Emotiva XPA Gen 3 vs Monoprice Monolith | Battle of the External Amplifiers

Emotiva and Monoprice both make a line of external multichannel amplifiers. This video answers the question of which line you focus on when you're ready to purchase your amplifier.
#Emotiva #Monoprice #amplifier
Click ❤️ Thanks above ☝🏾to highlight your question and show support to the channel🙏🏾
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To find out more about Emotiva Products use these links:
Amplifiers
A1: bit.ly/3ThFslQ
A2: bit.ly/3fWX5J8
A3: bit.ly/3Ct4fwa
A4: bit.ly/3ViZrSN
A5: bit.ly/3TgJNW8
A6: bit.ly/3ep2V5z
A7: bit.ly/3CPMWH6
XPA-3 3 Channel: bit.ly/3RWXRD4
XPA-3 7 Channel: bit.ly/3Vyr0I7
Processors
MC1: bit.ly/3g2g2tO
XMC2: bit.ly/3g477Zb
RMC-1L: bit.ly/3EB7lkK
RMC-1: bit.ly/3yyBFsh
Speakers
A2+: bit.ly/3TflhVv
B1+: bit.ly/3MnMMdk
B2+: bit.ly/3CoIdLf
C1+: bit.ly/3S08ipA
C2+: bit.ly/3MmYwg9
C3+: bit.ly/3eo84eh
T1+: bit.ly/3MobTwu
T2+: bit.ly/3CSBU47
T3+: bit.ly/3CTouow
Subwoofers
RS11: bit.ly/3SXonxz
SE8: bit.ly/3Mp40a2
SE12: bit.ly/3SWgwAq
RS13: bit.ly/3RQAACY
To find out more about Monoprice Products use this link: amzn.to/37vRpzk
Monoprice 5 Channel: amzn.to/3jgIxjB
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Links to my home theater setup
Front Left/Right: Klipsch RP-260F - amzn.to/2MaM8An
Center: Klipsch RP-440C - amzn.to/2Jy8v0E
Surrounds: Klipsch RP-150M - amzn.to/2kZN8eo
Atmos Speakers: Energy Take Classics 5.1 - amzn.to/2l0ubbs
Subwoofer: Hsu Research VTF-2 MK5 - Review • HSU Research VTF-2 MK5...
Speaker Stands: Sanus Basic Series - amzn.to/2JrPb5q
Speaker Wire: Monoprice Access Series 12 AWG CL2 Rated 2 Conductor - amzn.to/2y4btcT
AV Receiver: Denon AVR-X4400H - amzn.to/2JuznyM
External Amplifier: Monoprice Monolith 7 - amzn.to/2ZXrTvu
4K UHD BluRay Player Sony UBP-X700 - amzn.to/2V8CimO
Television: TCL 55" 6 Series - 55 Inch: amzn.to/2QUvKsN
65 Inch: amzn.to/2QRS9XX
Television Stand: Z-Line Flat Panel 3 in 1 TV Mount System - amzn.to/2Lys9N0
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Ways to support this channel:
1. Patreon: / hometheaterhobby
2. Emotiva Affiliate: emotiva.com?aff=8
3. Paypal: paypal.me/home...
4. HTH Merchandise: teespring.com/...
Contact the Home Theater Hobbyist
Email: [e-mail]

[@kirkindog]

I happen to own an Emotiva XPA Gen 3 amplifier (2channel mode 300 watts) & I absolutely LOVE it ! I have it hooked up to a pair of Definitive Technology 9080x speakers and all I can say is I’M IN AUDIO PARADISE !!! 🎼🎹🎺🎷🎸🪗🎺🪕🎻

[@HomeTheaterHobbyist]

Nice!!!

[@torqueofthedevil8145]

Imagine if you tried some high end kit then

[@dropthehammer1360]

@@torqueofthedevil8145obnoxious comment.

[@iowatollah]

You have a wonderful voice and smooth delivery. Great review.

[@HomeTheaterHobbyist]

Thank you

[@93da9tegsmom6]

Agreed! Subbed

[@HomeTheaterHobbyist]

Thank you 🙏🏾

[@benjaminmensah5075]

This is what I call proper review. No bs but straight to the point.Bro keep it up!

[@HomeTheaterHobbyist]

Thanks

[@oneemotiva4975]

You forgot that Emotiva is also a 120/ 240 - 50 /60 VAC, means you can use anywhere around the world, when the Monolith does not offer that option.

[@hi-fihaven2257]

Great work on the comparison video man! I think both of those amps are a great buy. I really like the aesthetics of both. The build quality looks awesome on both, and not a bad price tag for what you get with both units. Great work on providing pertinent, and useful information. I think you have all of the bases covered! Have A great day man!

[@HomeTheaterHobbyist]

Wow thanks man! It’s always great to hear from you!

[@MrMuyee]

You’re one of the best reviewers around, keep up the good job. Eyeing emotiva right now to go with my Denon 4500.

[@HomeTheaterHobbyist]

Thank you!

[@jacobsteele7138]

I have the Emotiva XPA-3 that I paired with my Dennon X4400h for the front stage. I really liked the setup. Now replaced the X440h with an Emotiva XMC-2. Now have that with the XPA-3 with 2 Basx-6 for 9.2.6. I'm loving it. Still you can't go wrong with your Denon.

[@CrustyCurmudgeon]

Nice, professional delivery - a quality effort dude! I have a Gen3 Emotiva 5 channel amp and am very happy with it, and the fact that its a US-headquartered company makes a big difference for me.

[@HomeTheaterHobbyist]

Thank you

[@fubartotale3389]

The Monoprice is made by ATI in California, a very highly regarded outfit

[@allenboogaard5690]

You have made some inaccurate and confusing references to these amps. The Emotiva XPA-Gen 3 amps and the Monolith series are both class A/B amps. The power supplies are different in that the Monolith has a linear supply with a very heavy transformer and the Emotiva XPA- Gen 3 line has a class H power supply. There is no such thing as a class H amplifier and as you said, is much lighter. About 1/2 as heavy as the monolith. I have owned both. First the Monolith and because I was not happy with the high frequency and and upper midrange, I decided to try the Emotiva. There was no doubt which one sounded better to me. The Emotiva. And I was so impressed by it that I also decided to try the Emotiva XPM-2 Pre/Pro as a replacement for my Marantz AV7702. Again, no doubt which one was better, on so many levers, not the least of which was the video output from the XPM-2. I couldn't be happier than I have been with these two Emotiva products. I highly recommend them.

