I purchased an Emotiva A3 and installed it yesterday. It is an external amp to my Marantz SR7012. The improvement in sound is amazing and I am very happy with my purchase. Thanks again for the review!
I really appreciate your attention to detail. Making notes during each listening session is an excellent way to compile your thoughts as they happen. Often waiting until later makes impressions run together. Your review genuinely assisted me in making my decision to order the BasX A3. I am currently awaiting delivery. I will be adding it to my existing Yamaha RX-A1080 AVR. Thanks again!
I bought the A3 very shortly after it was released and I use it to drive the front 3 channels of a Yamaha Aventage 2060 (2016 model year) AVR. I use either Polk Audio A5 small towers or, most often, Polk Audio LSIm 703s as my fronts and the BIG Polk Audio RTI center channel. For 2 channel stereo, I have the Parasound New Classics Pre-amp/Dac with home theater by-pass. The upper Aventage series of AVRs are very solid, yet the A3 bumped the performance and improved the sound, especially the control over the bass and mid-range. I got the Aventage in summer 2017 and am Pleased with it and that it still works just fine, no need to buy a new one yet. When I do upgrade my home theater receiver, I will keep the A3 for the pre-outs in the next AVR. I have not been able to do side by side with other systems, but I did have ZERO buyer's remorse from any of my Emotiva products. I highly recommend the brand. Obviously, it is a value, bang for buck, brand with lots of happy customers. The A3 ROCKs in two channel stereo mode and matches up just great with the Parasound pre-amp.
I would like to know your experiences with A3 with your RZ50 and from LCR. I have the exact setup and thinking about purchasing the A3. Let me know your feedback. Thanks
I'm a 2 channel guy. My 48-year-old Marantz 2252B died which powered my BOSE 901s series VI speakers. The local tech guy said it could take several months to repair it due to a backlog. So I bought Emotiva's PT1 pre-amp and A2 160-watt power amp. Having lived with this setup for 2 weeks now, when I get the Marantz back I'll be selling it. The Emotiva sound marries very well with the BOSE 901s. It's like a veil was lifted. And having 3X the power is a nice bonus. The tech works great with old tech.
A back Log? really? I think your tech is bulshitting you. These vintage receivers are straight forward and simple to repair, as long as you have the proper parts.
Really good video. I was considering buying the A2 but was worried about the heat aspect, those fears now put to rest. Emotiva amps are brilliant, I have the XPA-3 & XPA-7 but need something to drive my remaining height channel for my 7.2.4 setup. Great to see and hear some honest input and from a UK user
Hi Harvey. Many thanks for your comments. :-) Yes, heat is certainly not an issue with the A3. It's cool as a cucumber. Happy to represent the UK and chat about this great unit. Such a shame that the pricing is so off compared with the US - we are paying through the nose in comparison. However, not a lot else out there in a 3-channel at this price, regardless. :-)
Very good video. I have the Marantz SR7013 and the Emotiva A2 running the front speakers and leaving the Marantz for the Center and Surround. The speakers are Martin Logan 60XT fronts the ML 50 Center and FX2 surround. Prior to adding the Emotiva I found that the Marantz had in my opinion, had trouble driving the MLs which are nominally rated 4Ohms. Once I took the pressure off of the Marantz by adding the Emotiva it was literally like day and night with the clarity of sound (mainly classical music) other than Bruce Springsteen. Since I only have a 5.1 setup I didn't think it made sense to only use the Marantz for the surrounds. Movie wise the Blu-Ray of the Hobbit Battle of 5 Armies was like being in the movie theater, truly incredible.
Thanks, James. 🙏🤩 Great to hear about your system and your thoughts on the A2. For me, I lean more towards movies than music, so really wanted to deliver equal power to the LCR. Especially as I’ll be running 3x identical Arendal Sound 1723 Monitor S speakers for LCR as soon as they arrive (due August). I’m thinking that the A3 will give them a really healthy injections power, especially as the Arendal run at 4ohm, so 200w per channel from the Emotiva. (Nice…) ☺️🥳
Hi James your comment about the emotiva handling your 4 Ohm speakers with ease resonated with me. I had the same issue my marantz cinema 50 seemed to struggle to bring out the best from my piega TS5 speakers all 4 Ohm. Abs didn't really bring them to life. The emotive makes them sing and drives them all effortlessly and efficiently. It's like night and day listening to them now when compared to the marantz alone. Steely Dan never sounded better!
Great review, thank you. The UK stock of the 3 channel version seems to have dried right up, so I've ordered the 2 channel version to take my Denon 3800H up to an 7.2.4 system. Seems like a smart buy. Yes, it's a shame we pay a good chunk more in the UK for Emotiva kit - on the other hand all my speakers are Monitor Audio which seem to be about 2/3 the price here that the Americans have to pay so all comes out in the wash :)
Thank you for this. It firmed up the choice ot the Emotiva Basx A3 as an addition to a Marantz 7011. So I went ahead. I can confirm the increase in clarity as a main benefit of the A3 addition. This is indeed true for both music and movies. In fact, the improvement for music is even more noticeable. My LCR speakers are M&K MP950, but the improvement are similar to yours nonetheless. The next obvious upgrade for me is beefier speaker cable as it's a 8m+ run; to really allow the A3 to sing.
I had a bit of a search for an odd scenario and ended up with Emotiva and I'm quite happy with it. I needed an inexpensive 'powerhouse' that could put out ~200 watts or more and run either in 2 or 8 ohms. I didn't want a class D and I didn't want noisy fans. I'm powering 2 passive JL subs @ 2 ohms and am getting ~ 250 watts x2 from an oddball Basx 400z. It's discontinued but still available for $400 USD. Not sure of the sonics 20-20,000 but that's not my requirement. And yeah, it runs dead cool.
I just picked up the basx a7 for powering the ground speakers in a 7.2.4 configuration. The sound is clean and doesn’t feel like the amp is straining. Next phase is ordering the basx a4 to power the 4 height speakers!
@@jakobvint I’m using the Denon AVR-X6700H receiver. I ended up getting the Basx 3 and Basx 4 amps. So I turned off all internal amps from the Denon, running the Basx 3 for LCR, Basx 4 for side and rear surrounds, then going with the Basx 7 for the height channels.
I was reading and watching Emotive A series amp review in the last few days, but this was the first and only which had real information at all, not just chanting the tech specs from the manual. Thanks! And yes, the 600 series is the entry level of B&W, but still an awesome sounding speaker family. I wanted to own a pair of them since the first I heard them... back some 20 years ago (as a kid, with no money:))... and now I'm happy to be able to say I have the full LCR stage of them. And they sound ammmmazing, even now, with "only" a mid level AVR. That's why especially like your review, cause I have B&W 600s too and a bit lower level AVR, and if the Emotiva amps even improved the sound of the 7011, then it definitely will mine. :)
I have a BasX A300 running the 2 front channels that will soon be hooked up to the rear surrounds ( 5.1.4) . I have an A3 on order for the 3 front channels ,the receiver will then run the 4 over head speakers . Your good review make me even more keen for the A3 to arrive.👍
That sounds like a great way to reassign the 2ch amp. I think you’ll like the A3. Sounds like you’re building a great system. 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻 Also, really pleased you enjoyed the review. Thanks for watching and commenting. 🙏🤩
Thank you, James. Much appreciated. ☺️👍🏻 I’ve not had any other Emotiva products yet, but, I’m impressed with this one. Nicely made and finished, runs cool, sounds good in my setup. Can’t argue with that. :-)
@@cableguydan I run the A-300 amp, PT-100 pre, ERC-3 transport, AirMotiv T-2 towers, SE12 AirMotiv Sub. Paired with the BluesNode2i, and Project Debit DC turntable with Ortofon Blue cartridge.
My Basix five channel also runs very cool, thought it was because I use it for surrounds, Basix is a very good solution for applications in which you don't want to spend a great deal of money, or don't have a great deal of money. Perfect for audiophiles and HT guys alike, although I prefer Parasound for audio.
I run a BasX A3 for my LRC, an A6 for my height layer speakers and a Carver AV705x THX 5 channel amp for my surrounds and surround backs. On paper the Carver should be better than the Emotiva but in terms of real world performance it’s not. I’ve been blown away by the performance of the A3 and A6.
That’s sounds like a great setup, Joseph. I’m with you on the BasX. I feel that they perform well for the price point. I’d love to test one of the XPA series (at twice the price) to see how much difference there is. ☺️
@@cableguydan Hi Dan,,, Friend I have added XPA-3 in my setup, now I'm using both XPA & BasX A3, Using XPA-3 for my LCR & A3 for Surround speakers. XPA is huge upgrade over BasX. You also compare XPA \ BasX & give your expert opinion what you think about them, if I'm right about them...!
