If you go with a receiver, you could start with just something like the XPA-3 to power the front three channels and let the receiver power the surrounds and Atmos, which don't need nearly as much power, as Robert pointed out. Then, if you want to take it up a bit, add an A4 for the surround channels. You could start with just the three channel amp and decide later on the surround amp. If you go with a preamp, then you of course need amps to drive all the channels and, in my opinion, an XPA-3 and two A4s is kind of the ideal balance of investment and better than any of the single amp solutions.
I fretted over that as well as the different levels of Audyssey before buying my current receiver (Denon S750H). In the end, my budget dictated what I could afford and after setting up the receiver and running Audyssey, everything sounds fine.
I don’t see why they wouldn’t but I also haven’t looked up the specs for the Emotiva amps or the B&W speakers. Perhaps @JohnRice has some thoughts. He is one of our experts in the realm of separates and power handling.
As John Dirk stated, Audyssey is significantly behind the curve, especially compared to Dirac and ARC. It's still probably better than YPAO. I've never heard what I consider to be good auto correction, so I remain skeptical until I do. I AM sold on the idea of using a MiniDSP for subs though.
My front speakers (Thiel CS 3.6) are significantly more difficult to drive than the 702s. The regular XPA amps drive them fine, but the XPA-DR2 I use now is the best sounding, overall, that I've used with them in the nearly 30 years I've had them. That includes a Threshold 200 WPC pure Class A that had better imaging, but lower dynamics. It was also many times more expensive than the XPA-DR2 is now, back in 1993.
Windows and Xbox ONLY.Audyssey is trying, finally. $200 software license per AVR. It’s brand new and early adopters are just starting to play with it. There are some encouraging early reports. My hope is that it closes the gap with ARC and Dirac, while keeping the $1000+ price benefit of Audyssey AVRs from Denon and Marantz and others compared to ARC or other solutions.
But TBD.
MultEQ-X - Official app in the Microsoft Store
MultEQ-X software works as an add-on to the MultEQ system already embedded in many Denon and Marantz AVRS. Users get complete control over their target sound, with the ability to customize the frequency range and tonal balance of each individual speaker in the system. A virtual AVR is included...www.microsoft.com
You might just use a DR3 for all three. I have a DR1 for the center, but it’s probably overkill.
Hard pass for $200.Audyssey is trying, finally. $200 software license per AVR. It’s brand new and early adopters are just starting to play with it. There are some encouraging early reports. My hope is that it closes the gap with ARC and Dirac, while keeping the $1000+ price benefit of Audyssey AVRs from Denon and Marantz and others compared to ARC or other solutions.
But TBD.
MultEQ-X - Official app in the Microsoft Store
MultEQ-X software works as an add-on to the MultEQ system already embedded in many Denon and Marantz AVRS. Users get complete control over their target sound, with the ability to customize the frequency range and tonal balance of each individual speaker in the system. A virtual AVR is included...www.microsoft.com
If this iteration on Audyssey does a good job, it might be part of the value question of paying $3000 + $200 for a Marantz 7706 and MultEQ X versus $3800 for an Anthem AVM70.