[@hometheaterjoe9489]

I’m back again!! Watched this video a few months ago and I think I’m going Emotiva mostly because of trigger in/out. I really need that trigger out. Thank you for the honest, straight down the middle review!! Man I am really appreciating your channel these days. To me it seems like your giving your experience with these products with no biases at all. That in itself seems rare on YT rn. Love your work my friend!! BOOM

[@HomeTheaterHobbyist]

Thank you so much for the kind words! Let me know what you think of the Emotiva once you get it.

[@shaolin95]

Avoid emotiva..terrible customer support these days. So different from when they started

[@dpsinoh]

I have a XPA Gen 3 Six and Seven, I got them before Monoprice was making amplifiers with XLR inputs. I have no complaints and hopefully they'll last the rest of my life.

[@HomeTheaterHobbyist]

Thanks for the testimonial!

[@hdtvkeith1604]

How are your gen 3 amps holding up? I keep reading about reliability issues with Emotiva and poor customer service.

[@paulharmon557]

Highest praise for your well prepared and informative review! God Bless!

[@HomeTheaterHobbyist]

Thank you kindly! God Bless you too!

[@ht.us2235]

I think monolith is the best

[@edonsmith8616]

Great video. I am trying to decide between a 3 channel model of these two. After watching this I think I am going Emotiva. I really like your videos, you give a clear and concise summary without a lot of fluff. You voice is very soothing and you come across like a real professional. Thanks so much and please keep them coming. I just subscribed

[@HomeTheaterHobbyist]

Thanks for watching and subscribing! I'm planning to keep 'em coming. 😁

[@someolddude7076]

I like your presentation, However, one area where I think the Monolith does better is power capacity for all channels. If you compare real apples to apples, you would need to compare two 7 channel or 9 channel amps, and not a 7 vs a 9. In a dual between 9 channel amps, for example, I think the Monolith wins overall for having higher power for all of the surround channels. I’m considering both, and the lights are nice, and the selector switches are indeed nicer on the Emotiva, but it’s an area where you have to see what is more important.

[@HomeTheaterHobbyist]

Thanks! I could only use what I had on hand a 7 channel and a 9 channel model. To make the comparison more apples to apples I focused on the high powered modules of the Emotiva vs the Monolith. But it would have been better to compare 9 channel to 9 channel or 11 ch. to ch. Then I could have tested high and low power amps to one another.

[@l.b.stringfellow2413]

New subscriber.. very nice straight forward and real world review. Personally have the 2 ch Emotiva , have Macintosh and Yamaha amps as well. I found the Emotiva to stack up very well with those. Mac and Yamaha perhaps slightly warmer on some music but honestly, for a fraction of the price I would highly recommend the Emotiva In my case I use 2 ch for music and AV use. Nice job !

[@HomeTheaterHobbyist]

Nice! Thanks for sharing. 🙂

[@5thpixel]

visiting the page in 2022 missing the good ol' days when these were much less expensive! another great video!

[@HomeTheaterHobbyist]

Yep! Prices have gone up since I made this one. 😁

[@Twins2476]

I'm in the process of upgrading my 30 year old system. These are the exact two i was looking at. Your clear cut review helped me out allot! Thanks and keep up the great reviews.

[@HomeTheaterHobbyist]

Glad I could help!

[@sebastianmoon2319]

I got the EMOTIVA XPA 3 - 3 Channel - 270watts across 3 channels into 8 ohms - or 300 watts across 2 channels - - absolutely rocks with my Klipsch RP 6000F floortstanders and Denon AVR-3500 AVR - effortless! No hint of sweat at reference levels.

[@HomeTheaterHobbyist]

Nice!

[@ArthaxtaDaVince777]

What are you using as a preamp

[@sebastianmoon2319]

@@ArthaxtaDaVince777 just hooked up a few weeks ago the Parasound Halo P6. The Denon does HT, Spotify and radio very well, but CD 2 channel listening it was quite poor on. The P6 has certainly made a difference, the separation, and mids are highly improved. Yet it has also highlighted slight deficiencies/ in my speakers. E.g. Klipsch speaker "brightness", particularly brass instruments have altered a lot, so much so, I kinda preferred how brass instruments sounded on the DENON. But the P6 does have tone controls which I can alter if so. Overall the P6 is very solid and well worth the money. Many factors, like room acoustics, and speakers distance/placement can highly positively or negatively affect performance. I'm in a rental house, so need to make do with sub-par acoustics. But my CD listening sessions are overall much more pleasurable thanks to the P6.

[@ArthaxtaDaVince777]

@@sebastianmoon2319 I was bored for a while and recently purchased Triangle Genese Lyrr's. My wallet is crying but I can't wait to see how they turn out. I'm also living in an average size apartment, and I wonder if a 52 inch height speaker is truly too much. I will demo them with a Yamaha as701. If I like it I'll grab the emotiva and the parasound you mentioned.

[@danieldelgado8153]

Have the Monolith 7x200. Love it.!!!!

[@HomeTheaterHobbyist]

😁😁

[@dan_hitchman007]

Just to nitpick slightly... the difference in maximum power specs between the ATI built Monoprice and the Emotiva models would not be enough to be of concern (mostly a wash there). You would have to double the power to gain 3 dB's of volume output increase, which is about how sensitive our ears are to picking up volume differences due to the general noise floor of most rooms. Your review explanations are clear and concise compared to others on KZbin, and you do have a very good speaking voice and solid delivery. Kudos.

[@ArthaxtaDaVince777]

I recently purchased some floorstanding loudspeakers rated at 140 watts on 8 ohms. I'm also looking to buy this Emotiva power amp. Do you think I should be afraid of damaging the speakers due to excessive power? The amp has over twice the maximum rated wattage, I'm afraid if for some slight chance that the volume exceeds half way, the amp could potentially give permanent damage to my speakers, which aren't exactly cheap.