@@cableguydan hey Dan, I hope all is well. Just an update that I had all 3 systems in my room for a month and tried out every single one with my arendals 1723s monitors. I had the Denon 4700, the Marantz 7706 and the emotiva XMC2. I have the XPADR 3 fully differential amp running the fronts and XPA 200 running the surrounds and 2 mini Fosi amp for my 4 SVS heights in my ceiling. After having all 3 processors in my set up I can honestly say the XMC-2 takes the cake. I really enjoyed the Marantz 7706 but after the XMC-2 came in, it was a night and day difference especially after running dirac. I can’t recommend the Xmc2 enough. It sounds like a literal cinema in my dedicated theater space. I just wanted to update you and maybe keep your eye open for a used Xmc2. It’s well worth the money 🙏🏽
Hi Raymond. Many thanks for the update. Great that you tried the various options, and I’m pleased to hear that the Emotiva gave the sound you were hoping for. It’s always nice when you get just the sound and performance you’re looking for. ☺️👍🏻☺️
thank you for this review. i just ordered a 8 channel emotiva and 7 dali opticon mk2 speakers😁 i cant wait to hear the difference to my marantz/klipsch rp setup
Seeing how Denon and Merantz are the same company sharing much of the same components and design, I am reassured that my purchase of the Basx 3 amp will have the same results as yours when connecting it to my Denon AVR x6700h. Thank you for this video!
@JMang101 still functions like new and beautifully. No noise and full range of sound with no distortion. I was actually just looking at more of their amps for other future ideas.
If I'm going to replace my CLR channel amplifier has to be XLR balanced mono block amplifier not RCA unbalanced amplifier not worth it through. I'm still using Emotiva A-5175 amplifier sounds fantastic.
Nice review. I'm already running the BasX A4 to power my height channels..they are fantastic! I also have the A7 that I use to power other in-ceiling speakers around my home and a couple XPA3 Gen 3s. Can't go wrong with Emotiva amps. The value is just to great to pass up.
Many thanks, Leks. Yes, although I only have experience with this one Emotiva unit, I’m certainly impressed with it. I might well consider an A4 at some point for my surrounds, but that’s probably some way down the line. Next up might be an Arendal sub to replace my Bowers and Wilkins subs. :-)
Great review. I am looking at adding a 3 channel power amp to my Yamaha A1080 for the front LCR stage. Got MA silver 300's and MA silver c250 centre. Comparing the BasX 3 vs XPA 3. I have read a few people saying the XPA is much better quality not just more power and worth the money and others saying its just more power and the BasX is plenty good enough. System is used about 70/30 movies/music. Room is fairly large open plan lounge/diner. I am looking for more punch as well as clarity. Any advice please?
Nice video. I have recently put together a new home theatre system with a Marantz cinema 70s amp and monitor audio bronze speakers in a 5.1 setup. The left/ right speakers are the bronze 50 and centre speaker is the C150. Do you the A3 would be a good amp to power the front 3 speakers?
Nice review! I run the same A3 paired with my SE7012; I’m finding the front stage makes a “pop” sound upon each boot up of the AVR. Are you having the same issue by any chance?
Hiya. Many thanks for the comment. Yes, I also get a slight pop when my AVR and A3 powers up. It’s definitely the A3 as it wasn’t there before, however, it’s not very loud so I’ve not been to bothered by it. If it were louder I’d have probably been concerned about long term speaker damage. :-)
Thanks for such a wonderful detailed review of Emotiva and Marantz: coincidentally we both have same marantz AVR and I am determined to buy the emotiva now.
Great review. I'm sold. I'm going to order the 3 channel version. Thank you. I see what looks like a carded stormtrooper hanging above you. Am I right? I currently have life size stormtrooper helmets on each of my tower speakers. That is my favorite costume character.
Ah great. I’m sure you’ll like the amp. :-) Yes, that’s a carded TK from Karbonite Kustoms. I build stormtrooper helmets and armour so stormtroopers are quite a big thing for me. :-)
My five channel also runs very cool, I use it for surround channels. Thought it might be class D or something. Also have an MC1, and drive my mains with a Parasound A23
Thank you Dan for your honest clear and concise review. Your review on the A3 has helped me make up my mind. I will definately be adding the A3 to my system within the next few days. I have one question though. What is the trigger switch connection for?
Hi Samuel, Thank you for your comments. The trigger allows the BasX to power up when your AVR does. So, when I power up my Marantz, a 12v trigger signal is sent to the BasX and powers it up. The same works in reverse, to the BasX powers off when the Marantz does. :-)
For me, it was all about giving the LCR a more dedicated power source as they are so crucial to a surround sound setup. For that reason, I wanted the A3 and the power that comes with it. :-)
@@cableguydan thanks for that answer. You helped me decide which model to go for. Model A3 was ordered this morning. Can't wait for it to arrive and set it up. I'll follow up here once connected.
Hi Dan. My basx A3 arrived, and I've paired it up with my Marantz cinema 50 and Piega TS5 LCR set up. I've been breaking it in, these past few days. From the minute I powered up the emotiva (I can only liken it to the fog lifting). My Piega LCR speakers are all 4ohms so hard to drive effectively. Whilst the Marantz sound from them was warm and detailed, with the emotiva handling the front stage now. I feel the full Potential of my Piega front stage speakers has now been fully unleashed. I'm hearing instruments like fine strings that I never knew were present (steely Dan). There seems to be more headroom available to push the speakers further. And as for the bass it's sounding richer and more rounded without sounding boomy. Thanks again for putting me onto this awesome power amplifier! Keep up the simple concise posting! Thanks again for all you do Dan.
Nice review Dan. I have the Marantz SRI 7011 also and ordered the A3 two days ago. I use Martin Logan 40s and a center ML . I also have 4 in ceiling MLS as height speakers and 2 ML side surround and 2 ML rear surrounds plus one ML subwoofer. I plan to use the A3 for the front stage to FINALLY set up my rear surrounds. I’ve not used them since I ran out of powered speaker support on the SR7011 and still wanted the 4 heights. My question is: will the SR7011 recognize the A3 front stage through the pre-outs and allow setup of the heights and rear surrounds powered by the SR7011? I expect it will but have not done it obviously. Basically, Ive got a 5.1.4 (9 channels driven by SR 7011) now and want a 7.1.4 (8 driven by SR7011, 3 driven by A3)…I think. Thanks so much!
Hi John, Thanks for your kind words. :-) From memory, when changing the amp and pre-out assignment, changing the “pre-out” to “front” takes care of it. This allows the Marantz to provide power for Center*, Surr L/R, Surr Back L/R, Top front L/R, Top Rear L/R. Obviously, with the A3 you won’t need to power the Centre channel from Marantz, this is just the way the Marantz operates. :-)
Looking forward to the Arendals with the Bas-X combination. More such detailed reviews needed. I have the previous gen Anthem-MRX 720; was wondering if this would benefit my LCRs.
Thanks, A A. The Arendals are arriving tomorrow 🚚 (all things willing) so I’ll run them in and then give my thoughts on them. I’ll be replacing the 7 bed layer speakers for now, keeping the current in-ceiling B&W CCM665. I’m expecting quite a significant improvement over the B&W 600 series. :-)
If I switch the receiver to pure direct, will the receiver automatically shut off the center channel light and provide the higher 2-channel wattage of 150w per channel?
Like you I have the Marantz SR7011 and just purchased the Emotiva A3. Have a quick question, did you rerun the room correction after connecting or just plug and play?
Hi Paul, Good choice of setup. It’s a great AVR, isn’t it. :-) Initially, I ran it plug and play, then recalibrated. It was a while back now, but, I don’t remember there being a huge difference. I guess that’s because the BasX is neutral and doesn’t add any extra “flavour” to the sound. 🤩
Hi mate ive just ordered this today to.go with my denon 3800h 5.1.2 im curious if if made the right choice as my denon3800h amplifies 9 channels and im at 7 and with the sub , im just connecting my front 3 to the emotiva , will i notice a difference for the better ? My avr will then just power my side surrounds, front heights and subwoofer.
Got myself a Denon AVC-X4700H which sounds amazing but i want to switch off the power amp stage to optimise the processing and preamp side. It was a toss-up between this and the Rotel RB-1552 Mk2; i ordered blind online and the Emotiva (A3) arrives soon... 🤞
@@cableguydan thanks! The 4700H is already a step up from my Yamaha R-N500 (which i loved to be fair). But I'm going whole hog on my av kit this year (all things being relativel of course). I'm new to your channel so i haven't looked yet, but do you have any experience with SVS subs? I just ordered a PB-1000 Pro which is (physically) huge but i wanted something that was fast enough and deep enough for music (A0 on a piano is 27.5hz).
@@enterthebiscuit sounds like you have an exciting year ahead of you! 👌🤩 I’m afraid I’m not familiar with the SVS range, personally. The AV side of my channel is quite new so I’m slowly growing my knowledge based on products I’ve bought for my own setup. I’ve heard good things about SVS subs, especially from folks in the US. I get the impression they are good value for money and solid performers.
@@enterthebiscuit I've the same setup, x4700H and I have SVS-SB-3000 pair. Try those and you'll surely be impressed with the power those subs deliver with compact size as compared to PB series.
