Tri-amped RTi A7

gp4jesus
gp4jesus Posts: 1,988
edited November 2016 in Speakers
My sig tells part of the story - finally tri-amped one of my 'A7s. Here's a few pics:
xiirg2n5whbz.jpg
New bigger BPs for all drivers! Less loss for the woofers!

s0dukhioqxad.jpg
An upside-down rear shot of the upper A7 panel - more BPs to connect the M&T. Each 4 ohm woofer has it's own new BPs, too. Now wired in parallel (they come wired in series) and gave each their own channel.

b7kdfvhc9p4l.jpg
The mid is isolated from the woofers! Another upside-down shot looking in (& up) through the mid driver opening, a first-draft/experimental divider! That green-ish stuff is mineral wool.

Nothing more than two 1/4" thick panels** sandwiching the internal rib/brace, held in place by friction & 2 wood screws. Black stuff is Armaflex. Between the panels, several smaller pieces of same** layered w/Armaflex. In spite of what might seem flimsy, it's quite solid.
** I cut an extra 1/4" wood template.

If I decide I like it, I'll replace it w/a wood insert inside the brace. If I don't, pop the upper woofer, w/a shorty Phillips, it's out in minute. I would add something across the rib/brace instead.

Regardless I plan to have E-templates available upon request by PM.

Some other Build Details:
1. all internal wire soldered to the drivers, BJC 10 to mid, Canare 4S11to tweet
2. Clarity Cap PX, 68uf DC blocking caps on tweeter
3. @ the BPs inside, larger, thicker, gold-plated spade lugs crimped & soldered
4. Amaflex on much of the cabinet surfaces; driver magnets & baskets covered completely.
5. mid mounted w/ hurricane* nuts* and machine screws. woofers to follow
* See Jesse's "Fun with Rti A Speakers."

Side note: Other 'A7 unmodified making comparison easy.

First impression: love the cleaner upper mids & highs. Better defined, thunderous lows.

Some suggested a divider would change the voicing - not by my ears.

Tip: Anyone considering triamping their 'A7s: you WILL need a LOT of "adjustability" to balance the mids & tweets. Like tweets @ -6dB, the mids @ +6dB. Parasounds w/their adjustable inputs will help if your EXO falls short.

Finally this will "knot up the knickers" of the "warm amp camp" for these and other RTiA series speakers: woofer level between MINUS 4dB to MINUS 5dB! I came to this conclusion w/the warmest amp on the unmodded channel, the most neutral on the other. To be frank between the big cables and the Rotel RB-98X's high current 200WPC into 4ohms, I'm not surprised.

Hope this makes sense & serves to inspire. Tony
Samsung 60" UN60ES6100 LED, Outlaw Audio 976 Pre/Pro Samsung BDP, Amazon Firestick, Phillips CD Changer Canare 14 ga - LCR tweeters inside*; Ctr Ch outside BJC 10 ga: LCR mids “Foamed & Plugged**”, inside* & out
8 ga Powerline: LR woofers, inside* & out
*soldered **Rob the Man (Xschop) LR: Tri-amped RTi A7 w/Rotels. Woofers - 980BX; Tweets & Mids - 981, connected w/Monoprice Premiere ICs
Ctr Ch: Rotel RB981 -> Bi-amped CSi A6 Surrounds: Premiere ICs ->Rotel 981 -> AR 12 ga -> RTi A3. 5 Subs: Sunfire True SW Signature -> LFE & Ctr Ch; 4 Audio Pro Evidence @ the “Corners”. Power Conditioning & Distribution: 4 dedicated 20A feeds; APC H15; 5 Furman Miniport 20s
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Comments

  • lightman1
    lightman1 Posts: 10,789
    No worries, Tony. Some of the best speakers ever made were derived from the inspiration of an existing product.
    Keep up the curiosity. ;)
  • Man, you are going all out!! I'm all about experimenting and seeing how one can make something better. Usually most mods I do I make sure they are reversible, that way in case I don't like it I can put it back the way it was. Many companies put out products out there knowing that they could be better but don't because of specific financial goals or issues with the bean counters prohibiting it. Please do a review and let us know your findings.

    P.S I recently bought some speaker monitors that come tri-amped from the factory, and they sound very very clean. I can't imagine how the A7's or 9's will sound tri-amped.
  • gp4jesus
    gp4jesus Posts: 1,988
    Most humble thanks!

    Tune in Saturday PM or sometime Sunday. I plan to photograph & post as I progress through the other speaker. If time & energy allows I may triamp my 'A6 CC, too.

