Hello, is anyone using this combination? emotiva xpa-3 ends up costing 1000$ cdn and I'm looking for a cheaper amp.

Axe Music carries the Crown XTI 1000 for a very reasonable price. This is why I am thinking very hard about going this route.

Hello LucRaymond

I used three M282s years ago for my office HT system. They are very nice amps, but I don't think they are 4 ohm rated.

I agree with 2x6, I wouldn't recommend it. On the other hand for a low cost alternative I would look into the pro amp Jason linked to.

nice price but how do you hook the preamp from the AVR (RCA) to the XTI (balanced output XLR)?

There are xlr to rca adapters

I just found a Behringer that would be perfect for the job.. probably get 2 of those.. Found a few people using Behringer amps in their HT setup..

http://www.axemusic.com/product.asp?numRecordPosition=2&P_ID=10919&PT_ID=240

Yup, the XLR to RCA adapters.

I was thinking about using a Behringer as well, just a little bit less money. You did notice that the one you linked to is only 230W into 4 ohms. It's bridged to get 500W and in bridged mode it won't run M80s.

yes I noticed that. I was assuming 230w was enough!
I've look at their 1500 and 2500, the later is around 435$ CDN, which is cheap if you compare it to the competition.

There is a guy selling some amps (the 2500) on craigslist, I may end up getting this model.

At first I was aiming for the emo 3 channels to power the fronts and center but these stereo amps are changing my plan.

If I get two amps, should I bridge the second (1500 or 2500) and dedicate it to my center, or use it to power my side QS8? I would then hook up the rear and center on the AVR. If I bridge it for the center, I would plug all QS8 on the AVR.

I will be in a 7.1 setup, 2xM80/vp150/4xQS8

230W is quite possibly in the range you are able to get out of the Pioneer give or take a few watts, at least that is what I can get out of my 3808, so I am looking for double that, 500W, for an outboard amp.

You could look for a cheap mono amp to drive the center or even use that one you linked to in bridged mode.

There's always Audiogon if you are comfortable with it. I have purchased a few things on there and it's worked out all right.

You can get a 3 channel Acurus for $425 US. Of course you would have to get them to ship it to you.

Acurus A200X3

There's also an A250 (2 channel) on Canuck audio Mart.

Acurus A250

I read your posts with the voice of Skipper.

I doubt it, my pio is rated around 110w/channel for 20hz-20khz. This is a vendor info and can't find the real output that the AVR is capable for an indefinite time range. This could be a peak rating.

110 into 8ohms equates out to about 170W into 4ohms providing that spec isn't peak. The difference from 170 to 230 would be about 1-2 db, barely noticeable at all. This is why I look at a doubling of the 8ohm spec to really gain any improvement. So you would need an amp with 220W into 8 ohms this would give you ~300W into the M80s, a noticeable SPL increase and lots of headroom for them at lower volumes.

the emo xpa3 will (at 539US) will cost me 975$CDN shipped to my door.

Cost of Product: 539$
Duties: 8% 43.12
Brokerage Fees: 33
Subtotal: 615.12
GST:5% 30.76
PST: 7.5% 46.13
Freight: 94

Subtotal:170.89

Total: 786.01$ US
CDN: 973$CDN


A Behringer ep2500 is 440$CDN for a 2 ch. So 440x2 (two amps) = 880$ +taxes + shipping + 4x RCA to XLR cables

since the signal is going from unbalanced to balanced XLR, there is a good chance of signal noises which requires an external device.

I'm always back to square one on this.. The Behringer A500 looked like a compromise but it looks unreliable from the hundred of posts I gathered..

The Crown, as far as I can tell has good reviews.

you still need rca to xlr + a external box to convert unbalanced to balanced signal, otherwise you'll be dealing with noise.

There seems to be a number of people simply running the amp with the adapters and no noise.

Are the fans audible on those types of amps?

The A1400 is only balanced, isn't it? What are people using with those?

Axiom provides adapters with the A1400.

