Recommended amps and preamps for POLK RTI A7s HELP

daoki

Hey guys I’m pretty much a newbie to the audio hifi world, it all started a few weeks ago when I received a Denon 2801 amplifier that he wasn’t using. So I decided to get some speakers I got a really good deal on a pair of Polk Audio RTI A7s upon research they are rated from 20 - 300 Watts. I have done a lot of reading from other users and forums that they really need a lot of power to drive to enable to listen to them properly and perform well. Which is also what the seller told me to invest into a good amp and pre amp. I am currently using the Denon 2801 my dad gave me which is only 90 Watts at 8 ohms, I used the amp to test the speakers when I picked them up and the seller was telling me that the amp I’m using is just not cutting it with the A7s probably only performing at 30% performance wise. I’m really new to the audio world guys once again. I just want to get some advice and tips on how amps and pre amps properly work together and are they hard to hook up to one another I notice on the back of my Denon there is a section that’s says pre out and a white and red connector that says left and right im assuming that’s where I would hook up my pre amp? Also another query I have is should I keep my current Denon amp and just get a pre amp with it? What amps or preamps would you guys recommend that would make the pair of A7s perform well? Also if the speakers got the power that they needed would there be a huge difference in sound and quality and where ? I don’t want to spend thousands of dollars but possibly up to $1000 or less just to begin with as I’m fairly new I will probably want to change a few things but I just want to drive these speakers to perform well to truly get the experience of what there capable of. Sorry guys for all the newbie questions and queries . Any help or advice is much appreciated. Thankyou all


Tony

cfrizz

Welcome to Club Polk Tony!

Your Denon has preamp outputs, so if it does everything that you want it to do, then just get a separate amp to power your speakers. Parasound and B&K are great amps.

I always recommend getting a 200wpc amp, because you will hear a clear and distinct improvement to the sound.

gp4jesus

cfrizz wrote: »

Welcome to Club Polk Tony!

Your Denon has preamp outputs, so if it does everything that you want it to do, then just get a separate amp to power your speakers. Parasound and B&K are great amps.

I always recommend getting a 200wpc amp, because you will hear a clear and distinct improvement to the sound.

Welcome to CP! And yes! A solid 200+ WPC should hit the “sweet spot” for your A7s. I’m pushing close to 400 in an unconventional fashion and...

Enjoy! Tony

F1nut

daoki wrote: »

Hey guys I’m pretty much a newbie to the audio hifi world, it all started a few weeks ago when I received a Denon 2801 amplifier that he wasn’t using. So I decided to get some speakers I got a really good deal on a pair of Polk Audio RTI A7s upon research they are rated from 20 - 300 Watts. I have done a lot of reading from other users and forums that they really need a lot of power to drive to enable to listen to them properly and perform well. Which is also what the seller told me to invest into a good amp and pre amp. I am currently using the Denon 2801 my dad gave me which is only 90 Watts at 8 ohms, I used the amp to test the speakers when I picked them up and the seller was telling me that the amp I’m using is just not cutting it with the A7s probably only performing at 30% performance wise. I’m really new to the audio world guys once again. I just want to get some advice and tips on how amps and pre amps properly work together and are they hard to hook up to one another I notice on the back of my Denon there is a section that’s says pre out and a white and red connector that says left and right im assuming that’s where I would hook up my pre amp? Also another query I have is should I keep my current Denon amp and just get a pre amp with it? What amps or preamps would you guys recommend that would make the pair of A7s perform well? Also if the speakers got the power that they needed would there be a huge difference in sound and quality and where ? I don’t want to spend thousands of dollars but possibly up to $1000 or less just to begin with as I’m fairly new I will probably want to change a few things but I just want to drive these speakers to perform well to truly get the experience of what there capable of. Sorry guys for all the newbie questions and queries . Any help or advice is much appreciated. Thankyou all


Tony

First thing, your Denon is an AVR not an amplifier. The pre outs are for connecting to an amplifier not a pre amp. In that case the AVR becomes the pre amp, but a dedicated pre amp will sound much better. Forget the suggested power ratings for the speakers, it means little. No AVR is capable of providing good sound for 2 channel music. Therefore, I suggest you get a pre amp and amplifier if your main interest is 2 channel music.

daoki

Hi guys I found a Denon poa 2800 my only concern is I don’t think it supports optical cable because I could not see any optical ports. But considering thr specs would this be a good amp to drive my speakers Polk rti a7s?

these are the specs.
High End Denon power amplifier

High End Denon Power amplifier model POA-2800 Made in Japan

Very good condition and Amazing sound(warm open sound and strong power out put)

This unit build in very big transformer and 4 big caps 18.000Mf each caps

200 watts pre channel for 8 ohm or 350 per channel for 4 ohm

Dimension W- 430 D- 410 H-190 18Kg

Everything working in good condition slight scratches

daoki

Hey guys just wondering if you guys had any recommendations in regards to amps that I could use to drive the A7s together with my Denon that I am currently using making that my preamp. I noticed some of you guys mentioned that getting an amp will make my Denon the pre amp if you guys were in my shoes just beginning getting into the audio world would you guys do? Would you just keep the Denon I’m using on as the preamp at 90 watts and look into an amp at 200watts per channel together?

What amps would you guys recommend that would give out that 200 Watts per channel I would need. So would that mean my polks rti a7s be getting 290 watts of power to them or only 200? Because I think one of you mentioned to me to get a separate amp to power my speakers? I’m just a bit confused because if that was the case a separate amp to power my speakers say for example if it was a 200 Watts per channel amp and I’m using my Denon as a pre amp which is 90 watts where would these 90 watts be going then? Sorry for the amateurness but all you advice and input guys is much appreciated. Cheers


Tony

Viking64

F1nut

Here's a better idea than using your AVR as a pre amp with a separate amplifier. Get a nice integrated amplifier.

You don't need 200wpc, that's nonsense. There are lower powered amplifiers that will easily outperform higher powered amplifiers. For example a 100wpc BAT amp will outperform a 200wpc Rotel. It's not about watts, it's about current (amperes). Other factors such as the use or not of negative feedback and circuit topology also play a role.

So would that mean my polks rti a7s be getting 290 watts of power to them or only 200?

In that situation the AVR is strictly a pre amp, the amplifier section is not used.

gp4jesus

F1Nut: +1! Yeah I remember a high 100 WPC amp driving them quite well

tonyb

hey Tony, what city are you in ? That would help us point you to a decent amp in your area.

daoki

Hi tony I am from Melbourne australia

daoki

But I am willing to buy from the USA as long they can deliver to me here in Australia Melbourne

tonyb

Shipping would probably kill ya from the states to down under. Here is a local site for you, check it out to see what's in your budget and let us know what your interested in and we can guide you to what will work well and sound good.

https://www.gumtree.com.au/s-used+power+amplifier+for+sale/page-2/k0?sort=rank