    Meanwhile, have a great Thanksgiving.
    Samsung 60" UN60ES6100 LED, Outlaw Audio 976 Pre/Pro Samsung BDP, Amazon Firestick, Phillips CD Changer Canare 14 ga - LCR tweeters inside*; Ctr Ch outside BJC 10 ga: LCR mids “Foamed & Plugged**”, inside* & out
    8 ga Powerline: LR woofers, inside* & out
    *soldered **Rob the Man (Xschop) LR: Tri-amped RTi A7 w/Rotels. Woofers - 980BX; Tweets & Mids - 981, connected w/Monoprice Premiere ICs
    Ctr Ch: Rotel RB981 -> Bi-amped CSi A6 Surrounds: Premiere ICs ->Rotel 981 -> AR 12 ga -> RTi A3. 5 Subs: Sunfire True SW Signature -> LFE & Ctr Ch; 4 Audio Pro Evidence @ the “Corners”. Power Conditioning & Distribution: 4 dedicated 20A feeds; APC H15; 5 Furman Miniport 20s
  • gp4jesus
    gp4jesus Posts: 1,988
    edited November 2016
    Well Saturday worked out about as good as I could have hoped.

    Many more pics this go around.
    A shot of one panel of the Divider: 1/4" plywood.

    8l78lkphydni.jpg
    2 of them w/ add'l pieces & some Armaflex & 2 wood screws sandwiching the brace below the mid and...
    tu5dzvwt3eby.jpg
    ...Tah-dah! After I finish the other speakers i will cut, carefully fit & glue a 1/2" thick insert inside the brace

    Some pics comparing Polk's internal wire to mine. Mid - BJC 10 gauge...
    qe1wy5qneea1.jpg

    ...Woofers - 8 gauge...
    yosfag2nfs0v.jpg
    ...THE cheapest way to "warm up" an RTi A tower or Center.

    Outside shot of new mid & tweeter BPs minus nuts...
    mozurd1161ls.jpg

    ...inside shot of same
    yuzj1ydbdqxg.jpg

    Backside of woofer BP plate "first draft:"
    s9rarudxfjvq.jpg
    A bit tacky but WAAY sturdier.

    BTW: I forgot to mention in earlier post Build Details - note add'l hardware to securely mount all BPs. This leaves the gold hardware to secure spades soldered & crimped to new wire.

    My eldest son and VERY worthy assistant Armaflexing the drivers...
    1yleq1kr6vmr.jpg
    ...he came up w/a few of the final ideas and assembly technics.

    DC blocking cap
    vdgvowayz1uc.jpg
    sjmchccu21m7.jpg

    New bananas on left providing better conductivity. Gold plated brass, much more surface area, tighter fitting, low $, & that outer sleeve is plastic - far reduced chance of short if handling w/amp on.
    3y4jkqy3p752.jpg

    Completed rear view. Note BJC sonic welded spades on mids
    zuxvxie2lxlb.jpg
    r8oe8dy0li3y.jpg

    Unfortunately by the time I completed ALL the connections, etc it was too late to enjoy "the fruits of our labors" not to mention 500+ WPC! Tomorrow after work...

    Until then... Tony
    Post edited by gp4jesus on
    Samsung 60" UN60ES6100 LED, Outlaw Audio 976 Pre/Pro Samsung BDP, Amazon Firestick, Phillips CD Changer Canare 14 ga - LCR tweeters inside*; Ctr Ch outside BJC 10 ga: LCR mids “Foamed & Plugged**”, inside* & out
    8 ga Powerline: LR woofers, inside* & out
    *soldered **Rob the Man (Xschop) LR: Tri-amped RTi A7 w/Rotels. Woofers - 980BX; Tweets & Mids - 981, connected w/Monoprice Premiere ICs
    Ctr Ch: Rotel RB981 -> Bi-amped CSi A6 Surrounds: Premiere ICs ->Rotel 981 -> AR 12 ga -> RTi A3. 5 Subs: Sunfire True SW Signature -> LFE & Ctr Ch; 4 Audio Pro Evidence @ the “Corners”. Power Conditioning & Distribution: 4 dedicated 20A feeds; APC H15; 5 Furman Miniport 20s
  • polk500
    polk500 Posts: 1,171
    Hey Tony, I had Trey do the crossovers hence they are Modify Rti A7.

    Cheers
    R
  • gp4jesus
    gp4jesus Posts: 1,988
    edited November 2016
    Polk500: massaged by Trey - that says it all!

