Polk RTI A9 Home Theatre setup - Power Amp Crown XLS 2002 vs Emotiva xpa-2
Options
Hi,
I just ordered a Polk RTI A9 Setup for my dedicated home theater in my basement. It is a 15 feet by 25 feet room dedicated for Home Theater. I currently have Monitor 70's Setup with Pioneer Receiver that i'm getting rid of.
Front Speakers: RTI A9
Center Channel: CSI A6
Surround: RTI A3
Sub: Definitive Technology Supercube 4000
Receiver: Marantz SR7009
I've been reading multiple Polk Forums regarding Polk RTI A9 speakers needing more power than most receivers could supply.
I was thinking of buying a Power Amp under $1000 to supply power to the RTI A9 as part of my Home Theater.
Question:
1) Do I need a Power amp in the first place??
2) If yes, what would you recommend between Crown XLS 2002 vs Emotiva xpa-2 to power the RTI A9s?
3) I was talking to a home theater specialist at local store. He says, If it use a power amplifier to power front speakers, they are going to out power my center channel and I can't hear any dialogues from my center channel when I watch movies . Is that true??
I really appreciate your advice..
I just ordered a Polk RTI A9 Setup for my dedicated home theater in my basement. It is a 15 feet by 25 feet room dedicated for Home Theater. I currently have Monitor 70's Setup with Pioneer Receiver that i'm getting rid of.
Front Speakers: RTI A9
Center Channel: CSI A6
Surround: RTI A3
Sub: Definitive Technology Supercube 4000
Receiver: Marantz SR7009
I've been reading multiple Polk Forums regarding Polk RTI A9 speakers needing more power than most receivers could supply.
I was thinking of buying a Power Amp under $1000 to supply power to the RTI A9 as part of my Home Theater.
Question:
1) Do I need a Power amp in the first place??
2) If yes, what would you recommend between Crown XLS 2002 vs Emotiva xpa-2 to power the RTI A9s?
3) I was talking to a home theater specialist at local store. He says, If it use a power amplifier to power front speakers, they are going to out power my center channel and I can't hear any dialogues from my center channel when I watch movies . Is that true??
I really appreciate your advice..
Comments
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As to do you need an amp... well a9s have 5 speakers per side, so there are alot of speakers to provide power for. An avr will power them, but they tend not to have enough power to move the 7 inch subs, so I would say a amp is needed if you want to truely see these speakers full potential.
I don't own a crown but have read reviews. They need a high vmr output from your avr's preouts to operate at their fully rated power. So what this means is yamaha's with 1 vmr output to their preouts will make something like a crown that needs 5 vmr to operate at their full potential lack most of their power. There is a whole complicated math formula for this. Now on the other hand emotiva xpa 2 needs maybe 1.5 vmr from the preouts to reach their full power. With all that said, do a little research on your avr's preouts to see how much vmr they output and amplifier gain. I believe this will help in your decision.
I personally have the same speakers as you do and run emotiva umc200 pre-pro with 5.2 vmr at the preouts to a emotiva xpr2 that needs 2.7 vmr to reach its full power and a xpa 1L that needs 1.2 vmr to reach its full power. So 600 watts to the rtia 9s and 250 watts to the center. I flat out love my set up... so I am a little baised, and would lean towards emotiva.
I hope this helps!!! Just don't want you to buy something that leads you to have to buy something else to make it work properly. Uhm that would be why I use my yamaha 7.2 avr in 2 channel pure direct mode as an amp for my rear sourounds... 1 vmr at preouts. At least I was able to reperpuss it as an amp. Happy listening. -
Looks like the marantz 7009 has 1.4 vmrs to the preouts. I could be wrong, quick internet review. Emotiva may be your best bet with those specs.
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1. Yes.
2. Neither.
3. Not true, you adjust the levels in the AVR calibration program.Political Correctness'.........defined
"A doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a t-u-r-d by the clean end."
President of Club Polk -
1. Yes.
2. Neither.
3. Not true, you adjust the levels in the AVR calibration program.
....and we're off. lol
I'll expand on the truthful comments of F1nut.
1.- Yes an amp would be a huge improvement, along with some decent cables to hook it up.
