Rti A7's under powered by my receiver?

gabbar

Hello Everyone,

I used to own a pair of T90e and I recently bought a pair of Rti A7's . I am running them trough a Onkyo SR576 reveiver that can pump 80W per channel.

While I have my speakers in a 5.1 config, the primary reason for buying the Rti's was for 2 channel music. Am I under powering the Rti's ? The receiver is capable of Bi-Amping. Would Bi-Amping help.

If indeed the speakers are being under powered, what wattage level should i get for my speakers. Any recommended sub $1000 2 channel amps or 5.1 Receivers that can handle my speakers with ease.

Thank you,
-Gab

Almadacr

gabbar wrote: »

Hello Everyone,

I used to own a pair of T90e and I recently bought a pair of Rti A7's . I am running them trough a Onkyo SR576 reveiver that can pump 80W per channel.

While I have my speakers in a 5.1 config, the primary reason for buying the Rti's was for 2 channel music. Am I under powering the Rti's ? The receiver is capable of Bi-Amping. Would Bi-Amping help.

If indeed the speakers are being under powered, what wattage level should i get for my speakers. Any recommended sub $1000 2 channel amps or 5.1 Receivers that can handle my speakers with ease.

Thank you,
-Gab

Your reviver :biggrin: no put intended , just joking , is a entry level receiver , it dosen`t make it bad but " not complete " . One of the first thing that i advise what ever brand you chose buy something with pre-outs for a future proof and ease of mind , we normally start with a nice entry speaker system and then we get the upgrade-itis :biggrin: and buy better speakers that need more clean power to be driven .

So you need to take in consideration that you will be better with a new receiver and then make the necessary upgrade unless you have the $$$ money for everything ... hey go nuts :biggrin: So you will have a better receiver with pre-outs , you can start considering a new amp like Emotiva or outlaw . Regarding the subs you have HSU , SVS , EPIK and many more
Take a look at this Shootout to start , but i`m the kind of guy that likes not 1 but 2 subs :biggrin: and the best deal for dual subs out there is the EPIK Legends

codyc1ark

I'd look at the Epik Legend, and you should have enough change left over to upgrade your AVR to one with pre-outs, then later you can add an amp if you think you need to. Good luck.

tonyb

In 5 channel mode, your most likely only pumping out 40 watts to those puppies. Look for a receiver with preouts to add an amp or get a Pioneer SC model or one with ice amps, they can handle the 7's no problem.

codyc1ark

Keiko wrote: »

Edit: I don't think he's looking for a subwoofer, he asking about amplifiers, "sub" 1000.00.

Ah, I was just going off of the previous post, I don't know how we got there...

But that opens a lot of doors, should be able to find a great AVR PLUS an amp for under 1k, you'll do even better if you don't have the need for HDMI. (Seems the bottom has fallen out on most non-hdmi AVRs) I think EMO offers a pre, but from what I read, I'd jump right in and go above them for amps, IMO.

Hope any of our advice helps, welcome to CP and stick around!

gabbar

Thanks for the warm welcome and your advice. So it looks like I should first start looking for a decent receiver with pre-outs. And then get amps when budget allows.

Let me also explain my current setup and what I plan for in future. Almost all my music is played from a computer (either flac/320 Kbps Mp3). I use a HT Omega Claro+ Sound card (http://www.htomega.com/claroplus.html)

While listening to Music I use the Analog out of the sound card (Sound card seems to have a better DAC). In 5.1 movie mode I use a optical cable to connect to my receiver and let the receiver do the decoding.

I have heard very good things about the Music Fidelity V-DAC, Its within my budget too. So the plan is to get the V-DAC and connect it to a Pre-Amp/AMP or an Integrated amp directly.

Would you recommend this route, or upgrade to a receiver with pre-outs + amps (keeping my existing sound card)

-Gab

20hz

gabbar wrote: »

Thanks for the warm welcome and your advice. So it looks like I should first start looking for a decent receiver with pre-outs. And then get amps when budget . Would you recommend this route, or upgrade to a receiver with pre-outs + amps (keeping my existing sound card)

-Gab

I have had many amps hooked up (onkyo,crown etc)to my avr but by far the best sounding was a adcom 5300 , that model may not have enough power If you want more get a adcom 555 .
I found the 5300 series (mosfet) to run warm but the sound quality was awesome , I wish I had other adcoms (like the early series) to compare it to .
One avr sounded great it was the B&K but those are pricey but you MAY not need a externall amp with those ?
I recomend a receiver w/the audessy system built in it not only improves the sound quality but it helps tune your room .

PrazVT

Thanks for the warm welcome and your advice. So it looks like I should first start looking for a decent receiver with pre-outs. And then get amps when budget allows.

Let me also explain my current setup and what I plan for in future. Almost all my music is played from a computer (either flac/320 Kbps Mp3). I use a HT Omega Claro+ Sound card (http://www.htomega.com/claroplus.html)

While listening to Music I use the Analog out of the sound card (Sound card seems to have a better DAC). In 5.1 movie mode I use a optical cable to connect to my receiver and let the receiver do the decoding.

