Convince me to keep RTi-A9

el_duderino

Hi everyone.

I jumped on a boxing day deal and ordered a pair of RTi A9s in black for 399+tax apiece... Jumped is the word... they sold out within a few minutes.

My amps are all 30+ years old. Strongest is a Fisher CA-2110 rated at a "real" 50wpc. Others are a 25wpc Technics and a 25wpc Rotel receiver.

I have a set of Polk R50 hooked up now. I also have a set of R-15 bookshelfs.

I listen mostly at low volumes. Both the R50s and R15s don't do much for me at low volume.... they sound pretty harsh and... tiring? and the R50s are definitely worse than the R15s.

So I keep reading glowing reviews of the R9 (with the caveat that they need a powerful amp.... it's on the list.)

However no one mentions whether this is at high or low volume. At low and normal listening, I need nice, balanced, slightly warmer sound. High volume (rare) I need punch, impact.

So assuming I get a good amplifier (100+ real watts per channel) are these speakers gonna do it for me at low and normal volumes? I listen to ambient electonica, lounge music and some classical.

I can still cancel the order for the next couple of days, no harm no foul.

nguyendot

The issue isn't mainly of power. You need dynamic headroom even at low volumes. I'm going to venture that your old amps don't have that since they don't have the power for it. The A9's require a great amplifier with good headroom and control.

If you don't want them, you can always send them my way! I have 200w+ per channel to feed

Sherardp

These speakers are beasts. They sound even better with more power. The problem is people buy them and power them with overated receivers and such which result clipping damage when played loud. Buy a used amp off Audiogon and you will be fine. Outlaw Audio makes the M200/M2200 which a fine monoblock to use per speaker. If you got those speakers that cheap, I would not cancel. If your building a multichannel setup then opt for a 5 or 7 chan amp and be done with it.

http://www.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?ampsmult&1295656824&/Outlaw-Audio-755-5-X-200W-Amp

cnh

WELCOME TO CLUB POLK!

+1, on everything above! I really don't see how you can properly power A9s with an SS amp that has less than 200 watts/channel? Unless you have something special that operates direct as a class A amp in the lower wattage ranges, etc. There are some very nice but pricey amps in that category.

You don't need to use all that power in order for a speaker to sound better at lower volumes. I have a pair of LSI bookshelves (4 ohms) that I often run at low/moderate volume and you can hear the difference in how they sound off an HK receiver vs. a pre and a 200/325 watt (8/4 ohm)/channel Adcom. The amp pushes the low end better and opens up the stage more. So yes, even at low volume, the extra amplification will make a 'difference' you can hear!

cnh

el_duderino

Thanks for the answers guys.

So 200wpc will be a minimum.

Guess my next question is an amplifier question. I like in Canada so a great many nice things aren't available here. What can I buy that will drive these speakers properly?

The only integrated amp I have ever seen that will do this is the Anthem Integrated 225 -- Hardly chump change at nearly $2000 after tax.

Anyone have any more attainable suggestions?

cnh

Parasound, Rotel, Carver, Adcom, NAD, Outlaw, etc. Any of these...bought on the 'used' market (and a number of others) are all fine mid-level power amps. The important thing is to try and listen to a few because they all have their signature sound.

The Anthems, BTW, are certainly first rate! Other amps above can be had from 200 U.S. up on the used market. Look at www.audiogon.com for buys.

You can also check this site (Polk's) for used gear!

Happy hunting!

cnh

danz1906

Check out Odyssey's Amp:

http://www.odysseyaudio.com/

curved

What is your budget? You can find a lot of nice powerful amps that are more affordable than the $2k one you were looking at.

el_duderino

Budget?

$"as little as possible"

LOL

If I get an integrated amp it's all I need. If, however I get a 2xhannel power amp, I also need a pre-amp, correct?

I can get a Harman Kardon HK3490 for 400 tax in. 120wpc, high current... Looks like a quality unit to run the beasts while I do some research. Don't mind keeping it as a secondary unit or reselling at some point. IS it worth it or will it be total trash? I know we said 200WPC minimum but it will surely be better than a 30+ year old beast.

Always had the philosophy of just getting what you really want right off the bat but this is gonna be a 3-6month research project at this point.

cnh

That's 400 Canadian...because you can get that in the U.S. for about 299 new. However, even though the HK is a nice entry level stereo receiver with decent power and capable of driving 4 ohm loads, the A9s 'really' need more power.

