Parasound 2250 with Polk RTi 12's... WOW!

jhkcam
jhkcam Posts: 11
edited August 2014 in Electronics
Let me start by saying that I have a new found hope for music with home audio! This is my first experience with separate amplification for HT.... I am a big car audio guy (Alpine HU, Polk speakers, Kicker Sub with dual Kicker amps), so it would honestly be tough for me to say that I've never heard audio how it is supposed to sound. The car has always been my "music testing ground" (confined spaces definitely have their advantages) for what music should sound like.

Having said that, I have never heard that clarity, that definition, in the home setting until tonight. And it's better!! The RTi12's finally "woke up". They sounded great before, but they have reached a whole new level. The best way to explain the difference is that they sounded totally unrestrained. Powering them with my Onkyo sounded good, but with the Parasound they are crisper, clearer and just sound more natural. I can finally play them as loud as I can stand and get no distortion or feeling that they are being pushed too hard.... it seems their limit is as loud as my ears can stand :) and crystal clear! The sound fills the room (very large open room w/ high ceilings) with ease. The sound isn't coming from 2 speakers, it just surrounds you.

I decided to test the speakers with the new amp without my dual subs. I have always been a fan of subs in both car and home audio b/c they just provide that lower end "thump" that is so awesome. While I will say that the subs aren't going anywhere for HT, I honestly never once felt the need to hook them back up for music. Every time I thought I would need subs, I was proven wrong by the speakers own performance. If you think you "need" a sub with the RTi12's, you just aren't giving them enough power... seriously. I was blown away with every type of music I tried! I will keep my subs but only because the more power the better in my eyes... they are set now to play only the deepest bass as to not strain my speakers more than need be.

For anyone debating a separate amp... don't hesitate. WOW, what a difference!

-Justin
Video: Samsung UN55C8000

Audio: Onkyo TX-NR809 Receiver, Parasound 2250 2 Channel Amp, Polk RTi12 Fronts, Polk CSi A6 center, Polk RTi A3 surrounds, Infinity Alpha 1200S sub-1 and Rebuilt Infinity BU-150 sub-2
Post edited by jhkcam on
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Comments

  • PrazVT
    PrazVT Posts: 1,606
    edited October 2011
    I think I felt almost exactly the same way the first time I hooked up the 2250 to my RTi A7s - night and day difference :) Glad you're enjoying it!!

    - Praz
    ALL BOXED UP for a while until I save up for a new place :(

    Home Theater:
    KEF Q900s / MIT Shotgun S3 / MIT CVT2 ICs | KEF Q600C | Polk FXi5 | BJC Wire | Signal / AQ ICs | Shunyata / Pangea PCs | Pioneer Elite SC 57 | Parasound NC2100 Pre | NAD M25 | Marantz SA8001 | Schiit Gungnir DAC | SB Touch

    2 Channel:
    Polk LSi9 (xo mods), Polk DSW MicroPro 2000 sub | NAD c375BEE | W4S DAC1 | SB Touch | Marantz SA-8001 | MIT AVt 2 | Kimber Hero / AQ / Signal ICs | Shunyata / Signal PCs
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  • cfrizz
    cfrizz Posts: 13,415
    edited October 2011
    Welcome to the separate amp club! You will never be able to go back to just letting a receiver run your speakers.
    Marantz AV-7705 PrePro, Classé 5 channel 200wpc Amp, Oppo 103 BluRay, Rotel RCD-1072 CDP, Sony XBR-49X800E TV, Polk S60 Main Speakers, Polk ES30 Center Channel, Polk S15 Surround Speakers SVS SB12-NSD x2
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  • disneyjoe7
    disneyjoe7 Posts: 11,435
    edited October 2011
    Cathy let's say it together.....


    200 watts baby!

    Speakers
    Carver Amazing Fronts
    CS400i Center
    RT800i's Rears
    Sub Paradigm Servo 15

    Electronics
    Conrad Johnson PV-5 pre-amp
    Parasound Halo A23
    Pioneer 84TXSi AVR
    Pioneer 79Avi DVD
    Sony CX400 CD changer
    Panasonic 42-PX60U Plasma
    WMC Win7 32bit HD DVR


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  • Drenis
    Drenis Posts: 2,871
    edited October 2011
    You certainly never think separate amplification would help since 1 watt is quite loud as is. It's amazing what dynamics come alive when going from a AVR to an amp for power.

