RTI A9s and my Sony STR-DN1000

Nimonie

I have been looking to upgrade my home entertainment center recently. Due to an issue with some of my old speakers failing I have decided to start by upgrading them first. I understand that in general it is usually wiser to upgrade the reciever first but just roll with me on this please :redface: . My final goal will be something in the nature of RTI A9's for the front L and R channels as well as a CSI A6 for the center channel throw in a pair of RTI A7's for the rear left and right channels havent finished researching a sub but thats in the picture as well. Now for the eventual reciever and amp I am looking at something like Denon AVR-3313CI or the Marantz sr6006 with the Emotiva XPA-3 for the front and if I am crazy maybe a Emotiva XPA-2 for the rear L and R. Several of those pieces are a year or more off. So to my main question do you think the little Sony STR-DN1000 (which is a 7.1-channel A/V receiver with 110 watts per channel I am only running 5.1) I am currently using will be able to power the RTI A9's and the CSI A6 well enough untill I can upgrade or should I just go with the RTI A7's and the CSI A6 until I can upgrade my reciever. Hope you guys have some good news for me but if not I will get there it will just take longer lol.

F1nut

I wouldn't use the RTi A7's for rears, not really suited for that purpose.

No, that Sony will not drive the A9's.

Aim higher on the amp. After all, their new slogan says to rethink high end audio.

chumlie

So sorry. Short answer is no. IMO that lil Sony isn't enough power for the 7's and the CSI a6. As for power amps, i would look in the used market. Parasound, Adcom, Carver. Not Emo bashing. I think you'll get more bang for your buck going used.

deronb1

How big is your room? If it's around 18' x 12', you might be just as happy with, say Rti A3s all around and a Csi A4 as a center. The Sony would do a better job of powering all of those. If you like the "sound" of the Rti A series, you can always move up the chain and add amps later.

samfraser

I am having the same issue, I currently have a non pre-out rx a710, which could probably drive the A9's, but I have decided to get rid of it and get an avr with pre-outs, and a 3 channel amp. Seems like everyone I have spoke with says this is the way to go, and it never hurts to future proof yourself.

ravaneli

i think ur choice of receiver + amp is great. Emo is fantastic. go for the two channel emo and leave the center on the receiver

A7 for rears is not only a waste but not that good either. There are cheaper speakers that are designed for that purpose and less intrusive and easier to power. Look at the dipole offerings from Polk.

badchad

Nimonie wrote: »

I am looking at something like Denon AVR-3313CI .

I'd also love to hear some opinions on this receiver, as I'm considering it for my setup.

I'll also be running RTia7's as fronts, a CSia4 center, FxiA6 rears, and RTi4's as rear-surrounds in a 7.1 setup with an HSU VTF-3 (MK1) sub.

I'm told that with the Denon, I may be able to shift the power supply depending on preference. For example, If I'm doing two-channel music, i can put all the power to the two channels.

Nimonie

First off thanks for all the advice I have decided to change out the a7's for the a3's or the fxi A6's I was thinking it was probably a little overkill to begin with and now I am sure of it lol. Man thats depressing I was really hopeing I could get away with my crappy sony even if I had to run them with just the front 2 channels and the center.

leroyjr1

You'd be just fine running your current receiver and a9 combo until you're able to upgrade. It's not going to play them to their full potential but you'll be able to enjoy them for the meanwhile. Be very careful with the volume though. As stated above the a7's might be overkill but if setup correctly they can sound very good. 5 full range speakers would be the ideal choice but most can't accommodate that.

Nimonie

Its around 18' x 18' maybe a little larger as I just paced it off didnt break out the tape measure. I am sure the smaller ones would fill the room but I am thinking more about the future as I have plans to be building a new house with a much larger living room.

Nimonie

leroyjr1 wrote: »

You'd be just fine running your current receiver and a9 combo until you're able to upgrade. It's not going to play them to their full potential but you'll be able to enjoy them for the meanwhile. Be very careful with the volume though. As stated above the a7's might be overkill but if setup correctly they can sound very good. 5 full range speakers would be the ideal choice but most can't accommodate that.

Thanks for the info when you say be very careful with the volume is that because the sony could damage the a9's? or just because if I get it cranked up to loud it will sound horrible (which i completely understand do to the lack of power). So you think the a7's would be good as rear speakers.

leroyjr1

Both, it'll sound worst as the volume increases due to lack of power but it can also damage your speakers if you don't pay close enough attention.

Didn't say the a7's would be the best choice but rather a choice to consider. I personally like my surrounds above my head but like the fullness of floorstanders. It works in some room and some rooms they don't. If there was a way to get floorstanders above my head I'd go with them. Not to say the a3's or fxi's don't sound good because they do and they're very easy to place. In my room I found in ceilings to be the best choice over floorstanders and traditional surrounds.

Nimonie

leroyjr1 wrote: »

Both, it'll sound worst as the volume increases due to lack of power but it can also damage your speakers if you don't pay close enough attention.

Didn't say the a7's would be the best choice but rather a choice to consider. I personally like my surrounds above my head but like the fullness of floorstanders. It works in some room and some rooms they don't. If there was a way to get floorstanders above my head I'd go with them. Not to say the a3's or fxi's don't sound good because they do and they're very easy to place. In my room I found in ceilings to be the best choice over floorstanders and traditional surrounds.

First off thanks again for all the info. Yea I prefer the full range myself but I do understand the mounting issues I might just get the a3's or fxi's and later down the road if I want get the a7's move the a3/fxi's to mid L and R channels and then put a7's as the rear ones just so many choices :cheesygrin: . What really concerns me is that I might damage my new speakers. Would the distortion be obvious or would it be something subtle enough that I might miss it. As it stands I have some old zenith floor stand speakers (they are rather horrible honestly :frown:) But I am only running them at about 1/3 to 1/2 of full volume and I think that is due to my middle channel being a crappy klh 943pl.

ravaneli

the FXi will be full range, for what you care. Low frequencies don't get routed to them anyway. It doesn't matter if you have speaker that will hit 20 hrz because very little if anything under 100 hrz will be sent to them anyway. I actually expect the FXi to sound bigger than the A7 in surround role.

Nimonie

Thanks for the good point Ravan I appreciate it. I think I am going to go with the a9's and the a6 right now if I can get them cheap enough I will go ahead and get the denon as well lol. Only concern is what I need to look for in the way of distortions and what not so I dont damage my a9's.