2. Neither is correct. Is there a reason you limited your choices to only those 2 ? Both of those choices are OK for HT, but if you want to play music on that system you may find them both a tad bright on the top end of which the A9's themselves are a tad bright also. Better choices abound on the used markets for under 6 bones. Parasound HCA 1200-1500, B&k, McCormack....just to name a few.
3- If a Home Theatre "specialist" told you that, he's no specialists. As stated, you can run your auto calibration program in the receiver after you connect it all up and it will match up the center with the fronts. Or....you can adjust those levels yourself from the listening position manually.
Hope that helps some.HT SYSTEM-
Sony 850c 4k
Pioneer elite vhx 21
Sony 4k BRP
SVS SB-2000
Polk Sig. 20's
Polk FX500 surrounds
Cables-
Acoustic zen Satori speaker cables
Acoustic zen Matrix 2 IC's
Wireworld eclipse 7 ic's
Audio metallurgy ga-o digital cable
Kitchen
Sonos zp90
Grant Fidelity tube dac
B&k 1420
lsi 9's -
Sorry I did not answer 3. The other two gentleman are 100% correct. Room calibration will handle that. Oh and my emotiva recommendation is for the xpr line which is warmer than the xpa line. There is a parasound for sale on the fleemarket area for sale at a great price.
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Thanks everybody for your prompt input. It took me some to understand all the posts, hence the delay in response..
@fastmatt:
Crown XLS 2002 has "Selectable input sensitivity; 1.4Vrms and .775Vrms options so that amp can be driven at full power".
My AVR Marantz 7009 has 1.4 vmrs. Question: Does it mean that my receiver can make the Crown XLS 2002 drive at full power??
@xcapri79:
Local store said that I would not need any power amplifier. He said, my receiver is good enough.
@tonyb -> I'm using 12 AWG CL2 rated cables with High-Quality Gold Plated Speaker Banana Plugs purchased at monoprice.
The reason why I'm considering only those 2 is because they are giving most power for less than $1,000, which is what i'm looking to spend.
I primarily use my HT for movies.
Question: If I use Crown XLS 2002 to power from front speakers that provides 375W per channel at 8 ohms and use receiver's auto calibration program, would my front speakers work at good potential and not throw off the balance between front speakers and center channel?
Which of the below two options work best for my setup??
1) 2 Channel Power Amplifier that delivers over 300 watts per channel at 8 ohms to power front 2 speakers OR
2) 3 Channel Power Amplifier that delivers 200 watts per channel at 8 ohms to power front 2 speaker and Center Channel.
Appreciate your advise. -
Yes. Then it would drive that amp to full power.
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Glad you took the time to look into that. Many people overlook it and end up clipping the signal to the amp and thus clipping the speakers at higher volume.
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@fastmatt
Thanks for the prompt response.
Which of the below 3 options work good for my setup (I added option 3 to my above post to make sure that i'm covering all possible scenarios as I'm not sure how important the extra power to the Center Channel is)??
1) 2 Channel Power Amplifier (Crown XLS 2002 or Emotiva xpa-2) that delivers over 300 watts per channel at 8 ohms to power front 2 speakers OR
2) 3 Channel Power Amplifier (XPA 3) that delivers 200 watts per channel at 8 ohms to power front 2 speaker and Center Channel.
3) 2 Channel Power Amplifier that delivers 440 watts per channel at 8 ohms to power front 2 speakers AND a separate Power Amplifier that delivers 215 watts per channel at 8ohms to power my Center Channel. -
Alright. Yes you should amp the speakers. Next there are more options than just a Crown and Emotiva in that price range.
Next, while the AVR might work for them, they won't be driven to their full potential. Honestly why not get a 5 channel amp and just be done? If you are determined to go Emotiva just do their XPA-5 and call it a day.
Watts are not everything and quality is an important item to note. In general most people here will not recommend using a pro audio amp for HT use. I agree with that statement.
Other amps to look at and consider, Adcom, Parasound, Wyred, Anthem, B&K, etc.
Also yeah no, the towers won't outpower the center if you set it up right. Honestly I've run a two channel amp and never had problems not hearing my center properly. While its always nice to have more headroom for a set up that's a different story that proper set up in general. -
When I saw the thread title I though 'Death by hanging or lethal injection'.
