Which amp is best for the RTI A5's/CSI A6?

alienwatcher

Hey guys! Long time lurker, first time poster....

I've had the RTI A5's for about 6 months now running alongside the CSI A6 and I'm VERY happy with them. My room is almost 100% used for movies.

Anyway, I'm selling some of my old guitar equipment (part of growing up I guess...) to make some home theater upgrades. I've been thinking about starting up separates for some time and I'm sold on their benefits. What I am not sold on is how much power I really need to drive the A5's and the A6.

My wife and I rarely listen to movies at reference level, so an amp upgrade would completely be for added dynamics, improved headroom, etc... I was originally sold on the Emotiva XPA-3 to power the front 3 speakers and use my Yamaha 663 for the back surrounds.

Now that the UPA-5 is on super sale, do you guys think I should go for that (possibly even bi-amp the fronts with the extra channels), or do most people agree that I would notice even more improvement with the XPA-3? The money saved would go towards some soundproofing as I'm severely lacking in that department.

I am by no means an expert, but I believe I have better trained ears than most. I do NOT want to feel like I've undersold myself on the UPA-5 (I obviously have the HT upgrade bug), but if there are no real world benefits (or not a lot of them) with the XPA-3 in my situation, than I'll jump at the sale. This will be my primary amp for at least the next year and a half (recently found out we have another kid on the way...).

Thanks for your time! I've learned so much from these forums. Hopefully I can start to contribute from my own experiences!

mystik610

alienwatcher wrote: »

Hey guys! Long time lurker, first time poster....

I've had the RTI A5's for about 6 months now running alongside the CSI A6 and I'm VERY happy with them. My room is almost 100% used for movies.

Anyway, I'm selling some of my old guitar equipment (part of growing up I guess...) to make some home theater upgrades. I've been thinking about starting up separates for some time and I'm sold on their benefits. What I am not sold on is how much power I really need to drive the A5's and the A6.

My wife and I rarely listen to movies at reference level, so an amp upgrade would completely be for added dynamics, improved headroom, etc... I was originally sold on the Emotiva XPA-3 to power the front 3 speakers and use my Yamaha 663 for the back surrounds.

Now that the UPA-5 is on super sale, do you guys think I should go for that (possibly even bi-amp the fronts with the extra channels), or do most people agree that I would notice even more improvement with the XPA-3? The money saved would go towards some soundproofing as I'm severely lacking in that department.

I am by no means an expert, but I believe I have better trained ears than most. I do NOT want to feel like I've undersold myself on the UPA-5 (I obviously have the HT upgrade bug), but if there are no real world benefits (or not a lot of them) with the XPA-3 in my situation, than I'll jump at the sale. This will be my primary amp for at least the next year and a half (recently found out we have another kid on the way...).

Thanks for your time! I've learned so much from these forums. Hopefully I can start to contribute from my own experiences!

Having owned the RTi8's (older version of the RTi-A5 with identical components), and owning an XPA-5 currently, I wouldn't recommend Emotiva gear with your RTi-A5's. As the RTi-A's are a bright speaker and Emotiva's amplifiers tend to have a bright sonic signature, the synergy between the two would be less than ideal....unless you like ear-bleedingly bright sound.

I was driving my RTi8's with a Harman Kardon Signature 2.1 amp, which was a very warm sounding amp. I was very happy with the synergy between the two....crisp highs, but not overwhelmingly slow, and a buttery smooth and prominent mid-range. Scouring the used market for an HK, Marrantz, or a tube amp would be my recommendation.

alienwatcher

Thanks mystik610! Good insight. Maybe I'll invest in the sound absorption instead for now until I can find a warmer amp. Those RTi's are definitely bright (great for HT, but wouldn't want them to be any brighter).

Knucklehead

I have Rti8's and a CSi5 that I run with A Rotel RB976 and they sound great.

Toolfan66

Parasound, Rotel, Sunfire get my vote!!!

PrazVT

Yup - using a Parasound amp for my RTi A7s and love it!

PSOVLSK

FYI

http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?t=107707

cnoat

My RTI'S sound great with parasounds.Also once I invested in some decent cables I saw a very big improvement across the full spectrum.

jinjuku

mystik610 wrote: »

Having owned the RTi8's (older version of the RTi-A5 with identical components), and owning an XPA-5 currently, I wouldn't recommend Emotiva gear with your RTi-A5's. As the RTi-A's are a bright speaker and Emotiva's amplifiers tend to have a bright sonic signature, the synergy between the two would be less than ideal....unless you like ear-bleedingly bright sound.

If the RTi's are a bit bright (for your tastes) what about padding down the tweeter with a bit stiffer resistor?

Why solve a $6 in parts problem with a 4/5/.../$800 amplifier? I mean this wouldn't be the first Polk speaker to have a popular x-over mod performed on it.

Just a possible suggestion...

jinjuku

Coming from an Adcom/Parasound owner I think you will be more than well served by the UPA-5.

Check out the Audioholics review of the UPA-7. BTW I mod the HTPC section there so swing on by if you ever want to put together a DVD/CD Juke .

Also check out what people at forums like AVSForum.com and HometheaterShack.com are saying about Adcom/Rotel/Parasound/ATI/Emotiva (all brands you should be looking at). I picked my Parasound HCA1000a for $200 used and the thing was damn near brand new:D

TORI3

I was gonna shoot for the Emotiva, but decided not to since my RTi8s are already bright.

Went with something warmer (Sunfire Cinema Seven) for a decent price on ebay. The Sunfire was briefly auditioned with the RTi line and they sounded spectacular.

Here's a poll I started a while back:

http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?t=105380

Hope this helps, and welcome to Polk!

MADGSF

I am very happy with how my B&K pairs with my RTi-10s. Rotel would be a good match up too. I think you would be fine with 125W per channel with those speakers.

incloud

jinjuku wrote: »

If the RTi's are a bit bright (for your tastes) what about padding down the tweeter with a bit stiffer resistor?

Why solve a $6 in parts problem with a 4/5/.../$800 amplifier? I mean this wouldn't be the first Polk speaker to have a popular x-over mod performed on it.

Just a possible suggestion...

I'd have no idea how to do that but would be willing to give it a shot if it would solve the brightness. Looking at buying Polk RtiA series and already own all Emotiva amps. Would certainly be nice to not buy all new amps for a speaker upgrade.

F1nut

incloud, there's a damn good reason that fool is banned. Ignore EVERTHING he's ever posted here.

incloud

Thanks for the heads up. This whole brightness thing has me acting a fool myself. Lol