So glad you did this demonstration! A few years ago, when I was an amp newbie, I couldn't find this kind of video anywhere on youtube. Thank you so much...
Nice, The BASX A3 Made a big difference in my front sound stage. When I moved into my new home and have my own man cave I had problem with my LRC speakers. I was about to change all my speakers and receivers. I started reviewing Emotiva amps. Boy the A3 made a difference and save me thousands of dollars.
I'm considering doing the same for my front 3 speakers. My questions is, will it make a difference if I only listen at moderate volumes, say 65-75 DB? My front towers are rated up to 300W but with 88db sensitivity, so they already get plenty loud. I'm just looking to make them sound more refined with punchier bass. Any thoughts?
@@ryanw8664 88db speakers are not very sensitive so definitely will benefit from a high powered amplifier, The A3 will be very good in your case. I have Klipsch reference premiere speakers and will be getting A7 as they are very sensitive at >90db so no need to so much power to drive them. I also have Jamo 809 towers which are near your speakers in sensitivity. They work just fine on my Denon 3700H but don't get really loud. When I tried external amp (a cheap one) the volume became very low as they are more demanding than Klipsch.
Hello good sir, I just wanted to take the time to tell you that I appreciate the depth in explaining how things work as well as making direct and honest comparisons. Your presentation seems very well put together, informative, and trustworthy. Thanks!
@@HomeTheaterHobbyist Thanks for putting a detailed explanation about this amplifier. I purchased the A3, but I was thinking of returning it and purchasing this one instead for my current setup. I have the Onkyo TX-NR Z50 and the Costco reference system 5.0.2, plus 2 klipsh R-41SA upfiring Dolby Atmos Speakers and a pair of the SVS Elevation speakers, which I haven't installed them yet. I barely hear anything from the R-41SA ( upfiring or up on the wall). Do you recommend the A3 for the front stage and leave the AVR to power the other 8 channels, or vice-versa, the AVR to power the front and the A7 for the other channels?. I might return the upfiring speakers and just keep a 5.1.4 or a 7.1.2 instead. Any input would be greatly appreciated 🙏. Do you do live streaming? Greetings from Houston, Texas
@@menacordero1 I am also looking for answers. I plan on getting the Marantz Cinema 40 when it finally comes out. I have the X5 on order and wonder if I made a mistake...... I plan on using only three channels for now, LCR and keep the 2 extra channels for future use. Should I buy say, and not too offend but a cheaper AVR such as the RZ which Is less than half the cost of the Marantz Cinema 40 because for my main three channels I will be driving my LCR with the X5 and not the AVR.... So question really is, is it worth the extra money for the the higher quality AVR when I really will only be driving surrounds and Atmos speakers with the AVR? Hope I made sense.... So again basically is the X5 sound quality better than the RZ, or Cinema 40???
@menacordero1 you'll want to keep the A3 for your front stage, those three speakers take the most power, leave the RZ50 to power the rest. The A3 is rated to provide 140w RMS per channel across all three, the RZ50 is rated to provide 90w RMS per channel all channels driven. Also the RZ50 has a Klipsch mode in setup, it sets up the crossover levels based on each speaker model and basically is hardware tuned, so you don't need to. Use the provided mic and Dirac to adjust levels of all of your speakers tuned to your listening position.
@Johnboy the RZ50 is by no means a low quality unit. What you pay for with higher end models are dual subwoofer channels and balanced speaker connections. Of course there are other features added and maybe a little more power, but it really depends on the speakers you're pushing, if they are run of the mill Cosco or Best Buy kits, then you don't need the extra hardware, if you're running speakers that are thousands of dollars a pair, then maybe.
I always like your informative videos. I really appreciate your quick tutorial on how to hook up a separate amplifier to an AVR. I'm new to this and have wondered about that part. 👍🏽
Great comprehensive review! Thanks for comparing to Monolith, they are both high value options. Nice to see your Arendals showing up in the tests too, I just got my shipment in!
Great observation test , i do like the test of hear the tweeter and Woofer very close, inside the cone with the ear. I always had this doubts with the equipments turned on , if it was dead quiet or it has some very low hiss and hum ... Thanks !
Love my Emotiva amps! 2 major upgrades were adding the Pangea AC9 SE power cord and the IsoAcoustics Orea series under all your equipment…especially under my Emotiva power conditioner. Make sure you check your weight for the type of Oreas you need. Say goodbye to noise and hello to openness and clarity like you would never believe! It’s not at all a small upgrade and once you hear it…I will never go without.
I got a basx A2 loved it so much I then got a A5 so got 7 channels running on the Basx and only my four Atmos height speakers and sub being powered from my Marantz SR7015 so I get 7.1.4 - the soundstage is clear and well defined and 5.1 music is superb. I use a trigger out to fire up the A5 from the A2.
Hello, I have a Marantz cinema 70s with 2 Klipsch 600 RPM II for fronts , with a Denon Sub and two rears, and center, would you recommend the A7, I normally watch movies and played music, for 5.1 surround.
@@HomeTheaterHobbyist pops used to have 5 15" electro voice mounted to the floor of the house in the crawl space. When I listen to welcome to the machine I can still see the paper plate floating in the air from all the pressure!
I just subscribe to your channel about 5 days ago I watched several of your videos. I must say that you are on point, with your comments, advice, simple to watch and not over explain!! I am working on a 7.2.2 setup and one of the additions I just added was the Emotiva base X4 amp to my Marantz 6011 Avr (Upgrade I know). I'm using Klipsch RP (L R C R, LR, RR and waiting on Atmos speakers for top of front 8000F's) speakers just purchased about a year ago, and added a second 10" sub. Any recommendations when I do decide to upgrade my AVR having a budget about $$2,500-$3K? Keep up the good work!!
Thank you so much for subbing and watching the videos! 😁 Your setup sounds great!! I did a quick specs peek and that receiver has some of the latest codecs (Atmos, DTS X) so you're good there. It's also supports 4K passthrough with HDR and Dolby Vision via firmware update so for the most part you are good. I think the biggest upgrade maybe if you were to go with a receiver that supports Dirac room correction with bass management. I haven't spent much time with it but a lot of people praise the work they're doing over at Dirac. Overall I would wait another 2 years or so before upgrading. I don't think there are a whole lot of "features" you're missing unless you really want 8K support. Even that could probably wait another 2 years for the tech to mature. Hopefully this helps. Thanks again for supporting the channel.
Saw this vid after I’ve already ordered the Basx A3 here in Canada (supposed to arrive today). Not so cheap by the time converted to Cdn and shipping costs, but looking forward to using it with my Denon 4400 for L/C/R, and adding 2 height channels to fully have a 7.2.4 system. Also only realized we can do 7.2.5 with Aurel 3D voice of god, ceiling centre by using Sub 2 output, and splitting Sub 1 to feed both subs. So cool we can do this at home without having to be rich 😊
I currently run 2 emotiva basx A4 and one emotiva basx A3 and my preamp is my denon avr‑x3700h and all klipsch reference series speakers not the best but it gets the job done beautifully
I have the Emotiva A3, and A4 for my base level speakers, running a Denon avr-x6700h, plus 2 SVS active subs, the Denon is currently powering the six height speakers. In my set up, I was gonna go all external amp, but i'm more than happy with what I have, and don't think I really need to. So 7.2.6 all the immersion I need and the wife and neighbours need as well. lol.
I received my BasX A7 yesterday(Tuesday). Waiting on Saturday to get the rest of the gear- banana plugs, wire, speaker stands, component fan- to do the installation. Currently running 5.3.4, & will be stepping up to 7.3.4. on Saturday with a Denon AVR X3800H. As it is now, on lively action/sci-fi movies, ATMOS mastered music or concert videos, that 3800 gets HOT! Hopefully this move will cool things down significantly. For my room, about 20×25 feet, the 3800 gets plenty loud and sometimes has startling dynamics- again Im saying- at the price of getting HOT. This A7 should be plenty, more than enough power to keep me happy.
Great video. The speaker thump when using the trigger signal would be a deal breaker for me. Like you said, it's probably not going to do any real damage, but it doesn't feel good. Hearing that pop and worrying about your expensive speakers is not a good feeling. I understand that in this hobby, even $699 is at the "entry level" end of the price range, but at that price I'd expect better.
The XPA line is a step up in price so it may not have the same issue. Also I used a standard trigger cable same as comes in the box with the A7. That hasn’t happened with other amps so I don’t think it the cable.
