Help: Is Emotiva XPA-3 an overkill for my Klipsch RP speakers?

[vygnyr]

I recently replaced my decade-old sound system with the Klipsch RP line. Since my wallet was already open, I decided to fulfill an old dream and buy an Emotiva's XPA-3. Hastily, I bought it, imported it into my country, Iceland, and now two weeks later, I'm thinking: Is the XPA-3 an overkill for my Klipsch LCR?

My HT is a 7.2.2 running on an older Yamaha 2050 AV (I'm gonna go with Denon X4800 when it comes back in stock in Europe). My speakers are RP-8000F II and RP-504C II (specs below). My home theater is 19x13, and the main listening distance is 9 feet.

Between buying the XPA-3 and receiving it, I decided to buy the BasX A4 also (I should have thought this through). Now I have two weeks left to return the XPA-3 ($1499) and the BasX A4 ($699) back to Emotiva at my cost ($200 shipping) and I'm wondering if I should place an order for an OSD Nero HTA5200 5-Channel amp ($899) from Amazon.com and use the difference for the Denon AV.

I play movies at -24 (my sound level meter says 75-107dB where Top Gun Maverick peaks at 107dB) but I'm not entirely sure if all those dB's are coming from the fronts or the subwoofer (perhaps I should power them off and measure again?) I've been using the calculator on the Crown Audio to measure amp power required for the LCR but I feel that the calculations don't add up with my simple understanding of things.

If someone here can help out, that would be great. The staff at Customer Support at Emotiva suggested that I keep the XPA-3 as the speakers "need that 275w." - Can that be right? Is the XPA-3 an overkill, and the OSD Nero HTA5200 would suit my system better?

Thanks in advance!


Front: P-8000F II
FREQUENCY RESPONSE 35-25kHz +/- 3dB
SENSITIVITY* 98dB @ 2.83V / 1m*
POWER HANDLING (CONT/PEAK) 150W / 600W
NOMINAL IMPEDANCE 8 Ohms Compatible

Center: RP-504C II
FREQUENCY RESPONSE 50-25kHz +/- 3dB
SENSITIVITY* 96dB @ 2.83V / 1m*
POWER HANDLING (CONT/PEAK) 150W/600W
NOMINAL IMPEDANCE 8 Ohms Compatible

Surround:
FREQUENCY RESPONSE 62-25kHz +/- 3dB
SENSITIVITY* 94dB @ 2.83V / 1m*
POWER HANDLING (CONT/PEAK) 100W/400W
NOMINAL IMPEDANCE 8 Ohms Compatible

 

[kemmler3D]

The SPL calculator I used says you can get 114dB SPL at listening position with 275 watts into ONE of those speakers, which I think is beyond peaks for "reference level". @ 100w you're still looking at 110dB. You have 3 speakers in the room so add ~5dB to that.

Anything sustained over 100dB is enough to make most people cover their ears and walk away.

Even if we consider that these sensitivity specs could be overstated, let me put it this way... either one of those amps is enough to get you close to "concert" (i.e. ear damaging and quickly) volume levels.

The Nero, likewise.

Basically with very sensitive speakers, 1w is already enough to get loud. Beyond that you are buying the ability to play extremely loud peaks, where the benefit is more realistic sound from highly dynamic recordings and/or movies.

All 3 of these amps are capable of getting really loud, mostly because the speakers themselves are. I would make your choice primarily based on features, reliability, and measured performance, and return the others.

Alternatively you might try selling the Emotiva amps locally. $200 shipping is a lot and if they're barely used you might be able to recoup more just by selling them.

Oh, and welcome to ASR!

PS: As for your SPL meter readings, it's hard to say if they are accurate or to what extent they are influenced by the bass output. It depends on whether the meter is calibrated, what dB weighting it's using, etc.

 

[jcarys]

Yes, I would say it's overkill, but you'll never need to buy another amp. Someday you may change your speakers to something that actually needs some of that power.

 

[vygnyr]

The SPL calculator I used says you can get 114dB SPL at listening position with 275 watts into ONE of those speakers, which I think is beyond peaks for "reference level". @ 100w you're still looking at 110dB. You have 3 speakers in the room so add ~5dB to that.