    I've considered picking up where he left off - I have two stock A7 XOs. I expect to have a stock CSi A6 by Christmas. Likely I'll hafta wait until I retire (2 years 10 months)

    Tony
    Samsung 60" UN60ES6100 LED, Outlaw Audio 976 Pre/Pro Samsung BDP, Amazon Firestick, Phillips CD Changer Canare 14 ga - LCR tweeters inside*; Ctr Ch outside BJC 10 ga: LCR mids “Foamed & Plugged**”, inside* & out
    8 ga Powerline: LR woofers, inside* & out
    *soldered **Rob the Man (Xschop) LR: Tri-amped RTi A7 w/Rotels. Woofers - 980BX; Tweets & Mids - 981, connected w/Monoprice Premiere ICs
    Ctr Ch: Rotel RB981 -> Bi-amped CSi A6 Surrounds: Premiere ICs ->Rotel 981 -> AR 12 ga -> RTi A3. 5 Subs: Sunfire True SW Signature -> LFE & Ctr Ch; 4 Audio Pro Evidence @ the “Corners”. Power Conditioning & Distribution: 4 dedicated 20A feeds; APC H15; 5 Furman Miniport 20s
  • F1nut
    F1nut Posts: 50,643
    edited November 2016
    New bananas on left providing better conductivity. Gold plated brass, much more surface area, tighter fitting,

    Tony, your comments got me wondering, so I grabbed one of my MIT banana plugs and a rather inexpensive Parts Express binding post I had laying around. I measured the OD of the banana post, not the spring area at .155. I measured the ID of the binding post at .160. I don't think one can get a closer fit. I noted that there is absolutely no wiggle, tight as a virgin's *****. I also noted that the ball tip of the banana post fits tight up against the bottom of the binding post hole, which is something your new banana plug cannot do. Therefore, with all factors considered, I believe the MIT banana plug has more surface contact than your new plug. That said and no offense to you sir, but I can see why your original plug was not up to snuff.

    Here's a pic of the MIT banana.

    fmaeca98an2f.jpg


    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

  • F1nut
    F1nut Posts: 50,643
    I forgot to mention there's a post connected to the ball tip that runs down the center to the base, so even greater contact mass than appears on the surface.
    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

  • gp4jesus
    gp4jesus Posts: 1,988
    Jess: no offense taken sir. We're striving for similar things. Life* forces us to take different paths to get there.
    * my larger, more complex than average family

    After close inspection, I stick by my assessment of my new to old on fit & surface area. My new ones "bottom" the like yours though w/ a tiny fraction of surface contact.

    My old banana has ~ the same surface area as yours in the pic. That center post you described certainly provides greater strength & ups the conductivity a notch or two by comparison to my old.

    Felice Natale (Merry CHRISTmas)
    Luke 2:7-14

    Samsung 60" UN60ES6100 LED, Outlaw Audio 976 Pre/Pro Samsung BDP, Amazon Firestick, Phillips CD Changer Canare 14 ga - LCR tweeters inside*; Ctr Ch outside BJC 10 ga: LCR mids “Foamed & Plugged**”, inside* & out
    8 ga Powerline: LR woofers, inside* & out
    *soldered **Rob the Man (Xschop) LR: Tri-amped RTi A7 w/Rotels. Woofers - 980BX; Tweets & Mids - 981, connected w/Monoprice Premiere ICs
    Ctr Ch: Rotel RB981 -> Bi-amped CSi A6 Surrounds: Premiere ICs ->Rotel 981 -> AR 12 ga -> RTi A3. 5 Subs: Sunfire True SW Signature -> LFE & Ctr Ch; 4 Audio Pro Evidence @ the “Corners”. Power Conditioning & Distribution: 4 dedicated 20A feeds; APC H15; 5 Furman Miniport 20s
  • Willow
    Willow Posts: 11,038
    Too bad you have no clue what you are doing ;)
  • gp4jesus
    gp4jesus Posts: 1,988
    edited December 2016
    Willow wrote: »
    Too bad you have no clue what you are doing ;)
    What qualifies you as THE expert? This "isn't my first (bi, tri, or quad amp) rodeo."
    Samsung 60" UN60ES6100 LED, Outlaw Audio 976 Pre/Pro Samsung BDP, Amazon Firestick, Phillips CD Changer Canare 14 ga - LCR tweeters inside*; Ctr Ch outside BJC 10 ga: LCR mids “Foamed & Plugged**”, inside* & out
    8 ga Powerline: LR woofers, inside* & out
    *soldered **Rob the Man (Xschop) LR: Tri-amped RTi A7 w/Rotels. Woofers - 980BX; Tweets & Mids - 981, connected w/Monoprice Premiere ICs
    Ctr Ch: Rotel RB981 -> Bi-amped CSi A6 Surrounds: Premiere ICs ->Rotel 981 -> AR 12 ga -> RTi A3. 5 Subs: Sunfire True SW Signature -> LFE & Ctr Ch; 4 Audio Pro Evidence @ the “Corners”. Power Conditioning & Distribution: 4 dedicated 20A feeds; APC H15; 5 Furman Miniport 20s
  • Willow
    Willow Posts: 11,038
    Don't get your panties in a bunch. Didn't you see the wink at the end...... Cripes. Chill
  • gp4jesus
    gp4jesus Posts: 1,988
    edited December 2016
    I'm so sorry for missing that ;) and over reacting. I'll take it as left-handed compliment, but a COMPLIMENT just the same and wish you a very Merry CHRISTmas!
    Samsung 60" UN60ES6100 LED, Outlaw Audio 976 Pre/Pro Samsung BDP, Amazon Firestick, Phillips CD Changer Canare 14 ga - LCR tweeters inside*; Ctr Ch outside BJC 10 ga: LCR mids “Foamed & Plugged**”, inside* & out
    8 ga Powerline: LR woofers, inside* & out
    *soldered **Rob the Man (Xschop) LR: Tri-amped RTi A7 w/Rotels. Woofers - 980BX; Tweets & Mids - 981, connected w/Monoprice Premiere ICs
    Ctr Ch: Rotel RB981 -> Bi-amped CSi A6 Surrounds: Premiere ICs ->Rotel 981 -> AR 12 ga -> RTi A3. 5 Subs: Sunfire True SW Signature -> LFE & Ctr Ch; 4 Audio Pro Evidence @ the “Corners”. Power Conditioning & Distribution: 4 dedicated 20A feeds; APC H15; 5 Furman Miniport 20s
  • Willow
    Willow Posts: 11,038
    All good. I'm actually amazed at what you did. I couldn't even dream of that.
  • gp4jesus
    gp4jesus Posts: 1,988
    edited December 2016
    Mille Grazie!

