Good used amp(s) for my RTi12's/CSi6/RTi4's

cloudmine

I'm a long time car stereophile, recently graduated into home audio and just joined the forum.

I currently have:
- RTi12's (fronts), CSi6 (center) and RTi4's (rears)
- Rythmik F15 powered sub
- Onkyo TX-NR3007 receiver

I originally thought the Onkyo receiver had sufficient power, but the speakers just don't sound as good as I expect them to, so I am now searching for the right amp(s). I listen to Movies 60% and Music 40%.

I had considered a EMOTIVA 3 or 5 channel, but after reading reviews, I think I can do better with a higher quality used amp(s), and saving some dough would help me with the WAF.

Your suggestions and offers? Thanks, Marc. (I'm in Richland, WA if that matters)

angelsfann02

I have the Emotiva Xpa5. Use it mostly for movies and some 2-channel. The price just went up a bit on it, but if you want a starter amp thats inexpensive, and has a warranty, then it may be a consideration. Besides, you have 30 days to test drive the thing. If Emotiva is not your thing, then you could try Parasound, Rotel, or Adcom amps just to name a few. I have an Adcom 545II that pushed my Polk Lsi15's with ease, and sounded great doing it. Try as many as you can get your ears on!!!!

ben62670

If you care about how the music sounds I would look at B&K or Parrasound on the used market. Also Rotel or an Adcom GFA-7500 would be good choices. Keep an eye out on audiogon.com Also you can find a good deal here.
Happy hunting
Ben

angelsfann02

Remember that you can also use separate amps to drive your hometheater, and your 2-channel set-up. One amp for the fronts, another for the center, and let your receiver handle the rears. Like Ben said, check Audiogon. Peace!

leroyjr1

Budget?

Habanero Monk

There is a person with a few near me for ~$80 per. They look nice from the pics. Anyone with experience on them?

cloudmine

Thanks for the insight folks. Budget is a tough one. My primary interest is powering the mains and center. So I was hoping to stay under $700, but I could be flexible if something of interest comes up.

I am actually surprised that my THX Ultra 2 140watt per channel Onkyo TX-NR3007 receiver isnt capable of driving the RTi12 and CSi6 as well as I expected in such a capable receiver.

Thanks, Marc.

cloudmine

Just saw a Rotel RB-1070 two channel amplifier on sale for $400 in the flea market on this forum. Any thoughts on this amp?

nooshinjohn

It is a nice amp... I liked it when I last heard one.

ben62670

Very solid amp. Let the AVR take care of the center and rears. The 140wpc rating is bogus. Maybe some nice Polkie will post a link to a test done on actual output of an AVR.

Polkie2009

+1 on the Rotel, have always heard good things on it. Let the AVR run the center and side surrounds and maybe eventually you can add a nice used amp to run the surrounds. I used an Adcom 545 as a side suuround amp for a year and it did fine:)

danz1906

There's a nice Adcom 5500 amp for sale on Audiogon:

http://www.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?ampstran&1300046104&/Adcom-GFA-5500-2-Channel-Ampli

nguyendot

I currently have the HCA-1205a Parasound and it absolutely slams for HT. Bass is good, power is more than sufficient. It will put that Onkyo into the ground easily.

I have the Onkyo NR807 and it sounded good with just the receiver, but the amp really put the authority forward.

Go with the amps mentioned here and don't look back. Hopefully it'll make the Onkyo run cooler too.

scottyboy76

I have 5 of these amps, rock solid, never get more than warm to the touch, no matter how long i have played them.
125 watts per, daisy chained they are 360 watts.

By the way, i have two that i would use except my new sdas need an ai-1 setup to run monos.

If you have a good quality offer for 2 channel amp, preferably something tuby,in the 40 watt range, i also have a cs350 center in beautiful shape i might throw in for the right tube gear.

just sayin, you never know till you ask

Loud & Clear

Surprisingly, Ben forgot to mention that if you care about how the music sounds then you probably shouldn't have purchased home theater speakers. Peculiar omission. Seems like he's really biased when it comes to Emotiva products.

Based upon reviews everywhere but on this website, it sure would seem as though you could do worse than to purchase the XPA-5 to get that boost in power your AVR lacks. Look around the web for more unbiased advice. Of course they're hard to come by used, as folks seem to really like them. Having said that I also think very highly of the NAD amplifiers, both 2-channel and multi-channeled. Good luck.