I enjoy the video clip. I have Emotiva BAS X 500 amp the sound is not coloured it has nice clean sound the centre speaker is lot better to compare to the avr amplifier and watching movies is great improvement. Plus I have subscribed to your channel. Cheers
Hi Norman, I don’t have anything specific on acoustic treatment, I’m afraid. For me, I used the mirror trick for positioning the foam tiles on the walls. The low cost foam made a subtle difference, although in the longer term I’d prefer to replace them with proper acoustic panels. :-)
Nicely Done. I was wondering if this Bas X A3 might help me from not riding the volume knob on my Denon receiver while watching action movies with a lot of sound effects ? When dialogue volume is set to a comfortable listening levels it then is very uncomfortable to hear sound effects :( or maybe there is a setting on the receiver to cap the db levels ? Thanks in advance.
Hi Deadline, I wouldn’t say it really changes the volume that you listen at, it just takes some stress off of your AVR. For my ears, it also allowed the LCR speakers to perform better. This means they can go a little louder without becoming harsh. However, for me it’s not really about playing them louder - it’s about the better performance at various volume levels. With regards to the dialogue getting lost, I’m afraid I don’t really suffer from that often. As my room is not attached to other rooms (that would bother anyone else), I can listen at good levels for the dialogue - when the effects come in (usually louder than the dialogue for dramatic effect), I ride the storm. Perhaps in your setup you could raise the centre channel volume a little if it’s not feeling balanced? It’s not ideal, but find what works best for you. I don’t think the BasX (or any 3-ch power amp) will “fix” the issue you’ve described. It sounds more of a balance/calibration issue. ☺️
Nice review. How do u connect your subwoofer to? And are u able to control the volume when connecting to the Emotiva using the AVR volume control or you need to control both volume seperately?
Thanks Chris. 🙏 Your sub (or subs) still connect to your AVR’s subwoofer output. Thankfully, the Emotiva volume works along with the AVR, so no need to adjust separate volume controls. :-)
Good morning Thanks for your videos ( unboxing and this one ) . I just bought the BAS XA3, do you have a cable ref to connect to the amplifier (pre out) ? ( 10 / 50 euros )
Hi Batman, Personally, no. You can always turn down a large sub. It’s harder to get good performance out of a sub too small for the room. I have the 2x 12” XTZ subs at the front and 2x 10” sealed Bowers and Wilkins subs at the rear. As they are all time aligned and EQd via a Mini DSP 2x4HD, the bass is very controlled and well integrated with the main speakers. :-)
Got an A5 for 4 heights & A7 for bedlayer. My 7.2.4. Guys, ya don't need an XPA if you live in an apt or amps r 6 feet or less from avr/processor. Buy what u need not what u see on YT
Hi Bryan, I’m very pleased with the Arendals and the Emotiva seems to power them well. I’ve done some demos at quite high volumes and not noticed any distortion or anything like that. The A3 seems to be handling it well. Here’s the Arendal review that I did - the BasX A3 was powering the LCR throughout. :-) ua-cam.com/video/nd-7Jx2qjOA/v-deo.html
Hi Dan, I’m waiting on arendal 1961 5.1 speakers to be delivered in January. 2x monitor 2x bookshelf Centre Sub Do you think the denon x4700h is enough to run this? Or should I get the Bas-x to power the LCR? Any advised would be appreciated
Hi James, I’d say that the Denon would be fine. Many people run their systems with just their AVR and have great setups. I ran my system for years with the AVR doing all the work and it was fine. Adding the BasX A3 was just a bit of a luxury, really. It HAS made a difference, in a positive way, but I’d probably try them with your Denon and see how you get on. Adding a power amp later is a nice treat. :-)
@@cableguydan thanks for the reply. I was a little skeptical with them being a 4ohm speaker and read they need more power and also can make the avr run a little hot. Will try the avr on its own and see how I get on. Thanks again
Is there a difference in sound between the Emotiva BasX A-500 and the A5? The older A-500 has a bit more watts per channel, does that mean that one has better sound?
Hi Mike. I'm afraid I've not tried the A-500 series. I believe the 2nd generation BasX series have been designed to perform a little better than the 1st Gen, so I'd assume the A5 should be better in some areas. Sorry I can't be much help with this.
Great review I have just purchased a basx a5 if I put my ear close to the amp I can hear a hum from the transformer do you hear a hum from yours ? Should I be worried
Hi Philip, Many thanks. :-) I’ve just had my ear against my A3 and can’t hear anything. Having said that, it is mounted in the rack so can’t get to all angles, and some other items in the rack are a little more noisy.
@@cableguydan how are you liking your Arendals? I’m currently comparing the SVS ultra package vs the 1723 S theater package. I haven’t gotten the arendals yet but the SVS is incredible
Hi Raymond, I’m really enjoying them. They are certainly a big step above my previous entry level B&Ws. I’m still using them regularly for movies and occasionally for music - both perform very well. I’m very pleased with the investment. ☺️👍🏻
@@cableguydan I also had the same B&W center speaker, the 686-S2 bookshelves and the M1s for rear surround and the PV1D for surrounds. They were great for 3 years but I now want to upgrade and get better cinematic sound. I currently have the SVS pc 2000 and PB 3000 and comparing the 2. I’m excited to the Arendals to come so I can compare the SVS ultra system to the Arendals and only keep one. I initially was going to get the B&W CT 7.3 for front stage and 7.4 for the rears. I couldn’t find enough reviews on them but then saw sparechange do a review on them and he mentioned that the Arendals sounded a lot more full than the B&W CT set up. I was torn between all 3 systems but most likely will go with the 1723s monitors based off of your review. Thank you for all that you do 🙏🏽👍🏽
Hi George, As far as I’m aware, yes, but I’d check with Emotiva just to be sure. To my knowledge, the ohm rating is just the resistance of the speakers. The Emotiva quotes power ratings with 4 and 8ohm speakers, yours would just sit somewhere between the two.
I do have a marantz 7008, does the emotiva xbass a3 do okey Job, in front i use jbl e100, i wish to have more juce in front and senter i use 7 speakers, i ges its time to upgrade to a okey budget amp
Hi guys I have a 7.3.4 setup. My speakers are five pairs of tannoy mercury 7.2 bookshelf speakers and the tannoy mercury 7c Centre speaker and 3 tannoy ts210 subwoofers configured with minidsp 2x4 hd and yamaha cx-a5200 off one subwoofer channel. I run a basx a-300 for left & right mains. Basx a3 for Centre speaker and left and right rear speakers. And a basx a-700 for front and rear atmos speakers and rear surround speakers. Also running 4 bass shakers on a dayton audio sa230 off the other yamaha cx-a5200 subwoofer channel as they are independent. I love the Basx amplifiers, they offer such flexibility and options.
Hi Ray, I’ll be honest, it sounds good at all levels. However, as the room is detached from neighbours, I don’t really do much low volume listening, as such. For things like Netflix, my AVR is usually around -25 on the Marantz, so no way near reference but also not really “low”. Either way, any volume we listen at it’s enjoyable. :-)
@@cableguydan Would you say that the external amp made your Marantz sound much more expensive for example like an $2000 - $3000 avr. And also I was wondering if the sound of the subwoofer improved. I know it has its own amplification but because the processing on the Marantz improved I am thinking it might send better signal to the subwoofer. Thank you.
Hi Ray, I feel it’s taken a little load off of the Marantz, so that has helped the overall performance. I wouldn’t say I’ve noticed any improvement in the subs though. The best improvement to my subs (bass performance) came when I added the Mini DSP 2x4HD. That made a huge difference for a few hundred pounds. :-)
Hi Ray. Yes. I went for the UMIK-1. I’d say it took around 3-4 hours using REW and following the tutorials of Home Theatre Gamer to get things setup. The results are fantastic.
Hiya. Good question. Although I feel that the BasX is doing a good job in my small room, I’d have gone for the XPA series if I had the budget (and perhaps a larger room). Having said that, many people lower their Arendals with their AVR, so either the BasX or XPA series could offer a little more output per channel. Are you on the Arendal Sound Facebook group? There are lots of 1723 Tower owners there - maybe hop in and ask what they’re running? :-)
What about denon x6700h to emotiva BasX A5 combination is this good dude And plan to buy emotiva BasX A5 external power amplifier Pls suggest me the best
Hi @v Hari hara sudhan. Honestly, I’ve not tried the Denon, however, I’ve read good things about it. Also, I’ve seen good reviews on the BasX A5 so I’m sure you wouldn’t be disappointed. Personally, I wanted to prioritise the front soundstage, ie Left, Center, Right, as I feel they are crucial for a good system. As such, I prefer the idea of the A3 with its extra power per channel. Your Denon then has enough power for your surrounds and Atmos. I feel that my Marantz handles the surrounds a little better since upgrading (but that might just be wishful thinking). Hope that helps a little. ☺️👍🏻
Hi. I have just installed the BasX A3 to my LCR, Arendal 1961 Monitor and center to my Marantz SR7009. I do hear some noise floor when I am close to the speakers. Would you say that is normal/ok from this amp? Do you or anyone else hear this noise? I only hear it when the sound is muted, so it is comming from the amp I would say. Thanks
Hi Visse, I’ve not noticed anything specific to my LCR (powered by the A3). I have a very minor hum of some sort across all of my speakers, but this is only audible when your ear is up against the speakers. As such, I don’t think it’s a specific issue with the A3, just perhaps an earthing issue in the setup.
sir,i have bose 901s and some nice towers,i looked at preamps they only have speaker inputs for right and left,im thinking of buying a evotiva 4 channel amp,how can i run both speakers if the preamp only has inputs right n left
Hi Erik, It's hard to say without seeing the Preamp. However, a Preamp usually doesn't have speaker inputs. They usually have audio inputs (like HDMI, RCA, Digital optical/coaxial etc). The Preamp would then have pre-outs (RCA or XLR) that go to a power amplifier. The BasX only have RCA inputs, so the preamp would also need to have RCA outputs.