@P T interesting. I'd assume that if the trigger thump was a design issue the whole lineup (A3, A4, A5, A7) would all have it. Maybe Emotiva has a quality control issue and Cody got a bad one.
5.1.2 Klipsch rp600m & 404c center. Denon x3800h. Will the basx a3 make a notable difference on front stage or save my cash? 🤔 I am about 9 feet away from the mains so I’m not crazy far. Thanks.
I was initially impressed with the two preamps I bought. I own the Basx 5 and Basx 6 . I have a Denon 3700h receiver and am running all channels pre out. I could watch movies at night and wouldn’t need the stereo above 5 and was surprised by this but loved the clean clear output even at low volumes. Jump ahead a year or more and I decided to buy the Basx 2 and Basx 3 in hopes of getting more overall boost with the front sound stage. Upon connecting both new preamps I immediately notice a lacking in sound. I had to turn volume up at night to 15-20 to hear dialogue clearly. I messed around with settings redoing audyssey and raising input and source settings, but nothing worked. I reconnected my original 5 and 6 channel pre amps only to discover the exact same scenario. Currently I have to listen to my stereo at 25 or higher to hear the dialogue now. Not happy. Not sure what’s wrong but it leaves a lot to be desired. The sound seems fine during daytime when naturally set at higher volumes, but now I have to set it even louder than previously. I have failed every attempt to return my audio settings to the original set up. nothing works. I may have to look into anthem or monolith.
Would you recommend this a7? I have for my fronts klipsch rp-600m ii, center r-25, rears r-41sa and front height r-41m. Last question getting an amp will this help my denon x3600h to cool down not heat up?
Hey I just want to thank you for doing these reviews! You do a great job. My question is do you have any reviews of the Aperion Grand Versus on the horizon?
Can you for example, Use a. More powerful 3 channel separate amp for your fronts L-C-R channels thru the preamp outs. And your receiver s built in amps for your rears and height channels
I have the Yamaha rx v6a 100 watts per channel 7.1 receiver with Klipsch RP-600m ll fronts and also Klipsch side and back surround speakers and a RSL Speedwoofer 10S MK2. I feel like I need more power. What can you recommend? Thanks
That’s a pretty good amp with efficient speakers so you’re doing pretty well. I like my Monoprice Monolith 7 channel amp but I don’t notice a ton of difference when running my Klipsch Reference Premiere line. I notice the difference more with other less efficient speakers like the Arendal 1723S.
Swear to Allah/jesus/Buddah you read my mind 🤣. Just 5 minutes ago, recieved my A7. I'm now 100% full pre-out mode. X4700h, A5 & A7 & 77" Lg Gx for a full 7.2.4 set up. My set up is soooo nice. Love that videos brotha ✊🏿
Hello. I have X3700 with 5.2.2. Klipsch rp seriest set. I'm waiting for A7. Can I ask you which way is better - full pre-out mode or to set to 11.1 speakers and selecting just front to be pre-out? I was told that full pre-out mode made a better sound.
@dimitardimitrov4428 Full pre-out mode is better for better sound. Letting your amps do what they do and the avr breath. Separate amps always give better sound for speakers then what your avr aka jack of all trades does
I have the older A-700 7 channel model. same issue with speaker pop and buzz when the amp is active. Paired with a marantz AVR. Emotiva does not ground their products at all so thats why it happens. Amir at AudioScienceReview revealed this in a A-500 benchtest. Overall it is a budget product with corners cut You get what you pay for
Sounds like an issue with your unit, I have had two A700 amps in my system and they were both dead silent as far as thumps loop/ground noise etc was concerned.
Great video. I have been looking to add an amplifier to my set up and this video helped me pull the trigger. I just bought the Emotiva A7. Question: have you ever considered adding an equalizer to a home theater system? I just find it that I can control how I listen to my music. I find that my Yamaha does not do a good job of adding treble. Am I missing something?
Thanks for watching! No, I haven’t tried adding an eq. So I can’t recommend any but obviously I’ve used them in other scenarios and they work. Are you saying you have a Yamaha eq system or AVR?
@@HomeTheaterHobbyist I have a Yamaha AVR and I am thinking about adding an eq on top of the amp I just bought. The eq would allow me to have more control of the music I listen to. The Yamaha is a great AVR but I can not get it to sound the way I like it. Granted I am not an expert when it comes to fine tuning it. Thank you for responding to my question.
If you have a surround sound receiver connected, and you switch to pure-direct two channel stereo for phono listening, does the receiver know to bridge the power to only the front l/r speakers? Do the lights on the amplifier representing the channels not receiving a signal turn off?
Fantastic video, I'm currently looking into these as have just purchased the denon 3800h. I need another two channels of amplification to achieve 7.4.4. As the inbuilt amps will only do 7.4.2. So from this I recon the ax2 would fit the bill ? And then a complete noob question.. I assume the avr still controls the volume of the channels ?
Yes, the A2 should work fine but maybe go for the A3 and use it to power front left, right, and center. That way you gave the same amp powering all the fronts. Yes, connect to the pre-amp connection and then the AVR will control the volume.
I use the last on, first off for these amps. Turn everything on before turning on the amps. When powering off, I do the reverse, turn all amps off, then turn of everything after. Zero pops or thumping from speakers.
Do you get pops if you don’t use that method? Folks are saying they don’t get pops regardless so I’m trying to determine if I got a bad review unit or something else.
@@HomeTheaterHobbyist It’s the trigger for the pops and thumping issue. As soon as I removed the trigger setup and went back to manual turning on the power on the back and then power on from the front of the BaSX amp, zero problems. As far as the feedback or humming, I’m hearing very faint sound when setting my Denon to max volume, and putting my ear against the tweeter and woofer. I normally listen to -20 from zero on the Denon volume setting for movies and -30 from zero on the Denon volume setting for music. I sit 6.5 feet from the front stage. I’m using the BaSX 3 channel amp for the front L and R, the BaSX 4 channel amp for the side and rear surrounds. The BaSX 7 channel amp for the 6 height channels and finally the EMOTIVA XPA-1 for the center channel. I use 2 smaller subs and the Denon 6700h in full pre amp mode. There is immediate clarity and power from the XPA-1, that is why I use it just for the center channel, since most of the dialogue is from the center channel. Well hope this helps
@@HomeTheaterHobbyist I forget where I saw a recommendation to use a monoblock for the center channel. In future time, I’m looking into another 2 monoblocks, 1 for the left and 1 for the right channel.
I use triggers from my Denon x3600h to my BasX A3 and then to my BasX A5 and I’ve never had that speaker thump problem. Currently all of my base layer speakers are Emotiva (C3+, T1+, B1+). Before that I had all Klipsch towers and never experienced that thump with them either.
Hey home entertainment guy, what would you do with my setup? I sit at a serta recliner in front of 3 50 inch TVs on a home entertainment stand. Top shelf is my center speaker. Second shelf is my reciever. Third shelf is modem/router/switch. Last shelf is empty. How would you fill that shelf with your needs/wants/desires. And I don't need a NAS. Just asking people who spend a lot of time thinking about this stuff.
Wow, this is pretty broad but I would add a 4K UHD player like the Panasonic UB820 (amzn.to/3laulPG), a streaming box like the Roku Ultra (amzn.to/3JOwoDv) or Apple TV 4K (amzn.to/3l6SHtz) and an external amplifier like the BasX series from Emotiva if your receiver has Pre-out connections. Hopefully this helps. 😁
I was wondering if I could simply use my old Denon 1913 as a Amplifier since it’s in perfect working condition with my Onkyo 840 AVR vs purchasing an amplifier?
What is better for my setup (Marantz Cinema 50 / Monitor Audio Silver 500 7G floorstanders / Center MA Silver C250 7G / Surround MA Silver 50 7G / 5x in ceiling speakers / SVS SB 1000 pro) where I want to create Auro-3D with 10.1 layout (5.1.5) and power the FR FL FC with BasX A3 having 140 W RMS per channel and the rest with Cinema 50 AVR or get the BasX A7, use 6 channels and Bi Amp the FR FL FC and use the remaining channel for Top Surround in ceiling speaker (the rest speakers powering with Cinema 50 AVR)? Goal is to get more power for the FR FL FC speakers as they are power hungry ones: recommended AMP is 80-250W for the floorstanders and 80-200W for the center speaker. Thank you.
