OK, I know of the problems with the high end Emos and M80s, but I'm looking at the low end. The price on the UPA-2 is almost too good to pass up ($325!!!!). I also know that I'm one of the "amps don't make a diff" people, but I'm so tempted. Anyone tried the UPA-2 with their M80s?

I guess they do have a return policy, like Axiom, but...

Of course, there's also the problem of additional power drain.

I think you should just buy it, Ken.

Just realized you guys started a thread on this :D. Yah, go for it Ken....you knoooowwwwww you want it!!

That is a nice price Ken, go for it man and let us know...

I still think the RPA-2 is awesome looking..

Yah, it is really nice...

Yeah...
I think he should buy an even bigger amp than the one he's considering.

You're probably right, save doing it in the future anyway.

Are we helping at all, Ken?

OK.. seriously...

Do you feel your H/K is being overdriven?

Ken, their forum indicates that the UPA-2 is going on sale next week for $269 including shipping.

But seriously, how loud do you really need it?

Oh, I don't need it loud at all. And the H/K isn't being overdriven. It's just... I hear things... you know...

When is the delivery date Ken?

$269 w. shipping?

I'll take "More Power" for 800 Alex....

your only going to use 1 watt.

I'm thinking about doing the same Ken. I have a HK247 running M60s in a 7.1 setup. Although it does great for me, I think it strains (mainly the center) a tad bit when I listen to movies at high volumes. I do like my receiver, but I am looking for a cheap alternative to give my HK a small boost.

Seriously, that sounds like a good price ($269 w shipping), only you can decide if you need it or not. Of course, if you say 'no'...the guys here will make you change your mind.

Well, let's call a spade a spade. On sale, it's still $300, assuming they're not dropping the shipping price as well.

I think the extra energy consumption is what worries me most, really. Our bills have been skyrocketing, and this wouldn't help, unless it caused the H/K to draw proportionally less power.

Oh crap, it's free shipping on the $269 sale!

I would think it would.

This was the same question I asked in my post on the Emotiva sale. I never really got an answer, but my thinking is this:

Outside of some differences in amp design efficiency, if you're pulling 150 watts to get the SPLs you desire, you're going to be pulling that 150 watts through one source or split it between two sources. But ultimately, how loud you play your system is going to determine how many watts your speakers require. If you buy this amp but don't play the system any louder, the difference in watts is likely only +/- 5 watts dependent upon that efficiency.

Hopefully someone will correct me if I'm wrong!

The other question would be whether the H/K has an output I can use as a trigger. It doesn't look like it from the manual. I think I saw something somewhere about how to make your own, from the switched outlet? Am I insane?

Do you really have to ask

Go for it Ken.

You sure, Ken? What with the Tjian transition coming up at work, who knows whether ENS West will exist a year from now....







Ok, that was mean.

That ain't nice, man. So about the trigger thing...

I'm looking at the power options, and I see that the idle draw on the receiver is 120W (!), while the idle on the amp is 30W. Receiver doesn't list standby draw (I'll have to get out the kill-a-watt for that), but the amp is 4W.

I'm thinking if I can get the trigger to operate on the amp, then I can have that trigger the EP350. The EP350 manual says the power switch must be in the off position for the trigger to work. That means a power savings over having the sub in standby, does it not? Alan?

Are you quite sure about that? That would be different than EP500 (you do need power to light up the LED red instead of green!).

From the manual:

TRIGGER IN (3.5mm MINI-Jack): This is for any 8-Volt
to 18-Volt power-on trigger. It is also intended for triggercontrolled
operation with future Axiom products. NOTE: THE
POWER SWITCH MUST BE OFF FOR THE TRIGGER TO
OPERATE.

Interesting. Sort of...

Mark, I'm crushed that you didn't consider my answer(and generous offer)to you in the Emotiva thread to be "really" one.

Well, darn, I've solved my 12V trigger problem. I think I'm going to try it on the EP350 first, perhaps once I hear back from Alan.

Another issue is that I need this to be reliable--read easy to use. If my wife wants to watch TV (it all runs through the receiver), she should have to get up to turn on the amp, or fiddle with it, or anything. And I don't want to leave it on. I assume if I can get the trigger to work properly, this'll take care of it. BTW, what I'm thinking of doing is getting the ratshack 3-12V AC adapter with the adapter to a 1/8" miniplug . Then I'd plug that into my receiver's switched outlet. Y'all think that makes sense?

