CurtPalme.com Home Theater Forum

garyfritz · Joined: 08 Apr 2006 Posts: 12088 Location: Fort Collins, CO

My brother is looking to upgrade his HT gear, and he asked me about Emotiva. I told him I didn't have a clue but I knew people who did. Smile

Any suggestions for him?

WanMan · Joined: 19 Mar 2006 Posts: 10270

I only own a couple of their multi-channel amps, but I have nothing bad to report. I expect amplifiers to perform 'as expected' without much consumer testing since amplification is an established science (no?). Do I like them? Hell yes! Nothing beats the feeling than knowing you are not relying on AVR for sound amplification.

Now, as to their processors I would have to say read the forums and buyer beware. Some folks of processors (1-3 years ago) found limitations, design conditions, etc., that Emotiva seemed not to be willing to address, but then again finding a decent;y priced nice prepro isn't easy, but then again it isn't meant to be.

Unless your brother is looking for something radical then I would think he would be fine in using a dedicated prepro or inexpensive AVR to act like a prepro.

Bucketfoot · Joined: 17 Mar 2006 Posts: 698 Location: Centennial, CO

As Wan says, I would not hesitate to get an amp from them (At one point I was ready to go ahead and get an Emotiva amp, but fell into a local deal on a used Boston Acoustic A7200). But their processors are a completely different story.

I should note that the only Emotiva products I own are speakers (ERD-1 surround speakers), but I absolutely considered them when I was looking for a prepro last year. The bottom line for me was there was just too much legitimate (at least that is how I read it) negative commentary on them. In the end I bit the bullet and spent the extra $$$ and went with the Marantz AV7005. I have not had a single regret in that decision.