Ah, okay. To make the most of the A3, I’d consider pairing it with a nice processor or AVR. Personally, I’ve had good experiences with Denon and Marantz. ☺️👍🏻
Hello Friend, I received my Emotiva BasX A3 two days back, I watched your BasX A3 review video & from that time I wanted it for my front stage. When I received it l was so happy, but as soon as I connect it to my Denon AVR-X4700H my AVR starts to heat up very fast & got very very hot in no time. Even I can't use it for 10-15 minutes. In fact Denon AVR should have run Cooler after using external amplifier. I tried everything that I know but nothing is working. Can you guide me if there is some way or some settings that can be helpful. Please help me out on this I will very grateful of you...🙏🏼
Hi Shakir, Thanks for your feedback. I’m sorry to hear that your Denon appears to be running hotter now. I’ll be honest, my Marantz AVR always ran pretty hot - as such, I’ve been running a cooling fan on it for years, even before adding the Emotiva, I’ve not noticed any increase in heat output. Apart from the suggestion of adding a cooling fan, what you’ve described is not something I’ve heard or read about. If I’m doubt, perhaps drop an email to Denon and see if they have heard of this. Given the heat the AVRs can give out, I’d recommend a cooling fan either way, just to try and pull that heat away from the internals of the AVR. ☺️
Hi Shakir. Not sure if you have resolved this issue already? For your information there are settings in your Demon AVR ( I have the Marantz cinema50 - both makes share nearly identical settings). You'll need to go into set up - speakers - manual set up - amp assign - assign mode. Select this pathway and change your channels to highest setting allowed. Mines is 11.1 (Marantz). This high channel selection lets the AVR know that you want to power additional channels beyond its own internal amp availability. That should work as the internal amps that power your front stage will now be directed to draw power from your external emotiva basx power amp. Rather than the Denon AVR's internal ones. Hope that helps.
@@cableguydan Thanks for your Guidance Dan, & sorry for replying late, yes I have already started using cooling fan & after that no problem at all, anyway thanks a Ton for your guidance...👍🏼🙏🏼
@@sawolaja65 Thanks Samuel for your guidance yes I was using the same settings & now I have started to use cooling fan on top of my AVR & that has resolved my Problem so now it's working fine & no issues at all. Anyway thanks a Ton for your guidance...👍🏼🙏🏼
Hi Mohd, Although they’re not showing available now, I purchased 3x Van Damme single RCAs. They’re listed as SPDIF cables, however, I checked online and it appears that they are also fine for analog signals. SPDIF Digital Audio Video Coaxial Cable. RCA to RCA. Van Damme 75ohm Coax Phono (1m, Cream) www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B079LHHY3Y/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_SEE8YA3J1CQ59A2GZFYN?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1
Monolith and Outlaw are hard to get in the UK, and if you can find them they are more expensive than the Emotiva BasX range, I have the Emotiva BasX A3 and A4 powering my 7 base levels speakers, My Denon X6700H power the 6 Heights, and I have two SVS PB1000 subs, that's more that enough for me, and the immersion is great.
Hi Bernus, I might do one at some point, however, it’s unlikely to be accurate. My recording via an iPhone with a Rode mic, then viewed on UA-cam, will probably not give you a good sense of how it sounds in real life. That’s why I tried to be as descriptive as possible in the video. Hope that makes sense. ☺️👍🏻
Hi Sham Rock. Yes, I’m still running the A3 and still enjoying it. I’m now powering 3x Arendal Sound 1723 Monitor S THX speakers (4ohm) and the A3 is still performing well. :-)
I don’t have the amplifier yet, but How do you balance the 3 front speakers on the amplifier, withe the rest , eg LR surround, back surround, from the receiver, since the difference in power will be quite large.
Hi Jaime, Once the amp is connected and you’ve configured the pre-outs, you can then re-run the calibration. The mic will measure the speakers in the usual way and adjust all channels accordingly. I did this and the integration is superb. :-)
hi can i connect the Emotiva BasX A-300 Stereo Amplifier to a yamaha rx -a 3080 av receiver for two channel sound end how do i connect it (speakers are the Klipsch RP-8000F ). ps : and are there any other good amp brands around 1000$ for this yamaha receiver . thanks and grz: from Ben (Belgium)
Hi Ben, It looks like the RX-A3080 has a pre-out section. As such, you should be able to use the pre-outs and connect these to your BasX A-300 via RCA cables. I’d suggest checking the Yamaha manual to check if you have to make any settings changes to allow use of the pre-outs. Regarding other power amps, so far, I only have experience of the Emotiva power amp. Although, I have had good experiences with Yamaha, Denon, Marantz, and Rotel for either AVRs, PA amps or two channel amps. If you’re looking to add another power amp, I’d consider a good 3-channel amp for your front left, centre and right. Then use the A-300 for your left and right surrounds. These 5 speakers tend to be the most active in a system and are a good choice for additional power amps. ☺️👍🏻
Finally, it is good to hear from a nonexpert. Keep up the good work. Will be adding A3 to my Denon X4700H.
Me too!! i think is the best choice for an upgrade.. maybe i can use the 3rd channel for VOG. :D
Lol me too. I love the Denon x4700
Connected a A3 to my AVR-X3600H, makes sense to have more clear power to your 200 watt LCR
@@LifeSized101 and was it a noticible and good upgrade ?
Excellent. I had been thinking of adding it to my X3700H. Decision made!
I purchased an Emotiva A3 and installed it yesterday. It is an external amp to my Marantz SR7012. The improvement in sound is amazing and I am very happy with my purchase. Thanks again for the review!
I really appreciate your attention to detail. Making notes during each listening session is an excellent way to compile your thoughts as they happen. Often waiting until later makes impressions run together. Your review genuinely assisted me in making my decision to order the BasX A3. I am currently awaiting delivery. I will be adding it to my existing Yamaha RX-A1080 AVR. Thanks again!
Hi Billy,
Thank you for your lovely comments. I’m really pleased you enjoyed the video. I hope you also hear the benefits when your A3 arrives. 🤩
I bought the A3 very shortly after it was released and I use it to drive the front 3 channels of a Yamaha Aventage 2060 (2016 model year) AVR. I use either Polk Audio A5 small towers or, most often, Polk Audio LSIm 703s as my fronts and the BIG Polk Audio RTI center channel. For 2 channel stereo, I have the Parasound New Classics Pre-amp/Dac with home theater by-pass. The upper Aventage series of AVRs are very solid, yet the A3 bumped the performance and improved the sound, especially the control over the bass and mid-range. I got the Aventage in summer 2017 and am Pleased with it and that it still works just fine, no need to buy a new one yet. When I do upgrade my home theater receiver, I will keep the A3 for the pre-outs in the next AVR. I have not been able to do side by side with other systems, but I did have ZERO buyer's remorse from any of my Emotiva products. I highly recommend the brand. Obviously, it is a value, bang for buck, brand with lots of happy customers. The A3 ROCKs in two channel stereo mode and matches up just great with the Parasound pre-amp.
Just purchased an A3 today. Will be connecting my two Klipsch RP8000 and RP500C. All paired with RZ50 AVR. Can’t wait to hook everything up!
I would like to know your experiences with A3 with your RZ50 and from LCR. I have the exact setup and thinking about purchasing the A3. Let me know your feedback. Thanks
I have the exact same setup love it myself ❤🍺🍺
I'm a 2 channel guy. My 48-year-old Marantz 2252B died which powered my BOSE 901s series VI speakers. The local tech guy said it could take several months to repair it due to a backlog. So I bought Emotiva's PT1 pre-amp and A2 160-watt power amp. Having lived with this setup for 2 weeks now, when I get the Marantz back I'll be selling it. The Emotiva sound marries very well with the BOSE 901s. It's like a veil was lifted. And having 3X the power is a nice bonus. The tech works great with old tech.
A back Log? really? I think your tech is bulshitting you. These vintage receivers are straight forward and simple to repair, as long as you have the proper parts.