[@HomeTheaterHobbyist]

Good question, you should be fine. The additional power ensures that your speakers will be able to play dynamic peaks without clipping (cutting off the sound wave portion it can't play). Also, I own the monolith in this video and I run bookshelf speakers that are rated at 75 watts and floor standers rated at 125 watts and don't have any issues.

[@ArthaxtaDaVince777]

@@HomeTheaterHobbyist Alright, thanks for your Input. I will buy thr emotiva and hopefully the newly announced Yamaha avr when it releases.

[@ArthaxtaDaVince777]

@@HomeTheaterHobbyist Just a quick question, If the emotiva is 300wpc and my speakers are 140wpc, does that mean that I essentially cannot use more than half the volume knob? So the loudest I should ever set the volume is to about 50%?

[@turnne]

Good review. I was picking between these two recently and chose the Monolith 7X. I am very impressed thus far. Its paired with my Marantz 8802 pre/pro and B&W speakers

[@HomeTheaterHobbyist]

Nice!

[@jesusrdz4091]

Hi ... What could you describe on your sound with and without the amp ... I’m doing my research but never had the chance to actually use or listen the sound with a good amp...

[@Patriot6669]

I didn't see or realize the little rca/xlr switch selectors were on the back of the Monolith. I was about to return it as defective lol. Thanks for that!

[@HomeTheaterHobbyist]

😁 happy to help!

[@cloakofanonymity]

Great review!! I own the 7X Monolith and I love it. I do like the aesthetics of the Emotiva more though. However, when I was deciding on which amp to choose, 7 x 200 watts for $1500 from Monoprice-the choice was simple. The 7X drives my very power hungry Polk RTi12's and my Infinity US1 satellites nicely. Thanks for the review!!

[@HomeTheaterHobbyist]

Thanks for commenting!

[@godhand6510]

The monolith is under rated it has been tested by multiple great audio channels and puts out around 230watts per channel so now im looking to see if the other is the same. It kinda sound like both are under rated.

[@lotechgreg]

Speaking for myself ... The modular approach of Emotiva, will get my money, when I can. As for now my Rcvr works great. Amp next, when money allows, then Pre.... is my upgrade path....

[@HomeTheaterHobbyist]

I often find myself thinking......."if I only had more money" 🤔 😀. Totally understand! You're on the right path!

[@svtcontour]

A soothing review because of good voice and clear speaking but quite non technical with some faulty assumptions about power and distortion. Few things: -difference between 200w and 300w is about 1.5db which is absolutely tiny so should not be even a factor. -loudspeakers - even the best in the world, have distortion into the 1-5% range (or more for modest speakers) and this is not when they are playing loudly. You will not hear amplifier distortion values of 0.01%..etc through the speaker's already high distortion -The temperature difference could be amplifier biasing. Sometimes if an amplifier is biased more heavily into class A mode (of a Class A/AB amp), then it will run hotter, but may sound better under low power, lower volume situations - but I say may because it depends but temp alone is not really so important if its a few degrees -Frequency sweeps wont really reveal if an amplifier is neutral or not because you're listening to them on speakers that are within a room so an already highly non linear situation. Best thing is just to look at the specs to see the amps frequency response with a given + / - rating. So honestly comparing features, warranty, after sales support and subjective thoughts on sound quality is the only thing one could do without doing scientific measurements to verify the manufacturer claims on their specs :) Just my two cents

[@JesusGutierrez-pr4po]

I just got the monolith X11. Happy with this amp it fits my needs and sound pretty good. Nice video well explained.

[@HomeTheaterHobbyist]

Thank you 🙏🏾

[@garavonhoiwkenzoiber]

I love the look of the emotiva. Ironically, it looks more like a monolith. :v I can't hear any difference between them. I don't know if I could hear a difference between these and a Denon x3700h

[@fasteddie4107]

Very useful information. This was a very thorough comparison. Thank you for taking the time to make this video and share this.

[@HomeTheaterHobbyist]

Thanks for watching!

[@thehavok4258]

Emotiva is made in China and Monoliths are made in the US. US made with US quality, AB amp, lower THD, presumably better damping and the same price? Monolith will take my money all day, no question. Great video.

[@peterboyce8561]

Emotiva amps are made in Tennessee. Preamps and some other parts are made overseas, but Emotiva is an American company.

[@thehavok4258]

@@peterboyce8561 Emotiva on their website said all their stuff was made in China openly for years. The reasoning was to give a better deal to customers. Too lazy to see where they're made now but I doubt it's changed. xMaybe though.

[@TimeForTrim]

Just pre order the New Onkyo Receiver and think I'm going to go with a monolith 7 for my Polk Lsi 4ohm speakers... hope this setup sounds good

[@rckrckrckrck]

I went with Monolith 7X but have had Emotiva products in the past. The Monolith won for value and also because it is made by ATI. Outlaw is another great brand.

[@HomeTheaterHobbyist]

A lot of people recommend Outlaw products 🙂.

[@joblai]

This is the comparison i was looking for! Thanks!

[@lunatikk1967]

I think ATI may be the designers of the monolith who has a long time in the amp business

[@HomeTheaterHobbyist]

I've heard it's an ATI design as well.

[@musicman8270]

Its my undestanding that ATI is involved in the construction of both of these, if not the design. Although since Monoprice is relatively new to the HT game there is probably a lot of badge engineering going on there

[@lunatikk1967]

@@musicman8270 If what you say is true then this comparison is useless

[@musicman8270]

@@lunatikk1967 MY point exactly. Reviewers don't seem to understand badge engineering, an Audio Technica plant in China, for example,besides AT turntables they make Denon, Pioneer, Crosley, etc. Each to order but very similar, and have seen several comparisons on utube concering two turntables that only have cosmetic differences

[@musicman8270]

@@lunatikk1967 Now the two amps in this comparison have differences, one is AB, one is class D, but still similar if both are built or designed by the same company

[@htenthusiast2897]

The Emotiva looks very similar to the Outlaw, which costs 1/2 the price and delivers solid sound and never overheats even listening at very loud volumes with a neutral presentation. Power is 130W vs 200W at 7 channels, question is if the extra power is necessary or what difference it makes. I don’t feel lack of power, rather the opposite.