    If you note the post dates early in these threads, you'll see this was a looong time comin' (overdue really).

    http://forum.polkaudio.com/discussion/100364/thread-for-the-passive-xo-gurus-rti-a7/p1

    http://forum.polkaudio.com/discussion/99538/will-they-rti-a7-soften-over-time/p1

    I had a lot of time to learn about a great many details before the planets were in alignment and the moon was the right color!!

    Now that they match, transparency unmistakenly notched up. Can't wait for all added & upgraded stuff to burn-in. Still haven't CRANKED up any 2 channel - looking forward to that big time.

    Tony

    PS: next on my list: a tri-amped CSi A6 over Christmas (I hope) .
    Samsung 60" UN60ES6100 LED, Outlaw Audio 976 Pre/Pro Samsung BDP, Amazon Firestick, Phillips CD Changer Canare 14 ga - LCR tweeters inside*; Ctr Ch outside BJC 10 ga: LCR mids “Foamed & Plugged**”, inside* & out
    8 ga Powerline: LR woofers, inside* & out
    *soldered **Rob the Man (Xschop) LR: Tri-amped RTi A7 w/Rotels. Woofers - 980BX; Tweets & Mids - 981, connected w/Monoprice Premiere ICs
    Ctr Ch: Rotel RB981 -> Bi-amped CSi A6 Surrounds: Premiere ICs ->Rotel 981 -> AR 12 ga -> RTi A3. 5 Subs: Sunfire True SW Signature -> LFE & Ctr Ch; 4 Audio Pro Evidence @ the “Corners”. Power Conditioning & Distribution: 4 dedicated 20A feeds; APC H15; 5 Furman Miniport 20s
  • gp4jesus
    gp4jesus Posts: 1,988
    edited December 2016
    I came across FS thread for AQ speaker cable. I noticed similar if not the same style bananas as my new ones.

    http://forum.polkaudio.com/discussion/175188/audioquest-rocket-88-with-72-dbs-10-foot-pair-speaker-cables#latest

    Felice Natale, Luke 2:7-14
    Samsung 60" UN60ES6100 LED, Outlaw Audio 976 Pre/Pro Samsung BDP, Amazon Firestick, Phillips CD Changer Canare 14 ga - LCR tweeters inside*; Ctr Ch outside BJC 10 ga: LCR mids “Foamed & Plugged**”, inside* & out
    8 ga Powerline: LR woofers, inside* & out
    *soldered **Rob the Man (Xschop) LR: Tri-amped RTi A7 w/Rotels. Woofers - 980BX; Tweets & Mids - 981, connected w/Monoprice Premiere ICs
    Ctr Ch: Rotel RB981 -> Bi-amped CSi A6 Surrounds: Premiere ICs ->Rotel 981 -> AR 12 ga -> RTi A3. 5 Subs: Sunfire True SW Signature -> LFE & Ctr Ch; 4 Audio Pro Evidence @ the “Corners”. Power Conditioning & Distribution: 4 dedicated 20A feeds; APC H15; 5 Furman Miniport 20s
  • gp4jesus
    gp4jesus Posts: 1,988
    Finally got to enjoy some AWESOME 2 channel, listening to Mannheim Steamroller Christmas. Their take on "Carol of the Bells" w/500WPC on tap - NEVER sounded so 3D & transparent!