I'm considering the A5, but also thinking about an Outlaw 5000x. The prices are the difference for me. Is the extra cost of a 5000x worth the extra watts per channel? Thank you so much for your help.
I haven’t tried any outlaw products but I’ve heard excellent things about them so……. If your speakers are not as efficient (less than 88db for instance) then go for it.
@@HomeTheaterHobbyist Thank you for responding! I have Klipsch Reference speakers, f625fa, r52c, f26a as my rear surrounds for a 5.2.4. I want an amp to make a 7.2.4. The fa can support 100 watts continuously. The only reason the Outlaw 5000x is an option is its 120 watts continuously for 5 channels. Between the two models including shipping, the Outlaw is about $240 more. Wasn't sure if that 240 is worth the wattage difference between 90 and 120.
Those speakers are pretty efficient so you probably won't notice much if any difference with the outlaw. But if you ever change out your speakers to a different (less efficient model) then maybe the Outlaw is worth the upgrade. I'm not trying to get you to spend extra money but thought I'd mention this. 😁😁😁 Enjoy!!!
With over half my time spent listening to stereo music, I opted for the BasX A3 because with 2-channels driven that's 150 watts per channel. For theater purposes the A3 drives my LCR speakers. I don't hear the thump when using the trigger from my Onkyo TX-RZ50. Also, can't hear any hum from the speakers . Wonder if it's some type of ground loop issue going on in your setup? Whether it's from a cable grounding or power grounding difficult to tell from here. Did you have your AVR and A7 plugged into the same outlet or different outlets? Often you can eliminate a power ground loop simply by plugging your equipment into the same outlet. Of course, it can still be an issue with the A7 whether that be a design flaw or something wrong with your unit.
I’m so happy you don’t have either of those issues!!!!! 🙌🏾 It could be that I got a bad review unit. Obviously, I have to talk about my experience with the unit I had. If I hadn’t mentioned either thing someone who has a similar experience would try to flame me in the comments section because “I didn’t talk the issue and how I’m an Emotiva fan boy”. 😁😁 Yes, the A7 and processor were plugged into the same surge protector, I tried two different surge protectors to verify the ground noise.
I have the RZ50 as well and was thinking of doing the same as you with the A3. What kind of speakers are you using and did you notice a big difference? My fronts are Polk R700s with a recommended wattage of 50-300W. I only listen at moderate volumes and they already get plenty loud, so I'm looking for improved performance at lower volumes, not increased volume output.
@@ryanw8664 the speakers I have are about 20 years old, the Athena Technologies AS-F2 (two-way towers). Their power handling were spec up to 250 Watts. While the R700 3-way speakers, if they were both produced at the same time I suspect they would be competitors. I'm not sure how you define "big difference" but all I'll say is I noticed enough of a significant difference in my 2.0/2.1 music listening that I have no regrets buying the A3. The difference is less noticeable for home theater 5.1.2 setup but that may be because I'm not actively listening during TV shows and movies in the same way I do with my music.
Would I get a noticeable difference in sound quality is really that significant? I currently own a yamaha RX- 6VA which sounds great in stero mode sounds clean and gets very loud. I have a 3.1 setup using Infinity R263 towers along with the center channel. At $539 for the 3.1 version it is temping.
I haven't heard those speakers but I took a quick peak at the specs.......... you may notice a little difference if you add the 3 channel version especially with detailed bass but it sounds like you already have a subwoofer handling that so it's not a must buy if you're already happy with your current setup. 😁 Hopefully this helps!
@@HomeTheaterHobbyist yes I have dual monilith 10 subwoofers to take care of the bass. Thank you for your reply looks like I'll save the money instead.
I just bought the motivea 7 for my marantz 50 with sonusfaber speakers sonus 5 f sonus 2s r sonus center .c two h speakers i only going to use for high an rear for now my question is will this be good
Man I'm on the fence with the 5 channel emotiva. I bought the 3 channel baseX and I'm good with it driving my front stage def tech 9060's. How good is the monoprice in your opinion? I'm willing to spend the money on the 5 channel with 200 amps all channels driven. Is it good not great or is it really worth 1500$ it would need to be fantastic. My gut says it really is. Hit me with a second opinion please.
Using the monoprice I notice more bass detail, depth, and dynamics especially with less efficient speakers. But is it worth nearly 3x the price difference between it and the BasX A5? For most people, no. But if you’re an audiophile or just want everything you can get out of your system then maybe. Obviously it also depends on your wallet. 😁 For me owning it is a pleasure but also a business expense because I can use it for various speakers and amp comparisons. Hopefully this answers your question. 😁
@@HomeTheaterHobbyist yes very helpful. I also have a nice 11 channel klipsch theater system going in. Should be easy to push this type of speaker system with my marantz 7015 and a 7055. Would like to include a gen3 emotiva 7 channel. Would you say the BasX is on the same level as the gen3 emotiva amps? Or way better?
The xpa gen 3 is a better amp than the basX line. It has more power and more features including balanced (xlr) inputs. I don’t remember it having any thump issue when I reviewed the 9 channel version a few years ago, here: ua-cam.com/video/XjRs3SlGAyM/v-deo.html. It’s comparable to the monoprice monolith line but the gen3 uses a class G amp while the monolith uses class AB (if memory serves). I compared it to the monolith here: ua-cam.com/video/H1KlCpUNtzc/v-deo.html But yes the xpa gen 3 is better than the BasX line.
Does the AVR sound signal quality matter when using an external amp? I mean is sound quality better when using say a Marantz 8015 vs a Marantz 5011? Should I spend 2k more on an AVR when most of the heavy lifting will be done (in my case LCR) with the X5? (I know the X5 is 5 channel but I will use the other 2 channels at a later time) Thank you!!!! Subbed BTW
This is a great question and thanks for subbing! To me it comes down to two things: 1. The AVRs internal DACs (digital to analog) converters between your two choices. If they are the same then the differences won’t be noticeable but if one is better than the other it may be noticeable. 2. Build quality and specifically isolating the sound signal path. Again if one does a better job then you may notice a difference. The differences I’m referring to are things like image depth, clarity of the sound signal, and channel separation. A lot of higher end receivers buy higher quality components and spend the time to better isolate the signal path so listeners get a cleaner purer sound especially when listening to music. Depending on the signal route that difference can be heard with an external amplifier. Obviously it’s your choice if you decide to spend the money but if you can try them both in your room. If you hear a difference and it’s worth it to spend extra return the other. But if you don’t hear a difference keep the cheaper one. Hopefully this helps. 😁
Great review, looked in to Emotiva my self but with shipping to Europe and import duties the price goes up exceptioally, anyone with link to shop within EU who sell Emotiva? I'm interested in the Basx5
Curious about something, i just bought the Pioneer AVR LX505 and plan on connecting an Emotiva BasX A7 for my front LCR stage. Do I need to go through the Pioneers initial speaker setup having all speakers connected to the pioneer and then once complete connect to the Emotiva?
@@HomeTheaterHobbyist cool thanks for your reply. Ive found your content quite helpful. Emotiva isn't a brand that is distributed here in Australia i was lucky enough to find an BasX A7 on ebay after having to return a tonewinner 5 channel amp. So thanks!
@Home Theater Hobbyist . Thanks for putting a detailed explanation about this amplifier. I purchased the A3, but I was thinking of returning it and purchasing this one instead for my current setup. I have the Onkyo TX-NR Z50 and the Costco reference system 5.0.2, plus 2 klipsh R-41SA Dolby Atmos Speakers and a pair of the SVS Elevation speakers, which I haven't installed them yet. I barely hear anything from the R-41SA ( upfiring or up on the wall). Do you recommend the A3 for the front stage and leave the AVR to power the other 8 channels, or vice-versa, the AVR to power the front and the A7 for the other channels?. I might return the upfiring speakers and just keep a 5.1.4 or a 7.1.2 instead. Any input would be greatly appreciated 🙏. Do you do live streaming? Greetings from Houston, Texas.
#951 like ------- awesome video ... question so is it worth say buying a $2000 receiver then separate amps for it or buy a processor then amps for that? what is the cheaper rout?
I Just Want a 2ch BasX So I Can Hook It Up To a Yamaha Aventage RX-A4A So It Can Take The Load Off My From Running My 2 Front L/R Polk Audio Monitor 75T Floorstanding Loudspeakers.
