do not actually play back clean and powerful deep bass well, then all the subwoofers in the world won't help much.

So true, a subwoofer may provide lower and more SPL but if the poor bass is not corrected first, the poor bass from your speakers is still poor even with a $3000 sub.

 

If changing interconnect cables or speaker wires makes a obvious difference, this should be a red flag that something in your system is excessively load sensitive, not a good thing. Just having a decent audio tech armed with a sine/square wave generator, load bank, and scope can help you root out many easy to identify problems for a lot lower cost that just starting to replace things or cables randomly.

OOOOoooo! Exactly.





[/quote]

The secret to economically improving your audio system is pretty simple.  Identify and replace the worse case problem in the chain first.

I think thats the best , clearest advice for improving system sound.

Harrison

[ralfale]

What is your price range?

Sorry for late reply. Ideally it should be kept below 1.5k USD.

Thanks and welcome all suggestions!

[revrob]

I just pick-up a Joule LA-150 MKII for that amount. I will mate it with some Wyred SX-1000 monos with my HT3. I have the speakers and the electronics will arrived next week. Paid $3,000.00 for them both.

Give me a week or so and I will post a review. I know there is someone else using the Wyred and Joule combination. I also though the Wyred combo with amp and preamp was a little bright when I listen so I believe some glass is the way to go with the Wyred.

Steve

[Nuance]

Good find, revrob.  I look forward to your impressions.