NAD326BEE Integrated amp and Polk RTI6 too bright?

pyrocyborg

Hi guys!

I've read at many places that NAD is somewhat a neutral amp, maybe a little bit warm but that it's not supposed to be bright. Then, I actually have two Polk RTI6 which are sounding way too bright on my cheap Yamaha AVR (I had RTi4 before, and while the RTi6 are less harsh, it's quite far from being polite), even for HT duty (had to turn the volume down a few times).

I will probably have my NAD next week, by february 3rd... However, I have until february 1st to return my RTi6 to the store if I ever find that it's kind of a no-no combo. As you can see, the problem is that I can't test my NAD amp with my RTi6 without being "stuck" with my RTi6 if it ends being somewhat too bright to my liking. I know that even the best amp can't tame a speaker without trading something off.

I know, it probably wasn't a wise idea to buy my polk RTi6, but I didn't think at that moment that I would change my AVR for an integrated amp. I know there is better speakers around, but I had them cheap @ 200 bucks here in Canada... Finding anything near this price here is kinda impossible, and the LSi line is nowhere to be found where I live (no dealer has it in a few hundred miles around) and it requires a lot of power (maybe except the LSi7, which would be the only one in my budget).

Too bad we can't have access to Polk Direct here in Canada... I would have liked to have a 400$ pair of LSI7.

So I want to know if there is some people who tried the newer NAD amp with a Polk RTi or RTia line speaker, and what was your toughts? Should I get a refund now, and try to get something else, even if most "sales" are out? I think that if I ever have to change those speakers, I'll have to cheap out on some components (like DAC) or even get a cheaper integrated amp like the NAD316BEE, but it could struggle to power hungry speakers.

Thanks everyone for your help.

heiney9

It should be less bright with the NAD. I have a couple pairs of older RTi's and people say they are bright all the time. I am not finding that at all, but the system I run the RTi's uses tubes and pretty neutral dac, so that may have something to do with it.

The NAD will be warmer definitely than the Yammy.

H9

cnh

I have to agree. I have a pair of Rti-A3s..the next generation that I run on a Denon and they do not sound that "bright" on that unit. I suspect the NAD will also be a better combo with those. And as for the LSi-7s, IMO, a pair of 7s and a NAD integrated and you've got a nice system for a den or office that you can live with for a "long" time!

That's a completely unbiased opinion, there because, of course, I don't run that system below?

Have fun!

cnh

pyrocyborg

cnh wrote: »

I have to agree. I have a pair of Rti-A3s..the next generation that I run on a Denon and they do not sound that "bright" on that unit. I suspect the NAD will also be a better combo with those. And as for the LSi-7s, IMO, a pair of 7s and a NAD integrated and you've got a nice system for a den or office that you can live with for a "long" time!

Have fun!

cnh

Thanks! I clearly wish I could have some LSI-7 at clearout prices here in Canada. The cheapest I can get is 540$, but I don't know if they have it in Ebony color (the only one that wouldn't look that bad with my dark brown fourniture). Anyways... My mother does use my old RTi4 with her Denon AVR and while it doesn't sound neutral, it's less bright than with my entry level Yamaha. Sure, her speakers are on a bookshelf, near the rear wall so sound is muffled... can't have a decent idea of how it could sound!

Maybe the difference is with the RTia line which is supposed to be a tad less bright on the highs, filling the gap between the LSI line and the old RTI. If I can't find LSI7, maybe I should try to look at some RTIa3 ones?

By the way, I guess you like your system? Must be a nice one! I can't stay in place atm, but I'm kinda "ambivalent" as while I know it will sound better than my current system, I don't know if my RTI speakers might be a burden for the rest my soon-to-be new system.

pyrocyborg

Anyone else?

Obsession18

I haven't tried a NAD amp, but I did run some RTi10's and no matter what I tried they were just to bright for my tastes, I couldn't listen to them for more then 30 minutes at about 85 to 90 db without getting a headache. First I ran them on a HK AVR, then a Pioneer Elite AVR and finally a Parasound amp feed by the Pioneer.

One thing that I didn't try - put a 1.0 to 1.5 ohm resister in series with the tweeter to tone it down. I have recently gotten into a bit of speaker DIY and have learned about padding a tweeter. I actually rebuilt some old bookshelfs using new drivers, they were a little bright so I added a 1.5 ohm resister in series with the tweeter and the brightness was gone.

You would have to purchase an audio grade resister from either Madisound or Parts Express, 1.0 to 1.5 ohm rated at 10 or more watts. Remove the tweeter, then remove the positive lead to the tweeter and place the resister between the lead and the terminal on the tweeter.