I finally tied an Outlaw amp and I really like it. It's going to be the amp I recommend to most people from now on. Here's my review: ua-cam.com/video/T5CE9X7_F_Y/v-deo.html
7:18 "Oh! my God!, these are not Audiophile grade RCA cables O2-free and distortion free" (just kidding, I think those work great at short distances if they are built with a minimal quality)
So how does it drive 7 channels. Using 2 inputs per channel gets you 3.5 channels. By your demo I would need 2 amps to get 7 channels from a reciever like yours.
A friend is selling his BasX A7 and he let me borrow it to test. I have an Onkyo RX1100 which is bench tested at 103Wx7 and the A7 is rated at 90Wx7. With the A7 connected, I heard no aural difference or improvement from my full range Definitive Technology setup. I heard maybe a slightly cleaner sound at or above reference but I never listen that loud so that I don't get evicted. But again, at normal listening levels, I heard no difference whatsoever. My conclusion is that with a decent AVR that outputs good power, the only use for the BasX amps is to expand the speaker footprint to add more height or ground level channels.
I was interested in these amps so I looked on ebay, there were more broken ones for parts than working ones. That's a pretty good indicator of quality. I think I'll pass.
This is a great video. I watched it a few times because I want to get an Emotiva BasX A7 for my Denon X3700 (I have Klipsch RP series set 5.2.2) Can I ask you a question, that I'm very excited about? To what volume must I watch a movie, to notice the difference between 3700 vs 3700+basx? Must I put the volume to 80 or 90? I live in an apartment and this might be disturbing to my neighbors. On the other hand - if the volume is low to normal, let's say 50 or 60 won't Denon manage easily on his own? I ask you this because I want to buy an external amp to help my receiver and most of all - to listen to every sonic detail in the movies, not because I suffer from a lack of power Thank you in advance and happy holidays :)
Thanks for watching. 😁 Good question, with Klipsch speakers you're probably not going to notice a huge difference because they are very efficient. But to answer your question.......... since the Klipsch are so efficient you can probably set the volume at 50 or 60% and notice a difference, you shouldn't need a ton of volume.
@@UnitedRedDevil13 Hello. I was thinking of basx A7 but I ended up with a Marantz MM8077 (7x150 W) :) I set my Denon X3700h to Pre-Amp mode and now the Marantz power my 7 speakers (5 ear level+2 atmos). I didn't find a difference in music. It's pretty much the same. (since I already have a power amp, now I'm looking for a DAC just for music)
But in the movie - there really is a difference. Before in a very busy scene, it was like all the sounds came out at the same time and it was messy, the more I volume up the worse it got and I was very disappointed - so much money on the wind. But now, oh my... The sound is more precise and detailed, especially on high volume levels. Just like in the movie theatre. I love it. Now I am happy with my system. I can't wait to watch so many movies So take one - you won't regret it. As Ealan Osborne says ""don't think for watts per channel when using an external amplifier, but think as SHARE THE LOAD with your receiver". If you take A3 to power your front line (LCR) your receiver will be relieved. The heavy burden will fall away and your receiver will have more process power and will produce more clear sound. Good luck
But what if you wanted to amplify more speakers? You basically showed how to connect one one. Plus you took two outlets to plug in one and there are only seven so if you want three speakers, he will take six spots. What about the single seventh
These are great for beginners, but bare in mind that these BasX amps don't have the dynamic oomph to give the front Stage the excitement you need. They are a little lack luster.
Or for those of us that live in Flats, We live in a ground floor flat, (my wife is disabled) and I can't run 1000w subs, or a 400w front sound stage. I have a Denon X6700H running a 7.2.6 set up, Emotiva BasX A3 powering the front sound stage, and BasX A4 side and rear surrounds. The Denon currently powers the 6 height channels (although I will probably get the A6 to power them later this year, and run the Denon in processor mode) So the BasX amps are in my case just to take the load off the Denon, and keep it running sweet for years. Also have 2 SVS PB1000 subs, and that's more than enough for our needs. Luckily as we are at home all day, we normally watch movies in the afternoon, then in the evening we play games on our PC's with our headphones on, being considerate to the neighbours.
So glad you did this demonstration!
A few years ago, when I was an amp newbie, I couldn't find this kind of video anywhere on youtube.
Thank you so much...
You’re welcome! Thanks for watching!
Nice, The BASX A3 Made a big difference in my front sound stage. When I moved into my new home and have my own man cave I had problem with my LRC speakers. I was about to change all my speakers and receivers. I started reviewing Emotiva amps. Boy the A3 made a difference and save me thousands of dollars.
NICE!! Thanks for sharing!
I'm considering doing the same for my front 3 speakers. My questions is, will it make a difference if I only listen at moderate volumes, say 65-75 DB? My front towers are rated up to 300W but with 88db sensitivity, so they already get plenty loud. I'm just looking to make them sound more refined with punchier bass. Any thoughts?
@@ryanw8664 88db speakers are not very sensitive so definitely will benefit from a high powered amplifier, The A3 will be very good in your case. I have Klipsch reference premiere speakers and will be getting A7 as they are very sensitive at >90db so no need to so much power to drive them. I also have Jamo 809 towers which are near your speakers in sensitivity. They work just fine on my Denon 3700H but don't get really loud. When I tried external amp (a cheap one) the volume became very low as they are more demanding than Klipsch.
😊😊
Hello good sir, I just wanted to take the time to tell you that I appreciate the depth in explaining how things work as well as making direct and honest comparisons. Your presentation seems very well put together, informative, and trustworthy. Thanks!
Thank you! 🙏🏾
@@HomeTheaterHobbyist Thanks for putting a detailed explanation about this amplifier. I purchased the A3, but I was thinking of returning it and purchasing this one instead for my current setup. I have the Onkyo TX-NR Z50 and the Costco reference system 5.0.2, plus 2 klipsh R-41SA upfiring Dolby Atmos Speakers and a pair of the SVS Elevation speakers, which I haven't installed them yet. I barely hear anything from the R-41SA ( upfiring or up on the wall). Do you recommend the A3 for the front stage and leave the AVR to power the other 8 channels, or vice-versa, the AVR to power the front and the A7 for the other channels?. I might return the upfiring speakers and just keep a 5.1.4 or a 7.1.2 instead. Any input would be greatly appreciated 🙏. Do you do live streaming? Greetings from Houston, Texas
@@menacordero1 I am also looking for answers. I plan on getting the Marantz Cinema 40 when it finally comes out. I have the X5 on order and wonder if I made a mistake......
I plan on using only three channels for now, LCR and keep the 2 extra channels for future use. Should I buy say, and not too offend but a cheaper AVR such as the RZ which Is less than half the cost of the Marantz Cinema 40 because for my main three channels I will be driving my LCR with the X5 and not the AVR.... So question really is, is it worth the extra money for the the higher quality AVR when I really will only be driving surrounds and Atmos speakers with the AVR?
Hope I made sense.... So again basically is the X5 sound quality better than the RZ, or Cinema 40???
@menacordero1 you'll want to keep the A3 for your front stage, those three speakers take the most power, leave the RZ50 to power the rest. The A3 is rated to provide 140w RMS per channel across all three, the RZ50 is rated to provide 90w RMS per channel all channels driven.
Also the RZ50 has a Klipsch mode in setup, it sets up the crossover levels based on each speaker model and basically is hardware tuned, so you don't need to. Use the provided mic and Dirac to adjust levels of all of your speakers tuned to your listening position.
@Johnboy the RZ50 is by no means a low quality unit. What you pay for with higher end models are dual subwoofer channels and balanced speaker connections. Of course there are other features added and maybe a little more power, but it really depends on the speakers you're pushing, if they are run of the mill Cosco or Best Buy kits, then you don't need the extra hardware, if you're running speakers that are thousands of dollars a pair, then maybe.
I always like your informative videos. I really appreciate your quick tutorial on how to hook up a separate amplifier to an AVR. I'm new to this and have wondered about that part. 👍🏽
Thank you!
Great comprehensive review! Thanks for comparing to Monolith, they are both high value options. Nice to see your Arendals showing up in the tests too, I just got my shipment in!
Thank you 🙏🏾 Which model Arendals did you get? How do you like them so far?
Cody you are an expert audiophile and your presentation was excellent! Thank you for you knowledge!!