    Either get busy to bi or tri amp, or I urge you to follow the likes of F1Nut*, Jbooker, Polk500, JCSound**, & any other member that has (or had another) mod their RTi A series XOs,
    * definite out-of-the-box work!
    ** biamped A9 w/modded MT filters!!

    Felice Natale, Luke 2:7-14

    Samsung 60" UN60ES6100 LED, Outlaw Audio 976 Pre/Pro Samsung BDP, Amazon Firestick, Phillips CD Changer Canare 14 ga - LCR tweeters inside*; Ctr Ch outside BJC 10 ga: LCR mids “Foamed & Plugged**”, inside* & out
    8 ga Powerline: LR woofers, inside* & out
    *soldered **Rob the Man (Xschop) LR: Tri-amped RTi A7 w/Rotels. Woofers - 980BX; Tweets & Mids - 981, connected w/Monoprice Premiere ICs
    Ctr Ch: Rotel RB981 -> Bi-amped CSi A6 Surrounds: Premiere ICs ->Rotel 981 -> AR 12 ga -> RTi A3. 5 Subs: Sunfire True SW Signature -> LFE & Ctr Ch; 4 Audio Pro Evidence @ the “Corners”. Power Conditioning & Distribution: 4 dedicated 20A feeds; APC H15; 5 Furman Miniport 20s
  • F1nut
    F1nut Posts: 50,643
    Nice to see you enjoying the fruits of your labor.
    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

  • gp4jesus
    gp4jesus Posts: 1,988
    Thanks. Like an impoverished person, not "enuf."

    More to come...
    Samsung 60" UN60ES6100 LED, Outlaw Audio 976 Pre/Pro Samsung BDP, Amazon Firestick, Phillips CD Changer Canare 14 ga - LCR tweeters inside*; Ctr Ch outside BJC 10 ga: LCR mids “Foamed & Plugged**”, inside* & out
    8 ga Powerline: LR woofers, inside* & out
    *soldered **Rob the Man (Xschop) LR: Tri-amped RTi A7 w/Rotels. Woofers - 980BX; Tweets & Mids - 981, connected w/Monoprice Premiere ICs
    Ctr Ch: Rotel RB981 -> Bi-amped CSi A6 Surrounds: Premiere ICs ->Rotel 981 -> AR 12 ga -> RTi A3. 5 Subs: Sunfire True SW Signature -> LFE & Ctr Ch; 4 Audio Pro Evidence @ the “Corners”. Power Conditioning & Distribution: 4 dedicated 20A feeds; APC H15; 5 Furman Miniport 20s
  • gp4jesus
    gp4jesus Posts: 1,988
    edited December 2016
    Enjoyed immeansly an extended session of listening (loudly at times) & tweaking Wednesday evening.

    Cables & blocking caps settling in. A 15" passive DVC fed by a stout 400 WPC serving sub duties. Input fed through a parametric EQ. Tweaks kicked up system performance another notch or two.

    Along the way, while listening to just the woofers, I discovered different LR response. Right channel seamed to have more slam. May be due to either
    1. different stuffing arrangement or
    2. a 981 driving the left and a 980 driving the right.
    I plan to swap those amps next session.

    Merry Christmas.

    PS: triamped CSi A6 in progress. Should finish mid day tomorrow.
    Samsung 60" UN60ES6100 LED, Outlaw Audio 976 Pre/Pro Samsung BDP, Amazon Firestick, Phillips CD Changer Canare 14 ga - LCR tweeters inside*; Ctr Ch outside BJC 10 ga: LCR mids “Foamed & Plugged**”, inside* & out
    8 ga Powerline: LR woofers, inside* & out
    *soldered **Rob the Man (Xschop) LR: Tri-amped RTi A7 w/Rotels. Woofers - 980BX; Tweets & Mids - 981, connected w/Monoprice Premiere ICs
    Ctr Ch: Rotel RB981 -> Bi-amped CSi A6 Surrounds: Premiere ICs ->Rotel 981 -> AR 12 ga -> RTi A3. 5 Subs: Sunfire True SW Signature -> LFE & Ctr Ch; 4 Audio Pro Evidence @ the “Corners”. Power Conditioning & Distribution: 4 dedicated 20A feeds; APC H15; 5 Furman Miniport 20s
  • gp4jesus
    gp4jesus Posts: 1,988
    I've determined Rotel's RB-980BX is the preferred 900 series* amp to drive woofers.
    * versus the RB-981

    Early New Year's Eve afternoon wife took several distractions & interuptions (kids) w/her somewhere allowing over 2 hours of peace.