    You think just the amp helps? Now you'll ponder about other components, cables and all other goodies that pull us into this hobby to help make things sound even better.

    Glad your happy!
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  • tonyb
    tonyb Posts: 32,967
    edited October 2011
    Congrats Justin, glad your diggin' it. You do realize you just opened up a huge rabbit hole from which there is no return.

    Experience....can't beat it with a stick.
    HT SYSTEM-
    Sony 850c 4k
    Pioneer elite vhx 21
    Sony 4k BRP
    SVS SB-2000
    Polk Sig. 20's
    Polk FX500 surrounds

    Cables-
    Acoustic zen Satori speaker cables
    Acoustic zen Matrix 2 IC's
    Wireworld eclipse 7 ic's
    Audio metallurgy ga-o digital cable

    Kitchen

    Sonos zp90
    Grant Fidelity tube dac
    B&k 1420
    lsi 9's
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  • cfrizz
    cfrizz Posts: 13,415
    edited October 2011
    disneyjoe7 wrote: »
    Cathy let's say it together.....


    200 watts baby!

    :mrgreen: Amen DJ! This is usually the point at which a clear and distinct improvement in the overall sound can be heard, which is what it is all about.
    Marantz AV-7705 PrePro, Classé 5 channel 200wpc Amp, Oppo 103 BluRay, Rotel RCD-1072 CDP, Sony XBR-49X800E TV, Polk S60 Main Speakers, Polk ES30 Center Channel, Polk S15 Surround Speakers SVS SB12-NSD x2
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  • disneyjoe7
    disneyjoe7 Posts: 11,435
    edited October 2011
    I thought you would like that :smile:

    Speakers
    Carver Amazing Fronts
    CS400i Center
    RT800i's Rears
    Sub Paradigm Servo 15

    Electronics
    Conrad Johnson PV-5 pre-amp
    Parasound Halo A23
    Pioneer 84TXSi AVR
    Pioneer 79Avi DVD
    Sony CX400 CD changer
    Panasonic 42-PX60U Plasma
    WMC Win7 32bit HD DVR


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  • Sherardp
    Sherardp Posts: 8,038
    edited October 2011
    disneyjoe7 wrote: »
    Cathy let's say it together.....


    200 watts baby!

    This gave me a good chuckle........

    Congrats OP and enjoy it.
    Shoot the jumper.....................BALLIN.............!!!!!

    Home Theater Pics in the Showcase :cool:

    http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showcase/view.php?userid=73580
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  • falconcry72
    falconcry72 Posts: 3,580
    edited October 2011
    Congrats man!:eek:

    I hope your satisfaction lasts longer than mine normally does...:rolleyes:
    2-Channel: PC > Schiit Eitr > Audio Research DAC-8 > Audio Research LS-26 > Pass Labs X-250.5 > Magnepan 3.7's

    Living Room: PC > Marantz AV-7703 > Emotiva XPA-5 > Sonus Faber Liuto Towers, Sonus Faber Liuto Center, Sonus Faber Liuto Bookshelves > Dual SVS PC12-Pluses

    Office: Phone/Tablet > AudioEngine B1 > McIntosh D100 > Bryston 4B-ST > Polk Audio LSiM-703's
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  • kappclark
    kappclark Posts: 136
    edited November 2011
    A sep amp makes such a difference...as I found out with the Parasound HCA500, replacing the amp stage of the receiver..like a veil had been lifted
    *************************
    ** Bill Clark Windham, VT **
    *************************
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  • danz1906
    danz1906 Posts: 5,144
    edited November 2011
    Congrats!
    Linn AV5140 fronts
    Linn AV5120 Center
    Linn AV5140 Rears
    M&K MX-70 Sub for Music
    Odyssey Mono-Blocs
    SVS Ultra-13 Gloss Black:D
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  • wahoosboy
    wahoosboy Posts: 36
    edited August 2014
    I'm looking at your exact amp (2250) however, it seems to have less peak current than the old HCA 1200, 1500, and 2200 amps. Has anyone used both the modern and older amps and can compare?
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