Scaled-Down Home Audio System

JT01

I was previously looking to make a serious investment in a home audio system, but since my wife wants me to pay for a home birth later this year, I've got to make some adjustments...

Being from the Baltimore area, I want to buy some Polk speakers, and RTi A7 speakers seem to be the sweet spot of my new budget. My current plan is to match them with a CSi A6, but I don't know what Polk sub would be the best to integrate into this grouping. I also don't want to spend over $1200 for an receiver (which I'd like to use for both home theater and two-channel), and I'd prefer not to purchase an amp (unless I could keep in within budget somehow). As for the home theater, I'm looking for nothing more than a 5.1 system in a medium-sized room, but would likely not purchase the surrounds for another year or so. I'm not looking to "future-proof" anything, as I'll likely replace everything in 4-5 years, but I do have a 4K TV to consider.

So the two questions are:
- What sub best matches the RTi A7s and CSi A6?
- What receiver would work best to adequately power the speakers for my uses that is within my budget?

Any additional insights are also appreciated - you guys have always given me a lot to think about here.

Thanks,

Jon

ken brydson

Sub doesn't need to match your speakers but rather your listening habits, room size and most importantly budget.

tonyb

What the man with the hand in his pants said. ^^^^

Yamaha Avantage series or Pioneer SC series receivers would work well. Subwoofer....look at SVS or HSU.

msg

Hey Jon, what size is your room, ballpark dimensions?

Man, I'm gonna come right out and say, I don't know that you're going to find a receiver that will adequately power those A7's for you. I'd probably go with bookshelf speakers, stands, and a better sub, or maybe even two, if it's in your budget and depending on the room size an any placement limitations or openings. Almost everyone here who's been vocal about their experiences with RTi's or RTi/A's has had trouble with them unless getting 200wpc to them, minimum. Keep the big center.

Or, depending on room size and your goals, you might consider the T series speakers. Easy to drive, and you could get a whole surround setup and easily drive them with a nice AVR.

trj

@JT01
On this specific case, since you are not worried about future proofing and just want 5.1:

1. Don't power RTiA7s with receiver. It will work, but just work.
2. If you are buying a dedicated sub you don't need RTiA7. Buy RTiA5s or RTi8s(older version) or even bookshelf variants RTiA3s or RTi6s(older version). Perfect match for your CSiA6.
3. Buy a sub you can add on a second one or upgrade. Something like SVS, who will give you credit for upgrade or add-on later down the line.
4. For 5.1 receiver, go with Marantz, Denon X2000 series, Yamaha RX-V6XX series. Doesn't matter what you select as long as it has 4k passthrough, because you are not willing to add an amp now, so paying more for amp with Pre-out capability doesnt make sense in your case. Plus RTi series are pretty efficient, so if you avoid towers, any decent AVR will power them decently with an added sub taking the low frequency load.

Look at accessories4less for refurb deals and polk eBay store for speakers. You will definitely be under you budget for receiver and speakers. Then you can spend the remaining on a nice Subwoofer.

SugarmillMan

If you have the cash, I would get a receiver that has external pre-outs for adding a future amplifier. If you later decide to add an amp, it will be very easy. Otherwise, you will have to upgrade everything to get an amp.
Future proof now, as much as you can afford.

msg

It's those speakers that are dragging you in, and are going to dictate that your system be unnecessarily complex to work satisfactorily.

As were recommended above, RTi/A5's or RTi8's are sort of floorstanding bookshelf speakers, and would pair well with a sub and would be easier to drive with just the AVR. A sub to complement speakers is going to be better for HT, generally speaking, than just speakers alone, and possibly for music as well. However, if music quality is of importance, personally I'd be looking at speakers other than RTiA/RTi. I started with RTi10's, which are the previous gen of the A7's you're looking at, and I couldn't get them to work for me for music, even with an amp. That's just my experience, though. Some others seem to like them just fine.

msg

^^^ Ken is one of the guys who gets a great experience from his A7's, and I say this sincerely. I'm jealous that he can love them as much as he does. I know of at least two others who love their RTiA7's/A9's. I wanted to love my RTi10's, but they made my ears bleed and landed me in therapy. Ken, tell Jon about your 2ch project and what you think of those speakers in comparison to your A7's, even in stock form before you started modding them If you had it to do over again, and having your SDA's would you still have bought A7's, or would you dual-purpose system using your SDA's as mains?