    I swapped the 980 w/the 981 several times; switched the L*&R** towers to the right & left sides of the room respectively also - right side is ~3' from an outside wall affecting response. In the final stages I placed them side by side, changed XO settings, and had my son* do the switching*. That* made "biased listening" impossible.

    They DO sound nearly the same otherwise. The 980 has "it" in the lowest register that the RTi A7 is capable.

    Happy 2017! Tony
    Samsung 60" UN60ES6100 LED, Outlaw Audio 976 Pre/Pro Samsung BDP, Amazon Firestick, Phillips CD Changer Canare 14 ga - LCR tweeters inside*; Ctr Ch outside BJC 10 ga: LCR mids “Foamed & Plugged**”, inside* & out
    8 ga Powerline: LR woofers, inside* & out
    *soldered **Rob the Man (Xschop) LR: Tri-amped RTi A7 w/Rotels. Woofers - 980BX; Tweets & Mids - 981, connected w/Monoprice Premiere ICs
    Ctr Ch: Rotel RB981 -> Bi-amped CSi A6 Surrounds: Premiere ICs ->Rotel 981 -> AR 12 ga -> RTi A3. 5 Subs: Sunfire True SW Signature -> LFE & Ctr Ch; 4 Audio Pro Evidence @ the “Corners”. Power Conditioning & Distribution: 4 dedicated 20A feeds; APC H15; 5 Furman Miniport 20s
  • gp4jesus
    gp4jesus Posts: 1,988
    Recent discovery: both Rotels run cooler driving 4 ohm woofers @ high volume than band limited 8 ohm @ moderate volume.
    Samsung 60" UN60ES6100 LED, Outlaw Audio 976 Pre/Pro Samsung BDP, Amazon Firestick, Phillips CD Changer Canare 14 ga - LCR tweeters inside*; Ctr Ch outside BJC 10 ga: LCR mids “Foamed & Plugged**”, inside* & out
    8 ga Powerline: LR woofers, inside* & out
    *soldered **Rob the Man (Xschop) LR: Tri-amped RTi A7 w/Rotels. Woofers - 980BX; Tweets & Mids - 981, connected w/Monoprice Premiere ICs
    Ctr Ch: Rotel RB981 -> Bi-amped CSi A6 Surrounds: Premiere ICs ->Rotel 981 -> AR 12 ga -> RTi A3. 5 Subs: Sunfire True SW Signature -> LFE & Ctr Ch; 4 Audio Pro Evidence @ the “Corners”. Power Conditioning & Distribution: 4 dedicated 20A feeds; APC H15; 5 Furman Miniport 20s
  • gp4jesus
    gp4jesus Posts: 1,988
    edited January 2017
    Watching "Days of Thunder" on Blu-Ray @ -11... ...priceless!
    Samsung 60" UN60ES6100 LED, Outlaw Audio 976 Pre/Pro Samsung BDP, Amazon Firestick, Phillips CD Changer Canare 14 ga - LCR tweeters inside*; Ctr Ch outside BJC 10 ga: LCR mids “Foamed & Plugged**”, inside* & out
    8 ga Powerline: LR woofers, inside* & out
    *soldered **Rob the Man (Xschop) LR: Tri-amped RTi A7 w/Rotels. Woofers - 980BX; Tweets & Mids - 981, connected w/Monoprice Premiere ICs
    Ctr Ch: Rotel RB981 -> Bi-amped CSi A6 Surrounds: Premiere ICs ->Rotel 981 -> AR 12 ga -> RTi A3. 5 Subs: Sunfire True SW Signature -> LFE & Ctr Ch; 4 Audio Pro Evidence @ the “Corners”. Power Conditioning & Distribution: 4 dedicated 20A feeds; APC H15; 5 Furman Miniport 20s
  • gp4jesus
    gp4jesus Posts: 1,988
    Just upgraded to a DSP laden EXO. Near unlimited XO & EQ tweaks.

    Choices include but not limited to:
    Gains +/- 12dB & adjustable delay/time alignment for each driver
    6, 12, 18, & 24 dB slopes, butterworth and/or LR filtering, and, between drivers, overlap or a gap
    EQ to your hearts content! Graphic & 8 bands of full parametric plus 2 shelving settings w/user-selectable corner frequency & slopes.

