Proper Amplification for new Denon/Polk AV system.

SoCalSteve

Havent put together Audio since my 1970s Pioneer QX 949 and JBL L-100 Stereo system.
This is what I have so far, all componets are new.
Denon X4200W (125 watts?) AVR
2 RTia9s
Center CSia6
2 Polk 110 Subwoofers
No surround yet, I haven't figured out how to wire them in my large high ceiling living room or the walls.
I will have 5.1 or 5.2 surround but perfer just stereo for music.
I have learned the basic AVR functions, and my AVR has pre amps outs for everything.
I am still confused about what combinations of speakers I need Amps for in my 5.2.
Q... I now know that I need additional stereo amplification for my a9's. they are rated 50 to 500 watts so what power rating would be good, I hear Parasound over and over, my budget is about $1000 max for now.
Q...do I need additional amplification for the Subwoofers?
Q...how about the center channel and the surrounds...will the 125 watts (?) of the AVR support them okay? The A6 is rated about 20 to 200 watts.
Still unsure of amp assignments etc.
Any help would be appreciated, I have worked overseas for many years and am putting this together in anticipation of returning home for good. I should have done more homework on this forum but so far I have learned much for the Polk Club thank you.

rpf65

You'll need a 2 channel high current for the A9's, the AVR should be able to handle the additional 3 to 7 speakers.

Subwoofer has a self contained amp.

Surrounds don't need to be high on walls. They can be bookies on stands or hung on walls, generally between 5 and six feet high.

Hope that helps.

motorhead43026

Check the for sale section there is a Parasound HCA-1500 for sale, less than 5 bills. The seller is Realistic.

rpf65

Usually recommended 200 or more watts. Current is more important. With as many woofers as your driving, I would look at least 40 amps peak-to- peak. More would be better.

To little power kills speakers. Then again, 200 watts of crappy power is worse than 150 watts of clean power.

motorhead43026

Signal Cable, Audio Arts, Analysis Plus, Wireworld...........listed in order of affordability.

tonyb

With those speakers and that amp, you want to inject as much warmth as possible with the cabling. I would think anyway. Kimber 8tc, Analysis Plus 12's or 9's, depends on what you want to spend. Cheap speaker cables that sound good is usually not mentioned in the same sentence but Greg Straley Reality cables can be found in an 8 ft pair for like 150 bucks and they sound pretty darn good.

Always look for used when cable shopping, this stuff loses value so quickly it's unbelievable. Let someone else take the hit from retail pricing. Mit shotgun series is also good to hunt up. Acoustic Zen Satori....and their Matrix 2 IC's is darn fine also. Harmonic tech is another.

lightman1

Picking gear is a walk in the park compared to selecting the right cabling for it. Cost, synergy with the gear and your ears will be a start. Then you say "What about these IC?" Then you start the vicious cycle again.
Keep an eye on the For Sale threads and some of the other online audio markets for some quality used cables at a better price.
Audiogon is one of my favs.
Good luck to you!

SoCalSteve

Did NOT know my Polk 110 have self contained amps...got in a hurry and a little (lot) sloppy picking those out. Hope they are okay, I see my AVR has 2 Sub outputs thanks!

SoCalSteve

Still stuck on the "amp should be rated at 50% more watts that speaker RMS" guideline.
But since the A9 rating is so varied...50 to 500W, common watts values for most of these AB amps are 200 or so, is that going to be enough for the A9s?

SoCalSteve

Peak to Peak of 40 or more! Thanks.

motorhead43026

This is 60 amp peak to peak. No affiliation, would drive your A9's well.

http://forum.polkaudio.com/discussion/173114/parasound-hca-1500a#latest

tonyb

I might reconsider those 2 POLK 110 subs also. Your A9's are just as good in the bass department imho. A badder subwoofer is needed with those towers. Look at Polks bigger subs from the DSW line or micro pro line or go SVS subs or HSU subs.

SoCalSteve

Roger on the subs, I bought those without much thought and paid much less than full price-when I actually get home and hear this system perhaps in the fall, I agree with you the subs may get replaced. I actually never cared too much for subwoofers as I like stereo for my audio but I thought I would get something for the surround experience. Cant wait to hear the A9s. Motorhead and tonyb thanks for those recommendations I am looking at them now.

SoCalSteve

I managed to aquire an HVC-1500...thanks for steering me in that direction, what wall mounted surround sound speakers would fit with this Denon AVR, Polk Rtia9, Vtia6, system so far?

SoCalSteve

And dare I start a contentious debate by asking what brand or type of cables should I start looking for, to hook all the's components up with?

lightman1

SoCalSteve wrote: »

And dare I start a contentious debate by asking what brand or type of cables should I start looking for, to hook all the's components up with?

Good ones......

SoCalSteve

How about good and affordable?

SoCalSteve

Thank you for the clue in on cables...had no idea it was so involved, and important these days, I will get up on these cables and start shopping!

F1nut

SoCalSteve wrote: »

I managed to aquire an HVC-1500...thanks for steering me in that direction, what wall mounted surround sound speakers would fit with this Denon AVR, Polk Rtia9, Vtia6, system so far?

The FXiA6's of course.

As mentioned.......those subs will never keep up the the A9's.

SoCalSteve

I have so little time working in afghanistan that I went right past the image of the FX1A6 and didn't notice it is a wall mounted trapazoidial...is that a real word?....shaped speaker.....duh. Okay then if I can figure a way to run speaker cable thru the wall and attic for these speakers I am in business with a 5.2 at least. The subs...are supposedly a 100 watt amp but I don't doubt they may be a mismatch...so off to ebay they may go. Thx!

rpf65

http://www.powersoundaudio.com/collections/subwoofers/products/v1800

Something like this will compliment those A9's nicely. If you happen to be a bass head, they have bigger ones.