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Parasound FTW.
PM'd you.Up
LSi15 LSiC - RX-V3000
Down
LSiM707 - 706c - 702f/x - Dual HSU VTF-15H Mk2
Parasound HCA-3500 - HCA-2003A - Marantz SR7005
Sim2 D60 - Dragonfly 106" Panny 500 -
I would go with option 3. But keep in mind you want to keep the sonic signature the same, so use the same brand amp for the front three speakers. Otherwise I would tell you to just use your receiver with its 200 watts a channel. Even if that power rating is for 2 channel there shouldn't be that much of a drop spread across three channels.
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Option 3. Make sure that you keep in mind that you want the same sonic signature across the front, so you will want to use the same brand amp for both the csi a6 and a9s. Emotiva is going to change their amp design in early part of the new year, and raise prices.
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So if you leaning towards emotiva keep that in mind. The xpa line is going to be more like their xpr line. A three channel will be in the $1300 range. In till then their current stock is 20% off, while supplies last. I was a day late and they ran out of the xpa 200. Need one for my rear speakers.
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I would go with option 3. But keep in mind you want to keep the sonic signature the same, so use the same brand amp for the front three speakers. Otherwise I would tell you to just use your receiver with its 200 watts a channel. Even if that power rating is for 2 channel there shouldn't be that much of a drop spread across three channels.
IMO bad advice. He's not going to get the most of the 9's off that AVR and also he would be driving 5 channels including his surrounds. He would be best off either doing a 2 channel, 3 channel, or 5 channel amp and given his price point he could get a nice 2 channel amp and call it a day and add an additional 5 channel if he wants more in the future.
The Parasound for sale would be the only amp you would really ever need for those 9's and do a great job honestly. If you wanted more get a 3 or 5 channel in the future to power the center and surrounds. -
From what I see that receiver is rated 125@ 2 channel do by 7 lets say betting it will be down around 60wpc.....ymmv but it will not be very close to 125 across all channels
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If you're truly stuck on just those two brands I'd take the Emotiva. That said you can do better used. You could get a 5 channel B&K or Parasound for way less than $1k.afterburnt wrote: »They didn't speak a word of English, they were from South Carolina.
Village Idiot of Club Polk -
Love my 2 channel para, and I know @nbrowser loves his, powering some rti/a towers. I picked mine up for about 3 bills after shipping, from the gon. The detail and smoothness of my monitors running on this, not bright at all, which will make it mate quite well with rtis. Trust these guys, they know what they're talking about, and I have had excellent results with all their advice, they might sometimes think I'm a bit of a dumb kid, but that can be deserved at times. I've put my whole 2 channel system together for little more than your budget, patience and perseverance can help some awesome deals be had.2 Channel(work in progress):DAC: Schiit modi 2 uberAmp:Parasound 1200 MK IISub:RBH 1010-SEP Speakers: Monitor 5A peerlesscurrently running some krk rokit 3g since the HK pre outs died and i need to start breaking everything down to move in a couple monthsHeadphones:Source: tidalDAC: schiit modius epre: schiit sysAmp: AQ dragonfly black/ schiit magni2 Cans: Velodyne V-True, Grado SR225i, sennheiser x drop gaming headsetPC:DAC: schiit modius e(over spdif)pre: schiit sysspeakers: prenous eris 5 xtSub: Earthquake Sound MiniMe-P63most of my comments are passing on of info, im a noob, im just trying to help how i can, if im wrong or out of place to comment, dont hesitate to let me know
"WITH WILLING HEARTS AND SKILLFUL HANDS, THE DIFFICULT WE DO AT ONCE, THE IMPOSSIBLE TAKES A BIT LONGER, WITH COMPASSION FOR OTHERS. WE BUILD - WE FIGHT FOR PEACE WITH FREEDOM"Seabee Memorial, Arlington, VA -
You would have to burn my house down to get me to buy another amp for the A9's. Having powered them with two different AVR's and four different amps, The HCA-3500 is all they need IMHO.