[@hometheaterjoe9489]

Man!! Your answering all my questions this morning!! Thank you friend, love your work

[@HomeTheaterHobbyist]

You’re welcome! Please subscribe and share the videos. 😁

[@TE5LA-GAMING]

So, these are external amps? I'm glad you cleared this up because I was thinking it would be difficult fitting these inside my pre-amp.

[@georgetek]

The whole point of mentioning the THD difference is that it’s not an even comparison of power output since they are measured at different THD levels. For example if you were to measure the Monolith at

[@HomeTheaterHobbyist]

Thanks for the comment!

[@jimmyli9678]

Great review. This review has helped me make my choice. You are the Bob Ross of audio reviewers.

[@HomeTheaterHobbyist]

😀 🙏🏾

[@TheAthleticDeptFilms]

I like how you talk like you're not trying to wake up a baby - it's very soothing

[@HomeTheaterHobbyist]

😀 thanks!

[@northern_moss]

:D or trying not to irritate a budget conscious wife. Thanks for the review! This was a really perfect line up to compare. Bravo sir.

[@HomeTheaterHobbyist]

Thanks 🙏🏾

[@1337sim1]

Great video thanks! Another thing "design" wise is that the Emotiva is modular. Meaning you can add channels later on if you need them. With the Monolith you are "stuck" with what you got.

[@HomeTheaterHobbyist]

Good point

[@glengatt3941]

The emotiva looks better but looks are second performance first,I like that xpa dr3,I will get one,but with that I need to change the front speakers,I don't think the RP 8000f and the RP 504 can handle that beast

[@o.c.g.m9426]

Got me an A5 & a A7 for my 7.2.4 system. Going for 100% pre out mode. I know the XPA 11 is just one Amp but it's $2100 the A7 & A5 together was $1300 & A5 was a '21 Xmas present.

[@HomeTheaterHobbyist]

Nice!

[@oscillatingdailyaudio]

I have the Monolith 9 Channel and it's fantastic

[@melcuemba03]

This was excellent! Great job with description and the explanations. I will watch more of your videos.

[@HomeTheaterHobbyist]

Awesome, thanks!

[@jaywaller9125]

Cool video. Thanks for the review. I was curious, I am running an XPA-7 Gen 2 from Emotiva and it weighs 96lbs. Any idea what accounts for the difference in the Gen2 vs. Gen3 from Emotiva? Different types of internals? Also, want to commend you on your presentation style. Very fluid with nearly no filler words at all. Your words were well thought out and chose. Kudos!

[@HomeTheaterHobbyist]

Thank you for the compliments! The main difference is moving to a switch mode power supply. That’s the main culprit driving the weight difference. Does that lead to a difference in sound quality? I can’t say for sure because I haven’t tested the Gen 2 vs. Gen 3. They also created a modular chassis so an owner can send in their amp for an upgrade later. For instance moving from 5 channel to 7 channel.

[@scottyo64]

I am a Emotiva fan boy for sure. I have 3 different systems that have Emotiva amps.

[@sammienalaza8684]

@@HomeTheaterHobbyist hi sir can i ask the emotiva xpa2 gen3 isbit sounds bright or warm how can you describe?

[@sammienalaza8684]

@@scottyo64 ho sir may I ask if the emotiva xpa2gen3 sounds bright or warm how can u describe?

[@vansonmafeet734]

I'm going with the Emotiva XPA5, I just don't like the look of the Monolith amp at all. Not to mention, I have other Emotiva products and I'm very pleased with them. They work great, look fantastic and have never let me down. I just sold my A5175 to make room for the XPA.

[@shaolin95]

Looks are subjective. Performance is not...the Monolith is FAR superior and emotiva customer support is the worst

[@TheBluuHouse]

Wow!! Thanks for the audio comparison. As a music engineer with what I hope to be critical ears, I hear the difference. Listen to the "attack" of the ADSR (Attack, decay, sustain and release) in the second track. Listen for the guitar's attack, you can hear the pick and better separation of notes. In my disbelief, I listen 6 times and clearly hear the detail in the mid-range on the monolith. The Emotiva didn't have as much detail in the mid-range. The high and low seem the same. But this may be due to class A/B amps vs H. Class H are more efficient and run cooler, but I suppose a small price. Perhaps this is why the Monolith has a $500 difference. I'd say, if you want better mid-range detail for a home theater setting, then get the monolith. Example of subtle clarity. Let's say both amps are playing a violin score. Both sound great and very close to the original score. But one allows you to hear the bow against the string. I'd like to hear these two in person. Thanks for the review.

[@HomeTheaterHobbyist]

Thanks for watching and commenting!

[@declanfarber]

How you can hear that over a KZbin video on your computer is quite miraculous.

[@TheBluuHouse]

@@declanfarber Or just know what to listen for. You don’t need high end gear to hear ADSR but I do have equipment designed for critical listening. ASDR is the characteristic of sound, 8, 16, 24, and 32 bit float can subtly change that characteristic. That’s what I “miraculously heard. Lol

[@declanfarber]

@@TheBluuHouse Over a compressed KZbin audio. Yes, you are very talented.

[@TheBluuHouse]

@@declanfarber yes. You could too if you knew what to look for. Do you think this way when you’re watching 4K “compressed” Netflix movies? Or does one need to be talented to notice the difference in “compressed” 1080P/4K content. It’s all compressed if viewed online.

[@petezyr1059]

Man you left out the my wife vacuum it in the background test how did it do on that

[@Gless777]

Gratitude, and thanks for the review, bought Gen3 XPA-9 and lovin it !

[@HomeTheaterHobbyist]

Great to hear!

[@Mike1sc]

Great review! We have similar likes...I also have a Denon AVR with the Emotiva Gen3 3 Channel, and very happy with it. Thanks again for a great comparison review.

[@HomeTheaterHobbyist]

Awesome! Thanks for watching!

[@decoryder]

Absolutely beautiful review, well done, and thank you.

[@HomeTheaterHobbyist]

Thank you kindly!

[@marcoguzman6711]

Very good qualitative comparison. thanks for posting

[@HomeTheaterHobbyist]

Thanks for watching!