Having said that, you could use the HK as a Pre-amp and buy a 250-350 dollar (U.S.) power amp that has the power you will need, and they'll sound OK on the HK for now, but not as impressive as they 'can' sound.

cnh

polkfarmboy

there are some nice canadian tube amps on ebay

madnod

consider emotiva, great amps at great prices, they are currently on sale, XPA-2 would be good, 2 XPA1 would be even better.

i have RTI A9s connected to an XPA-5 at the moment and they are doing great within my HT.

jflail2

I went the route of a nice Denon receiver with pre-amp outs. It gave me the ability to plug and play immediately (with the Rti-10's I had bought), and still upgrade to a separate amp later.

I have yet to buy the separate amp, so I've obviously been pleased with the Denon and RTi combo. I'm sure my mind will be blown when I add an amp, but I'm blissfully ignorant of those improvements right now

polkfarmboy

jflail2 wrote: »

, but I'm blissfully ignorant of those improvements right now

Thats a great position to be in, you can use the happy time to save for a truely awesome amp like a krell

jflail2

polkfarmboy wrote: »

Thats a great position to be in, you can use the happy time to save for a truely awesome amp like a krell

Hah, exactly. I've been lurking the flea market for about 6 months now, waiting on a magical deal on a Krell or one of those Sunfires. There was a Sunfire a while back that was exactly what I was looking for, but I didn't have the coin at the time.

That's fine; I'm in a condo now, so I can't crank my HT set up like I could in my old house anyway.

el_duderino

So I can get the Integrated 225 for a good price. Guy waiting for my call to order it. Went to another shop and they said the integrated had gutless wattage, no current capacity to back it up.


He suggested I pick up a Rotel RA-1520. 60wpc.... Normally I would have no hesitation picking up a rotel integrated (i lovemy 30 year old beastie). Also a good price.


He played the amp on some Wharfedale Evo2-50s and it did OK but of course i know nothing about these speakers compared to the RTi-A9s

I don't know what to do.

I am totally unwilling to buy anything from the US because of all the fees.

Pick up the HK3490 for now and use it as a pre-amp when I locate a good power amp? (saw a used 500wpc rotel... do want!)

Is the integrated 225 really an overrated heap?

combile

Which solution is better:
HK3490 + Emotiva XPA-2 + RTiA9
Emotiva USP-1 + Emotiva XPA-2 + RTiA9

Thanks

el_duderino

make ur own thread, dude LOL

Well, they're here.

[IMG][/img]

Hellova time getting them up the stairs by myself.

Will unbox in a few mins.

gfong

el_duderino wrote: »

I don't know what to do.

I am totally unwilling to buy anything from the US because of all the fees.

Pick up the HK3490 for now and use it as a pre-amp when I locate a good power amp? (saw a used 500wpc rotel... do want!)

If you unwilling to order from the States, then it looks like you may have to play the used market. I bit the bullet and ordered a new amp yesterday. Fees were not that bad, glad the dollar was close to par. Sale price on amp was $529 US and total to me was $691 US, delivered in 3 days.

Try http://www.canuckaudiomart.com/
Goodluck with your amp purchase and have fun with your new speakers. Post up a review when you get them set-up!

el_duderino

gfong wrote: »

If you unwilling to order from the States, then it looks like you may have to play the used market. I bit the bullet and ordered a new amp yesterday. Fees were not that bad, glad the dollar was close to par. Sale price on amp was $529 US and total to me was $691 US, delivered in 3 days.

Try http://www.canuckaudiomart.com/
Goodluck with your amp purchase and have fun with your new speakers. Post up a review when you get them set-up!

what did you order and from where?

comfortablycurt

Why is it that the "200 wpc minimum" has become such a universal blanket statement here?

For low level/moderate listening, I would imagine that a solid 100 wpc amp would be quite adequate. I run my SDA 2A's with a 100 wpc Adcom 545...and they sound absolutely fantastic at lower/moderate levels. They also sound fantastic when I crank them up. To further that point, my SDA 2A's are also significantly harder to drive than the RTiA9's, since they're 4 ohms nominal...versus the A9's being 8 ohms nominal.

