Front speakers and receiver update

gacilu

Hi guys,

I would like to read your thoughts about an upgrade I am planning to do to my home theatre.

I have a pair of RTI38s as front speakers, a CSi3 center, a tsw 404 subwoofer and a pair of F/Xi3 surrounds. I have also a 6 years old Sony receiver connected to a fairly new LG LCD HD TV.

I would like to buy the RTiA7 floorstanding front speakers and move the RTI38 to the sides to have 7:1 instead of 5:1.

I am also planning to replace the old Sony with either the Sony STR-DN1040 or the Marantz SR5008 because this Sony doesn't perform any upscaling to HD and the new Sonys or the Marantz do.

How would this configuration work from your point of view? I know I am mixing several generations of polk speakers with a modern receiver and I wondering how good this would work.

Do you have any other suggestion for front speakers or receiver that might fit? The room size is about 18 feet x 18 feet (5.5 x 5.5 mts)

Many thanks,

GA

gacilu

I've just realised that I marked the question as FYI, when it should have been a question. Sorry about that.

rpf65

Of the 2 AVR's, I would go with the Marantz. Just think they sound better than the Sony's.

The RTI A7's need a lot of power, so you'll probably be looking for an amp later. You could probably get away with the RTI A5's, powered by either of those AVR's. If you decide to go with the RTI a series, get a CSI A center channel. The RTI A7's you want the CSI A6, the RTI a5 could go either CSI A4 or 6. You most definitely want to Timbre match the front 3.

Ideally you want to timbre match all speakers, but not criticle with surrounds.

gacilu

Thank you for your answer!

I was reading the specs of the RTI A7's and it says that it requires an amp with between 20W and 300W and the Marantz SR5008 has 180W per channel. How much power do I need to get the most of these speakers? And what would happen if I use them with this Marantz.

Thanks again.

GA

tonyb

You'll be fine with that receiver, especially since you have a subwoofer doing a lot of the heavy lifting in the lower regions.

We tend to recommend amps for everything around here. Truth is it's not always needed. Any speaker will sound better with an additional amplifier powering them. But don't worry, you'll be fine. Keep in mind, that the more speakers you run from the receiver, the less power all channels get.

gacilu

Thanks a lot for your answer guys. Really appreciate it.