Thank you! 😁 I don’t consider myself an audiophile but I do have a sound that I like. 😁😁
Great observation test , i do like the test of hear the tweeter and Woofer very close, inside the cone with the ear. I always had this doubts with the equipments turned on , if it was dead quiet or it has some very low hiss and hum ... Thanks !
Love my Emotiva amps! 2 major upgrades were adding the Pangea AC9 SE power cord and the IsoAcoustics Orea series under all your equipment…especially under my Emotiva power conditioner. Make sure you check your weight for the type of Oreas you need. Say goodbye to noise and hello to openness and clarity like you would never believe! It’s not at all a small upgrade and once you hear it…I will never go without.
Amazing video! thanks for the explanation and how connected Avr to amplifier!
Glad it was helpful!
❤❤❤ Thanks for this easy to follow guide 🎉
You’re welcome!
I got a basx A2 loved it so much I then got a A5 so got 7 channels running on the Basx and only my four Atmos height speakers and sub being powered from my Marantz SR7015 so I get 7.1.4 - the soundstage is clear and well defined and 5.1 music is superb. I use a trigger out to fire up the A5 from the A2.
I'm planning on ordering an A3 and two A4s for my 7.1.4 setup. Going to get the A3 first and see how it does.
Nice!
@@HomeTheaterHobbyist in went with the A11 😂
Nice! Thanks for the update! How do you like it?
Hello, I have a Marantz cinema 70s with 2 Klipsch 600 RPM II for fronts , with a Denon Sub and two rears, and center, would you recommend the A7, I normally watch movies and played music, for 5.1 surround.
Very well explained, thx for the helpful review. You answered all the questions I had 😊
Glad it was helpful!
Excellent review of an amp that I'm considering for my Magneplanar 3.7i s. The monoblock version looks like the way to go. Have my sub and like, sir.
Thank you! 🙏🏾
My man, coming in wit the OG ninja turtles shirt. Our generation is the best
😂😂😂 it was my favorite show back then! TMNT!!!!
I was just gifted a 2 channel one of these! I cannot wait to start building
Go for it! 😁
@@HomeTheaterHobbyist pops used to have 5 15" electro voice mounted to the floor of the house in the crawl space. When I listen to welcome to the machine I can still see the paper plate floating in the air from all the pressure!
😂😂😂
I just subscribe to your channel about 5 days ago I watched several of your videos. I must say that you are on point, with your comments, advice, simple to watch and not over explain!! I am working on a 7.2.2 setup and one of the additions I just added was the Emotiva base X4 amp to my Marantz 6011 Avr (Upgrade I know). I'm using Klipsch RP (L R C R, LR, RR and waiting on Atmos speakers for top of front 8000F's) speakers just purchased about a year ago, and added a second 10" sub. Any recommendations when I do decide to upgrade my AVR having a budget about $$2,500-$3K?
Keep up the good work!!
Thank you so much for subbing and watching the videos! 😁 Your setup sounds great!!
I did a quick specs peek and that receiver has some of the latest codecs (Atmos, DTS X) so you're good there. It's also supports 4K passthrough with HDR and Dolby Vision via firmware update so for the most part you are good. I think the biggest upgrade maybe if you were to go with a receiver that supports Dirac room correction with bass management. I haven't spent much time with it but a lot of people praise the work they're doing over at Dirac.
Overall I would wait another 2 years or so before upgrading. I don't think there are a whole lot of "features" you're missing unless you really want 8K support. Even that could probably wait another 2 years for the tech to mature. Hopefully this helps. Thanks again for supporting the channel.
Saw this vid after I’ve already ordered the Basx A3 here in Canada (supposed to arrive today). Not so cheap by the time converted to Cdn and shipping costs, but looking forward to using it with my Denon 4400 for L/C/R, and adding 2 height channels to fully have a 7.2.4 system. Also only realized we can do 7.2.5 with Aurel 3D voice of god, ceiling centre by using Sub 2 output, and splitting Sub 1 to feed both subs. So cool we can do this at home without having to be rich 😊
Nice! What speakers do you have?
Didn't know you could do that. How did you configure the denon to process 7.2.5
Thanks Cody, I appreciate this info! 👍
You’re welcome!
Great Video. 👍🏿
I currently run 2 emotiva basx A4 and one emotiva basx A3 and my preamp is my denon avr‑x3700h and all klipsch reference series speakers not the best but it gets the job done beautifully
Thanks
Ya! Up grade them speakers for sure.
I have the Emotiva A3, and A4 for my base level speakers, running a Denon avr-x6700h, plus 2 SVS active subs, the Denon is currently powering the six height speakers. In my set up, I was gonna go all external amp, but i'm more than happy with what I have, and don't think I really need to. So 7.2.6 all the immersion I need and the wife and neighbours need as well. lol.
I received my BasX A7 yesterday(Tuesday). Waiting on Saturday to get the rest of the gear- banana plugs, wire, speaker stands, component fan- to do the installation. Currently running 5.3.4, & will be stepping up to 7.3.4. on Saturday with a Denon AVR X3800H. As it is now, on lively action/sci-fi movies, ATMOS mastered music or concert videos, that 3800 gets HOT! Hopefully this move will cool things down significantly.
For my room, about 20×25 feet, the 3800 gets plenty loud and sometimes has startling dynamics- again Im saying- at the price of getting HOT. This A7 should be plenty, more than enough power to keep me happy.
This is exciting!!!!😁
Great video man. Liked and subscribed!
Much appreciated!
I am trying to add this to my 7.1 setup. You mentioned about the output being only 90 W per channel. . Is that sufficient for RP 8000F II
Yes, that will work well since the kitsch are very efficient, i.e. they don't need a lot of power.
Great video. The speaker thump when using the trigger signal would be a deal breaker for me. Like you said, it's probably not going to do any real damage, but it doesn't feel good. Hearing that pop and worrying about your expensive speakers is not a good feeling. I understand that in this hobby, even $699 is at the "entry level" end of the price range, but at that price I'd expect better.
Yeah, I wish they had the delay circuit on the trigger input.
I have the XPA 7 whith the trigger and I don't ear anything....maybe use a better RCA or sub cable for better insulation....not what he's using.
The XPA line is a step up in price so it may not have the same issue. Also I used a standard trigger cable same as comes in the box with the A7. That hasn’t happened with other amps so I don’t think it the cable.
@P T interesting. I'd assume that if the trigger thump was a design issue the whole lineup (A3, A4, A5, A7) would all have it. Maybe Emotiva has a quality control issue and Cody got a bad one.
There is no such in A5.
5.1.2 Klipsch rp600m & 404c center. Denon x3800h. Will the basx a3 make a notable difference on front stage or save my cash? 🤔 I am about 9 feet away from the mains so I’m not crazy far. Thanks.
I think, save the cash is the best option. Those speakers are really efficient so the difference is minimal at best. Hopefully this helps!
@@HomeTheaterHobbyist it’s does. Thanks a lot! Appreciate the honesty.
😊 nice video and by explaining how things work hooking up amps and receivers and the issues…..
Glad you liked it!
I have the marantz 6014 with a 2 channel amp and was thinking of getting a 5 channel emotiva my total set up is 7.2.4 thank you
I was initially impressed with the two preamps I bought. I own the Basx 5 and Basx 6 . I have a Denon 3700h receiver and am running all channels pre out. I could watch movies at night and wouldn’t need the stereo above 5 and was surprised by this but loved the clean clear output even at low volumes. Jump ahead a year or more and I decided to buy the Basx 2 and Basx 3 in hopes of getting more overall boost with the front sound stage. Upon connecting both new preamps I immediately notice a lacking in sound. I had to turn volume up at night to 15-20 to hear dialogue clearly. I messed around with settings redoing audyssey and raising input and source settings, but nothing worked. I reconnected my original 5 and 6 channel pre amps only to discover the exact same scenario. Currently I have to listen to my stereo at 25 or higher to hear the dialogue now. Not happy. Not sure what’s wrong but it leaves a lot to be desired. The sound seems fine during daytime when naturally set at higher volumes, but now I have to set it even louder than previously. I have failed every attempt to return my audio settings to the original set up. nothing works. I may have to look into anthem or monolith.
Thanks for the detailed information
You’re welcome!
Would you recommend this a7? I have for my fronts klipsch rp-600m ii, center r-25, rears r-41sa and front height r-41m. Last question getting an amp will this help my denon x3600h to cool down not heat up?