[@si12volt1]

im running the Emotiva XPA Gen 3 - 7ch and a Parasound HALO a51- 5Ch through a Marantz useing XLR CABLES with 11 GoldenEar speakers .. for me the most important thing is quality of the sound how clean it puts out

[@HomeTheaterHobbyist]

Awesome!

[@craigirwin3592]

What GoldenEar speakers are you running? How is the Emotiva with them?

[@MrCat-rk9ir]

I have tried the emotiva xpa gen3 and its almost perfect. I returned it because it was humming. I can hear it when I am close to it about 2 feet. yes it bothers me. Its like something that doesn't really bother you until someone point it out or when you found out about it.

[@fubartotale3389]

Sounds like a ground problem.

[@MrCat-rk9ir]

@@fubartotale3389 ground issue on the amp for sure. I haven't connected xlr or rca cable in the input and it is already humming. I have a Hypex NC502 class d amp and it is not humming. Very clean sounding amp.

[@johnlira3316]

Are the emos gens 1s noisy?

[@MrCat-rk9ir]

@@johnlira3316 if you listen to it al low volume and in a quiet room then you will hear the hum on from both channels. Its really annoying. I would recommend a hypex class d amp instead. Look for buckeye amps they sell it reasonably priced. Look in the forum asr.

[@johnlira3316]

@@MrCat-rk9ir thank u sir

[@paalaisolai]

I own none, but to my ears monolith sounded musical than the emotiva's hallow addition.

[@RegondiMusic]

Thank you for the Review looks like you have guided me to make my next purchase.

[@HomeTheaterHobbyist]

Awesome! Happy to help! 😄

[@henrytaverner1803]

Great details. I have an Emotive XPA 5. Sounds great. If I am running only 3 channels would I be getting 333 watts per channel at 8 ohms instead of 200 watts/channel?

[@HomeTheaterHobbyist]

Still 200 watts.

[@xray111xxx]

Because I am not beholden to Emotiva, if I was choosing an amplifier, the Monoprice represents a better buy. Also ATI makes the Monoprice amplifiers and ATI knows how to build a great amplifier.

[@HomeTheaterHobbyist]

Why would you say it's a "better buy"?

[@xray111xxx]

@@HomeTheaterHobbyist Much better linear power supply. Better parts quality.

[@carlotrese6996]

love this man’s presentation,.

[@HomeTheaterHobbyist]

Thanks 🙏🏾

[@uhugvjkbkjh]

Massive thank you from London for this review

[@HomeTheaterHobbyist]

Awesome! Helllllo London!!!! Thank you! 🙏🏾

[@mike2401]

your video is awesome bro... keep up the awesome job. just would like to know if there's a big difference between using preouts on a receiver compare to using a processor in separates.

[@fabiopacca5028]

Great review. It was very easy to understand the differences in between then. Keep up your good work. Cheers.

[@HomeTheaterHobbyist]

Glad it was helpful!

[@kinggodzilla7647]

Sound-wise, I will stick to an amplifier using a linear power supply instead of a switching power supply.

[@HomeTheaterHobbyist]

I’m not advocating one or the other with this next question, I’m just curious about your stance. If it switches between rails so there isn’t an audible difference, would you consider it then?

[@FOH3663]

Although the Emotiva employs a SMPS, both of these amplifiers utilize a class A/B output stage.

[@alexanderbelov6892]

IMHO you cannot explain your preference even if SMPS provides greater SnR - e.g. 124dB for Emotiva XPA at full power (A-weighted, THD

[@bellalettyandally7549]

I've got xpa-3 xpa-5 gen1 xpa-2 gen2 all got problems after 4-5 years with questionable reliability, no more emotiva for me.

[@johnlira3316]

What problems because i wanted to buy an xpa 5 and xpa 2 gen 1s fory klipsch

[@Tom_Brennan]

Great comparison. I'm in the market for a home theater amp and this was very helpful. Subscribed!

[@HomeTheaterHobbyist]

Happy to help! Welcome aboard!!!

[@hypermatrix8999]

It's hard to tell quality when you're recording it and then having it compressed by KZbin, but to me they definitely sound different. It could be due to the recording being a different part of the song. I would probably recommend instant-swapping of audio from one to the other several times, as well, as playing the exact same sections on one and the other, and ideally graph the audible difference in those identical clips to see what difference there really is in the output. I just bought a Monolith 7x last month. Haven't hooked it up as I'm waiting for a receiver with pre-outs that I preordered 8 months ago. And I'm sad because of how good the Emotiva seems to sound in this video. Haha.

[@doubleya215]

How do you like your monolith amp?

[@SometimeAngel]

Preamp used for video? Thanks!

[@bklyn2va2dc]

Excellent, excellent, excellent review!! Liked and subscribed!!

[@HomeTheaterHobbyist]

Thank you 🙏🏾

[@inglewood891]

Sweet comp. Thanks! I in the market and looking at these brands.

[@HomeTheaterHobbyist]

Happy to help! Don’t forget to subscribe and share the videos!

[@pheotonia]

On all accounts I thought that the Monolith was a raw Naked sound and the Emotiva colored the sound. But I loved the way the Emotiva colored the sound it made it sound richer to me.

[@HomeTheaterHobbyist]

Interesting 🤔, thanks for watching and commenting!

[@chriswelljack4910]

Could be how the interacts with the preamp individually but I did find the emotiva a bit relaxed and smoother flat in some ways the monolith sound forward maybe its the speakers both amps can react differently with the same speakers

[@pheotonia]

@@chriswelljack4910 I have a very forward Receiver (Yamaha RX-Z11) & Speaker (Wharfedale Valldus 400) combination that sounds amazing for the first half hour. After that you experience listening fatigue. Perhaps the Emotiva would pair well with the Wharfedale's?

[@jmd11185]

I'm about to order this Emotiva. I hope I don't regret not getting the 7 channel to power my surrounds as well. Is there really a point to have extra power for surrounds? Happy New Year, dude.