    If all that is too much let the built-in "Wizard" set the driver gains, delays & system EQ for you! Connect the calibration mic, place @ your "hot seat", let the "Wizard" do the rest!

    Tony

    PS: moving soon
    Samsung 60" UN60ES6100 LED, Outlaw Audio 976 Pre/Pro Samsung BDP, Amazon Firestick, Phillips CD Changer Canare 14 ga - LCR tweeters inside*; Ctr Ch outside BJC 10 ga: LCR mids “Foamed & Plugged**”, inside* & out
    8 ga Powerline: LR woofers, inside* & out
    *soldered **Rob the Man (Xschop) LR: Tri-amped RTi A7 w/Rotels. Woofers - 980BX; Tweets & Mids - 981, connected w/Monoprice Premiere ICs
    Ctr Ch: Rotel RB981 -> Bi-amped CSi A6 Surrounds: Premiere ICs ->Rotel 981 -> AR 12 ga -> RTi A3. 5 Subs: Sunfire True SW Signature -> LFE & Ctr Ch; 4 Audio Pro Evidence @ the “Corners”. Power Conditioning & Distribution: 4 dedicated 20A feeds; APC H15; 5 Furman Miniport 20s
  • F1nut
    F1nut Posts: 50,643
    Don't drive yourself crazy, Tony.
    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

  • gp4jesus
    gp4jesus Posts: 1,988
    Am I driving myself crazy, Jess? My bad.. Perhaps I'll put it in park by the end of the year.

    First impressions: more transparent & cleaner especially in the upper octaves.

    Listened to Boston's first album. Hardly an SDA experience w/an old recording but I couldn't miss how many of the guitar solos are layed on top of the mix.

    I plan to save the remaining tweaks, running the Wizard to get "its opinion" & system mods for after the move. We close on the 17th.

    Cheers. Tony
    Samsung 60" UN60ES6100 LED, Outlaw Audio 976 Pre/Pro Samsung BDP, Amazon Firestick, Phillips CD Changer Canare 14 ga - LCR tweeters inside*; Ctr Ch outside BJC 10 ga: LCR mids “Foamed & Plugged**”, inside* & out
    8 ga Powerline: LR woofers, inside* & out
    *soldered **Rob the Man (Xschop) LR: Tri-amped RTi A7 w/Rotels. Woofers - 980BX; Tweets & Mids - 981, connected w/Monoprice Premiere ICs
    Ctr Ch: Rotel RB981 -> Bi-amped CSi A6 Surrounds: Premiere ICs ->Rotel 981 -> AR 12 ga -> RTi A3. 5 Subs: Sunfire True SW Signature -> LFE & Ctr Ch; 4 Audio Pro Evidence @ the “Corners”. Power Conditioning & Distribution: 4 dedicated 20A feeds; APC H15; 5 Furman Miniport 20s
  • gp4jesus
    gp4jesus Posts: 1,988
    Moving this weekend. Dismantled my system last weekend. I MISS my LCR's mids, highs, & transparency not to mention the authoritative thump from my big sub and its power.

    Running 2.1: Rotel 980BX driving unmodified RTi A3s & 1' cube Audio Pro sub.

    Can't wait to get moved.

    Tony
    Samsung 60" UN60ES6100 LED, Outlaw Audio 976 Pre/Pro Samsung BDP, Amazon Firestick, Phillips CD Changer Canare 14 ga - LCR tweeters inside*; Ctr Ch outside BJC 10 ga: LCR mids “Foamed & Plugged**”, inside* & out
    8 ga Powerline: LR woofers, inside* & out
    *soldered **Rob the Man (Xschop) LR: Tri-amped RTi A7 w/Rotels. Woofers - 980BX; Tweets & Mids - 981, connected w/Monoprice Premiere ICs
    Ctr Ch: Rotel RB981 -> Bi-amped CSi A6 Surrounds: Premiere ICs ->Rotel 981 -> AR 12 ga -> RTi A3. 5 Subs: Sunfire True SW Signature -> LFE & Ctr Ch; 4 Audio Pro Evidence @ the “Corners”. Power Conditioning & Distribution: 4 dedicated 20A feeds; APC H15; 5 Furman Miniport 20s
  • gp4jesus
    gp4jesus Posts: 1,988
    99% moved in; ~85% moved out

    Power distribution: 3 dedicated 20A feeds.

    LCR: reconnected w/an upgrade: separate dedicated L & R P'sound 1000s for mids & tweets!