Even tried running them off two 3500's and the results were such that I need a lot more listening time and A/B/A demoing to tell if there's even a slight worthwhile difference doubling the power.Up
LSi15 LSiC - RX-V3000
Down
LSiM707 - 706c - 702f/x - Dual HSU VTF-15H Mk2
Parasound HCA-3500 - HCA-2003A - Marantz SR7005
Sim2 D60 - Dragonfly 106" Panny 500 -
So if you leaning towards emotiva keep that in mind. The xpa line is going to be more like their xpr line. A three channel will be in the $1300 range. In till then their current stock is 20% off, while supplies last. I was a day late and they ran out of the xpa 200. Need one for my rear speakers.
You guys over at customer service must be getting overtime pay lol. -
Lol +1!polkfarmboy wrote: »You guys over at customer service must be getting overtime pay lol.
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Yep sorry I did some research after emotiva didn't have an amp I wanted to buy. So I passed that along for someone else, but I guess if you don't push parasound here, your not cool and work for the man. Oh and options 3 was to run a separate amp for the 9s and a the center using the receiver for the a3 rated at 150. He is only running a5.1. So if the specs I read on his received in a brief skim were for 4ohm, and 125 is more accurate, he is only running 2 a3. So way good advice. Sorry I was just trying to help. I guess I will have to go by a parasound before I am cool enough to post.
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What do you mean around here? You only have 13 posts on one subject.
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Yep sorry I did some research after emotiva didn't have an amp I wanted to buy. So I passed that along for someone else, but I guess if you don't push parasound here, your not cool and work for the man. Oh and options 3 was to run a separate amp for the 9s and a the center using the receiver for the a3 rated at 150. He is only running a5.1. So if the specs I read on his received in a brief skim were for 4ohm, and 125 is more accurate, he is only running 2 a3. So way good advice. Sorry I was just trying to help. I guess I will have to go by a parasound before I am cool enough to post.
No, he will not get anywhere near the potential of the A9's run of a 125w per channel AVR. Sorry, just won't happen. I've even run them off the Pioneer Ice amps etc and while it will do the job there is still a nice improvement when pushing them with a quality amp.
What you wrote above isn't good advice (what I pointed out) and if the dude has $1,000 bucks to spend on an amp why not look at other options besides Emo? That's all we are suggesting and there is a Parasound on our forum for sale at a great price. Don't be so thin skinned geezee...
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There's a reason why Parasound or B&k amps get pushed more than others. They seem to mate well with Polk speakers, isn't that what everyone is after ? Certainly not the only brands though.
A lot find the Emo amps good for HT, but lacking a bit on the musical side. If you want new and cheap, hard to beat Emo if that's your priority. However, even the older HCA series of Parasound have better build and sound quality than a new Emo....and can cost the same if not less.
Seeing that the RTI-RTIA series of Polk speakers run a bit hot on top, the Parasound signature sound works well to balance it out, while the Emo can make that hot top end even more so. Some may like that type of sound though, so if you do, then the Emo is right up your alley.
He can run those speakers off a receiver if he wishes to, but they won't sound their best.....and why buy speakers like that if you don't want them to sound their best ? Doesn't make sense to me anyway.HT SYSTEM-
Sony 850c 4k
Pioneer elite vhx 21
Sony 4k BRP
SVS SB-2000
Polk Sig. 20's
Polk FX500 surrounds
Cables-
Acoustic zen Satori speaker cables
Acoustic zen Matrix 2 IC's
Wireworld eclipse 7 ic's
Audio metallurgy ga-o digital cable
Kitchen
Sonos zp90
Grant Fidelity tube dac
B&k 1420
lsi 9's -
Thanks for the advice... I'm will see if there is anyway to audition couple of choices recommended here.
What is the best place to buy used Power Amps??
@Inspector 24 sent me a link that has HCA 3500. I'm looking to see if I can find any other options for less than $1000.. -
afterburnt wrote: »They didn't speak a word of English, they were from South Carolina.
Village Idiot of Club Polk -
[qiule="fastmatt;2193255"]So if you leaning towards emotiva keep that in mind. The xpa line is going to be more like their xpr line. A three channel will be in the $1300 range. In till then their current stock is 20% off, while supplies last. I was a day late and they ran out of the xpa 200. Need one for my rear speakers.[/quote]
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I just sold an xpa3 for 350,and an xpa200 for 175...I have all emotiva and here in Texas you can get some great deals...