[@dvsdez]

I owned the 7 channel - I personally recommend having either a 3 channel for the fronts and another amp for the surrounds, or a 5 channel for the front and sides and a 2 channel for the back - 7 channels is a huge amount to run and the more you can split up the system the better. Also, the longer the speaker wire runs, the more resistance and more stress you put the amplifier under. Shortest speaker wire run the better :)

[@jmd11185]

@@dvsdez well, I finally got the 3 channel amp lol

[@Brian-Outdoors]

I have the Gen-2 Emotiva Amplifiers in the 2 Channel and 5 Channel version for my 7.2 system. They have been used on my main TV setup for over 5 years now without issue. Only issue for me is the 5 channel has some hum in it when the room is quiet that I no longer notice which was annoying at first. I even sent one back thinking it was a bad amp. Second one was the same with nothing connected to the inputs. I still like them just fine today. Thanks for the great comparison video. I think it tells me to go Emotiva again if I have to replace my current amplifiers.

[@chriswelljack4910]

Same here bro I have mine pair with the xmc2 processor coming from a umc 200 then the xmc1 never had an issue with either amp after all those years

[@johnlira3316]

Are the gens 1 the same hum and static thinking of buying xpa 5 and xpa 2 gen 1s for my klipsch set up?

[@Brian-Outdoors]

@@johnlira3316 I have my 5 channel Gen 2 powering all Klipsch speakers. I can not speak to the Gen 1 Emotiva. I just turned on the amp with nothing playing and still hear a white noise/very very low hum. When watching TV or listening to music I don’t hear it at all. The white noise is louder than the hum. I still enjoy the amps and would buy again.

[@johnd5669]

Did you ever use either of these amplifiers with your Klipsch speakers? I’ve heard that with some Klipsch speakers, the Emotiva produced audible hiss. Wondering if you experienced that?

[@whatarushlod]

Good review! I’m buying the monolith!

[@HomeTheaterHobbyist]

Hope you enjoy it!

[@Espiritiv]

Have you reviewed Tonewinner TW AD7300 7 ch class AB, yet? Would be nice to hear comparison to emotiva

[@HomeTheaterHobbyist]

No, I haven't sorry

[@2DangeRuss4u]

Nice review of these competing amplifiers ........... I just wish you discussed the size of the transformers in each and the capacitance available for each channel 😉👌

[@HomeTheaterHobbyist]

Noted, thanks!

[@2DangeRuss4u]

@@HomeTheaterHobbyist My pleasure 😉👌

[@bergennorway]

Emotiva just «upgraded» their prices. Cost 1699 for 5 channel now! :(

[@HomeTheaterHobbyist]

Thanks for the update.

[@GunnyPhillips]

Great video. Thanks for putting it together. Do you have any plans on reviewing Emotiva's DR series?

[@HomeTheaterHobbyist]

That's a great question, I would like to review the DR series but I haven't asked Emotiva. I'll ask and see if they have one available for review.

[@chrislukowski1825]

Terrific video! I have a question about the Monolith startup time. You can see via the status lights that the Emotiva takes 10 seconds to come fully online. Does the Monolith also have a delay before the speakers are usable? Also do you feel such a delay typical with external amps?

[@HomeTheaterHobbyist]

Yea, it has a delay of a few seconds 5-10 is my guess. Yes most good amps include a delay so the in-rush of power doesn't cause the dreaded speaker "thump" sound.

[@edwinabuel3174]

Which do you prefer for running LCR channels for movies? Thank you in advance for replying!

[@GusScottExley]

I have an Anthem A5 I am looking to replace with the Emotiva. I am only planning on powering the wall mounted speakers with it and just wondered if you (or your audiance) have any comments on this.

[@paulmardis1512]

Hello HTH, Great review. I was looking into purchasing the 11ch version but now may reconsider. Here are the reasons. After watching this review and reviewing the specs online for the 9 and 11ch version and talking with Emotiva twice this week. Here is what they say, Because of the limitation of the chassis power supplies the max out rating for all channels driven in the high current modules is 200wpc and the stereo modules is 65wpc. This is with all channels driven in any configuration over 7 channels. Because of this limitation when watching movies I would believe the Monoprice amp would win out because the low end module would have more power when needed than the emotiva. What they told me is not written in specs and they apologized for that as the specs online are misleading. Your Thoughts! PM

[@HomeTheaterHobbyist]

What speakers are you running for atoms or rears? If they are fairly efficient (greater than 90db) 65 watts per channel should be fine for those cases. Just make sure you use the higher power modules for your front stage.

[@paulmardis1512]

@@HomeTheaterHobbyist here is my setup. It is why I have more clarity in SR/SRB because of the more power going to them. Based on the specs below I would have more clarity with Monoprice 11ch than the Emotiva. I spoke to Grant at Emotiva yesterday and he agreed. Marantz AV7705 AV Processor 11CH Klipsch RP-280FA Front Speaker (FL)(DA/HT1L) 150 watts (600 watts peak) 98db/HT-75W / 300W Klipsch RP-280FA Front Speaker (FR)(DA/HT1R) 150 watts (600 watts peak) 98db/HT-75W / 300W Klipsch RP-504C Center Chan Spkr (C) 150 watts (600 watts peak) 97db Klipsch RS-52 Surround Speaker (SL) 100W RMS / 400W Peak 95dB Klipsch RS-52 Surround Speaker (SR) 100W RMS / 400W Peak 95dB Klipsch RB-75 Front Speaker (SBL) 150 watts (600 watts peak) 97db Klipsch RB-75 Front Speaker (SBR) 150 watts (600 watts peak) 97db SVS PB3000 Sub Woofer Spkr (SUB1) SVS PB3000 Sub Woofer Spkr (SUB2) Klipsch CDT-5650-C II In-Ceiling Speaker (FW/H2L) Klipsch CDT-5650-C II In-Ceiling Speaker (FW/H2R) OPPO BDP-203D 4K Blu-Ray Player Emotiva XPA-100 Gen 2 Mono Block Power Amplifier (FL) 250 watts (1 channel) into 8 Ohms. Emotiva XPA-100 Gen 2 Mono Block Power Amplifier (C) 250 watts (1 channel) into 8 Ohms. Emotiva XPA-100 Gen 2 Mono Block Power Amplifier (FR) 250 watts (1 channel) into 8 Ohms. Emotiva BASX A-300 Stereo Amplifier (SUR) 20Hz-kHz: 150W RMS p/ch; (

[@HomeTheaterHobbyist]

Ok thanks for sharing. Your speakers are quite efficient so if you were to AB test the two amps you may not notice a big difference. That being said more power on tap won’t hurt especially if you decide to upgrade your speakers in the future so yea go Monolith.

