Building a budget high-powered 2 channel system

JimAckley

Two isn't overkill. I used to have one JBL E250 12" sub for my 2.1 setup and I ended up blowing two of them out because they couldn't keep up with my E50s at all. The E50s would play lower and cleaner all day, and I'm not going through that crap again. I need a subwoofer system that can do it all. Two 505s should be able to do that. I'm ordering the A3's today

JimAckley

They'll be here on Friday! woot!

TECHNOKID

JimAckley wrote: »

They'll be here on Friday! woot!

No procrastinating, Jim wants his system yesterday :cool:

JimAckley

UPS TRACKING:
06/04/2010 10:36:00 DELIVERED[D] ENGLEWOOD, CO, US LEFT WITH MAN

I... AM... MAN!!!! hahaha

So far they're definitely worth the money spent. They sound amazing, and they're on my crappy Yamaha receiver!! I can only imagine how they'll sound on my Kenwood. Now I just can't wait til they're broken in, and when I have my 505s to round out the low end.

Maybe there are some A9s, a CSi A6 and a DSW microPRO 4000 in my semi-distant future. I think the RTi A series is a perfect match for my tastes. It's cool to say I have LSi's, but they might have to go in lieu of me picking up a pair of A9s.

Erik Tracy

JimAckley wrote: »

UPS TRACKING:
06/04/2010 10:36:00 DELIVERED[D] ENGLEWOOD, CO, US LEFT WITH MAN

I... AM... MAN!!!! hahaha

So far they're definitely worth the money spent. They sound amazing, and they're on my crappy Yamaha receiver!! I can only imagine how they'll sound on my Kenwood. Now I just can't wait til they're broken in, and when I have my 505s to round out the low end.

Maybe there are some A9s, a CSi A6 and a DSW microPRO 4000 in my semi-distant future. I think the RTi A series is a perfect match for my tastes. It's cool to say I have LSi's, but they might have to go in lieu of me picking up a pair of A9s.

Sounds like you are putting together a sweet system.

Gotta love the sound value you get with those RTiA3s! Set them up with two 505s and you are gonna have a nice wall of sound!

ben62670

Another vote for the HK 2 channel with pre outs.

dane_peterson

Congrats on the purchase. Though I know what they look like, I always like to see pics of the new speaks and rig. Post some when they arrive. Welcome aboard.

JimAckley

I'd get the HK but I'm not sure how long I'll stay 2-channel. Right now I'm not a huge stickler on having the ultimate SQ, but eventually I'll do something like that. Maybe once I can pick up some vintage Polks. The A3's will probably play a role in my potential surround system as some front heights. I'm thinking about grabbing a Denon 4810CI once they're not the latest/greatest and the price has dropped and anchoring a 11.1 or 11.2 system with it. Who knows?! The possibilities are unlimited, so time will tell.

...but most importantly, THANK YOU to cnh, TECHNOKID, Ken, and everyone else who told me to go for the RTi's instead of the Monitor 40s. Not that there's anything wrong w/ the Monitors, but I'm glad I went with higher end line with tons of options to expand.

TECHNOKID

JimAckley wrote: »

UPS TRACKING:
06/04/2010 10:36:00 DELIVERED[D] ENGLEWOOD, CO, US LEFT WITH MAN

I... AM... MAN!!!! hahaha

So far they're definitely worth the money spent. They sound amazing, and they're on my crappy Yamaha receiver!! I can only imagine how they'll sound on my Kenwood. Now I just can't wait til they're broken in, and when I have my 505s to round out the low end.

Maybe there are some A9s, a CSi A6 and a DSW microPRO 4000 in my semi-distant future. I think the RTi A series is a perfect match for my tastes. It's cool to say I have LSi's, but they might have to go in lieu of me picking up a pair of A9s.

Congrats, I am very happy for you.

JimAckley wrote: »

I'd get the HK but I'm not sure how long I'll stay 2-channel. Right now I'm not a huge stickler on having the ultimate SQ, but eventually I'll do something like that. Maybe once I can pick up some vintage Polks. The A3's will probably play a role in my potential surround system as some front heights. I'm thinking about grabbing a Denon 4810CI once they're not the latest/greatest and the price has dropped and anchoring a 11.1 or 11.2 system with it. Who knows?! The possibilities are unlimited, so time will tell.

...but most importantly, THANK YOU to cnh, TECHNOKID, Ken, and everyone else who told me to go for the RTi's instead of the Monitor 40s. Not that there's anything wrong w/ the Monitors, but I'm glad I went with higher end line with tons of options to expand.

If you decide to go with an AVR instead of a 2 channel amp make sure it has pre-outs as later on you might want to add an amp for the fronts which will allow you for better music SQ. I too think the HK 2 channels would provide you with good audio performance. Your doing good, I am exited for you, keep us posted :cool:

Cheers!
TK

JimAckley

Look up the Denon I want. It has a 9-channel amp and a 11.3 preout setup. I learned with my Kenwood the value of having preouts. The Yamaha doesn't have any, but it's a piece IMO so I don't care. It's future is probably going to be a garage/shop amp set for 5ch Stereo for when I'm workin on my GTO and Yukon. I'm by no means knocking on Yamaha, but the HTR-6230 ain't exactly "top shelf."