I have heard very good things about the Music Fidelity V-DAC, Its within my budget too. So the plan is to get the V-DAC and connect it to a Pre-Amp/AMP or an Integrated amp directly.

Would you recommend this route, or upgrade to a receiver with pre-outs + amps (keeping my existing sound card)

-Gab

In the long run you could do both I guess. For my HT setup I have it set as such:

- all speakers connected to amps
- amps connected to receiver
- squeezebox connected to DACMagic, which is connected to the analog CD input on the receiver.

When I listen to music, I set the receiver to CD and turn on Pure Direct and just listen to the RTi A7s in 2ch mode.

In your case, I'd get the least expensive receiver w/ the features you want, but that has pre-outs, and then use the rest of your budget for the amp.

I'm pretty sure Pure Direct bypasses audyssey - so you'd have to see if you like the acoustic adjustment or not for music. In my case, both the FR+FL were measured to be @ 0dB level-wise.

The other route - as 20hz mentioned is perhaps buying a higher end receiver that actually puts out the amt of power advertised per ch., like one of the NADs. They'll be more expensive but you'll get mostly everything we're suggesting here in one shot.

kevon27

Keiko wrote: »

Emotiva perhaps for Home Theater, but for 2ch music??? Too cold and sterile, in my opinion.

I like you to explain this statement you made. How does the Amplifier make sound "sterile and cold"

If an amp messes with certain frequencies to make it warm, bright, etc, isn't that a bad thing? Shouldn't a amp just amplify the sound from a source and do nothing else?

nwohlford

Some people like warm sound and some people like a more neutral sound. I am guessing from your response above you prefer a neutral sound. I think that this is similar to digital versus turntable debate. You are not going to win an argument with somebody who prefers a different sound than you, so it often valuable to find people who like a similar sound to you and look to them for advice.
For instance, I think that sometimes people who prefer a warm sound will call something fairly neutral as sounding bright (because it does sound bright to them). Thus it can be hard for you to judge whether it really is bright sounding or just their judgement.

cfrizz

Welcome to Club Polk Kevon. The only way you will know if you like an amp is to get one and listen for yourself.

You should take anything said here about Emotiva with a grain of salt since some don't like them just because...

I have had a few amps, and none of them ever affected the characteristics of my speakers, they simply amplified the sound.

If you want to get started with Emotiva for amplification go right ahead, come back & let us know what you think.

Joe08867

Emotiva is decent for an entry level amplifier but it is not the best to be had. And in my opinion is better at HT than 2ch audio.

I prefer B&K or Parasound well above Emotiva.

Kevon, great question. As far as amps go most will color the sound in some form or another, warm, bright, dark, thin. There are a million differences. For music I prefer as well as many on this board for a warmer sounding amplifier.

If an amplifier is to bright or shrill it can be fatiguing to the listener and that is never a good thing.

cfrizz, if you never heard a difference it was your source not the amps. A weak link can cause the best amps and speakers to sound generic.

20hz

kevon27 wrote: »

Keiko wrote: »

If an amp messes with certain frequencies to make it warm, bright, etc, isn't that a bad thing? Shouldn't a amp just amplify the sound from a source and do nothing else?

yea it is a bad thing , imagine if you had the treble or bass on 0 for years and you liked it , then somebody turned those controls all the way up , you could still listen to it but its kinda distracting and irritating .
Well thats sorta one way to mention a shrill power amp .
In power amps there is no bass/treble controls so I play a known piece of music through one amp and switch it to the other amp , than think "can I listen to that for hours" within 15 minutes I find that awnser .

cfrizz

Joe08867 wrote: »

cfrizz, if you never heard a difference it was your source not the amps. A weak link can cause the best amps and speakers to sound generic.

I heard plenty of difference when I added the amp. I heard clearer music, better vocals & better bass.

All an amp will do is amplify what is there. If you have bright speakers, they will sound even brighter with the amplification. If you have a poorly recorded record, cd, mp3, it will sound even worse fully amplified.

I know what my speakers and gear sound like and those didn't change just because I added an amp. I am simply able to hear all the details clearly, and know that my speakers are now operating to their full potential.

I simply want to enjoy my system playing, not spend needless, useless hours trying to pick the damn thing apart.

F1nut

All an amp will do is amplify what is there.

Nothing could be farther from the truth. Amps have different sonic signatures, even amps from the same company.

tonyb

F1nut wrote: »

Nothing could be farther from the truth. Amps have different sonic signatures, even amps from the same company.

Absolutely !!

Every piece of gear adds or subtracts something from the sound. Thats why we all profess a certain synergy is needed in your system.

mdaudioguy

20hz wrote: »

yea it is a bad thing , imagine if you had the treble or bass on 0 for years and you liked it , then somebody turned those controls all the way up , you could still listen to it but its kinda distracting and irritating .
Well thats sorta one way to mention a shrill power amp .
In power amps there is no bass/treble controls so I play a known piece of music through one amp and switch it to the other amp , than think "can I listen to that for hours" within 15 minutes I find that awnser .

Haha! You quoted the wrong guy in your post (#15)... (I couldn't imagine him asking such a question without his tongue planted firmly in cheek!) Watch your quote tags!