[@paulmardis1512]

@@HomeTheaterHobbyist After doing some research I found out that there are no mounting brackets for the Monoprice Amps and since it weights 93lbs. It will not fit on my Sanus 2127U rack since the shelves only hold 50lbs. In this case I may end up getting the Emotiva XPA-9 or XPA-11 GEN3 and keeping my Basx A-300 in the system as well. At least I would have enough to power 7 out of the 11 channels with high power output. Thanks PM

[@myplacerighthear3691]

All around necessary placement empower capability for speaker the emotiva xpa 7 is the best possible choice as well and being able to daisy chain several of them to create a massively beautiful room with as many speakers if you need in my case four of the xpa-7 gen 3 amplifiers was a massive amount of speakers in a room that is 30ft long 24 ft wide, front back side hi-hat top center subs it looks awesome, and sounds beyond anything you could ever possibly believe is capable of.. now we please have everything louder than everything else that would be the only way.. there is no other way once you can figured something like this you'll never go back ever.. remember center channel speakers can be fairly tricky when it comes to representing spoken language within movies or film.. please be sure to audition several types of center channel speakers to get your personal preference

[@HomeTheaterHobbyist]

Thanks

[@jjchmiel78]

Are those power ratings truly accurate? You said the Emotiva weighs less. Traditionally lighter amps push less power unless talking Class D. Also on the Emotiva website it uses the same tricks as mainstream receivers and gives power ratings when 2-channels driven. Looking at that model online it gives a power rating 20-20K and THD with one channel driven and then repeats the power rating and THD minus the frequency range with two channels driven. This gives me the impression with more than one speaker driven at full frequency range it is not providing full rated watts and is probably closer to the monolith in power delivery. Not saying it is a bad amplifier, but reviewers have a responsibility to hold the manufactures accountable for marketing claims. Monolith claims ratings measured with all channels driven at maximum average full range. So stating it the same way as Emotiva Monolith may actually provide more power than the Emotiva. Us consumers have to rely on reviews to get down to the nitty gritty and tell us the actual apples to apples measurements and rating standard.

[@HomeTheaterHobbyist]

Emotiva is using a "Type H" power supply that they call Regulated Switch mode power supply. When high power is needed it literally switches from a low voltage rail to a high voltage rail. They also claim this new tech allows for a lighter power supply. Unfortunately I do not own the equipment needed to independently verify amplifier claims, I looked into such equipment a while back and it was prohibitively expensive ~$30K+ for a multi channel rig. I would love to have one and independently test but I assure you that this channel makes nowhere near the income to afford such a product at this time. Hopefully one day if you and others continue sharing these videos I will get there 😀. Emotiva does publish the "all channels driven" power for the 7 channel model here: emotiva.com/collections/amps/products/xpa-7-gen3 Select 'Specs and Downloads' you'll find this: Power Output: 300 watts RMS/channel; 20 Hz - 20 kHz; THD

[@ben23a31]

Dude, where you been ? Miss your reviews !

[@PIPERBOYWILLIAMS]

Emotive looks a lot better than that monoprice

[@yunkie71]

Excellent work, Sir! Thank you for your smooth and straightforward comparison of these two units. I was interested in buying one, and you made my choice clear. I am happy to be your newest subscriber.

[@HomeTheaterHobbyist]

Awesome thanks! I’m glad this helped your buying decision.

[@howieduncan216]

I really like your videos, keep up the great work.

[@HomeTheaterHobbyist]

Thank you 🙏🏾

[@savan28]

Your review and sound is so soothing. I am running 7.2.2 Atmos using Marantz SR8012 and using Emotiva XPA Gen 3 5 channel amp to run main 5 speakers. I am really interested in upgrading my system to suing separate AV processor - been looking at Anthem AVM 70 releasing soon. I am trying to figure out what amp - either one amp solution that can run 9 channel vs two sep amps.

[@Mike_v_E]

Do you hear any difference between the external amp vs AVR?

[@haydenwhitbread724]

Regarding the trigger output on the emotiva. Couldn't you just as easily do the same thing on the monolith by a split cable?

[@Rockhurst22]

I don't recall what comment in the video you are referring to but if you need more than one trigger, for $40 buy the Emotiva ET-3 Trigger Expansion. Trust me from experience you don't want to pull more than the max current stated on trigger outputs. $40 is a drop compared to ruining your only trigger out.

[@MrPreet23]

Monolith for surrounds and dolby and emotiva for front stage deadly combo

[@HomeTheaterHobbyist]

That would be a nice combo!

[@troybrownentertainment2324]

Nice review as always good brotha 👏👏👏

[@HomeTheaterHobbyist]

Thank you 🙏🏾 😁😁

[@bphilbac]

Nice review, thanks for posting. I just subscribed.

[@HomeTheaterHobbyist]

Awesome, thank you!

[@Randomviewerfromthe90s]

What sucks is the “audiophile” people still laugh at them. But it’s our budget man

[@SomeTechGuy666]

Who cares what they think? Their loss for thinking they get something better for spending $$$$. Can't fix stupid.

[@sidvicious3129]

It doesn’t make people stupid for spending more and you can always get something better, but Emotiva proves that good is better than average to outstanding for some and Emotiva proves that you don’t have to break the bank getting there. For those who can afford to break the bank, have at it. Never worry about what others think because the most important person when it comes to your system is you. Most people judge things that they have not heard or experienced. I have experienced Emotiva’s amps and speakers and they are great for the money.

[@wa2368]

Nothing to do with audiophile or not (won't get technical here). But, if you have any taste in music or a ear for music, you can easily note that a very similarly priced class AB Yamaha or Marantz amp will sound more refined.(we are not talking about 10k+ class A electronics). For instance, Yamaha is also a company that makes several musical instruments. They just inherently know how to voice things better, be it a amp, preamp processor, dac implementation whatever.. These Japanese electronics companies have been around for ever and with experience comes better things. You can definitely pick the best sounding thing for ANY budget if you give your ears some attention. But if you don't care for a musical presentation and only care about boom boom fckin brute boom for movies, a Emotiva or Monoprice will cut it just fine (i suppose).