Jon, I think you already have this, but here's the Polk Ebay Store - http://ebay.to/1LRADvJ
I was trying to link to the 705's someone mentioned they had in stock on sale for $600ea, but it looks like they just sold out between yesterday and today, sorry.

I'll also mention that there's been some excitement surrounding the new Andrew Jones designed Elac Uni-fi speakers. Check out the discussion thread on the Elac Uni-fi's here. A lot of curiosity, and at least one member has a preorder in. Also, though, some raised eyebrows at the 4Ω spec, apparently somewhat unusual for an "affordable" speaker. Comments regarding the frequency response in the floor stander, which isn't technically full range going by the numbers, with only 42Hz on the low end. Specs indicate you'd still need a sub, which may or may not be suitable to you for music use, as some prefer true full range speakers for 2ch. Would probably be pretty nice if you got a more musical sub, maybe something sealed from SVS or similar? I don't think the Uni-fi's are available in wood tones, but black goes nicely with warm wood, if your surrounding environment already has a lot of that.
http://elac.com/product-category/passive/uni-fi/

If you chose to consider other speakers, that opens up a lot of other options for you and again, personally I think you'd be better off going that route than chasing your tail trying to build a system around making A7's work. Please, take my experience with a grain, though.

tonyb

JT,

Don't let opinions scare you off the RTIA 7's, they are a fine speaker for HT. The crux of the matter is, they are a bit forward sounding, which is good for HT, but may tax your ears some on music.

That said, what you pair them with counts and will determine your overall satisfaction with them. A receiver along the lines of Yamaha Avantage, Marantz, Pioneer SC series would work well. We aren't done yet either, your cabling should be a tad on the warm side also. Kimber cable comes to mind, or Greg Strailey reality cables, either can be had cheaply on the used markets. Going with a SVS or HSU subwoofer will round out the experience nicely and you may not need to change up anything for a very long time.

Hope that helps some, because I can see the varying opinions are only serving to confuse you a bit. Down the road, you can always add an amplifier for improved performance, but off the bat.....with a good AVR, it should suffice.

msg

msg wrote: »

Almost everyone here who's been vocal about their experiences with RTi's or RTi/A's has had trouble with them unless getting 200wpc to them, minimum.

To clarify, I mean A7/A9 speakers

JT01

So what I'm hearing is that I really need an amp to go with the RTiA7s, and can possibly dispose with a dedicated sub and still have a good experience if going that way? If so, what receiver/amp combo would work in the ~$1600 range? I prefer the tall floorstanding speakers, as I don't have a place for bookshelf speakers (that wouldn't be awkward) in the particular room. Thanks, everyone, for your input!

JT01

Also, I'm starting to feel like I'm going to overspend on capability that I don't/can't use and may be better off hiring a consultant - where would I best find such a person?

JT01

Okay, in a surprise turn of events, it turns out that my system is not going to be scaled down after all - just purchased two 705s and a 706. Now to find a deal on an AVR - still interested in the SR6010 with these - anyone know where to get the best deal?

Big thanks to the gentlemen who help me through this today! @msg @voltz

msg

Ah, very nice Jon - off to a great start with those speakers!
Lots of great folks here who should be able to help steer you right in the rest of your setup moving forward.

You might consider starting a new post for your AVR question to get more eyes on it. And also maybe because it isn't really accurate to call this a scaled down system project anymore

voltz

Congrats Jon!! I know your going to love the 705's... glad we could help!

ken brydson

voltz wrote: »

. glad we could help!

Spend your $$, LOL...