Have higher end Polk speakers... Need your input on receiver specs!

asah2135

Putting in theater in new home... Lc 265i for three front speakers... Rts 100 for the four surrounds... Micro pro 3000
Subwoofer.

One installer is trying to talk me into an Onkyo receiver listed at 100 watts per channel... He said ANY 7.2 receiver
would work just fine. Another suggested an Integra receiver... Power output is 135 watts and the dynamic power is
250 watts at 4 ohms.

In your opinions, what type of power outage should I be looking for to use with these speakers (regardless of brand). I want to get the best use of these speakers. Don't mind spending some money, but don't know what I truly need in a receiver to make the system sound great.

Thank you.

polkfarmboy

A general rule around here is that if you go with a receiver then make sure you have pre outs. You need these if you want to add a power amplifier later on. Many dealers will sell you a receiver but if you want to go a level higher then a HT preamp and power amp will give the best results.

Personally I think adding a good power amp will feed the speakers with some nice clean distortion free sound. Your speakers will reach the full potential.

tonyb

The speakers you chose are 4 ohm, and may be hard on any of those receivers. Usually on 4 ohm speakers a seperate amplifier is required to give them the power they need. You should look for a receiver with all the extra's you want and preouts, and add an amplifier to it. Or come down to 8 ohm speakers and no amp required.

cfrizz

Welcome to Club Polk.

Since you will have LSI's in the front and they are 4ohm speakers, you will need a receiver that has preouts so that you can add a 3-5 channel separate amp of at least 200wpc @8ohms to have the speakers operate to their full potential. So pick whichever receiver that has all the bells and whistles you want it to have and make sure it has preouts for separate amplification.

asah2135

Thanks for the posts... Without breaking the bank, suggestions on amps to look at? Probably looking at spending around $1200 on a receiver. Have no idea on how much an amp could run... Would it be possible to keep total cost of both under $2000?

polkfarmboy

Why spend all the money($1200) on a receiver that cant power the speakers properly ?

Why dont you buy a good HT preamp $1200 and use the other $800 for an amp

txcoastal1

Find a Pioneer VSX-32 which will have the preouts needed plus plenty of bells and whistles and if you are looking for a pretty decent amp

http://app.audiogon.com/listings/jaton-ap5140a-s-operetta-5-channel-modular-amplifier

or something like this combo

http://www.outlawaudio.com/products/7500.html

la9ers

Denon AVR-4311CI 9.2-Channel A/V Surround Receiver 1299.99 or have Electronic Expo price match for warranty.


http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16882683026&Tpk=denon%204311

Loud & Clear

That Integra DTR-50.3 your dealer is talking about will play LSis fine without an external amp.

soundfreak1

If you would like a suggustion, go with a processor and seperate amps. A good processor will do a better job than most recievers and not waist the money u pay for the amps in a RECIEVER you won't use as u upgrade to a seporate amp anyway. Imho. I've done all three ways , RECIEVER, amps than processor and th
e processor was by far the best value and sound. U can Pu something like a b&k 30 or 50 and a nice amp for about what u are looking to spend. Preowned of course.

pyrocyborg

polkfarmboy wrote: »

Why spend all the money($1200) on a receiver that cant power the speakers properly ?

Why dont you buy a good HT preamp $1200 and use the other $800 for an amp

My thoughts, exactly. I prefer having less things in a certain "box", expecially if you're going to use a separate anyways. For the same 1200$, you'll have a better HT preamp than what you could find in a 1200$ receiver... As you won't need the extra amp included in the receiver, why waste money on this?

However, if you want to have less trouble, you could try to look at the "new" Vanishing LS series instead of the LCi series. They are the same in specs (I think), should play roughly the same but are 8 ohms speakers. I do not know about their price point (probably a little bit higher... but I don't think that it's that much), but I think it will be probably way less than the difference between adding separate amp as any high-end receiver will run 8 ohms rated speakers with 90 dB efficiency quite well, depending on your room size. I mean, those are not tower speakers, and a receiver should run them efficiently.

Sure you could drive them harder with a separate amp, but you could try this first for 30 days, and if you think there is something lacking, get a HT pre-amp + amp combo. Sure thing, the Vanishing LS will be "cooler" on your amp than 4 ohm speakers, whatever if you have a separate amp or a receiver one.

It's only my opinion. I know separates have less noise, but for the price point, a receiver is an incredible value except if you try to drive it like a cinema venue. Anyway, as long as your receiver has a pre-out, you can still buy a separate amp later if it doesn't fit, which I doubt.

I you can drop the extra money, I mean, do it and get the separates as you'll have the "peace" of mind that you're probably getting more of your LCi when compared to a same price receiver.

And... why not get a proper center instead of the LC265i? I mean, sure it can do the job well, but I guess a center speaker like the LCi-C (or 255c-LS from the vanishing series) will do it's job better.

obieone

Welcome to the forum. Outlaw Audio is running a special: Marantz SR5005 + Outlaw 7200 power amp for $2049 shipped. That's about the best deal you'll find, for new. Used, is another story.

http://www.outlawaudio.com/products/7200.html

cnh

obieone wrote: »

Welcome to the forum. Outlaw Audio is running a special: Marantz SR5005 + Outlaw 7200 power amp for $2049 shipped. That's about the best deal you'll find, for new. Used, is another story.

http://www.outlawaudio.com/products/7200.html

That sounds like a pretty nice deal there!

Also, you could consider the upscale Onkyo and run the in-walls for a while off of that till you got a power amp to supplement the Onkyo. You would not hurt anything doing that, although the Onkyo is only going to deliver about 65 watts per channel into a 4 ohm load. Baby steps, just make sure you have the right piece first so that the next buy will be a step up in power.

Enjoy!

cnh

thsmith

If you are ok with used there is a Denon 3808 at the flea market, or was last I looked. That would leave you with 800 for an amp.

Denon uses audessey for speaker calibration.

DMara

asah2135 wrote: »

Thanks for the posts... Without breaking the bank, suggestions on amps to look at? Probably looking at spending around $1200 on a receiver. Have no idea on how much an amp could run... Would it be possible to keep total cost of both under $2000?

I just got an Integra DHC-80.3, so if you're interested, I can sell you my mint Denon AVR-4810ci for $900 shipped. Let me know.

Sherardp

Pioneer SC27 in the Flea Market.

asah2135

DMara... What is your email address?

My personal email is: asah2135@yahoo.com

Interested in speaking further about your receiver!

Thanks.

polkfarmboy

DMara wrote: »

I just got an Integra DHC-80.3, so if you're interested, I can sell you my mint Denon AVR-4810ci for $900 shipped. Let me know.

I just cant believe your selling a 3K receiver for $900. Thats a great deal for an awesome receiver that can handle 11.1 sound

DMara

asah2135 wrote: »

DMara... What is your email address?

My personal email is: asah2135@yahoo.com

Interested in speaking further about your receiver!

Thanks.

I've just shot you an email.

reeltrouble1

Onkyo makes serveral receivers which will power Lci or Lsi speakers. If you are going to do predmoniately HT one of those will be fine.

RT1

leftwinger57

I was kind of disappointed w/ my choice of the Yamaha RX-V665 @ 90 per chl.This thing clipped way to easily and thankfully it does have pre-outs which I used before going totally 2chl.The concensous seems to be the sc37 Pioneer Elites w/ the Onkyos comming in second for avrs.I then went to Adcom for 200wpc and never looked back.

zingo

Just set up a friend with an SC-55 for his 7.1. I'm interested to hear how the class D amp modules power his speakers, but I've heard nothing but good things about those receivers.