Thanks for this 👍 This kind of review is straight forward no fluff and great !
getting mine this afternoon very excited
Ah, awesome. I don’t think you’ll be disappointed. 😊👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻
Did it arrive safely? What do you think so far? 🤩
Really good video. I was considering buying the A2 but was worried about the heat aspect, those fears now put to rest. Emotiva amps are brilliant, I have the XPA-3 & XPA-7 but need something to drive my remaining height channel for my 7.2.4 setup. Great to see and hear some honest input and from a UK user
Hi Harvey. Many thanks for your comments. :-)
Yes, heat is certainly not an issue with the A3. It's cool as a cucumber.
Happy to represent the UK and chat about this great unit. Such a shame that the pricing is so off compared with the US - we are paying through the nose in comparison. However, not a lot else out there in a 3-channel at this price, regardless. :-)
Very good video. I have the Marantz SR7013 and the Emotiva A2 running the front speakers and leaving the Marantz for the Center and Surround. The speakers are Martin Logan 60XT fronts the ML 50 Center and FX2 surround. Prior to adding the Emotiva I found that the Marantz had in my opinion, had trouble driving the MLs which are nominally rated 4Ohms. Once I took the pressure off of the Marantz by adding the Emotiva it was literally like day and night with the clarity of sound (mainly classical music) other than Bruce Springsteen. Since I only have a 5.1 setup I didn't think it made sense to only use the Marantz for the surrounds. Movie wise the Blu-Ray of the Hobbit Battle of 5 Armies was like being in the movie theater, truly incredible.
Thanks, James. 🙏🤩
Great to hear about your system and your thoughts on the A2. For me, I lean more towards movies than music, so really wanted to deliver equal power to the LCR. Especially as I’ll be running 3x identical Arendal Sound 1723 Monitor S speakers for LCR as soon as they arrive (due August). I’m thinking that the A3 will give them a really healthy injections power, especially as the Arendal run at 4ohm, so 200w per channel from the Emotiva. (Nice…) ☺️🥳
Hi James your comment about the emotiva handling your 4 Ohm speakers with ease resonated with me. I had the same issue my marantz cinema 50 seemed to struggle to bring out the best from my piega TS5 speakers all 4 Ohm. Abs didn't really bring them to life. The emotive makes them sing and drives them all effortlessly and efficiently. It's like night and day listening to them now when compared to the marantz alone. Steely Dan never sounded better!
Great review, thank you. The UK stock of the 3 channel version seems to have dried right up, so I've ordered the 2 channel version to take my Denon 3800H up to an 7.2.4 system. Seems like a smart buy. Yes, it's a shame we pay a good chunk more in the UK for Emotiva kit - on the other hand all my speakers are Monitor Audio which seem to be about 2/3 the price here that the Americans have to pay so all comes out in the wash :)
Thank you for this. It firmed up the choice ot the Emotiva Basx A3 as an addition to a Marantz 7011. So I went ahead. I can confirm the increase in clarity as a main benefit of the A3 addition. This is indeed true for both music and movies. In fact, the improvement for music is even more noticeable. My LCR speakers are M&K MP950, but the improvement are similar to yours nonetheless. The next obvious upgrade for me is beefier speaker cable as it's a 8m+ run; to really allow the A3 to sing.
Ah, great. It’s really good to hear that you also get a significant improvement by adding it. :-)
I had a bit of a search for an odd scenario and ended up with Emotiva and I'm quite happy with it.
I needed an inexpensive 'powerhouse' that could put out ~200 watts or more and run either in 2 or 8 ohms. I didn't want a class D and I didn't want noisy fans. I'm powering 2 passive JL subs @ 2 ohms and am getting ~ 250 watts x2 from an oddball Basx 400z. It's discontinued but still available for $400 USD. Not sure of the sonics 20-20,000 but that's not my requirement. And yeah, it runs dead cool.
Bought this to go along with my A7. I watched one movie with the A7 and I had to have another one. Can’t wait for the A3 to get here!
please tell me if you could install both amplifiers on the same receiver because i have the a7 and i just ordered the a3 amp
@@mark17840 oh yeah. I have 3 amplifiers hooked up to my Denon
Yes, @Edwin Rodriguez. As long as your receiver has the relevant pre-outs, you can connect more than one power amp.
@@Prettytony0627 THANK YOU VERY MUCH TONY
@@mark17840 no problem buddy
I just picked up the basx a7 for powering the ground speakers in a 7.2.4 configuration. The sound is clean and doesn’t feel like the amp is straining. Next phase is ordering the basx a4 to power the 4 height speakers!
Nice work! Glad to hear your enjoying the A7’s performance. 👏🤩
What receiver are you using?
@@jakobvint I’m using the Denon AVR-X6700H receiver. I ended up getting the Basx 3 and Basx 4 amps. So I turned off all internal amps from the Denon, running the Basx 3 for LCR, Basx 4 for side and rear surrounds, then going with the Basx 7 for the height channels.
I was reading and watching Emotive A series amp review in the last few days, but this was the first and only which had real information at all, not just chanting the tech specs from the manual.
Thanks!
And yes, the 600 series is the entry level of B&W, but still an awesome sounding speaker family.
I wanted to own a pair of them since the first I heard them... back some 20 years ago (as a kid, with no money:))... and now I'm happy to be able to say I have the full LCR stage of them. And they sound ammmmazing, even now, with "only" a mid level AVR.
That's why especially like your review, cause I have B&W 600s too and a bit lower level AVR, and if the Emotiva amps even improved the sound of the 7011, then it definitely will mine. :)
The BAS-X amplifiers are value and performance just about anybody may enjoy. None of the scary money most amplifiers costs today. Great build too.
I have a BasX A300 running the 2 front channels that will soon be hooked up to the rear surrounds ( 5.1.4) . I have an A3 on order for the 3 front channels ,the receiver will then run the 4 over head speakers . Your good review make me even more keen for the A3 to arrive.👍
That sounds like a great way to reassign the 2ch amp.
I think you’ll like the A3. Sounds like you’re building a great system. 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻
Also, really pleased you enjoyed the review. Thanks for watching and commenting. 🙏🤩
Great review!! I have a 100% Emotiva 2 channel reference system and they are by far one of the best manufacturers in the business.
Thank you, James. Much appreciated. ☺️👍🏻
I’ve not had any other Emotiva products yet, but, I’m impressed with this one. Nicely made and finished, runs cool, sounds good in my setup. Can’t argue with that. :-)
@@cableguydan I run the A-300 amp, PT-100 pre, ERC-3 transport, AirMotiv T-2 towers, SE12 AirMotiv Sub. Paired with the BluesNode2i, and Project Debit DC turntable with Ortofon Blue cartridge.
My Basix five channel also runs very cool, thought it was because I use it for surrounds, Basix is a very good solution for applications in which you don't want to spend a great deal of money, or don't have a great deal of money. Perfect for audiophiles and HT guys alike, although I prefer Parasound for audio.
I run a BasX A3 for my LRC, an A6 for my height layer speakers and a Carver AV705x THX 5 channel amp for my surrounds and surround backs. On paper the Carver should be better than the Emotiva but in terms of real world performance it’s not. I’ve been blown away by the performance of the A3 and A6.
That’s sounds like a great setup, Joseph.
I’m with you on the BasX. I feel that they perform well for the price point. I’d love to test one of the XPA series (at twice the price) to see how much difference there is. ☺️
@@cableguydan Hi Dan,,, Friend I have added XPA-3 in my setup, now I'm using both XPA & BasX A3, Using XPA-3 for my LCR & A3 for Surround speakers. XPA is huge upgrade over BasX. You also compare XPA \ BasX & give your expert opinion what you think about them, if I'm right about them...!
Superb Dan, very jealous! Great content and editing, keep it up 😎
Thanks mate. Really appreciate it. 🤩
@@cableguydan hey Dan, I hope all is well. Just an update that I had all 3 systems in my room for a month and tried out every single one with my arendals 1723s monitors. I had the Denon 4700, the Marantz 7706 and the emotiva XMC2. I have the XPADR 3 fully differential amp running the fronts and XPA 200 running the surrounds and 2 mini Fosi amp for my 4 SVS heights in my ceiling. After having all 3 processors in my set up I can honestly say the XMC-2 takes the cake. I really enjoyed the Marantz 7706 but after the XMC-2 came in, it was a night and day difference especially after running dirac. I can’t recommend the Xmc2 enough. It sounds like a literal cinema in my dedicated theater space.
I just wanted to update you and maybe keep your eye open for a used Xmc2. It’s well worth the money 🙏🏽
Hi Raymond.
Many thanks for the update. Great that you tried the various options, and I’m pleased to hear that the Emotiva gave the sound you were hoping for. It’s always nice when you get just the sound and performance you’re looking for. ☺️👍🏻☺️
@@cableguydan great to hear from you! 🙏🏽😊
thank you for this review. i just ordered a 8 channel emotiva and 7 dali opticon mk2 speakers😁 i cant wait to hear the difference to my marantz/klipsch rp setup
You’re very welcome. Bet you can’t wait for your new toys to arrive. 🤩
Great review! Thank You!!
