A good price for A9s from Frys?

Theheadsn

Ok, came into frys hoping to demo a set of a9s. Knew from their website and others they are generally $750 or so new. So it kinda shocked me when I saw them for $562.50. Thats brand new. Only catch is they dont have any in stock, minimum 3-4 weeks to get them. Is this a crazy good deal, or something i can normally expect? Should i run back and get these?.. lol

Theheadsn

jeremymarcinko

Great deal on the a9's

F1nut

Run back. You should also plan on buying a power amp if you do get the A9's.

Theheadsn

I probably will. As far as the external amp, i wish there was a way to demo amps. Having the pioneer with the ice amps is better at pushing these more so than regular receivers. Just wondering how much of an improvement it would be sound wise for home theater with an external amp

Inspector 24

It's all relative, but general consensus is they need an external amp to really work.

Personally, I couldn't stand listening to them for movies or music on just a receiver. I hooked my RT800's back up until I got an amp.

Thorton

F1nut wrote: »

Run back. You should also plan on buying a power amp if you do get the A9's.

+1. That's a good price new.

jwb0007

Re the above, and often repeated, comments about the RTi12 being "power hungry", and needing additional/supplemental amplification ("200 wpc minimum", etc.), I offer a different experience.

I run them (the 12s) as fronts, with an Infinity C360 center, and 2 Infinity Beta 50s as surrounds, and I have NO problem that I am aware of with their magnificent, full, effortless sound. With my Yamaha RX-A2030 receiver. None of the dire proclamations, about clipping, absence of "headroom", and all of the other comments that we read so often about the Polks.

Now, it could be that I do not understand what I am talking about, or that I do not know what I am not understanding--and I honestly say that.

However, I LOVE what I hear from them, with my "modest" Yamaha AVR as the sole power source.

Other experience, thoughts welcome.

mdaudioguy

jwb0007 wrote: »

Re the above, and often repeated, comments about the RTi12 being "power hungry", and needing additional/supplemental amplification ("200 wpc minimum", etc.), I offer a different experience.

I run them (the 12s) as fronts, with an Infinity C360 center, and 2 Infinity Beta 50s as surrounds, and I have NO problem that I am aware of with their magnificent, full, effortless sound. With my Yamaha RX-A2030 receiver. None of the dire proclamations, about clipping, absence of "headroom", and all of the other comments that we read so often about the Polks.

Now, it could be that I do not understand what I am talking about, or that I do not know what I am not understanding--and I honestly say that.

However, I LOVE what I hear from them, with my "modest" Yamaha AVR as the sole power source.

Other experience, thoughts welcome.

I think that's a perfectly legit opinion. However, that's certainly not the most "modest" receiver, and you have a minimal load, with only 5 channels used. Also, if you're crossing over at 80 and have a decent sub, and keep the volume to reasonable levels, there's no reason your system can't sound decent.

The problems occur when trying to drive these speakers to louder volumes with a full 7 or 9 speaker load and the speakers set to large. At a certain point, any receiver would benefit from some help.

Inspector 24

You'll know what you may be missing if you try a separate amp.

If you don't hear enough of a difference to justify the cost, that's what 30day returns are for, or if used most amps hold value in the used market.

jwb0007

Agree, mdaudioguy, as you've stated what is the situation for many users. There are many, though, that do not push the extremes of large vs small, or 5 vs 7 or 9 channels, or decent sub vs no sub, or "reasonable" listening volume vs "loud", etc.

My comment really was meant to offer my experience (5.1, good receiver, excellent sub, and volume not frequently getting to "loud") as a counter to what I often think is a reflexive/automatic comment to get more power for the 12s (or 9s). Those comments most times do not take into account a more "sedate" listening style.

But for those who wish to rev their engines, yes, more power probably is a safer thing.

tonyb

Doesn't that sticker say each....not for the pair ? On the right side is the price, top side says each.

EndersShadow

jwb0007 wrote: »

Agree, mdaudioguy, as you've stated what is the situation for many users. There are many, though, that do not push the extremes of large vs small, or 5 vs 7 or 9 channels, or decent sub vs no sub, or "reasonable" listening volume vs "loud", etc.

My comment really was meant to offer my experience (5.1, good receiver, excellent sub, and volume not frequently getting to "loud") as a counter to what I often think is a reflexive/automatic comment to get more power for the 12s (or 9s). Those comments most times do not take into account a more "sedate" listening style.

But for those who wish to rev their engines, yes, more power probably is a safer thing.

Dont disagree but all it takes is one time to say "Wonder how loud these go" to end with a blown crossover or tweeter due to clipping...

And I think we ALL at one point or another have played that game....

tonyb

Yep, nobody I know buys big speakers to play at low to moderate volumes. Occasionally they want to put the pedal down and see what they can do. That's where trouble comes in without an amp.

Inspector 24

I found the A9's sound fuller and richer even at low volumes with more power, however the difference is much more pronounced as the volume goes up.

Theheadsn

tonyb wrote: »

Doesn't that sticker say each....not for the pair ? On the right side is the price, top side says each.

ya its for each. It was was $562 for both that would be insane ha

Inspector 24

tonyb wrote: »

Yep, nobody I know buys big speakers to play at low to moderate volumes. Occasionally they want to put the pedal down and see what they can do. That's where trouble comes in without an amp.

Yep. When using just an AVR, RT800i's sounded better than A9's.

Theheadsn

I feel like I'm on the bubble with my AVR. Seeing as its one of the last powerhouse AVRs, I feel like it should be able to run these at least decently. Of course an external amp would be ideal, just curious if I'd notice the actual difference from the SC-37 to say, a parasound amp; at least for HT and Video Game use

jeremymarcinko

Yes there will be a significant difference.

Inspector 24

Significant difference incredible. I though my A9's were nearly intolerable on just AVR 140wpc power.

tonyb

Inspector 24 wrote: »

Significant difference incredible. I though my A9's were nearly intolerable on just AVR 140wpc power.

LMAO.....intolerable ? Might be a stretch there but certainly understand what you mean.

We keep repeating the same thing, get a decent amp on the 9's....even the older RTI 10's, and you'll feel like you got new speakers. We aren't salesmen, we don't get jack for our recommendations and we don't get our jollies by sending you down the wrong path. Just dooo it Francis, and come back and tell us what you hear.

BurrInspector

^ that!

+1,000,000

Do It!

Inspector 24

Woah, significant difference incredible, autocorrect went Japanese on me.

Intolerable may be a bit strong, but I really didn't enjoy them at all for music, and movies only at moderate volumes.

Geoff4rfc

I did an experiment once with my A9's. I played specific CD tracks and used an AVR rated at 135wpc x 2ch to power the 9's. Then, using the same tracks, powered the 9's using 200wpc x 2. Then again with the same tracks using 300wpc x 2 on the 9's.

Keep in mind, this was moderate listening, the kind where your wife can sit next to you and not say "Honey, that's too loud".

The AVR and 200w amp had the tracks sounding the same. Cymbals and horns were edgy sounding. It was if I had make no changes from the AVR to the amp.

Add the amp with 300wpc, a subtle change took place just in moderate listening. The cymbals and horns were no longer edgy, but the sound just smoothed out.

I don't know why that happened but it did.

Theheadsn

Bit the bullet and bought the A9's. Worked some magic, got hooked up by a friend, ended up getting them out the door for $899.95 . They had to special order them so its going to be a couple weeks. But for that price, I'll wait