Please help on my setup.

tension

I want to setup a system for Karaoke and music. I'm looking at Polk RTI A9 to go with Onkyo nr709 receiver. Are these good enough or I need to add something else? Any advise are appreciated.

Thanks

zane77

That will work but to get the most out of the A9's you might want to get an amplifier to drive them. they really like a power amp.

tension

zane77 wrote: »

That will work but to get the most out of the A9's you might want to get an amplifier to drive them. they really like a power amp.

Any recommend for the power amp to go with it or choose a different receiver?

zane77

I use an Emotiva XPA-2 to drive mine and I really like how they sound. As long as the receiver has pre-outs you will be able to use that as a pre-amplifier.

tension

If I go with Emotiva XPA-2 do you think it will work if i buy a low end receiver?

zane77

As long as the receiver has pre-outs. But those are very nice speakers I wouldn't go with a really inexpensive receiver

Oldfatdogs

Just a little advice from a guy who took the long way around to finely get a setup I enjoy.Buy the best you can afford,if that means saving for a while to get what you want do it.Think about used, good bang for the buck can be had with If you take your time.If you buy low end you will want to upgrade,it becomes an itch you just have to scratch.Just my two cents.Dan

ViperZ

If you're going a 2-channel route, why do you need a receiver? Buy a really good integrated amplifier, or 2-channel preamp along with 2-channel amp. People on this forum had great results with Adcom, Carver, B&K amps, which are fairly inexpensive. Any good 2-channel amp work - I like Rotel amps =P

ravaneli

you don't need preamp or receiver at all. I have a setup in my garage, my iphone has a 3.5mm out which splits to left and right RCA. The RCA goes straight in my amp and it sounds really good to me. The only thing I notice is that if I play pandora from my PC with the same amp and same speakers it is louder that from my iphone. Quality is the same though. I have all processing turned off on my receivers anyway..
I am not recommending anything, just saying it's possible.

nguyendot

ravaneli wrote: »

you don't need preamp or receiver at all. I have a setup in my garage, my iphone has a 3.5mm out which splits to left and right RCA. The RCA goes straight in my amp and it sounds really good to me. The only thing I notice is that if I play pandora from my PC with the same amp and same speakers it is louder that from my iphone. Quality is the same though. I have all processing turned off on my receivers anyway..
I am not recommending anything, just saying it's possible.

And exactly what will he plug his karaoke device into? Just about all Karaoke devices (especially the home type) are just DVD/ LD players with RCA outputs and no volume controls. Did you expect him to play it at 100% volume all the time?



Also, who cares if you hooked your iPhone's crappy headphone output directly to an amp? Sure it works but the output is far from stellar. And on top of it, it has absolutely no bearing on the OP, and contributes nothing. No one's singing karaoke from their iphone.

tension

I get the idea of the Power Amp but do you think that i should get any center and surround speaker or maybe a sub to get the sound for karaoke?

ViperZ

tension wrote: »

I get the idea of the Power Amp but do you think that i should get any center and surround speaker or maybe a sub to get the sound for karaoke?

2.1 setup is more than enough for what you need IMHO

zane77

I think with a good power amp the A9'sill go plenty low enough for karaoke without the need for a sub

ravaneli

nguyendot wrote: »

And exactly what will he plug his karaoke device into? Just about all Karaoke devices (especially the home type) are just DVD/ LD players with RCA outputs and no volume controls. Did you expect him to play it at 100% volume all the time?



Also, who cares if you hooked your iPhone's crappy headphone output directly to an amp? Sure it works but the output is far from stellar. And on top of it, it has absolutely no bearing on the OP, and contributes nothing. No one's singing karaoke from their iphone.

You don't know if it has volume control or not. I can use my PC for caraoke, my ipad, iphone, a lot of things. I am not sure that karaoke devices have no volume controls either.

ravaneli

on a separate note, i would agree that a 2.0 with amp powered A9s should sound more than good enough for most folks.

tonyb

tension wrote: »

I want to setup a system for Karaoke and music. I'm looking at Polk RTI A9 to go with Onkyo nr709 receiver. Are these good enough or I need to add something else? Any advise are appreciated.

Thanks

Depends......is this for home use, a bar, a 4000 sq ft basement ? Home audio speakers aren't all that great for Karaoke. Do you plan on hooking up a microphone ? If so, how ? The higher pitches of a microphone won't do home speakers any favors.

Use pro gear for the singing, it's built to take that abuse.

ravaneli

You know, since a few months ago every time I go to a club or a bar I've been checking the speakers. They are Behringer in 99% of the time. They always sound bad, sometimes it literally hurts the ears, like in the Rivers Casino club. I have two pro amps right now and tested another two and they all played nice with my A7s so my personal opinion is that pro audio amps are good, but these behringer speakers, boy those are horrible. And when they turn them up loud it only underlines the unpleasant parts. I love to take risk and explore and give all gear the benefit of the doubt, but I have to admit I have absolutely no interest in pro audio speakers.

nguyendot

ravaneli wrote: »

listen, lil dude, take a hike and chill. You don't know if it has volume control or not. I can use my PC for caraoke, my ipad, iphone, a lot of things. I am not sure that karaoke devices have no volume controls either. And exactly what did your post contribute. Getting a little impatient with lil dudes like u manning up on the internet. I made a simple post and u enter the thread just to clear your personal grudges. As a matter of fact you are the one who has been making preposterous audio statements and you'd better check your own posts pal, cos your output has been less than stellar too

Seriously, I've done quite a bit of karaoke in my day. He said he wanted to set up a karaoke system, not play with an iPad/iPod. You can tell from his selection of speakers, he'll probably need a preamp. You basically came in saying "oh hey, you can get away with one...just sayin'" like it's supposed to help him or something.



As for why they use pro audio speakers for karaoke? That's because the sound levels generally associated with karaoke are very high, and spike to levels that are generally ear bleeding and would ruin most home gear. Being in a studio is one thing, but most home karaoke gear is set up improperly and will result in damaged speakers without attenuation.

Joe08867

You don't know if it has volume control or not. I can use my PC for caraoke, my ipad, iphone, a lot of things. I am not sure that karaoke devices have no volume controls either. And exactly what did your post contribute.




To the OP, get yourself a nice Preamp and an Amplifier and you will be far better off than the Onkyo. Those speakers will sound best with a separate amp to drive them.