Hook up 4 RTI A9s to Denon AVRX4100w?

xcelledperceptionx

I currently have a pair of RTI A9s for front speakers and I don't know what model my center is off hand but I know it was a higher end one I bought back in like 2008ish with my A9s. I have Monitor 70s as the rear. I used to have an older Onkyo receiver but just upgraded to the Denon AVRX4100w not to long ago. My A9s sound amazing on this receiver. I was thinking about possibly getting another pair of A9s or maybe save a few bucks and get the RTI12s since they are cheaper to use are rear speakers. I don't really like how the monitor 70s sound.

What would your guys suggestion be? Would buying another pair of A9s or RTI12s be worthwhile to use as rear speakers? Or would there be a different model you would recommend? Would they sound as good as rear speakers as they do in the front now with another pair hooked up? Would I need to get a separate amp? Thanks for the help.

pitdogg2

Short answer, you would be better served with a dedicated amp for those. They may sound pretty good but you're starving them with most receivers. 99% of the receivers out there are down to about 50 watts or less with little current with more the two speakers.

xcelledperceptionx

pitdogg2 wrote: »

Short answer, you would be better served with a dedicated amp for those. They may sound pretty good but you're starving them with most receivers. 99% of the receivers out there are down to about 50 watts or less with little current with more the two speakers.

http://usa.denon.com/us/product/refurbishedprocat/avreceiversref/avrx4100w

Number of Poweramps 7

Power Output (8 ohm, 20 Hz - 20 kHz, 0.08% 2ch Drive) _

Power Output (8 ohm, 20 Hz - 20 kHz, 0.05% 2ch Drive) 125 W

Power Output (6 ohm, 1 kHz, 0.7% 2ch Drive) 165 W

Power Output (6 ohm, 1 kHz, 10% 1ch Drive) 235W

I was just wondering if they RTIa9s will be good as rears as well. I got a high ceiling and a decent size room. How would I wire up a dedicated amp for those and my receiver? Any recommendations on another amp?

deronb1

You would be better gettiing a pair of A3s for the rears, use the savings to get a decent 2ch amp for the A9s. The Denon could then power the remaining speakers to their full potential.

I think there is a Parasound HCA 1500a on sale here in the forum. Great amp with a 12v trigger. Would make your A9s absolutely sing.

xcelledperceptionx

deronb1 wrote: »

You would be better gettiing a pair of A3s for the rears, use the savings to get a decent 2ch amp for the A9s. The Denon could then power the remaining speakers to their full potential.

I think there is a Parasound HCA 1500a on sale here in the forum. Great amp with a 12v trigger. Would make your A9s absolutely sing.

Hmm maybe. I have a high celing and a decent size room, so I was thinking something bigger than bookshelf. The room is a big L shape connecting to the dining room with lots of open space. I could get a pair of RTI12s for around 700 or RTIa9s for 1000. Not sure what I want to do with the rears 100% yet. Maybe A5 or A7?

How do you hook up that extra amp? Run from the front preouts from the receiver to the amp and then run the speaker wire to the speaker and biwire them? Does it matter which set of posts the amp or receiver are hooked too?

rooftop59

xcelledperceptionx wrote: »

pitdogg2 wrote: »

Short answer, you would be better served with a dedicated amp for those. They may sound pretty good but you're starving them with most receivers. 99% of the receivers out there are down to about 50 watts or less with little current with more the two speakers.

http://usa.denon.com/us/product/refurbishedprocat/avreceiversref/avrx4100w

Number of Poweramps 7

Power Output (8 ohm, 20 Hz - 20 kHz, 0.08% 2ch Drive) _

Power Output (8 ohm, 20 Hz - 20 kHz, 0.05% 2ch Drive) 125 W

Power Output (6 ohm, 1 kHz, 0.7% 2ch Drive) 165 W

Power Output (6 ohm, 1 kHz, 10% 1ch Drive) 235W

I was just wondering if they RTIa9s will be good as rears as well. I got a high ceiling and a decent size room. How would I wire up a dedicated amp for those and my receiver? Any recommendations on another amp?

As always, those measurements are BS. Check out the audioholics review with measurements of the AVR-X5200W: "in the seven channel power tests above which produced 78 watts/channel at 01.% THD+N"

So if you try to run four rtiA 9s and a big center channel, you are starving them, especially considering how many big bass drivers those puppies have. Either you cross them over at 80hz, or you just don't get good full range sound. Either way, yoy are simply throwing money away getting another pair.

Buy a big-boy amp like the parasound 1500, and a pair of rti A3s. You will be SHOCKED at the increased bass, dynamism, detail, everything those 9s are capable of with a real amp. You may not care about the surrounds imho...

xcelledperceptionx

rooftop59 wrote: »

xcelledperceptionx wrote: »

pitdogg2 wrote: »

Short answer, you would be better served with a dedicated amp for those. They may sound pretty good but you're starving them with most receivers. 99% of the receivers out there are down to about 50 watts or less with little current with more the two speakers.

http://usa.denon.com/us/product/refurbishedprocat/avreceiversref/avrx4100w

Number of Poweramps 7

Power Output (8 ohm, 20 Hz - 20 kHz, 0.08% 2ch Drive) _

Power Output (8 ohm, 20 Hz - 20 kHz, 0.05% 2ch Drive) 125 W

Power Output (6 ohm, 1 kHz, 0.7% 2ch Drive) 165 W

Power Output (6 ohm, 1 kHz, 10% 1ch Drive) 235W

I was just wondering if they RTIa9s will be good as rears as well. I got a high ceiling and a decent size room. How would I wire up a dedicated amp for those and my receiver? Any recommendations on another amp?