Hey I just want to thank you for doing these reviews! You do a great job. My question is do you have any reviews of the Aperion Grand Versus on the horizon?
Thank you 🙏🏾! No I haven’t reviewed that.
Can you for example, Use a. More powerful 3 channel separate amp for your fronts L-C-R channels thru the preamp outs. And your receiver s built in amps for your rears and height channels
Yes, that was my recommended setup here: ua-cam.com/video/cztvCf2XTzA/v-deo.html. 3 Channel LCR, 4 Channel surrounds and rear, AVR for Atmos channels.
I have the Yamaha rx v6a 100 watts per channel 7.1 receiver with Klipsch RP-600m ll fronts and also Klipsch side and back surround speakers and a RSL Speedwoofer 10S MK2. I feel like I need more power. What can you recommend?
Thanks
That’s a pretty good amp with efficient speakers so you’re doing pretty well.
I like my Monoprice Monolith 7 channel amp but I don’t notice a ton of difference when running my Klipsch Reference Premiere line. I notice the difference more with other less efficient speakers like the Arendal 1723S.
Swear to Allah/jesus/Buddah you read my mind 🤣. Just 5 minutes ago, recieved my A7. I'm now 100% full pre-out mode. X4700h, A5 & A7 & 77" Lg Gx for a full 7.2.4 set up. My set up is soooo nice. Love that videos brotha ✊🏿
Nice!!! Enjoy! 😁
Hello.
I have X3700 with 5.2.2. Klipsch rp seriest set.
I'm waiting for A7. Can I ask you which way is better - full pre-out mode or to set to 11.1 speakers and selecting just front to be pre-out?
I was told that full pre-out mode made a better sound.
@dimitardimitrov4428 Full pre-out mode is better for better sound. Letting your amps do what they do and the avr breath. Separate amps always give better sound for speakers then what your avr aka jack of all trades does
thanks, great how to...
I do like emotiva but I also have been looking at Iota amps and Outlaw amplifiers. 👍
Definitely, do your research! 😃
Thanks, very informative
You’re welcome
Any plans on getting the Emotiva T3+ in for review?
I really want to review those and I've requested a pair. Hopefully I can get them! 😁
Great video man
Thanks!
For $300 more, if you're running 4 ohm speakers, like Emotivas, the Outlaw 7000x is also an excellent value and will put out 200w p channel.
Thanks for sharing
Hi great video. Emotiva also sells the interconnect RCA cables. Which cables do you use? The analog RCA or the digital RCA ??
Just normal analog rca.
@HTH - Your thoughts on using A7 as power amplifier for 7 Sonos Port multi-room audio system?
I dig the shirt brother 😊
🙏🏾😁
I have the older A-700 7 channel model. same issue with speaker pop and buzz when the amp is active. Paired with a marantz AVR.
Emotiva does not ground their products at all so thats why it happens.
Amir at AudioScienceReview revealed this in a A-500 benchtest.
Overall it is a budget product with corners cut You get what you pay for
Sounds like an issue with your unit, I have had two A700 amps in my system and they were both dead silent as far as thumps loop/ground noise etc was concerned.
With using an avr receiver and a dedicated amp,how do u make use of the woofer out knowing that the dedicated amplifier doesnt have woofer out
Question: How would you compare running LCR via a basx A3 as opposed to running the same LCR bi-amped with a basx A7? Thanks
Would a remote power-strip or USB-controlled strip be a better solution than a trigger for this one, or would it pop on power-off/on?
Nice video. That is a very nice amp for a lot of purposes.
Thanks
Great video. I have been looking to add an amplifier to my set up and this video helped me pull the trigger. I just bought the Emotiva A7. Question: have you ever considered adding an equalizer to a home theater system? I just find it that I can control how I listen to my music. I find that my Yamaha does not do a good job of adding treble. Am I missing something?
Thanks for watching! No, I haven’t tried adding an eq. So I can’t recommend any but obviously I’ve used them in other scenarios and they work. Are you saying you have a Yamaha eq system or AVR?
@@HomeTheaterHobbyist I have a Yamaha AVR and I am thinking about adding an eq on top of the amp I just bought. The eq would allow me to have more control of the music I listen to. The Yamaha is a great AVR but I can not get it to sound the way I like it. Granted I am not an expert when it comes to fine tuning it. Thank you for responding to my question.
If you have a surround sound receiver connected, and you switch to pure-direct two channel stereo for phono listening, does the receiver know to bridge the power to only the front l/r speakers? Do the lights on the amplifier representing the channels not receiving a signal turn off?
Fantastic video, I'm currently looking into these as have just purchased the denon 3800h. I need another two channels of amplification to achieve 7.4.4. As the inbuilt amps will only do 7.4.2. So from this I recon the ax2 would fit the bill ? And then a complete noob question.. I assume the avr still controls the volume of the channels ?
Yes, the A2 should work fine but maybe go for the A3 and use it to power front left, right, and center. That way you gave the same amp powering all the fronts.
Yes, connect to the pre-amp connection and then the AVR will control the volume.
i had that hum when i add gain too high on my subs, after they where dialed in with ump1 and 2x4hd no more hum
Earned a sub.+like! Thank you!
Thanks for subbing and liking! 😁
I use the last on, first off for these amps. Turn everything on before turning on the amps. When powering off, I do the reverse, turn all amps off, then turn of everything after. Zero pops or thumping from speakers.
Do you get pops if you don’t use that method?
Folks are saying they don’t get pops regardless so I’m trying to determine if I got a bad review unit or something else.
@@HomeTheaterHobbyist
It’s the trigger for the pops and thumping issue. As soon as I removed the trigger setup and went back to manual turning on the power on the back and then power on from the front of the BaSX amp, zero problems. As far as the feedback or humming, I’m hearing very faint sound when setting my Denon to max volume, and putting my ear against the tweeter and woofer.
I normally listen to -20 from zero on the Denon volume setting for movies and -30 from zero on the Denon volume setting for music. I sit 6.5 feet from the front stage. I’m using the
BaSX 3 channel amp for the front L and R, the BaSX 4 channel amp for the side and rear surrounds. The BaSX 7 channel amp for the 6 height channels and finally the EMOTIVA XPA-1 for the center channel. I use 2 smaller subs and the Denon 6700h in full pre amp mode. There is immediate clarity and power from the XPA-1, that is why I use it just for the center channel, since most of the dialogue is from the center channel.
Well hope this helps
Thank you 🙏🏾! This is very helpful. 😁 You have a very nice setup. Using the XPA-1 for center channel only is a really good idea.
@@HomeTheaterHobbyist
I forget where I saw a recommendation to use a
monoblock for the center channel. In future time, I’m looking into another 2 monoblocks, 1 for the left and 1 for the right channel.
I use triggers from my Denon x3600h to my BasX A3 and then to my BasX A5 and I’ve never had that speaker thump problem. Currently all of my base layer speakers are Emotiva (C3+, T1+, B1+). Before that I had all Klipsch towers and never experienced that thump with them either.
You’re the 3rd person to say you don’t have the thump issue so my review unit may have an issue.
@@HomeTheaterHobbyist my A700 (practicaly identical) hasn't ever done it either from my x3700. Sounds like an issue with your unit for sure.
Hey home entertainment guy, what would you do with my setup? I sit at a serta recliner in front of 3 50 inch TVs on a home entertainment stand. Top shelf is my center speaker. Second shelf is my reciever. Third shelf is modem/router/switch. Last shelf is empty. How would you fill that shelf with your needs/wants/desires. And I don't need a NAS. Just asking people who spend a lot of time thinking about this stuff.
Wow, this is pretty broad but I would add a 4K UHD player like the Panasonic UB820 (amzn.to/3laulPG), a streaming box like the Roku Ultra (amzn.to/3JOwoDv) or Apple TV 4K (amzn.to/3l6SHtz) and an external amplifier like the BasX series from Emotiva if your receiver has Pre-out connections. Hopefully this helps. 😁
@@HomeTheaterHobbyist Blueray huh? Thanks. Hmmmm.....
i want the A3
I was wondering if I could simply use my old Denon 1913 as a Amplifier since it’s in perfect working condition with my Onkyo 840 AVR vs purchasing an amplifier?
I’m not sure if that would work but if it does it will probably be 2 channel only.
