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maggie MMG 5 channel setup: emo xpa-3 + rotel vs. emo xpa-5?

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zdog

Planar gurus,
I've spent the past month researching a good 5 channel HT setup on a budget. Thanks to your advice (NAD too wimpy), I decided NOT to go with an AV receiver and will stick with separates.

One of you suggested emotiva...I'd never heard of them, but what a bargain...After looking at many used higher end options, and the decent resale of the emotiva gear, I'm ready to buy one.

I've narrowed my options to this:
Speakers: 2 MMG's + CC5 up front. 2 martin logan scenarios (surround).

Oppo BDP-103 as my player AND pre/pro. (I can't resist trying this)

Amps: option 1: XPA-3 for front 3 channels, and my old rotel RB-981 (130 WPC @ 8 ohms) to drive the rear ML's.

option 2: XPA-5 for all channels.

I guess I don't have any idea what the advantages/drawbacks are of having 2 separate amps to drive my front/rear speakers. However, by keeping my rotel, I'd be able to explore how different combinations of amps vs. speakers sound.

Does anyone have any suggestions or cautions about either set up? I'd be grateful for any thoughts on the Oppo player as pre-amp too...

Thanks in advance for any insights! I really appreciate past responses, you saved me from making a mistake and buying a cheap AVR.

Zdog

Follow Ups:

RE: maggie MMG 5 channel setup: emo xpa-3 + rotel vs. emo xpa-5? - Satie 11:44:15 08/31/14 (2)
Emotiva are as well reviewed as Rotels and have better models up their line.
Your 3 channel emotiva + Rotel is a good money saving idea. Just that getting the 5 channel will get you backup or the ability to sell the rotel so consider that.
Some Emotiva models are on sale this weekend.
An active preamp can improve your dynamics and extend bass, I like having at least 5 V available to drive the amps, and I prefer having 10V or more. My fave preamp does 40 V

Edits: 08/31/14
- RE: maggie MMG 5 channel setup: emo xpa-3 + rotel vs. emo xpa-5? - zdog 13:04:48 08/31/14 (1)
  Thanks Satie.
  I can't find anything online about a weekend sale. Any idea where I can find that?
  
  thanks again,
  Zdog
  - RE: maggie MMG 5 channel setup: emo xpa-3 + rotel vs. emo xpa-5? - Satie 16:47:27 08/31/14 (0)
    Sorry, the XPA 3 is not included in the sale.
    
    It is the UPA series, the XPA 1L (nice discount on a class A amp) XPA 200 and 100 (also a god discount)
    
    The sale can be found on their website.
    
    Also consider the Wired 4 sound multichannels.
    e.g. https://wyred4sound.com/products/multichannel/mmc-series
    - Emotiva (Open in New Window)

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