As always, those measurements are BS. Check out the audioholics review with measurements of the AVR-X5200W: "in the seven channel power tests above which produced 78 watts/channel at 01.% THD+N"

So if you try to run four rtiA 9s and a big center channel, you are starving them, especially considering how many big bass drivers those puppies have. Either you cross them over at 80hz, or you just don't get good full range sound. Either way, yoy are simply throwing money away getting another pair.

Buy a big-boy amp like the parasound 1500, and a pair of rti A3s. You will be SHOCKED at the increased bass, dynamism, detail, everything those 9s are capable of with a real amp. You may not care about the surrounds imho...

Thanks

Wheres a good place to find an amp. Seems the one you mentioned is discontinued. Any other models you could recommend?

tonyb

Don't be afraid of discontinued amps. The one mentioned can be had for 400 bucks and has superior build and sound quality over anything your going to find for that kind of coin. Amps can last 15-20 years without having to be serviced.

A new amp of decent build quality and sound may cost you 1000-2000 bucks. You can look in our FM, Craigslist, Audiogon, HIFI Shark for starters. Parasound 1200 or 1500, amps by B&k or McCormack also will work exceptionally well.

F1nut

I don't know what model my center is off hand but I know it was a higher end one I bought back in like 2008ish with my A9s.

If it's not the CSiA6, you need to get it.

For the surrounds, get the FXiA6's.

No AVR can properly drive the RTiA9's regardless the number of channels driven.

Wheres a good place to find an amp.

Your local hifi shop, our Flea Market or look on Audiogon.

chumlie

Here is the amp you want and your in luck, with recent rule changes in the flea market you can now get it.
http://forum.polkaudio.com/discussion/169163/parasound-hca-1500a-power-amp-205-watts#latest
Get that and follow F1's advise on speakers and prepare to be amazed.

xcelledperceptionx

F1nut wrote: »

I don't know what model my center is off hand but I know it was a higher end one I bought back in like 2008ish with my A9s.

If it's not the CSiA6, you need to get it.

For the surrounds, get the FXiA6's.

No AVR can properly drive the RTiA9's regardless the number of channels driven.

Wheres a good place to find an amp.

Your local hifi shop, our Flea Market or look on Audiogon.

Yes I have the CSIA6 and the FXiA6. I was using the FXiA6 as L & R surround speakers before and the monitor 70s as rear but dont have the FXiA6 set up now. Are you suggesting I use the FXiA6 as rear speakers instead? It almost seems like the monitor 70s do nothing for me.

F1nut

Are you suggesting I use the FXiA6 as rear speakers instead?

Yes.

Inspector 24

Echoing others, I've powered A9's with AVR's, and several parasound amps. Minimum high current 200wpc to make them work with diminishing returns after that but If you can afford more, get more.

larlane

Chiming in with the others, I will offer another option. Many people (like me) power their Polks with Emotiva amps. There are some on this board who would not make this recommendation citing the combination sounds a little edgy on the high end. I do not find this to be true with my RTIA 7's. I went from a Denon X4000 to an XPA-5 and as many have already said, an amp is a true game changer. I also have the same surrounds and center as you do.

The XPA-5 is a 5 channel amp with true 200 watts all channels driven. Alternately you should consider one of their two or 3 channel amps. Like the Parasounds, you can often find used ones at good prices. They offer a 30 day return if you buy new although you will have to pay for return shipping. Not a fanboy, just telling you the option that I chose. There are many brands that will offer a marked difference in your setup.

I really don't think you have to have so much power for the rear (surrounds). The only reason to have a lot of power for surrounds is if you want the A'9s for the back. This is really too much unless you listen to music where all 5 channels are getting the same amount of signal. I think many SACD's are like this. Most of the time, the 5.1 mix sends mostly ambient signals to help fill the listening environment. In most cases the L/R/C speakers are doing all the work and are the ones that benefit the most from a separate amp. I bought a 5 channel amp because it wasn't that much more and there would be no wondering "what if?" later.

Another great reason why amps make sense is that an amp you buy now may very well be in your setup for several years. They are not susceptible to changes in technology. Upgrading to current technology becomes much easier and often less expensive.

Oh, and don't forget to spend at least $5000 on interconnects, speaker wire and those insulators that keep your speaker cables off the floor.

tonyb

larlane wrote: »

Oh, and don't forget to spend at least $5000 on interconnects, speaker wire and those insulators that keep your speaker cables off the floor.

If the man had 5g's to spend on all that, he sure as sh&t wouldn't be looking at Emo amps. lol

xcelledperceptionx

tonyb wrote: »

larlane wrote: »

Oh, and don't forget to spend at least $5000 on interconnects, speaker wire and those insulators that keep your speaker cables off the floor.

If the man had 5g's to spend on all that, he sure as sh&t wouldn't be looking at Emo amps. lol

haha, Yea I don't think I would drop that kind of money on that stuff!

tonyb

xcelledperceptionx wrote: »

tonyb wrote: »

larlane wrote: »

Oh, and don't forget to spend at least $5000 on interconnects, speaker wire and those insulators that keep your speaker cables off the floor.

If the man had 5g's to spend on all that, he sure as sh&t wouldn't be looking at Emo amps. lol

haha, Yea I don't think I would drop that kind of money on that stuff!

Sure you would....if you could afford it. Audio is played on many levels. Kinda like someone who can only afford to drive a Chevy Malibu and looks at a Mercedes and says to himself " Doubt I'd ever spend that kinda coin on a car".

tonyb

Of course Ken, your absolutely correct. Seems though to some there is no middle ground though. It's either cheap Home depot/Monoprice cables or 5g cables....nothing in between.