Good information
What is better for my setup (Marantz Cinema 50 / Monitor Audio Silver 500 7G floorstanders / Center MA Silver C250 7G / Surround MA Silver 50 7G / 5x in ceiling speakers / SVS SB 1000 pro) where I want to create Auro-3D with 10.1 layout (5.1.5) and power the FR FL FC with BasX A3 having 140 W RMS per channel and the rest with Cinema 50 AVR or get the BasX A7, use 6 channels and Bi Amp the FR FL FC and use the remaining channel for Top Surround in ceiling speaker (the rest speakers powering with Cinema 50 AVR)? Goal is to get more power for the FR FL FC speakers as they are power hungry ones: recommended AMP is 80-250W for the floorstanders and 80-200W for the center speaker. Thank you.
Hi! I’d go for the A3 with the Cinema 50 powering the remainder that should be plenty of power. Thenp you don’t have worry about setting up to bi-amp.
@@HomeTheaterHobbyist Thank you for quick response!
Good info! Do you have a link for the audio cable (5 in 1) used to connect the amp to the AVR?
Sure! Here you go: amzn.to/3RX8eXJ
Can a AV Onkyo 636 be hooked up to a Bx-amplifier
Thank you
I'm considering the A5, but also thinking about an Outlaw 5000x. The prices are the difference for me. Is the extra cost of a 5000x worth the extra watts per channel? Thank you so much for your help.
I haven’t tried any outlaw products but I’ve heard excellent things about them so……. If your speakers are not as efficient (less than 88db for instance) then go for it.
@@HomeTheaterHobbyist Thank you for responding! I have Klipsch Reference speakers, f625fa, r52c, f26a as my rear surrounds for a 5.2.4. I want an amp to make a 7.2.4. The fa can support 100 watts continuously. The only reason the Outlaw 5000x is an option is its 120 watts continuously for 5 channels. Between the two models including shipping, the Outlaw is about $240 more. Wasn't sure if that 240 is worth the wattage difference between 90 and 120.
Those speakers are pretty efficient so you probably won't notice much if any difference with the outlaw. But if you ever change out your speakers to a different (less efficient model) then maybe the Outlaw is worth the upgrade. I'm not trying to get you to spend extra money but thought I'd mention this. 😁😁😁 Enjoy!!!
@@HomeTheaterHobbyist Thank you for your help.
Does it matter what type of rca jacks to use ? Because it looks like you still have radio shacks cables there lol
I have a Marantz cinema 60 avr. If I buy an amp and use the Marantz as a processor will I lose the warm sound signature?
Yes, there is a chance depending on the amp purchase.
With over half my time spent listening to stereo music, I opted for the BasX A3 because with 2-channels driven that's 150 watts per channel. For theater purposes the A3 drives my LCR speakers. I don't hear the thump when using the trigger from my Onkyo TX-RZ50. Also, can't hear any hum from the speakers . Wonder if it's some type of ground loop issue going on in your setup? Whether it's from a cable grounding or power grounding difficult to tell from here. Did you have your AVR and A7 plugged into the same outlet or different outlets? Often you can eliminate a power ground loop simply by plugging your equipment into the same outlet. Of course, it can still be an issue with the A7 whether that be a design flaw or something wrong with your unit.
I’m so happy you don’t have either of those issues!!!!! 🙌🏾 It could be that I got a bad review unit. Obviously, I have to talk about my experience with the unit I had.
If I hadn’t mentioned either thing someone who has a similar experience would try to flame me in the comments section because “I didn’t talk the issue and how I’m an Emotiva fan boy”. 😁😁
Yes, the A7 and processor were plugged into the same surge protector, I tried two different surge protectors to verify the ground noise.
I have the RZ50 as well and was thinking of doing the same as you with the A3. What kind of speakers are you using and did you notice a big difference? My fronts are Polk R700s with a recommended wattage of 50-300W. I only listen at moderate volumes and they already get plenty loud, so I'm looking for improved performance at lower volumes, not increased volume output.
@@ryanw8664 the speakers I have are about 20 years old, the Athena Technologies AS-F2 (two-way towers). Their power handling were spec up to 250 Watts. While the R700 3-way speakers, if they were both produced at the same time I suspect they would be competitors. I'm not sure how you define "big difference" but all I'll say is I noticed enough of a significant difference in my 2.0/2.1 music listening that I have no regrets buying the A3. The difference is less noticeable for home theater 5.1.2 setup but that may be because I'm not actively listening during TV shows and movies in the same way I do with my music.
@@BryanRuby I appreciate your reply, thanks!
Would I get a noticeable difference in sound quality is really that significant? I currently own a yamaha RX- 6VA which sounds great in stero mode sounds clean and gets very loud. I have a 3.1 setup using Infinity R263 towers along with the center channel. At $539 for the 3.1 version it is temping.
I haven't heard those speakers but I took a quick peak at the specs.......... you may notice a little difference if you add the 3 channel version especially with detailed bass but it sounds like you already have a subwoofer handling that so it's not a must buy if you're already happy with your current setup. 😁 Hopefully this helps!
@@HomeTheaterHobbyist yes I have dual monilith 10 subwoofers to take care of the bass. Thank you for your reply looks like I'll save the money instead.
O those are great subs!! Yea save a bit and purchase something else for your setup! Enjoy 😊!
Could I send the stereo signal from my avr using the 1 set of pre out to all the channels of say a basx 6?
If I understand your question the only way to do it would be to use several splitters and that may or may not work 🤷🏽♂️
I just bought the motivea 7 for my marantz 50 with sonusfaber speakers sonus 5 f sonus 2s r sonus center .c two h speakers i only going to use for high an rear for now my question is will this be good
marantz c 50
I think it will work great but fyi, I haven’t heard the Faber in my room so I can’t say for sure.
the sonusfaber 5 are awesome thanks😊
Man I'm on the fence with the 5 channel emotiva. I bought the 3 channel baseX and I'm good with it driving my front stage def tech 9060's. How good is the monoprice in your opinion? I'm willing to spend the money on the 5 channel with 200 amps all channels driven. Is it good not great or is it really worth 1500$ it would need to be fantastic. My gut says it really is. Hit me with a second opinion please.
Using the monoprice I notice more bass detail, depth, and dynamics especially with less efficient speakers. But is it worth nearly 3x the price difference between it and the BasX A5? For most people, no. But if you’re an audiophile or just want everything you can get out of your system then maybe. Obviously it also depends on your wallet. 😁
For me owning it is a pleasure but also a business expense because I can use it for various speakers and amp comparisons. Hopefully this answers your question. 😁
@@HomeTheaterHobbyist yes very helpful. I also have a nice 11 channel klipsch theater system going in. Should be easy to push this type of speaker system with my marantz 7015 and a 7055. Would like to include a gen3 emotiva 7 channel. Would you say the BasX is on the same level as the gen3 emotiva amps? Or way better?
The xpa gen 3 is a better amp than the basX line. It has more power and more features including balanced (xlr) inputs. I don’t remember it having any thump issue when I reviewed the 9 channel version a few years ago, here: ua-cam.com/video/XjRs3SlGAyM/v-deo.html. It’s comparable to the monoprice monolith line but the gen3 uses a class G amp while the monolith uses class AB (if memory serves). I compared it to the monolith here: ua-cam.com/video/H1KlCpUNtzc/v-deo.html
But yes the xpa gen 3 is better than the BasX line.
@@HomeTheaterHobbyist thx so much. Appreciate you! Fast response is always nice.
Go with Monoprice. Excellent quality and sound AND support unlike the disaster that is Emotiva support
I want separates for my front channels but I don't have out puts on my avr is there a way to use my headphone outs
Not that I know of
Does the AVR sound signal quality matter when using an external amp? I mean is sound quality better when using say a Marantz 8015 vs a Marantz 5011? Should I spend 2k more on an AVR when most of the heavy lifting will be done (in my case LCR) with the X5? (I know the X5 is 5 channel but I will use the other 2 channels at a later time)
Thank you!!!!
Subbed BTW
This is a great question and thanks for subbing!
To me it comes down to two things:
1. The AVRs internal DACs (digital to analog) converters between your two choices. If they are the same then the differences won’t be noticeable but if one is better than the other it may be noticeable.
2. Build quality and specifically isolating the sound signal path. Again if one does a better job then you may notice a difference.
The differences I’m referring to are things like image depth, clarity of the sound signal, and channel separation.