The next stages in the system are a couple of 505s and then the Denon 4810CI, then I'll be on a mission for making the transfer from 2.2 to 11.3

dane_peterson

That would probably make you the only member on CP with 11.3 channels. Seems overkill to me. I suggest Quality over Quantity.

JimAckley

Someone gotta be the first. . Actually it will most likely be a 9.1 system anchored by the DSW microPRO 4000 and my 505s will be used in a 2.2 system elsewhere in the house. My first home theater was a JBL Northridge series in 7.2 in a medium size bedroom and it actually sounded really good. It's legit to be literally surrounded in speakers. Some songs come at you from all sizes and it kinda gives you the goosebumps. I digress: the 9.1 will happen in whatever house I buy in the next few years, so you can count on me choosing one with a large enough den for a big system.

JimAckley

Oh and here's a pic of them. I'm currently using them as my computer's speakers since I write a lot of music. They'll go up on the walls once I get some new furniture. My armoire I have right now is in the way of where I want the right speaker, and my desk is in the way of where I want the left subwoofer. Give me a month or so and you'll see the final result

I gotta say, the all around musical response out of these has been pleasantly surprising. Right now I'm listening to the Phantom of the Opera (my absolute favorite musical, which I've seen many times in person, a couple of which were on Broadway), and when I close my eyes, I can easily place characters in their stage locations in the scenes. The imaging is amazing, the accuracy is amazing and the bass extension is absolutely shocking. I FREAKIN LOVE THESE SPEAKERS!!

cnh

Very nice! Congrats! I had a 'feeling' that the Rti-A3s would be your cup of tea after reading a number of your posts.

As for me, I spent yet another session listening to the LSI-7s on an all GamuT system...CD/pre/amp Eagles CD. Cabling, unknown but definitely high-end! That Vifa tweeter is just so 'smooth' almost no harshness at all. But I can see where some people might think it is too laid back. See Ben's post where he taunts the LSI owner then describes how his mods open up the Vifa and detail in the mid-bass? To me what he has done is 'made' 'another' speaker, actually taken away one of the Vifa's strengths...its understated musicality that is much more like what you actually hear in many LIVE concert halls? But it's all so damned subective, isn't it.

The Rti-A3s are an excellent bookshelf in any case. You made a good choice and it looks like you know it!

Enjoy!

cnh

TECHNOKID

dane_peterson wrote: »

That would probably make you the only member on CP with 11.3 channels. Seems overkill to me. I suggest Quality over Quantity.

IMHO for music a 2 channels is the best as you want to develop and recreate the SQ as it was intended which is facing you along with being able to determe the stage position of each of the musicians and singer(s).

In most other circumstances the more speakers the merrier however, doesn't mean you have to neglect the quality. IE: In a HT more speakers with a strategic location will help you immerse you in the movie which should be the intention.Jim, nice speakers and a great start for your 2.2. Let us know when you get your subs and your impressions.

Cheers!
TK

JimAckley

cnh wrote: »

Very nice! Congrats! I had a 'feeling' that the Rti-A3s would be your cup of tea after reading a number of your posts.

As for me, I spent yet another session listening to the LSI-7s on an all GamuT system...CD/pre/amp Eagles CD. Cabling, unknown but definitely high-end! That Vifa tweeter is just so 'smooth' almost no harshness at all. But I can see where some people might think it is too laid back. See Ben's post where he taunts the LSI owner then describes how his mods open up the Vifa and detail in the mid-bass? To me what he has done is 'made' 'another' speaker, actually taken away one of the Vifa's strengths...its understated musicality that is much more like what you actually hear in many LIVE concert halls? But it's all so damned subective, isn't it.

The Rti-A3s are an excellent bookshelf in any case. You made a good choice and it looks like you know it!

Enjoy!

cnh

I wish I could hear a set of modified LSi's. I get what you're saying, that the softness in the tweeter is one of the characterizing features of the LSi line, but I'm curious to hear what it sounds like when it's livened up a bit. I liked my LSi25s, but didn't like having to boost the treble on my receiver to +8 or +10 just to get "clarity" out of them.

That being said, I think the RTi A series is where I will invest my time and money in the future. It caters a bit better to my tastes, and I wish I'd known that a long time ago, since I bought my 25s right when the A's came out. I could've squandered my money on A9s instead of 25s all along

I can't reiterate enough how blown away I am by the sound of my A3's though. The clarity and smooth/extended response they deliver eats me up every day. When I listen, it doesn't sound like a pair of 2-way bookshelves at all. I'll keep you guys posted on the build up. 505 #1 will probably be coming along in two weeks

JimAckley

Well I ditched the corner desk when I found this desk for cheap at a moving sale. The desk is SOLID. You can see exactly why I bought it... pedestals for each of my A3's. It puts them at perfect ear height when I'm sitting at my desk. I run a dual sound card setup, so they're all partitioned off from eachother. The Creative X-Fi Notebook card goes to my receiver which in turn feeds my A3's, along with some KLH S-PRO4's in my bathroom. The laptop's integrated soundcard feeds a pair of iHome iH69's, and only handles the in/out of Ventrilo, that's it. It's actually a pretty neat setup. Let's me easily turn up my friends louder than the game or mute them, etc, and makes it so my A3s only play the game (or my music) and nothing else.

JimAckley

PSW505 #1 on the way!

punk-roc

i'm using that same desk right now hahahaha