Power for RTi150s

AsSiMiLaTeD
AsSiMiLaTeD Posts: 11,728
edited February 2004 in Electronics
OK, I've seen some opinions about these floating around. How much power do these really need to sound good.

The receiver I'm waiting on gives 100 watts into each channel, will that be enough? I know watts aren't everything when it comes to sound quality or loudness, but I also know that it's still a major factor.

Assuming that the receiver is putting 100 high current watts (HCC is rated at 45 amps) into each speaker, should I look for a 2 channel amp? Along those lines, is there anything I can look at under $300 that will be better than the receiver set up.

P.S. don't have the receiver yet, still waiting on it (H/K AVR 80MKII

Thanks
Post edited by AsSiMiLaTeD on
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  • Airplay355
    Airplay355 Posts: 4,298
    edited February 2004
    its enought o listen to them but not enough to make them shine, they are rated up to 500 watts so 100 is not enough. an amp, even if rated the same will still have more power as ur receiver, most likely.

    i would definitely use an amp with your rti150s, i've owned them and they are very power hungry. but when supplied with lots of power they sound greeeeeat! if you have the funds i would definitely get a nice 2 channel amp. 300 watts or more would be what you might want to aim for.

    you could always bi amp them with your receiver and use the amp for the subs in each speaker. or you could use the amp to run everything, ur choice.
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  • VR3
    VR3 Posts: 28,786
    edited February 2004
    Adcom GFA-545 or Adcom GFA-545 II

    and if you get a good deal, try to get the Adcom GFA-535 to stick on the top posts as well.
    - Not Tom ::::::: Any system can play Diana Krall. Only the best can play Limp Bizkit.
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  • Frank Z
    Frank Z Posts: 5,860
    edited February 2004
    A couple of Outlaw M-200 mono blocks will certainlty perk up those 150's.
    9/11 - WE WILL NEVER FORGET!! (<---<<click)
    2005-06 Club Polk Football Pool Champion!! :D
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  • Tour2ma
    Tour2ma Posts: 10,177
    edited February 2004
    Originally posted by Polkmaniac
    ...(HCC is rated at 45 amps) into each speaker....
    As you said the 150's are generally regarded as needing more than 100 wpc, more like 300 wpc. However, if the AVR's HCC truly is 45 amperes per channel, it's got a shot at driving them.

    It sounds like you are commited to the AVR purchase. Is there a sub in the picture to handle some of the low end in HT use?

    When you ask about "better for $300" do you mean in addition to, or in place of?
    More later,
    Tour...
    Vox Copuli
    Better to remain silent and be thought a fool, than to open your mouth and remove all doubt. - Old English Proverb

    "Death doesn't come with a Uhaul." - Dennis Gardner
    "It's easy to get lost in price vs performance vs ego vs illusion." - doro
    "There is a certain entertainment value in ripping the occaisonal (sic) buttmunch..." - TroyD
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  • Terrax
    Terrax Posts: 483
    edited February 2004
    See Sig, ;)
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  • AsSiMiLaTeD
    AsSiMiLaTeD Posts: 11,728
    edited February 2004
    Originally posted by Tour2ma
    As you said the 150's are generally regarded as needing more than 100 wpc, more like 300 wpc. However, if the AVR's HCC truly is 45 amperes per channel, it's got a shot at driving them.

    It sounds like you are commited to the AVR purchase. Is there a sub in the picture to handle some of the low end in HT use?

    When you ask about "better for $300" do you mean in addition to, or in place of?

    No sub yet, I'm okay with bass right now, got other stuff to buy before a sub.

    the amp would be in addition to the receiver, just to power the fronts.
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  • AsSiMiLaTeD
    AsSiMiLaTeD Posts: 11,728
    edited February 2004
    Originally posted by Airplay355
    you could always bi amp them with your receiver and use the amp for the subs in each speaker. or you could use the amp to run everything, ur choice.

    I've read alot on here about bi-amping. Can someone help me out with this. I believe that when I use the pre outs on my receiver, the unit no longer sends a signal to the speaker terminal, how would I use the receiver to power the tops and an amp to power the lows? I have assumed that I can't do this with this set up.

    Thanks
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  • AsSiMiLaTeD
    AsSiMiLaTeD Posts: 11,728
    edited February 2004
    What do you guys think about these?

    http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3076906422&category=39783

    I was thinking of bridging each of these and using each one for a front speaker. Would 600WPC be too much? Any thoughts on the quality of these?