Anything sustained over 100dB is enough to make most people cover their ears and walk away.

Even if we consider that these sensitivity specs could be overstated, let me put it this way... either one of those amps is enough to get you close to "concert" (i.e. ear damaging and quickly) volume levels.

The Nero, likewise.

Basically with very sensitive speakers, 1w is already enough to get loud. Beyond that you are buying the ability to play extremely loud peaks, where the benefit is more realistic sound from highly dynamic recordings and/or movies.

All 3 of these amps are capable of getting really loud, mostly because the speakers themselves are. I would make your choice primarily based on features, reliability, and measured performance, and return the others.

Alternatively you might try selling the Emotiva amps locally. $200 shipping is a lot and if they're barely used you might be able to recoup more just by selling them.

Oh, and welcome to ASR!

PS: As for your SPL meter readings, it's hard to say if they are accurate or to what extent they are influenced by the bass output. It depends on whether the meter is calibrated, what dB weighting it's using, etc.

Thanks for the reply. And the welcoming. With your words in mind, I think I'd rather get the ODS Nero for $899 and pocket the $1100 as I'm gonna need an external amp just to get from 7.2.2 to 7.2.4.

 

[kemmler3D]

Thanks for the reply. And the welcoming. With your words in mind, I think I'd rather get the ODS Nero for $899 and pocket the $1100 as I'm gonna need an external amp just to get from 7.2.2 to 7.2.4.

Very welcome! It makes sense to consolidate / save money on amps, since you are starting with such sensitive speakers.

On the other hand, @jcarys makes a good point if you have any thoughts about getting different speakers in the future.

Most speakers are not as sensitive as the ones you have, so you actually do need more power to get loud with those.

 

[hwest]

I recently replaced my decade-old sound system with the Klipsch RP line. Since my wallet was already open, I decided to fulfill an old dream and buy an Emotiva's XPA-3. Hastily, I bought it, imported it into my country, Iceland, and now two weeks later, I'm thinking: Is the XPA-3 an overkill for my Klipsch LCR?

My HT is a 7.2.2 running on an older Yamaha 2050 AV (I'm gonna go with Denon X4800 when it comes back in stock in Europe). My speakers are RP-8000F II and RP-504C II (specs below). My home theater is 19x13, and the main listening distance is 9 feet.

Between buying the XPA-3 and receiving it, I decided to buy the BasX A4 also (I should have thought this through). Now I have two weeks left to return the XPA-3 ($1499) and the BasX A4 ($699) back to Emotiva at my cost ($200 shipping) and I'm wondering if I should place an order for an OSD Nero HTA5200 5-Channel amp ($899) from Amazon.com and use the difference for the Denon AV.

I play movies at -24 (my sound level meter says 75-107dB where Top Gun Maverick peaks at 107dB) but I'm not entirely sure if all those dB's are coming from the fronts or the subwoofer (perhaps I should power them off and measure again?) I've been using the calculator on the Crown Audio to measure amp power required for the LCR but I feel that the calculations don't add up with my simple understanding of things.

If someone here can help out, that would be great. The staff at Customer Support at Emotiva suggested that I keep the XPA-3 as the speakers "need that 275w." - Can that be right? Is the XPA-3 an overkill, and the OSD Nero HTA5200 would suit my system better?

Thanks in advance!


Front: P-8000F II
FREQUENCY RESPONSE 35-25kHz +/- 3dB
SENSITIVITY* 98dB @ 2.83V / 1m*
POWER HANDLING (CONT/PEAK) 150W / 600W
NOMINAL IMPEDANCE 8 Ohms Compatible

Center: RP-504C II
FREQUENCY RESPONSE 50-25kHz +/- 3dB
SENSITIVITY* 96dB @ 2.83V / 1m*
POWER HANDLING (CONT/PEAK) 150W/600W
NOMINAL IMPEDANCE 8 Ohms Compatible

Surround:
FREQUENCY RESPONSE 62-25kHz +/- 3dB
SENSITIVITY* 94dB @ 2.83V / 1m*
POWER HANDLING (CONT/PEAK) 100W/400W
NOMINAL IMPEDANCE 8 Ohms Compatible

I would say the speakers are the problem not the great AMP with lots of power