A lot of higher end receivers buy higher quality components and spend the time to better isolate the signal path so listeners get a cleaner purer sound especially when listening to music. Depending on the signal route that difference can be heard with an external amplifier.
Obviously it’s your choice if you decide to spend the money but if you can try them both in your room. If you hear a difference and it’s worth it to spend extra return the other. But if you don’t hear a difference keep the cheaper one. Hopefully this helps. 😁
Great review, looked in to Emotiva my self but with shipping to Europe and import duties the price goes up exceptioally, anyone with link to shop within EU who sell Emotiva? I'm interested in the Basx5
Curious about something, i just bought the Pioneer AVR LX505 and plan on connecting an Emotiva BasX A7 for my front LCR stage. Do I need to go through the Pioneers initial speaker setup having all speakers connected to the pioneer and then once complete connect to the Emotiva?
You can connect them to the Emotiva first then run calibration. That will work just fine.
@@HomeTheaterHobbyist cool thanks for your reply. Ive found your content quite helpful. Emotiva isn't a brand that is distributed here in Australia i was lucky enough to find an BasX A7 on ebay after having to return a tonewinner 5 channel amp. So thanks!
Happy to help! Hi 👋🏾 Australia! 😁😁
what do you think about tonewinner amps
I haven't tried them so I can't say
@Home Theater Hobbyist . Thanks for putting a detailed explanation about this amplifier. I purchased the A3, but I was thinking of returning it and purchasing this one instead for my current setup. I have the Onkyo TX-NR Z50 and the Costco reference system 5.0.2, plus 2 klipsh R-41SA Dolby Atmos Speakers and a pair of the SVS Elevation speakers, which I haven't installed them yet. I barely hear anything from the R-41SA ( upfiring or up on the wall). Do you recommend the A3 for the front stage and leave the AVR to power the other 8 channels, or vice-versa, the AVR to power the front and the A7 for the other channels?. I might return the upfiring speakers and just keep a 5.1.4 or a 7.1.2 instead. Any input would be greatly appreciated 🙏. Do you do live streaming? Greetings from Houston, Texas.
Hi 👋🏾 Houston! I would use the Emotiva amp for the front 3 channels and your AVR for the remaining. No, I don’t live stream very often.
@@HomeTheaterHobbyist Thanks for the input. I guess I'll keep my A3 for the front stage and the AVR for the other speakers. Thanks again 👍👍
#951 like ------- awesome video ... question so is it worth say buying a $2000 receiver then separate amps for it or buy a processor then amps for that? what is the cheaper rout?
A receiver is probably better because it allows you to delay the amplifier purchase a little.
why use channels 6 & 7 on the amp for one speaker?
It’s an illustration for the video.
I use my old yamaha rx795 w xternal amp for lrc.
👍🏾
Great video, still sounds expensive
Thanks for watching!
I Just Want a 2ch BasX So I Can Hook It Up To a Yamaha Aventage RX-A4A So It Can Take The Load Off My From Running My 2 Front L/R Polk Audio Monitor 75T Floorstanding Loudspeakers.
Yes, you can just connect it using the Pre-out connections.
@@HomeTheaterHobbyist Cool Deal...
Anybody have experience with Outlaw Audio's 5000/7000x series and the BasX line?
The Outlaw and Monoprice are much better with way better support as well
I finally tied an Outlaw amp and I really like it. It's going to be the amp I recommend to most people from now on. Here's my review: ua-cam.com/video/T5CE9X7_F_Y/v-deo.html
7:18 "Oh! my God!, these are not Audiophile grade RCA cables O2-free and distortion free"
(just kidding, I think those work great at short distances if they are built with a minimal quality)
😁😁
I use 5 pro amplifiers 2x1000w for my speakers.
Nice!
So how does it drive 7 channels. Using 2 inputs per channel gets you 3.5 channels. By your demo I would need 2 amps to get 7 channels from a reciever like yours.
It's one RCA connection per speaker output. I put the second RCA connection in the A7 just for demonstration.
I have Reserve 400 and Reserve 500, any one tried to use emotiva on them?
Actually, their BasX series has 8 amps - You left out their new A2M. Enjoy your reviews :-)
Thanks! You are correct! It is a little different from the other amps but it is part of the line up. 😁
I have the Marantz SR 5014 I don't hear a thump or humm
Thanks for sharing! 😁
A friend is selling his BasX A7 and he let me borrow it to test. I have an Onkyo RX1100 which is bench tested at 103Wx7 and the A7 is rated at 90Wx7.
With the A7 connected, I heard no aural difference or improvement from my full range Definitive Technology setup. I heard maybe a slightly cleaner sound at or above reference but I never listen that loud so that I don't get evicted. But again, at normal listening levels, I heard no difference whatsoever.
My conclusion is that with a decent AVR that outputs good power, the only use for the BasX amps is to expand the speaker footprint to add more height or ground level channels.
Thanks for sharing!
I was interested in these amps so I looked on ebay, there were more broken ones for parts than working ones. That's a pretty good indicator of quality. I think I'll pass.
This is a great video. I watched it a few times because I want to get an Emotiva BasX A7 for my Denon X3700 (I have Klipsch RP series set 5.2.2)
Can I ask you a question, that I'm very excited about?
To what volume must I watch a movie, to notice the difference between 3700 vs 3700+basx?
Must I put the volume to 80 or 90? I live in an apartment and this might be disturbing to my neighbors.
On the other hand - if the volume is low to normal, let's say 50 or 60 won't Denon manage easily on his own?
I ask you this because I want to buy an external amp to help my receiver and most of all - to listen to every sonic detail in the movies, not because I suffer from a lack of power
Thank you in advance and happy holidays :)
Thanks for watching. 😁 Good question, with Klipsch speakers you're probably not going to notice a huge difference because they are very efficient. But to answer your question.......... since the Klipsch are so efficient you can probably set the volume at 50 or 60% and notice a difference, you shouldn't need a ton of volume.
@@HomeTheaterHobbyist Thank you for your reply. I will definitely take BasX A7. I will tell later the difference.
@@dimitardimitrov4428 how did it work for you? I have a similar setup and considering the basx a3
@@UnitedRedDevil13 Hello. I was thinking of basx A7 but I ended up with a Marantz MM8077 (7x150 W) :)
I set my Denon X3700h to Pre-Amp mode and now the Marantz power my 7 speakers (5 ear level+2 atmos).
I didn't find a difference in music. It's pretty much the same. (since I already have a power amp, now I'm looking for a DAC just for music)
But in the movie - there really is a difference.
Before in a very busy scene, it was like all the sounds came out at the same time and it was messy, the more I volume up the worse it got and I was very disappointed - so much money on the wind.
But now, oh my... The sound is more precise and detailed, especially on high volume levels. Just like in the movie theatre. I love it.
Now I am happy with my system. I can't wait to watch so many movies
So take one - you won't regret it. As Ealan Osborne says ""don't think for watts per channel when using an external amplifier, but think as SHARE THE LOAD with your receiver".
If you take A3 to power your front line (LCR) your receiver will be relieved. The heavy burden will fall away and your receiver will have more process power and will produce more clear sound.
Good luck
But what if you wanted to amplify more speakers?
You basically showed how to connect one one. Plus you took two outlets to plug in one and there are only seven so if you want three speakers, he will take six spots. What about the single seventh
These are great for beginners, but bare in mind that these BasX amps don't have the dynamic oomph to give the front Stage the excitement you need. They are a little lack luster.
@P T 100%
Agreed with Wezzman. Thank you, Thank you for all you do.
Or for those of us that live in Flats, We live in a ground floor flat, (my wife is disabled) and I can't run 1000w subs, or a 400w front sound stage. I have a Denon X6700H running a 7.2.6 set up, Emotiva BasX A3 powering the front sound stage, and BasX A4 side and rear surrounds. The Denon currently powers the 6 height channels (although I will probably get the A6 to power them later this year, and run the Denon in processor mode) So the BasX amps are in my case just to take the load off the Denon, and keep it running sweet for years. Also have 2 SVS PB1000 subs, and that's more than enough for our needs. Luckily as we are at home all day, we normally watch movies in the afternoon, then in the evening we play games on our PC's with our headphones on, being considerate to the neighbours.
It's a cheap, decent amp for the price.
With Emotivas atrocious customer service, I will go with Monoprice any day
That pop is awful, my 7 channel does the same thing. Very underwhelming power output as well.
Emotiva has no bass