    Thanks
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  • RVJII
    RVJII Posts: 167
    edited February 2004
    Damn! If I didn't already have my M-Blocks I'd be all over those Adcoms. I'm still tempted to go for them as I'm sure that I could find something for them to do... ;)
    A lack of planning on your part does not constitute an emergency on my part...
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  • Airplay355
    Airplay355 Posts: 4,298
    edited February 2004
    those will be great for your rti150s, jump on it!
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  • Tour2ma
    Tour2ma Posts: 10,177
    edited February 2004
    Originally posted by Polkmaniac
    I have assumed that I can't do this with this set up.
    Call HK... Could save you the cost of an amp..
    More later,
    Tour...
    Vox Copuli
    Better to remain silent and be thought a fool, than to open your mouth and remove all doubt. - Old English Proverb

    "Death doesn't come with a Uhaul." - Dennis Gardner
    "It's easy to get lost in price vs performance vs ego vs illusion." - doro
    "There is a certain entertainment value in ripping the occaisonal (sic) buttmunch..." - TroyD
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  • Airplay355
    Airplay355 Posts: 4,298
    edited February 2004
    it wont matter if you have stereo amps, you would only want to biamp with your receiver if you had monoblocks. you can bridge your amps as you said and use them oto run each main, or you can use the left and right channel to biamp them. either way you will have plenty of power for those beats. 600 watts is not too much. you wont blow them, your ears will blow first, unless of course you are trying to listen to music above the noise of a chainsaw or something :p
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  • Tour2ma
    Tour2ma Posts: 10,177
    edited February 2004
    Originally posted by Airplay355
    it wont matter if you have stereo amps, you would only want to biamp with your receiver if you had monoblocks.
    Why do you say this?
    More later,
    Tour...
    Vox Copuli
    Better to remain silent and be thought a fool, than to open your mouth and remove all doubt. - Old English Proverb

    "Death doesn't come with a Uhaul." - Dennis Gardner
    "It's easy to get lost in price vs performance vs ego vs illusion." - doro
    "There is a certain entertainment value in ripping the occaisonal (sic) buttmunch..." - TroyD
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  • AsSiMiLaTeD
    AsSiMiLaTeD Posts: 11,728
    edited February 2004
    Originally posted by Tour2ma
    Call HK... Could save you the cost of an amp..

    I just sent an email over to the, they responded within 15 minutes! The receiver has jumpers on the back that connect the pre outs to the main amp amp, he told me I could use Y cables to set everything up, their products may have declined over the past few years, but the people over at H/K are still helpful (I've been going back and forth with them on questions on a receiver that is 5 years old and they've been great).

    Anyway, so now my situation is that I just need to find an amp to power the 'subs' in each of those speakers. I'll be giving the 150s 100 watts in stereo, 85 watts in 5 ch, all that is going to the mids and highs.

    How much should I look for in an amp to drive the lows? I assume that these will require more power, will 100 WPC out of a good amp work?

    I may get this figured out just yet....
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  • VR3
    VR3 Posts: 28,786
    edited February 2004
    THem 555......

    Expect this......

    anywhere from a 400-500 dollar price jump in the next day.....just to let you know
    - Not Tom ::::::: Any system can play Diana Krall. Only the best can play Limp Bizkit.
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  • AsSiMiLaTeD
    AsSiMiLaTeD Posts: 11,728
    edited February 2004
    Originally posted by Vr3MxStyler2k3
    THem 555......

    Expect this......

    anywhere from a 400-500 dollar price jump in the next day.....just to let you know

    yeah, I figure as much, but since I'm gonna bi-amp for now and only drive the low end with an extra amp, really don't need those anyway...well maybe one of them
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  • Airplay355
    Airplay355 Posts: 4,298
    edited February 2004
    i said that because if you had monoblocks and wated to biamp you would need to use the receivers amps. if you have stereo amps and wanted to bi amp its better to use the amps because they are more powerful then the receiver most likely.

    you could still bridge the amps and use the receives amps ti biamp but why would u want to? i think it would sound better with both amps in stereo biamping the mains.
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  • bigsexy1
    bigsexy1 Posts: 557
    edited February 2004
    The 150s definitely benefit from biamping as virtually no receiver and even very few seperate power amps are really enough for them. It is obviously beneficial to have more power going to the woofers than the tweets/mids however. Just make sure the gain is the same on the amps. In my case, I used an Adcom 5400 (125 watts per) for the highs and an Adcom 5500 (200 watts per) for the lows. That was enough to give them the kick in the **** they needed.
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  • AsSiMiLaTeD
    AsSiMiLaTeD Posts: 11,728
    edited February 2004
    Originally posted by bigsexy1
    Just make sure the gain is the same on the amps.

    yeah, I can already see this being a problem, was thinking about that last night, actually two things. Am I going to be able to get the volume on the H/K AVR 80II driving the highs and the Adcom 545 driving the lows to be the same, will have to do that by ear I guess unless anyone has a suggestion on how to better do this??? I wonder if there is a 'neutral' gain setting on that amp where the amp doesn't add anything to the sound...I don't know, talking out of my ****...

    Also, I was wondering if I'm going to run into any kind of delay created by the sound going through the Adcom to the lows (like the mids and highs getting juice before the lows)?? This shouln't happen to any degree that the human ear can hear, but I don't know...
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  • bigsexy1
    bigsexy1 Posts: 557
    edited February 2004
    Polkmaniac, frankly I would not recommend biamping with 2 different brands of a receiver for the highs and a seperate power amp for the lows just for the very reasons you just mentioned. It's just not worth it as you will probably deteriorate the sound more than helping it by throwing everything all out of balance. You could wind up with bloated bass or overwhelming screechy highs. Just not worth it, IMHO.

    As for the delay, that will not be an issue. No human ear could possibly detect it.
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