Seeing how Denon and Merantz are the same company sharing much of the same components and design, I am reassured that my purchase of the Basx 3 amp will have the same results as yours when connecting it to my Denon AVR x6700h. Thank you for this video!
Can you provide an update post purchase?
@JMang101 still functions like new and beautifully. No noise and full range of sound with no distortion. I was actually just looking at more of their amps for other future ideas.
If I'm going to replace my CLR channel amplifier has to be XLR balanced mono block amplifier not RCA unbalanced amplifier not worth it through. I'm still using Emotiva A-5175 amplifier sounds fantastic.
Nice review. I'm already running the BasX A4 to power my height channels..they are fantastic! I also have the A7 that I use to power other in-ceiling speakers around my home and a couple XPA3 Gen 3s. Can't go wrong with Emotiva amps. The value is just to great to pass up.
Many thanks, Leks.
Yes, although I only have experience with this one Emotiva unit, I’m certainly impressed with it. I might well consider an A4 at some point for my surrounds, but that’s probably some way down the line.
Next up might be an Arendal sub to replace my Bowers and Wilkins subs. :-)
Just got mine wife said but I'm at work can't wait to get home nice review...
Fantastic!! Great to have an excellent new toy waiting at home for you. 👍🏻🤩🤩🤩
Great review. I am looking at adding a 3 channel power amp to my Yamaha A1080 for the front LCR stage. Got MA silver 300's and MA silver c250 centre. Comparing the BasX 3 vs XPA 3. I have read a few people saying the XPA is much better quality not just more power and worth the money and others saying its just more power and the BasX is plenty good enough. System is used about 70/30 movies/music. Room is fairly large open plan lounge/diner. I am looking for more punch as well as clarity. Any advice please?
Very good review and we are waiting for arendal speakers setup.
Yes, me too, Ranga! :-)
Nice video. I have recently put together a new home theatre system with a Marantz cinema 70s amp and monitor audio bronze speakers in a 5.1 setup. The left/ right speakers are the bronze 50 and centre speaker is the C150. Do you the A3 would be a good amp to power the front 3 speakers?
I have around 2 years of Emotiva BasX A3 in my system with Denon X3700h. Running well, but I don't have any experience in others.
The real test, can you understand Bane in Batman.
Haha. I’ll have to give that a try. :-)
Nice review! I run the same A3 paired with my SE7012; I’m finding the front stage makes a “pop” sound upon each boot up of the AVR. Are you having the same issue by any chance?
Hiya. Many thanks for the comment.
Yes, I also get a slight pop when my AVR and A3 powers up. It’s definitely the A3 as it wasn’t there before, however, it’s not very loud so I’ve not been to bothered by it. If it were louder I’d have probably been concerned about long term speaker damage. :-)
Thanks for such a wonderful detailed review of Emotiva and Marantz: coincidentally we both have same marantz AVR and I am determined to buy the emotiva now.
You’re very welcome, Alex. :-)
Is this emotiva to strong for the polks xt-70 and the Polk center xt-35 ??
Great review. I'm sold. I'm going to order the 3 channel version. Thank you.
I see what looks like a carded stormtrooper hanging above you. Am I right? I currently have life size stormtrooper helmets on each of my tower speakers. That is my favorite costume character.
Ah great. I’m sure you’ll like the amp. :-)
Yes, that’s a carded TK from Karbonite Kustoms. I build stormtrooper helmets and armour so stormtroopers are quite a big thing for me. :-)
Just a heads up. The track "You and Your Friend" is the Dobro and Knopflers legendary 1958 Les Paul. Not his Strat.
Very well done brother. I also agree with you 1000%
Many thanks, Lawrence. :-)
My five channel also runs very cool, I use it for surround channels. Thought it might be class D or something. Also have an MC1, and drive my mains with a Parasound A23
Thank you Dan for your honest clear and concise review. Your review on the A3 has helped me make up my mind. I will definately be adding the A3 to my system within the next few days. I have one question though. What is the trigger switch connection for?
Hi Samuel,
Thank you for your comments.
The trigger allows the BasX to power up when your AVR does. So, when I power up my Marantz, a 12v trigger signal is sent to the BasX and powers it up. The same works in reverse, to the BasX powers off when the Marantz does. :-)
@@cableguydan I have one more question. I can't decide between the A3 or A4, what would you go for?
For me, it was all about giving the LCR a more dedicated power source as they are so crucial to a surround sound setup. For that reason, I wanted the A3 and the power that comes with it. :-)
@@cableguydan thanks for that answer. You helped me decide which model to go for. Model A3 was ordered this morning. Can't wait for it to arrive and set it up. I'll follow up here once connected.
Hi Dan.
My basx A3 arrived, and I've paired it up with my Marantz cinema 50 and Piega TS5 LCR set up. I've been breaking it in, these past few days. From the minute I powered up the emotiva (I can only liken it to the fog lifting). My Piega LCR speakers are all 4ohms so hard to drive effectively. Whilst the Marantz sound from them was warm and detailed, with the emotiva handling the front stage now. I feel the full Potential of my Piega front stage speakers has now been fully unleashed. I'm hearing instruments like fine strings that I never knew were present (steely Dan). There seems to be more headroom available to push the speakers further. And as for the bass it's sounding richer and more rounded without sounding boomy. Thanks again for putting me onto this awesome power amplifier! Keep up the simple concise posting! Thanks again for all you do Dan.
Well done!
Great video new sub!
Nice review Dan. I have the Marantz SRI 7011 also and ordered the A3 two days ago. I use Martin Logan 40s and a center ML . I also have 4 in ceiling MLS as height speakers and 2 ML side surround and 2 ML rear surrounds plus one ML subwoofer. I plan to use the A3 for the front stage to FINALLY set up my rear surrounds. I’ve not used them since I ran out of powered speaker support on the SR7011 and still wanted the 4 heights. My question is: will the SR7011 recognize the A3 front stage through the pre-outs and allow setup of the heights and rear surrounds powered by the SR7011? I expect it will but have not done it obviously. Basically, Ive got a 5.1.4 (9 channels driven by SR 7011) now and want a 7.1.4 (8 driven by SR7011, 3 driven by A3)…I think. Thanks so much!
Hi John,
Thanks for your kind words. :-)
From memory, when changing the amp and pre-out assignment, changing the “pre-out” to “front” takes care of it. This allows the Marantz to provide power for Center*, Surr L/R, Surr Back L/R, Top front L/R, Top Rear L/R.
Obviously, with the A3 you won’t need to power the Centre channel from Marantz, this is just the way the Marantz operates. :-)
Looking forward to the Arendals with the Bas-X combination. More such detailed reviews needed. I have the previous gen Anthem-MRX 720; was wondering if this would benefit my LCRs.
Thanks, A A. The Arendals are arriving tomorrow 🚚 (all things willing) so I’ll run them in and then give my thoughts on them. I’ll be replacing the 7 bed layer speakers for now, keeping the current in-ceiling B&W CCM665. I’m expecting quite a significant improvement over the B&W 600 series. :-)
If I switch the receiver to pure direct, will the receiver automatically shut off the center channel light and provide the higher 2-channel wattage of 150w per channel?
Like you I have the Marantz SR7011 and just purchased the Emotiva A3. Have a quick question, did you rerun the room correction after connecting or just plug and play?
Hi Paul,
Good choice of setup. It’s a great AVR, isn’t it. :-)
Initially, I ran it plug and play, then recalibrated. It was a while back now, but, I don’t remember there being a huge difference. I guess that’s because the BasX is neutral and doesn’t add any extra “flavour” to the sound. 🤩
@@cableguydan Dan, thank you so much for the video’s and feedback. Keep up the good work.
No worries, Paul. Many thanks for following the videos. Much appreciated. ☺️🙏
Great video! In the marantz there is a option called surround parameter it has loudness management on do you use it? I think is on by default
Hi Bryan. Many thanks. 🙏👍🏻
Thanks for the tip. I always disable Loudness Management and Dynamic Volume after Audyssey. 👍🏻☺️
Hi mate ive just ordered this today to.go with my denon 3800h 5.1.2 im curious if if made the right choice as my denon3800h amplifies 9 channels and im at 7 and with the sub , im just connecting my front 3 to the emotiva , will i notice a difference for the better ? My avr will then just power my side surrounds, front heights and subwoofer.
Got myself a Denon AVC-X4700H which sounds amazing but i want to switch off the power amp stage to optimise the processing and preamp side. It was a toss-up between this and the Rotel RB-1552 Mk2; i ordered blind online and the Emotiva (A3) arrives soon... 🤞
That’s great, James. I really hope you like it when it arrives. 🤩🤩🤩
@@cableguydan thanks! The 4700H is already a step up from my Yamaha R-N500 (which i loved to be fair). But I'm going whole hog on my av kit this year (all things being relativel of course). I'm new to your channel so i haven't looked yet, but do you have any experience with SVS subs? I just ordered a PB-1000 Pro which is (physically) huge but i wanted something that was fast enough and deep enough for music (A0 on a piano is 27.5hz).