    Rear channels not mounted much less connected to date, however... New house has different listening area arrangement w/frequent floor traffic across same. Does not allow ANY on-the-floor wiring from front-to-rear. That said I hafta run it through the crawl space w/WAF touches.

    Tony
    Samsung 60" UN60ES6100 LED, Outlaw Audio 976 Pre/Pro Samsung BDP, Amazon Firestick, Phillips CD Changer Canare 14 ga - LCR tweeters inside*; Ctr Ch outside BJC 10 ga: LCR mids “Foamed & Plugged**”, inside* & out
    8 ga Powerline: LR woofers, inside* & out
    *soldered **Rob the Man (Xschop) LR: Tri-amped RTi A7 w/Rotels. Woofers - 980BX; Tweets & Mids - 981, connected w/Monoprice Premiere ICs
    Ctr Ch: Rotel RB981 -> Bi-amped CSi A6 Surrounds: Premiere ICs ->Rotel 981 -> AR 12 ga -> RTi A3. 5 Subs: Sunfire True SW Signature -> LFE & Ctr Ch; 4 Audio Pro Evidence @ the “Corners”. Power Conditioning & Distribution: 4 dedicated 20A feeds; APC H15; 5 Furman Miniport 20s
  • gp4jesus
    gp4jesus Posts: 1,988
    edited November 2017
    Long overdue update (C. July).

    Completed crawl space signal feed & power distribution for surround* channels - mounted same*. Wife LOVES the clean work.

    Added EXO to tweak dedicated surround L&R subs* - added another dimension to my system.

    Since then picked up two MORE of these 27hz gems*, one for each corner taking things up yet another notch.

    Happiness is multiple subs.
    Post edited by gp4jesus on
    Samsung 60" UN60ES6100 LED, Outlaw Audio 976 Pre/Pro Samsung BDP, Amazon Firestick, Phillips CD Changer Canare 14 ga - LCR tweeters inside*; Ctr Ch outside BJC 10 ga: LCR mids “Foamed & Plugged**”, inside* & out
    8 ga Powerline: LR woofers, inside* & out
    *soldered **Rob the Man (Xschop) LR: Tri-amped RTi A7 w/Rotels. Woofers - 980BX; Tweets & Mids - 981, connected w/Monoprice Premiere ICs
    Ctr Ch: Rotel RB981 -> Bi-amped CSi A6 Surrounds: Premiere ICs ->Rotel 981 -> AR 12 ga -> RTi A3. 5 Subs: Sunfire True SW Signature -> LFE & Ctr Ch; 4 Audio Pro Evidence @ the “Corners”. Power Conditioning & Distribution: 4 dedicated 20A feeds; APC H15; 5 Furman Miniport 20s
  • gp4jesus
    gp4jesus Posts: 1,988
    The latest rendition of my signature tells the power amp config actually for about the past 3 years. In posts above over 3 years ago I had P’sound 1000s for the mids and tweeters.

    A long unmentioned detail about RTi A7s for which I MUST say I AM SORRY... The woofers are 8 ohms each. Of course in series, as that’s how they’re wired, they load your amp/AVR at 16 ohms, netting between 10 & 11 ohms below 125 hz. Some time after I completed the above work in, about 3 years ago, I checked the woofers w/meter to learn they are in fact 8 ohm drivers.

    For over 10 years I had erroneously posted they are 4 ohm drivers (in series 8 ohms). I often expressed great concern for loading amps & especially AVRs at 4 ohms below 125 hz as the 8 ohm mids are in parallel w/the woofers below that frequency.

    I would encourage anyone not afraid of work that’s considering active bi or tri amping on any loudspeaker to forget your fear, drop your guard, and get to work. The results are their own reward!

    Tony
    Samsung 60" UN60ES6100 LED, Outlaw Audio 976 Pre/Pro Samsung BDP, Amazon Firestick, Phillips CD Changer Canare 14 ga - LCR tweeters inside*; Ctr Ch outside BJC 10 ga: LCR mids “Foamed & Plugged**”, inside* & out
    8 ga Powerline: LR woofers, inside* & out
    *soldered **Rob the Man (Xschop) LR: Tri-amped RTi A7 w/Rotels. Woofers - 980BX; Tweets & Mids - 981, connected w/Monoprice Premiere ICs
    Ctr Ch: Rotel RB981 -> Bi-amped CSi A6 Surrounds: Premiere ICs ->Rotel 981 -> AR 12 ga -> RTi A3. 5 Subs: Sunfire True SW Signature -> LFE & Ctr Ch; 4 Audio Pro Evidence @ the “Corners”. Power Conditioning & Distribution: 4 dedicated 20A feeds; APC H15; 5 Furman Miniport 20s