Will this Reciever drive my RTA12B's?

MikefrMd

Hi Guys,

I may have made a mistake....I just bought a Onkyo TX-NR414 to replace my old Kenwood KR-V7040 but now I'm not sure it can drive the RTA12Bs. I haven't set it up as yet...do you think there may be an issue?

Sorry for the newbie question,

Mike

ZLTFUL

Will it drive them? Sure...but more like Miss Daisy and definitely not like Mario Andretti.

From what I have seen around here, the RTA12s LOVE plenty of good clean power. The 414 produces 80wpc (2 channels driven 20hz-20khz) at 8ohms and 110wpc (2 channels driven @ 1khz) at 6ohms.
Definitely not my first choice to hear what those 12s are capable of.

PolkieMan

Of course consider room size and loudness (music) preference.
Also run it in Direct mode.
Don't put it in a tight cabinet with no airflow or stack components on top.

MikefrMd

I plan to use it in a room that's 18x12 with low ceilings if that matters.

I don't usually blast my music and its really gonna be more for watching movies.

No problem with airflow as it will be in a open cabinet and no stacking.

F1nut

If you absolutely have to use an AVR with those speakers you should be looking at one of the Pioneer Elite SC-xx series.

PolkieMan

F1nut is correct the power is on the low side. If you keep it at a normal Tv / Movie volume well it will be ok

I have a 509 for some monitor 4A's but the thing about the lower models is there is not any preouts in case later you want to add or find that you need an amp later.
You really should look at a 717 and it can handle 4 ohms loads so that tells you something right there about it's amp and it has the pre-outs for future.

http://www.us.onkyo.com/products_compare.cfm

http://www.accessories4less.com/index.php?page=item&id=ONKTXNR717

http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/B007JOO4YS/ref=dp_olp_used?ie=UTF8&condition=used&m=A2L77EE7U53NWQ

F1nut wrote: »

If you absolutely have to use an AVR with those speakers you should be looking at one of the Pioneer Elite SC-xx series.

drumminman

Keiko wrote: »

You're going to need more power in order to drive them efficiently, regardless of room characteristics and whether you crank it or not.

I would add to this that with more clean, high current power you'll hear more detail and subtlety in the music. What you're using now will enable them to make sound, but that's about it.

westmassguy

MikefrMd wrote: »

Hi Guys,

I may have made a mistake....I just bought a Onkyo TX-NR414 to replace my old Kenwood KR-V7040 but now I'm not sure it can drive the RTA12Bs. I haven't set it up as yet...do you think there may be an issue?

Sorry for the newbie question,

Mike

That Receiver will most definitly not be able to handle your 12s. It's rated 110 watts/channel @ 6 ohms, but your 12s are 4 ohm, and in one review I read, the actual test report stated the 12B drops to 3 ohms from 100 hz up to 1500 hz. That's several important octaves that will need a lot more power than the receiver is capable of. The Receiver doesn't have pre-amp outs for the front channels either, so an auxiliary power amp is not possible either.

MikefrMd

Bummer...

Can you guys recommend a receiver that will drive them but not break the bank?

Thanks guys for the frank advise.

Mike

tophatjohnny

MikefrMd wrote: »

Bummer...

Can you guys recommend a receiver that will drive them but not break the bank?

Thanks guys for the frank advise.

Mike

There are many to choose from that do have pre outs to add a nice power amp. I picked up a gently used Onkyo TX SR805 pretty cheap on audiogon.com and that allowed me to add a Parrasound HCA1200 II amp and it made a big difference. Plus it wasn't too expensive.

proffitt

+1 to TopHat... I did the exact same as ^^^^.

In my Home Theater set up, that I'm still setting up, I've been able to run the preamp outs to an external amp for bigger power to the front ... then run all the amplified outs from the Onkyo AVR straight to all the surround speakers. So my SDA SRS 2s for the fronts are externally amped and the rest of the speakers are not. I think it will sound great in HT mode, and when I go 2 channel for music, its just the push of a button.

PolkieMan

Once again

You really should look at a txnr717 and it can handle 4 ohms loads so that tells you something right there about it's amp and it has the pre-outs for future.

http://www.amazon.com/Onkyo-TX-NR717-7-2-Channel-Theater-Receiver/dp/B007JOO4YS/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1360280444&sr=8-1&keywords=tx+nr717

MikefrMd wrote: »

Bummer...

Can you guys recommend a receiver that will drive them but not break the bank?

Thanks guys for the frank advise.

Mike

soundfreak1

If you want those speakers "to be all they can be" get away from avr's and get some high currant and 200 or so watts and look out!

PolkieMan

Well yea, but he has to hook up the amp to something with preouts Remember he is going to be using it for movies too.

soundfreak1 wrote: »

If you want those speakers "to be all they can be" get away from avr's and get some high currant and 200 or so watts and look out!

michael1947

I have that onk 717 in my main HT rig and I don't think it goes to 4 ohms, but I may be mistaken. It only powers the rears and sides and otherwise just directs traffic, so to speak. External is the CHEAPEST way to go with a mid grade receiver with PRE-OUTS otherwise you will get into multiple thousand dollar bills trying to get enough power from a receiver. You can however pick up some of the last generation high end receivers for just a few hundred. They will lack the latest features but will provide an excellant A/V eperience, power your big speakers and leave a lot of bucks in your wallet. Any Z series Yamaha, the big HK's and any Onk 850/875 series and up. These are the big boys and start at 50 pounds and go up, my big HK weighs in at 62 pounds, and no HDMI but has a built in spl meter in one of the remotes. Lots and lots of very good toys out there at reasonable prices. Best wishes.

PolkieMan

look
http://www.onkyousa.com/model.cfm?m=TX-NR717&class=Receiver&p=s

Speaker Impedance 4 Ohms–16 Ohms or 6 Ohms–16 Ohms

michael1947 wrote: »

I have that onk 717 in my main HT rig and I don't think it goes to 4 ohms, but I may be mistaken. It only powers the rears and sides and otherwise just directs traffic, so to speak. External is the CHEAPEST way to go with a mid grade receiver with PRE-OUTS otherwise you will get into multiple thousand dollar bills trying to get enough power from a receiver. You can however pick up some of the last generation high end receivers for just a few hundred. They will lack the latest features but will provide an excellant A/V eperience, power your big speakers and leave a lot of bucks in your wallet. Any Z series Yamaha, the big HK's and any Onk 850/875 series and up. These are the big boys and start at 50 pounds and go up, my big HK weighs in at 62 pounds, and no HDMI but has a built in spl meter in one of the remotes. Lots and lots of very good toys out there at reasonable prices. Best wishes.

MikefrMd

So guys to sum it up my options are:

1) Return the 414 and get a beefier AV receiver.

2) Keep the 414 and maybe get a set of Bookshelf speakers for the front channel? Then maybe down the line get a nice amp setup for a 2 channel music only setup with the RTA12's.

Are the RTAs commonly used in a home theater setup?

Thanks for all the advice

drumminman

MikefrMd wrote: »

So guys to sum it up my options are:Are the RTAs commonly used in a home theater setup?

Don't know how common this is, but I use my RTA 12C's as the front L-R mains in my HT. They work extremely well.

westmassguy

The should work beautifully, as do SDAs for the fronts.

PolkieMan

Get the 717 and use them for the front and then get a separate power amp for them if you need to.
With the 717 you will get more than just power too.
Watch the ads the 717 was at Newegg for $429 yesterday, it's closeout time, this is the time of year to buy.