@@enterthebiscuit sounds like you have an exciting year ahead of you! 👌🤩
I’m afraid I’m not familiar with the SVS range, personally. The AV side of my channel is quite new so I’m slowly growing my knowledge based on products I’ve bought for my own setup.
I’ve heard good things about SVS subs, especially from folks in the US. I get the impression they are good value for money and solid performers.
@@enterthebiscuit I've the same setup, x4700H and I have SVS-SB-3000 pair. Try those and you'll surely be impressed with the power those subs deliver with compact size as compared to PB series.
I enjoy the video clip. I have Emotiva BAS X 500 amp the sound is not coloured it has nice clean sound the centre speaker is lot better to compare to the avr amplifier and watching movies is great improvement. Plus I have subscribed to your channel. Cheers
Hi Gary,
Yes, I’m also really pleased with the BasX series. As you say, a nice clean sound.
Thanks for the sub, too. 👍🏻🙏🤩
Thank you for your reply. 👍
Hey Dan do you also have a video how you made the acoustic treatment and why you placed them at the locations you did?
Hi Norman,
I don’t have anything specific on acoustic treatment, I’m afraid.
For me, I used the mirror trick for positioning the foam tiles on the walls. The low cost foam made a subtle difference, although in the longer term I’d prefer to replace them with proper acoustic panels. :-)
Nicely Done.
I was wondering if this Bas X A3 might help me from not riding the volume knob on my Denon receiver
while watching action movies with a lot of sound effects ?
When dialogue volume is set to a comfortable listening levels it then is very uncomfortable to hear sound effects :(
or maybe there is a setting on the receiver to cap the db levels ?
Thanks in advance.
Hi Deadline,
I wouldn’t say it really changes the volume that you listen at, it just takes some stress off of your AVR.
For my ears, it also allowed the LCR speakers to perform better. This means they can go a little louder without becoming harsh. However, for me it’s not really about playing them louder - it’s about the better performance at various volume levels.
With regards to the dialogue getting lost, I’m afraid I don’t really suffer from that often. As my room is not attached to other rooms (that would bother anyone else), I can listen at good levels for the dialogue - when the effects come in (usually louder than the dialogue for dramatic effect), I ride the storm.
Perhaps in your setup you could raise the centre channel volume a little if it’s not feeling balanced? It’s not ideal, but find what works best for you. I don’t think the BasX (or any 3-ch power amp) will “fix” the issue you’ve described. It sounds more of a balance/calibration issue.
☺️
For those prices you would be crazy not to add one to a surround system.
Nice review. How do u connect your subwoofer to? And are u able to control the volume when connecting to the Emotiva using the AVR volume control or you need to control both volume seperately?
Thanks Chris. 🙏
Your sub (or subs) still connect to your AVR’s subwoofer output.
Thankfully, the Emotiva volume works along with the AVR, so no need to adjust separate volume controls. :-)
@@cableguydan many thanks sir. Looks like the amp suit my needs.
Excellent. I’m certainly happy with mine. 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻
Also, thanks for subscribing. 🙏☺️🙏
@@cableguydan I'm your new fan ✌️ cheers
Good morning
Thanks for your videos ( unboxing and this one ) . I just bought the BAS XA3, do you have a cable ref to connect to the amplifier (pre out) ? ( 10 / 50 euros )
Your subwoofers look fairly large. You don't find having two of them overkill for a room of your size?
Hi Batman,
Personally, no. You can always turn down a large sub. It’s harder to get good performance out of a sub too small for the room.
I have the 2x 12” XTZ subs at the front and 2x 10” sealed Bowers and Wilkins subs at the rear. As they are all time aligned and EQd via a Mini DSP 2x4HD, the bass is very controlled and well integrated with the main speakers. :-)
Sweet haircut! 👍
What is wrong with you?
Got an A5 for 4 heights & A7 for bedlayer. My 7.2.4. Guys, ya don't need an XPA if you live in an apt or amps r 6 feet or less from avr/processor. Buy what u need not what u see on YT
How does it sound with the arendal speakers? I know they are 4ohm rated I just got my front 3 and want to know if it would be a good match thanks!
Hi Bryan,
I’m very pleased with the Arendals and the Emotiva seems to power them well. I’ve done some demos at quite high volumes and not noticed any distortion or anything like that. The A3 seems to be handling it well.
Here’s the Arendal review that I did - the BasX A3 was powering the LCR throughout. :-)
ua-cam.com/video/nd-7Jx2qjOA/v-deo.html
Hi Dan, I’m waiting on arendal 1961 5.1 speakers to be delivered in January.
2x monitor
2x bookshelf
Centre
Sub
Do you think the denon x4700h is enough to run this? Or should I get the Bas-x to power the LCR?
Any advised would be appreciated
Hi James,
I’d say that the Denon would be fine. Many people run their systems with just their AVR and have great setups. I ran my system for years with the AVR doing all the work and it was fine.
Adding the BasX A3 was just a bit of a luxury, really. It HAS made a difference, in a positive way, but I’d probably try them with your Denon and see how you get on.
Adding a power amp later is a nice treat. :-)
@@cableguydan thanks for the reply. I was a little skeptical with them being a 4ohm speaker and read they need more power and also can make the avr run a little hot. Will try the avr on its own and see how I get on. Thanks again
Is there a difference in sound between the Emotiva BasX A-500 and the A5? The older A-500 has a bit more watts per channel, does that mean that one has better sound?
Hi Mike. I'm afraid I've not tried the A-500 series. I believe the 2nd generation BasX series have been designed to perform a little better than the 1st Gen, so I'd assume the A5 should be better in some areas. Sorry I can't be much help with this.
Great review I have just purchased a basx a5 if I put my ear close to the amp I can hear a hum from the transformer do you hear a hum from yours ? Should I be worried
Hi Philip,
Many thanks. :-)
I’ve just had my ear against my A3 and can’t hear anything. Having said that, it is mounted in the rack so can’t get to all angles, and some other items in the rack are a little more noisy.
@@cableguydan how are you liking your Arendals? I’m currently comparing the SVS ultra package vs the 1723 S theater package. I haven’t gotten the arendals yet but the SVS is incredible
Hi Raymond,
I’m really enjoying them. They are certainly a big step above my previous entry level B&Ws.
I’m still using them regularly for movies and occasionally for music - both perform very well. I’m very pleased with the investment. ☺️👍🏻
@@cableguydan I also had the same B&W center speaker, the 686-S2 bookshelves and the M1s for rear surround and the PV1D for surrounds. They were great for 3 years but I now want to upgrade and get better cinematic sound. I currently have the SVS pc 2000 and PB 3000 and comparing the 2. I’m excited to the Arendals to come so I can compare the SVS ultra system to the Arendals and only keep one. I initially was going to get the B&W CT 7.3 for front stage and 7.4 for the rears. I couldn’t find enough reviews on them but then saw sparechange do a review on them and he mentioned that the Arendals sounded a lot more full than the B&W CT set up. I was torn between all 3 systems but most likely will go with the 1723s monitors based off of your review. Thank you for all that you do 🙏🏽👍🏽
Hello and thank you for the review , can I use it with 6ohm speakers ?
Hi George,
As far as I’m aware, yes, but I’d check with Emotiva just to be sure. To my knowledge, the ohm rating is just the resistance of the speakers. The Emotiva quotes power ratings with 4 and 8ohm speakers, yours would just sit somewhere between the two.
@@cableguydan thank for your reply I appreciate it ! What concerns me is that they only mention 4 and 8 and not 4 to 8 +
I do have a marantz 7008, does the emotiva xbass a3 do okey Job, in front i use jbl e100, i wish to have more juce in front and senter i use 7 speakers, i ges its time to upgrade to a okey budget amp
Good video
Thank you, Victor. Much appreciated. :-)
Hi guys
I have a 7.3.4 setup. My speakers are five pairs of tannoy mercury 7.2 bookshelf speakers and the tannoy mercury 7c Centre speaker and 3 tannoy ts210 subwoofers configured with minidsp 2x4 hd and yamaha cx-a5200 off one subwoofer channel.
I run a basx a-300 for left & right mains.
Basx a3 for Centre speaker and left and right rear speakers.
And a basx a-700 for front and rear atmos speakers and rear surround speakers.
Also running 4 bass shakers on a dayton audio sa230 off the other yamaha cx-a5200 subwoofer channel as they are independent.
I love the Basx amplifiers, they offer such flexibility and options.
Hi there, I could you tell us how your system sounded at low volumes for night time viewing with the BasX A3 with the Arendals.
Thank you.
Hi Ray,
I’ll be honest, it sounds good at all levels. However, as the room is detached from neighbours, I don’t really do much low volume listening, as such. For things like Netflix, my AVR is usually around -25 on the Marantz, so no way near reference but also not really “low”.
Either way, any volume we listen at it’s enjoyable. :-)
@@cableguydan
Would you say that the external amp made your Marantz sound much more expensive for example like an $2000 - $3000 avr. And also I was wondering if the sound of the subwoofer improved. I know it has its own amplification but because the processing on the Marantz improved I am thinking it might send better signal to the subwoofer. Thank you.