That's not to say that there aren't going to be benefits in having a higher powered amp, however, you shouldn't sacrifice quality in the name of meeting the "200 wpc minimum". The wattage rating isn't everything. The current and capacitance capabilities of an amp are every bit as important. You'll be able to get a nice high quality 100 wpc amp for the same price as a subpar 200 wpc amp...and in most respects, you'll probably achieve roughly the same dynamic capabilities with a good high current 100 wpc amp, as compared to a somewhat subpar 200 wpc amp.

My wimpy little COMPLETELY INADEQUATE 100 wpc amp will drive my SDA's high enough that my neighbor across the street can open his window up and feel like he's there in my listening room with me. But...according to the gospel on here, my amp is apparently worth it's weight in flea droppings.:rolleyes: After all...it is ONLY 100 wpc.

The first watt is the one that matters...and the amp is only going to sound as good as that first watt will allow it to sound. Don't sacrifice quality for quantity.


Since you've already got it on hand, try using one of the amps you already have. You may be surprised. The wattage of a lot of those older amps is rated somewhat conservatively.

comfortablycurt

combile wrote: »

Which solution is better:
HK3490 + Emotiva XPA-2 + RTiA9
Emotiva USP-1 + Emotiva XPA-2 + RTiA9

Thanks

I'd run and hide from the USP-1. From what I've heard, that piece of junk has been NOTHING but problems since it's release. It sounds like Emo is having all kinds of problems with several of their newer products. I'd steer clear of them myself.

Personally, I wouldn't want anything from the Emotiva company anyway, aside from possibly their ERC-1 CDP.

el_duderino wrote: »

make ur own thread, dude LOL

To be fair, he is kind of asking the same question as you are, and any answers he receives could be beneficial to your own queries. It's also kinda nice when we can consolidate topics into common threads, rather than having 12 different threads at any given time asking "what amp should I get for my RTiA9's?".

Audioquest

el_duderino wrote: »

Budget?

$"as little as possible"

LOL

QUOTE]

Sign up and watch ads on www.canuckaudiomart.ca and find a good integrated or separates. There's often some good Sim Audio or Musical Fidelity integrated units for decent prices as one of many possible suggestions. Get something with a high current design, not necessarily just a high wattage number, from some other than the Big Box Store type name brands. The used market offers good pieces for great prices. My suggestion is to keep the speakers boxed and save for a bit until you can afford some higher quality electronics that will make the speakers perform to their potential.

gfong

el_duderino wrote: »

what did you order and from where?

I ordered the Emotiva XPA-3.

http://www.emotiva.com/xpa3.shtm

I guess I will take my chances, as "Uncomfortable Kurt" says they are shite!

Audioquest

gfong wrote: »

I ordered the Emotiva XPA-3.

http://www.emotiva.com/xpa3.shtm

I guess I will take my chances, as "Uncomfortable Kurt" says they are shite!

After you've run it in for a coupleof weeks, maybe post your opinion.

Here are a few others: http://www.audioreview.com/cat/amplification/amplifiers/emotiva/xpa-3/PRD_448751_1583crx.aspx

gfong

Audioquest wrote: »

After you've run it in for a coupleof weeks, maybe post your opinion.

Here are a few others: http://www.audioreview.com/cat/amplification/amplifiers/emotiva/xpa-3/PRD_448751_1583crx.aspx

That is what I am hoping for, thanks for the link!

I was truely joking about what the other poster wrote, but thought i should put a dig in for fun! , hence the smiley face!
What sounds good to one, may sound bad to another.

Audioquest

gfong wrote: »

That is what I am hoping for, thanks for the link!

I was truely joking about what the other poster wrote, but thought i should put a dig in for fun! , hence the smiley face!
What sounds good to one, may sound bad to another.

It sure does, but ultimately what counts is how it sounds to you.

DJaxx

el_duderino wrote: »

make ur own thread, dude LOL

Well, they're here.

[IMG][/img]

Hellova time getting them up the stairs by myself.

Will unbox in a few mins.

LOL......My wife just about went into apoplectic shock when my RTiA9's arrived yesterday......they are indeed enormous.

Set them up last night and the aural ecstacy has begun!! The clarity and tonal quality is superb. Hoping to "challenge" them this weekend with reference quality Blu Rays.....of course knowing they need to be treated kindly during the break in period.

Congrats on your new HT setup.....I am sure you will not be disappointed. :biggrin:

VR3

Break in period - pfft

Crank them bad boys and break them in the hard way

el_duderino

I know I was just busting his chops

Here they are next to my R50s

Size matters!

leroyjr1

Looking good!!!