Help with new surround system

lucyinthesky

I am trying to plan out a new system for my home. I have spent the past few weeks researching and trying to educate myself, but I am overwhelmed by all the information out there. Unfortunately my husband has no knowledge or interest this area, so any advice you can give this old gal would be greatly appreciated.

This new system is for our living room (15x19) with no vaulted ceilings. It is somewhat open to the kitchen and dining room. The main use (probably 65%) is for listening to music, while watching movies is the remaining 35% intended use.

I currently have a pair of RTi12s and a Denon AVR 1010. I believe the receiver dates back to the early 1990s. My father passed the receiver on to me when he upgraded about 12 years ago. While it is a great receiver and has served me well, I am ready for an upgrade. I have my eye on the Onkyo TX-NR818. I think the new Onkyo 818 will change the world as I know it. Not only will it change our movie watching experience, I will no longer be limited to my CD player for music. I can finally access music on my iPod, computer, Pandora, etc. We live out in the country, so I have complete freedom with the volume!

Here is the plan. I want to keep my RTi12s as my main speakers. I would like to build a 5.1 system. I don?t think I have the space for anything more here, but I am happy the new Onkyo will allow for additional speakers if our living situation changes. From what I have gathered, the RTI A9s are the new and improved RTi12s. Going by what Polk recommends, I would need to add one CSI A6 (which I am sold on based on all the positive things I have read), a pair of FXI A6 surrounds, and a DSWPRO 660wi sub.

Now for the questions?.

1. Do I need the DSWPRO 660wi sub or should I consider the PSW505? In simple terms, what makes the 660wi better than the 505 (besides wireless-ready)?

2. Do I need an amp? This one has me stumped. I am completely confused by all the various types of amps. After reading through this forum and others, I have a nagging feeling that I am under powering my RTi12s. Any thoughts?

3. I also wonder about the FXI A6 surrounds. I LOVE tower speakers. If I did not purchase the FXI A6s and instead moved my RTi12s to the back and purchased the RTI A9s for the front. Would that be a terrible idea?

I apologize if I don't use the correct jargon. Hopefully you can make sense of my questions and point me in the right direction. I appreciate any advice and thank you in advance. Please be gentle!

B Run

Sounds like you've got a very good grasp on things and some nice speakers to start with.

1) I'd recommend going for the 660wi, as it is a much cleaner subwoofer especially for music. The 505 is a great sub for the money but i've owned two of them and didn't keep them long. For movies it's ok but can tend to get a little muddy, especially on the lower end.

2) The Rti12's do like power, and I honestly don't think the Onkyo 818 will show their full potential but it will work. I'd consider a cheaper 2 channel amp for your towers and let the Onkyo run the center and surrounds.

3) Fxi's are fantastic surround speakers and I think you will be pleasantly surprised with them, I personally like them better than towers for surround duty.

I'd pick up a Csi5 for a center along with the Fxi's for surrounds and call it a day. The Onkyo will have about all the connection options you could ever ask for, and will work fine driving your speakers as long as it not at ear bleeding levels. I'd get your 5.1 setup completed first and see what you think, then look into amps if you feel it necessary. Good luck!

ravaneli

1) I own the 660 and would recommend the 505 without owning it. Can't be worse than the 660, and if it is, then don't buy either of them. If you really want the 660 and live close to chicago call me and I will give u a great deal on mine. If HT is your primary goal, both of them will be pretty good, and the 505 is cheaper and just as powerful. If music - get something sealed.

2) If you could audition your Rti12s with and without amp, you will probably like them better with amp, especially if you like to turn the volume up. Whether the marginal difference is worth the extra money depends ONLY on the price of the amp and your income. Some people make so much money that for them is more important to have the best than an extra few dollars.

3) I too think that you will like the FXis better than towers.

Also agree that picking up the csi5 and keeping your towers for front looks like the best solution for you. And while we are there, I picked a pair of fx500 on craigslist for 100 bucks. I simply love them. If you can find something like that, you may want to pursue that instead of the FXi A6 because it will be cheaper and they may even match more closely to the fronts.

And the last thing, if you want a great cheap amp for your towers look at emotiva or even pro amps. The folks here will tell you they are junk, but if you could borrow one from somewhere and test it with ur towers I would definitely give them a chance. You will be surprised. QSC or Behringer.

B Run

I'd honestly consider an Internet Direct company for a lot more bang for your buck sub, i've ran a single and dual 505's and didn't recommend them for a reason. Check out Epik, SVS, Outlaw, Hsu, Elemental Designs or Chase Home Theater.

I would highly recommend not getting a pro amp especially for sound quality, I hooked a Crown amp I had laying around to my Rti12's and it did not sound good. They aren't made for fidelity they're made for blasting high volume and being able to take a beating. I think your best bet would be to hear them off the Onkyo first, as it will be a nice upgrade from what you already have. Then take a look at new or used amps like Adcom, Nad, Parasound, Carver, B&K and Emotiva. Emotiva is a very touchy subject around here so i'm not going to touch on that, want to keep the thread on topic.

lucyinthesky

Thanks B Run and ravaneli for the feedback. I will definitely hold off on the amp until after I get the new Onkyo. I just want to budget and plan ahead. I had no idea that amps were so expensive! I need to keep the amp budget under 1000. Just to clarify, I would need a 2 channel amp like the Emotiva XPA-2 or the Parasound 2125. Am I in the right ballpark?

You both mentioned the Csi5 for my center. So far I have only found one (wrong finish, of course). If I cannot locate a Csi5, will the CSI A6 work with my RTi12s? Same question about the Fxi5 and the FXI A6s. Will the newer models be ok with my older model towers?

Thanks again.

ravaneli

Crown and pyle have poor distortion ratings from the ones i've researched, that's why i recommend QSC and Bhr. QSC has been around for 50 years and their amps have Lower distortion ratings than EMOTIVA!! I currently own a 1450 HD and I don't want to engage in quasi-pornographic descriptions of the sound like liquid mids and whatnot, but, god help me, the amp sounds BETTER than my B&K sonata amp! Here is the thing, QSC has more power and subsonic filter which would make it the perfect subwoofer amp, but I just loved it powering my A7s too much, and now the B&K is doing the hard work powering two subwoofers. Doing just fine tho.

the only thing with pro amps.. on all of them you have to install some kind of potenciometer to reduce the fan speed. They too loud by default. Ebay sells those for $3 shipped and it takes 30 mins to wire before the fan..

B Run

lucyinthesky wrote: »

Thanks B Run and ravaneli for the feedback. I will definitely hold off on the amp until after I get the new Onkyo. I just want to budget and plan ahead. I had no idea that amps were so expensive! I need to keep the amp budget under 1000. Just to clarify, I would need a 2 channel amp like the Emotiva XPA-2 or the Parasound 2125. Am I in the right ballpark?

You both mentioned the Csi5 for my center. So far I have only found one (wrong finish, of course). If I cannot locate a Csi5, will the CSI A6 work with my RTi12s? Same question about the Fxi5 and the FXI A6s. Will the newer models be ok with my older model towers?

Thanks again.

Yes, the Parasound would be a great choice. The Csi A6 will work just fine with your Rti12's, as well any of the Fxi series. I'm not going to get into another debate about amps so i'll leave that one alone.