Nah! Just smile and wave, boys. Smile and wave.

the behringer a500 is fanless the ep1500 and ep2500 received mixed opinions. Some are finding them to be quiet and other's dont and are switching the fan

Luc, there's nothing in either your present thread or in previous ones that contains any good reason for not simply trying your 1018 with M80s before looking for an amplifier with more maximum power; your search is premature at best. Your comment on the 1018's 110 watt rating indicates that you haven't read previous discussions here which explain that all amplifiers sold in the U.S.(which effectively applies to those sold in Canada as well)have to comply with the amplifier power rating regulations of the FTC(Federal Trade Commission). In summary, the rated power has to be sustained for at least five continuous minutes of operation; no "peak power" or similar rating is legally permissible for the basic rating. Audio magazine lab tests confirm that the advertised rating is in fact met, and manufacturers would be foolish to publish a power rating which was in violation of the regs. This is the only area of audio which has legal regulations and where we should be confident that claims will in fact be met.

If you want an amplifier with a higher maximum power rating, at least 500 watts would be required to make a significant difference in maximum sound level even possible.

If an amplifier has only balanced inputs, using an adaptor to allow use of an unbalanced output from the receiver or separate preamplifier shouldn't cause any noise problem. If running unbalanced all the way with a typical shielded coaxial cable doesn't result in a noise problem in typical home environments(and it doesn't), running unbalanced with an adaptor won't either.

We are just confused! You talk to ten persons and you get twelve answers. Even if there is no problem hooking any of these speakers to the AVR, some do say that the speaker's potential is locked. When you look for amps, they all say there is a difference with and without. Are they all crazy, why aren't they using only their AVR? I've seen someone running a pair of m22 + vp100 on something like the ep2500..

We are curious and wondering if the AVR will limit the speakers in any way.

Going with my present experience with the A1400 vs my Denon 3808, the difference was quite noticeable and I feel the speakers really opened up with A1400. Will these lower priced amps have the same sound as the A1400 I can't answer as i have not heard one. I have yet to try the A1400 with my M22s to see if they also open up more, but I also no longer have my Denon to compare it to.
I can say that the Denon still sounded very good on it's own, but the A1400 was just that much better at bringing everything to life.

was the difference noticeable at moderate volume or only when it was really loud? it's a shame you didn't have time to test the amp on the m22.

I wish I could try it at home and see for myself.

Much to my surprise the difference was noticeable at all volumes but that was with the M80s and the bass was equal throughout the volume levels, the upper end was also noticeably better seperated ie. instruments could be easily dicerned from one another while with the 3808, the bass dropped off and the instruments became more blurred together like a cheap system would do at all volume levels.

I still have the A1400 (for 2 more days)and I will try the M22s later today with just an iPod feeding the A1400, I have been running this way with the M80s since my 3808 died, it sounds really good, way better than any iPod system I have ever heard before , not exactly portable though. I guess I could always combine all of this into a back back scheme

Luc. Before you pick up a Behringer amp, see if you can find a spec sheet for it and check out the distortion ratings. I have read that this series of amps (ep) can have significant distortion at higher frequencies. They are good in the subwoofer range.

OK, I wanted to reference a post on the ep2500 specs so I started searching. I'm not sure where I got the idea about distortion, but it is incorrect.

Here are the distortion measurements for a 2Ohm load.

Here are the 8Ohm measurements.

I was earing pleasant news so far related to the ep2500 except for that ONE guy who have M80 and he switched from the ep2500 to the emo xpa-3 and saw a difference

is it to much to ask, I just want the best sound for the $$..

Thus the posted correction. From everything I know, these levels of distortion will be inaudible.

I did listen to the M22s hooked up to the A1400 and other than the bass not really improving, although it was more prominent on songs that are truly bass heavy, the overall soundstage was much wider and more detailed from what I can remember of the way they sound vs. the 3808. I was at the back of the room and amazed at just how good they sounded at ~20' away.

That's why I don't mind waiting 3-4 weeks for my m80, every time I watch movies on my current system, I'm in awe! Why upgrade? why not! :-)

I think I will try to get one ep2500 at least for my front. It can be resold easily...

So Fred, from those stats, you think this amp will actually put out a "clean enough for us" 450 watts at 8 ohms and over 800 at 2 ohms? I'm shocked by that, given the price. Is there a catch?

Go to audioholics.com and do a search for ep2500. There are two threads, one for the A500 and one for the ep2500 that you should read through.

I personally have not listened to an EP2500, but others have and seem quite satisfied.

If you are worried, look for an ep2500 second hand and if it dosn't work out for you, it will be easy to sell to the DIY sub crowd.

You can look for the Crown XTI as well, good reports from those have it as an HT/2 channel amp as well. These 'pro' amps seem to be working for many. I think once I get some spare cash again I am going to try one myself.

I'm going to get one ep2500 tonight..