Powering rti a9's

bob1980

Would there be a noticeable difference in sound quality and volume going from 200 watts per channel to 380 watts per channel on my rti a9's

tonyb

Depends....sound quality isn't only about watts per channel. What exactly are you thinking of using ?

hochpt21

Need a little more info. What are the two amps in question?

Dennis Gardner

My guess is Rotel RB 1090/1590.....

bob1980

I'm currently using a rotel rb 1080 to drive the three woofers and my onkyo tx nr 808 in biamp mode running the mids and tweeters. I was wondering if I would benefit on changing amp to rotel 1090

tonyb

I think you'd benefit from changing brands of amps.

The Rotel 1080 doesn't do particularly well with harder to drive speakers, especially at lower volumes. I think you'd have better success with Parasound amps, B&k, McCormack with those speakers.

.....and take the receiver out of bi-amp mode.

bob1980

Would a emotiva xpa2 be a good match or is it not enough juice

jeremymarcinko

Most here would say no. I use the XPA-1's on mine and love it.

tonyb

bob1980 wrote: »

Would a emotiva xpa2 be a good match or is it not enough juice

Depends on the type of sound you like. Emotiva trends on the brighter side and the RTIA 9's themselves are a tad bright and forward sounding. Combined it may be too much, or may suit you. Most here anyway think the combination is a bit too bright and fatiguing.

bob1980

Does anyone have any input on the rotel 1090 . I can pick one up for a decent price . The 1090 has 180 more watts per channel than my 1080.

bob1980

My budget will be roughly 1500 CDN. My question would be . Currently running rotel rb 1080@ 200w per channel. Would I benefit going to 380watts per channel on the emotiva or the 380watts on the rotel. I don't mind the sound from the rotel and I have heard the emotiva on rtiA7's and it sounds good as well .

bob1980

Sorry 300w per channel on the emotiva

cfrizz

Rotel makes terrific gear which mates very well with Polks. Welcome to Club Polk.

Nightfall

You're putting too much emphasis on watts. There's more to it than a number. I'd rather have your current Rotel 1080 than the Emo. What's the rest of your rig look like? There might be a better place to spend your money.

bob1980

Onkyo txnr 808
Rotel rb 1080
Rega rp3 with exact cartridge
Clearaudio smart phono preamp
Klipsch rc52 center channel
Rti a9 towers
Rti a 4 surround speakers.

I wanted to see if I could improve the 2ch listening experience with more power . It sounds good now but you know how it is lol

Nightfall

If that were my setup the first thing I'd want is a 2 channel preamp. HT bypass makes it easier to integrate into a HT setup but it is possible with any 2 channel preamp regardless.

tonyb

I'll agree with the guys above, the receiver is the bottle neck in your 2 channel performance, not the amp per say. Probably cables too, but that's another subject.

bob1980

Can i ask how I would wire this and how would I switch back and forth between 2ch listening and ht. This makes me feel dumb but honestly I've never had anything other than a avr

Nightfall

Assuming you found one that didn't have HT bypass:

AVR front L/R preout > line level input 1 on 2 channel preamp > amplifier

Bluray player > HDMI input 1 on AVR

Turntable > phono pre > line level input 2 on 2 channel preamp

You have to have the 2 channel preamp powered on at all times in this setup, whether using a multichannel source from the AVR or a 2ch source directly to the preamp. When you want to watch a Bluray you'd turn on your AVR and select HDMI input 1 and you'd select line level input 1 on the 2ch preamp. Using a db meter app on your phone/tablet you'd have a specific spot you'd turn your 2ch preamp volume dial to so that your front speakers would match db with the rest of your surround sound. When you wanted to listen to your turntable you'd shut off the AVR and change the 2ch preamp to line level input 2.

It's difficult for me to describe this any easier. It's not as complicated as it seems. If you have a wife or children that use the setup, they might find it "too confusing" though. If that's the case then just search out a preamp that has HT bypass.

tonyb

A pre amp with HT pass thru.....2 rca cables from the receivers left and right output to the pre amp, from the pre amp.....2 more rca cables to the amplifier. Your source components like cdp is then plugged into the pre amp and not the receiver. You take the receiver out of the equation in this way. When using the receiver, the signal passes right thru the pre and onto the amplifier.

Of course, that's the best way and we realize it's not for everyone. However if better 2 channel is the goal, the receiver is the one thing that will hold you back no matter what amp you buy. Somethin' to think about anyway.

bob1980

Thanks for the tips . Would you have any recommendations for a preamplifier

Nightfall

Depends on your budget. Are you interested in getting into vacuum tubes or do you want to stay solid state?

tonyb

Nightfall wrote: »

Depends on your budget. Are you interested in getting into vacuum tubes or do you want to stay solid state?

You just threw a curve ball at the dude. lol

The best pre, and easiest to use that won't break the bank and go nicely with those speakers is a Parasound P5. Used you can find them around 800 bucks.

bob1980

I would love to go down the tube lol but my budget won't allow me at this point . I will look for a decent preamp to try out . Have either of you had any experience with pre/processors

gce

There's a lot of pre-amp's out there. You have to pick a price point and if you want SS or tubes, tube will generally give you a warmer sound and work well with SS amps.

I went with a Rogue RP-5 with bypass. I was in the same boat you're in and wondering how I could have a good sounding 2 channel and a good sounding HT in one room. You can keep trying to improve your 2 channel with your AVR in the mix, but once you get a pre-amp it will open up a whole new world to your 2 channel music and then down the rabbit hole you will go.

tonyb

BTW Bob, is vinyl your only source for music or will you be using something else also ?

tonyb

There's a Parasound P5 in the FM right now for 650.....go grab it.

bob1980

Question. Will I be able to play my sub when using the preamp ? I use my tt as the main source for music but also from time to time I use my ipod. Ipod sits in a onkyo dock that is plugged into my avr's port input. I think the best thing to do is run my tt amp and preamp as a stand alone unit and just switch the wires on the speakers when going back to listen to movies or ipod. Sorry for all the questions but noob here. I guess I can't have best of both worlds

tonyb

With the P5, you can plug your dock right into it, and yes, I believe it has subwoofer jacks too. Point is, you'll only use the receiver for movies.

gp4jesus

bob1980 wrote: »

Would there be a noticeable difference in sound quality [@] 380 WPC?

The 1090 is said to have purer "sound" compared to it's lessor 10 series stable mates.

bob1980 wrote: »

...difference in volume...200 WPC versus 380 WPC

On paper, 2X power nets a 3dB increase in volume - the smallest difference humans can notice. However if the 1090 can "deliver" more, that is, drive a complex load easier than the 1080 as opposed to just an add'l 180 watts then you should hear "more." Space around instruments, bass extension, vertical & front to back detail, all the while diminishing your speakers as distinct sound sources.

tonyb wrote: »

Depends....sound quality isn't only about watts per channel. What exactly are you thinking of using ?

+1. I read a user review recently on the Parasound HCA-855 - 85 W X 5, all channels driven. In his words "...in SQ & volume, ran circles around a receiver rated @ 100 X 5 all channels driven." go figure.

Finally, what's driving your amp will help or hinder "...space around instruments, vertical & front to back detail, etc..."

Synergy I think is the word apropo... ...TonyB's perferred way to put that.

tony

F1nut

Not directed at you Tony.....

The claim that humans can't hear less than a 3dB difference in volume is total BS. It's more like .5dB.