[@alexanderbelov6892]

@@wa2368, Austin Watts You talk about brands like if they have only one amp each, so discussing mostly how brands look like for someone who did not listen every amp line from every company. Emotiva A-NNN line sounds different and costs less than Emotiva XPA Gen3 line. If you had experience with Emotiva lines, then Marantz and Yamaha lines, it would be interesting to hear your reviews about their sound comparison. Yamaha makes lot of music instruments, but I'm sure their intruments and electronics departments are not communicating about sound quality. They do business and report income, profit and so on. If Selmer started to produce amplifiers it wouldn't have implied those amps work best for saxophones and clarinets. 😄

[@akiepapageorgiou9806]

great vid, having speakers with high sensitivity like your Klipsch is it still worth getting a power amp vs just a normal av receiver?

[@HomeTheaterHobbyist]

I notice a difference even with my klipsch. It can also allow a person to set their speakers to “large” in their processor and get a little more bass.

[@VIDEOAC3D]

@@HomeTheaterHobbyist I've got a Denon x6400h with rf82 ii's, 140sa's, rw12d sub and Polk towers for surrounds(9.1 ch). Do you think a power amp would really make that much of a difference? Seems like if I go to 80% or higher it's so all my neighbors can listen too. Lol. Crossovers @ 80, 60 for 82ii's, and 150 for 140sa's (upfiring). I'd genuinely like to know how much of a difference it would make adding an amp. I know I can vary the sound by adjusting the tower and sub crossovers/size settings.

[@fatrat384]

@@VIDEOAC3D how do you like the rf82iis

[@VIDEOAC3D]

@@fatrat384 I love them. The sound is accurate and full. If you have something that can drive them, they also have plenty of "punch/bass" too. I have mine crossed over at 60/large (most people use 80/small when a powered sub is present) When I first bought them in 2012, I had a Harmon Kardon AVR354. They sounded good, but that AVR didn't have any balls. I think it was rated at 80w/ch cont. I upgraded to a Denon AVR X6400H, which is 140w. HUGE difference. The rf82ii's are 150w RMS 600w Peak, so they can "flex". Check forums, but I'll bet they are a better deal than paying more for the new models (I'll bet they sound the same). But definitely, if I had a do over, I would have spent more $ on the AVR first, which is why I'm curious to hear @Home Theater Hobbyist opinion on using a separate amp. I think a good amp is more important than good speakers. But it's a balance. Expensive speakers are useless if you can't drive them. An expensive AMP/AVR is useless if you don't have speakers that can absorb the power and deliver accurate sound. But it's easier to find capable speakers than a good power source, IMO. NEED MORE POWER!! LOL It also applies to guitar. A buddy of mine spent thousands on guitars and pickups, before he realized he needed better amps all along. lol

[@HomeTheaterHobbyist]

Great question! Here's the short answer: based on your Klipsch setup and their high efficiency you can probably do without an external amp. The 6400 should be supplying enough power that the sonic difference may not be worth it unless you listen at reference level very often. Here's the long answer 😊: A power amp will yield additional clarity, depth, and detail across your channels. If you have a higher end receiver like the 6400 it may not be a huge sonic difference compared to a lower end model. I think the upgrade is worth it because: 1. It yields the benefits mentioned above. 2. I don't have to worry about my systems ability to drive demanding speakers. 3. I can upgrade my processor/av receiver at any point with the knowledge that I have good amplification. I hope this helps! Let me know what you decide. Respond back to this thread to jog my memory 😀😀

[@brucecarter6205]

Where did all the previous comments go? Lol Still failed to mention the lower power modules in the 9 and 11 channel amps for Emotiva. 65 watts per channel is not nearly enough for those of us who have more demanding speakers in the rear and up above. Emotiva’s power distribution is terribly unbalanced in the 9 and 11 channel amps. The Monoprice amps at 2:1 ratio are a significant step up. Don’t be fooled...the Monoprice is the better amp in terms of both sound quality and build quality. Yes, I’ve owned both and used them to power far more demanding speakers than Klipsch.

[@HomeTheaterHobbyist]

Unfortunately when I set the previous video to "Private" KZbin deleted all the comments. I agree I didn't mention the Monoprice has more power 100 watts vs 65 watts (Emotiva) but it was in the charts at the beginning of the video. I did mention that I find the front sound stage to be more important so having additional power can be a good thing. Another option is to buy multiple amps if you have especially demanding speakers. Obviously this is much more expensive and you have an unused channel or two depending on what you buy but it is an option. Where did you find out the information regarding the Emotiva/Monolith power distribution? I'd like to read/see that. I'm not being a jerk, I really want to learn about it. 🙂

[@FenderStrat19711]

Super helpful and informative video. Thank you so much for sharing. I really enjoyed the very detailed comparison that you provided on both of these models.

[@HomeTheaterHobbyist]

Thanks 🙏🏾

[@dandonna852]

What is differences or modular vs non - modular designs ?

[@HomeTheaterHobbyist]

With the modular design, contact Emotiva with the upgrades you want. They will send you a quote, if acceptable you send your unit (and payment), they’ll update then unit and ship it back to you. Monoprice doesn’t offer this option.

[@Bryan-hd7nm]

Great work and review! Did you need a additional 20amp outlets for these amps or the normal 15amp would do just fine?

[@HomeTheaterHobbyist]

Normal 15amp circuit works fine. Thanks for watching!

[@hdtvkeith1604]

I am a big fan of getting dedicated outlets for high power devices. While your amp may never draw full power unless you know what it is competing for on the same circuit you could get into voltage sag conditions. I ran 2 dedicated 20 amp lines and 1 dedicated 30 amp line years ago. Each sub is on a dedicated 20 and the 30 amps powers my AVR and TV. At low volumes (power draws) this is over kill, but if you really start pulling huge power it may have an impact sharing a single circuit.