I'm sorry, John! Somehow I missed your post! It was both informative AND funny!

Sorry to you too, Ken as I don't have an answer! I'll get out of the way with my OT stuff, though!

Hey, Mark, I can't find your thread to see this informative and funny post...

I linked to it above.... it wasn't originally my thread....I sponged onto it!

We're getting off topic again. Ken, did you order the UPA-2 yet?

No, not yet... thanks, Mark, I missed the teeny tiny link in your post. What John said makes sense, unfortunately.

Just Buy it Ken!

What are we talking about though?

I just looked at the UPA-2 for the first time. I'm on board now. Just buy the damn thing and take pictures of it for us.

Buy it, Buy it, Buy it.

C'mon everyone Ken obviously needs more persuasion.

OK, lemme lay it out. Here's what's stopping me:
1. I'm cheap. But I do give myself an allowance for stuff that I want that wouldn't be for the family. Separate bank accounts and all.
2. I'm unconvinced of the real need of the thing--is it really going to make a difference at the volumes I usually listen to stuff? And after I put all the effort into getting it, and hooking up with triggers and whatnot, if it doesn't, will I really send it back?
3. My wife is similarly unconvinced (laugh all you want, it makes a difference.)
4. I'm not certain with the cooling requirements that it'll really fit in my cabinet.
5. I'm still concerned about adding complexity and about using more electricity.

So what's stopping you?

With that many considerations, I wouldn't get it. I'm sure there's more entertainment value to be had for the money.

Well, #2 is the major factor in the end...whether it will make a difference.

All joking aside, since Emotiva also has a 30-day return policy and return shipping can't be THAT much, why not try it? Honestly, I think it's the only way you'll know if it adds to your enjoyment or not.

I understand that, while I still owe money on the house or the car, my money's not my own.

Well, maybe hold off until the upgrade is forced for some other reason? That's always the way I've done things. Yeah, I want a new ABC, but I might as well stick with this ABC until it has to be replaced, and do it then. All my whims don't have to be fulfilled on my own timeline.

This is the antithesis of "you only live once," follow it at your own peril of boringness.

Bren R.

The antithesis of this might also be to replace "on my own timeline" with "in my own lifetime".

Why not go ahead and give the thing a try? You're obviously curious enough to ponder the question and ask some advice... just promise yourself that you'll return it if you don't like it.. how much hassle does it really amount to, to box it up and return it?
And, your curiousity (and some of ours, by the way) will be satisfied!

your trigger plan with the ratshack DC adapter should work fine with any Emotiva amp. I ran my M80s for a year with a LPA-1 without any shutdown issues. Now I am using an XPA-5 with no problems. I know you would hear the difference with the XPA-3 or 5! I think you will also hear a noticeable improvement with the UPA-2. I say go for it!

Tee hee.

Don't forget tee pee, too.

Maybe if we were Ray or Jack's ages I'd be in a bigger rush.

Bren R.

You'd better speak up if you want them to be offended.

Sorry, my codger humor isn't highly developed.

Isn't today the last day of the sale?

If I could start getting payments from all these companies with outstanding invoices at the moment, I'd probably order an XPA-3!

Ooops- Too late to edit, but I just remembered that the amp Ken is looking at isn't even on sale yet!

Well, it is now... just checked the website for 'ya Ken!

Isn't it great to have us looking out for you?

Mmm... hmm?

The fate of our economy is in your hands Ken! Buy! Buy!

If the economy rests on me buying a cheap amp, then we have a more serious problem than I thought.

Oh Calvin. Are you looking for the same amp as Ken? If you two buy together maybe you could get an even better deal!

Better yet, you should go halvsies on it.

So ken, did you get your tracking number yet?

Hands over ears...I'm not listening...I'm not listening...err, how does it work on the internet. Hands over eyes...I'm not reading...I'm not reading...

How the heck do you type with your hands over your eyes or ears? Amazing!

Do you really want to know?

Well, people around here are always asking for pictures...

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