Hi Ray,
I feel it’s taken a little load off of the Marantz, so that has helped the overall performance. I wouldn’t say I’ve noticed any improvement in the subs though.
The best improvement to my subs (bass performance) came when I added the Mini DSP 2x4HD. That made a huge difference for a few hundred pounds. :-)
@@cableguydan Ok, so with the mini dsp do you need to buy calibrated mic.
Hi Ray.
Yes. I went for the UMIK-1. I’d say it took around 3-4 hours using REW and following the tutorials of Home Theatre Gamer to get things setup. The results are fantastic.
Just ordered the 1723 Tower S, do you think this amplifier is enough or should I go with the bigger model (3×275W)?
Hiya. Good question. Although I feel that the BasX is doing a good job in my small room, I’d have gone for the XPA series if I had the budget (and perhaps a larger room). Having said that, many people lower their Arendals with their AVR, so either the BasX or XPA series could offer a little more output per channel.
Are you on the Arendal Sound Facebook group? There are lots of 1723 Tower owners there - maybe hop in and ask what they’re running? :-)
What about denon x6700h to emotiva BasX A5 combination is this good dude
And plan to buy emotiva BasX A5 external power amplifier
Pls suggest me the best
Hi @v Hari hara sudhan.
Honestly, I’ve not tried the Denon, however, I’ve read good things about it. Also, I’ve seen good reviews on the BasX A5 so I’m sure you wouldn’t be disappointed.
Personally, I wanted to prioritise the front soundstage, ie Left, Center, Right, as I feel they are crucial for a good system. As such, I prefer the idea of the A3 with its extra power per channel. Your Denon then has enough power for your surrounds and Atmos. I feel that my Marantz handles the surrounds a little better since upgrading (but that might just be wishful thinking).
Hope that helps a little. ☺️👍🏻
@@cableguydan thank you dude☺️❤️
Hi. I have just installed the BasX A3 to my LCR, Arendal 1961 Monitor and center to my Marantz SR7009. I do hear some noise floor when I am close to the speakers. Would you say that is normal/ok from this amp? Do you or anyone else hear this noise? I only hear it when the sound is muted, so it is comming from the amp I would say.
Thanks
Hi Visse,
I’ve not noticed anything specific to my LCR (powered by the A3). I have a very minor hum of some sort across all of my speakers, but this is only audible when your ear is up against the speakers. As such, I don’t think it’s a specific issue with the A3, just perhaps an earthing issue in the setup.
sir,i have bose 901s and some nice towers,i looked at preamps they only have speaker inputs for right and left,im thinking of buying a evotiva 4 channel amp,how can i run both speakers if the preamp only has inputs right n left
Hi Erik,
It's hard to say without seeing the Preamp. However, a Preamp usually doesn't have speaker inputs. They usually have audio inputs (like HDMI, RCA, Digital optical/coaxial etc). The Preamp would then have pre-outs (RCA or XLR) that go to a power amplifier. The BasX only have RCA inputs, so the preamp would also need to have RCA outputs.
I bought the A3 and I dont have a receiver yet,in your opinion should I had gone the other way around?
Hi Mike. Having a receiver gives you the processing for Dolby and DTS, for example. Do you have a separate processor in your system?
@@cableguydan correction I have a receiver but it's old and doesn't have pre outs
Ah, okay. To make the most of the A3, I’d consider pairing it with a nice processor or AVR. Personally, I’ve had good experiences with Denon and Marantz. ☺️👍🏻
Do you get a quiet noise/interference through your speakers that are connected to the amp?
Hi Jonathan,
My system has a very faint hum, however, I’m 95% sure that this is coming from my Yamaha power amp, not the Emotiva.
Hello Friend,
I received my Emotiva BasX A3 two days back, I watched your BasX A3 review video & from that time I wanted it for my front stage. When I received it l was so happy, but as soon as I connect it to my Denon AVR-X4700H my AVR starts to heat up very fast & got very very hot in no time. Even I can't use it for 10-15 minutes. In fact Denon AVR should have run Cooler after using external amplifier. I tried everything that I know but nothing is working. Can you guide me if there is some way or some settings that can be helpful. Please help me out on this I will very grateful of you...🙏🏼
Hi Shakir,
Thanks for your feedback.
I’m sorry to hear that your Denon appears to be running hotter now. I’ll be honest, my Marantz AVR always ran pretty hot - as such, I’ve been running a cooling fan on it for years, even before adding the Emotiva, I’ve not noticed any increase in heat output.
Apart from the suggestion of adding a cooling fan, what you’ve described is not something I’ve heard or read about. If I’m doubt, perhaps drop an email to Denon and see if they have heard of this.
Given the heat the AVRs can give out, I’d recommend a cooling fan either way, just to try and pull that heat away from the internals of the AVR. ☺️
Hi Shakir.
Not sure if you have resolved this issue already? For your information there are settings in your Demon AVR ( I have the Marantz cinema50 - both makes share nearly identical settings). You'll need to go into set up - speakers - manual set up - amp assign - assign mode. Select this pathway and change your channels to highest setting allowed. Mines is 11.1 (Marantz). This high channel selection lets the AVR know that you want to power additional channels beyond its own internal amp availability. That should work as the internal amps that power your front stage will now be directed to draw power from your external emotiva basx power amp. Rather than the Denon AVR's internal ones. Hope that helps.
@@cableguydan Thanks for your Guidance Dan, & sorry for replying late, yes I have already started using cooling fan & after that no problem at all, anyway thanks a Ton for your guidance...👍🏼🙏🏼
@@sawolaja65 Thanks Samuel for your guidance yes I was using the same settings & now I have started to use cooling fan on top of my AVR & that has resolved my Problem so now it's working fine & no issues at all. Anyway thanks a Ton for your guidance...👍🏼🙏🏼
Does the Emotiva Basx A3 have auto off , auto on inputs ? Please tell me its not always gonna be on..
Hi there.
No - not that I’m aware of. Only via the front on/off switch or via the 12v trigger input (as I’m running it). ☺️👍🏻
What RCA cable you use? I'm looking for single RCA cable rather than comes in pair
Hi Mohd,
Although they’re not showing available now, I purchased 3x Van Damme single RCAs. They’re listed as SPDIF cables, however, I checked online and it appears that they are also fine for analog signals.
SPDIF Digital Audio Video Coaxial Cable. RCA to RCA. Van Damme 75ohm Coax Phono (1m, Cream) www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B079LHHY3Y/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_SEE8YA3J1CQ59A2GZFYN?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1
Thanks for the reply
Monolith and Outlaw any day over emotiva
Fair enough. I’ve not tried either of those but I’ve also heard good things. 👍🏻
Monolith and Outlaw are hard to get in the UK, and if you can find them they are more expensive than the Emotiva BasX range, I have the Emotiva BasX A3 and A4 powering my 7 base levels speakers, My Denon X6700H power the 6 Heights, and I have two SVS PB1000 subs, that's more that enough for me, and the immersion is great.
Test sound please
Hi Bernus,
I might do one at some point, however, it’s unlikely to be accurate. My recording via an iPhone with a Rode mic, then viewed on UA-cam, will probably not give you a good sense of how it sounds in real life. That’s why I tried to be as descriptive as possible in the video.
Hope that makes sense. ☺️👍🏻
Still have ? Still recommend?
Hi Sham Rock.
Yes, I’m still running the A3 and still enjoying it. I’m now powering 3x Arendal Sound 1723 Monitor S THX speakers (4ohm) and the A3 is still performing well. :-)
I don’t have the amplifier yet, but How do you balance the 3 front speakers on the amplifier, withe the rest , eg LR surround, back surround, from the receiver, since the difference in power will be quite large.
Hi Jaime,
Once the amp is connected and you’ve configured the pre-outs, you can then re-run the calibration. The mic will measure the speakers in the usual way and adjust all channels accordingly.
I did this and the integration is superb. :-)
Please vidéo sound demo🔊🔊🔊
hi
can i connect the Emotiva BasX A-300 Stereo Amplifier to a yamaha rx -a 3080 av receiver for two channel sound end how do i connect it (speakers are the Klipsch RP-8000F ).
ps : and are there any other good amp brands around 1000$ for this yamaha receiver .
thanks and grz: from Ben (Belgium)
Hi Ben,
It looks like the RX-A3080 has a pre-out section. As such, you should be able to use the pre-outs and connect these to your BasX A-300 via RCA cables.
I’d suggest checking the Yamaha manual to check if you have to make any settings changes to allow use of the pre-outs.
Regarding other power amps, so far, I only have experience of the Emotiva power amp. Although, I have had good experiences with Yamaha, Denon, Marantz, and Rotel for either AVRs, PA amps or two channel amps.
If you’re looking to add another power amp, I’d consider a good 3-channel amp for your front left, centre and right. Then use the A-300 for your left and right surrounds. These 5 speakers tend to be the most active in a system and are a good choice for additional power amps.
☺️👍🏻