Receiver Compatability

opus

Hi folks,

I have a pair of RTi70's and am using a Onkyo TX-SR601 to run them. Iv'e allways felt that when using in 2 channel mode that they are a little "muddy", if you can figure out what that means. In your opinions which of these is the weak link. I have my suspicions but welcome your input. I'm not sure what info you need on the Onkyo so heres the basics.

85 W/channel min. RMS @ 8 ohms
110 W/channel min RMS at 6 ohms
Cont. power at 6 ohm---120W
Max power at 6 ohms--150 W
Damping factor--60 at 8 ohms.

Thanks OPUS

John K.

Op, welcome. From the title and language of your question it's clear where your suspicions lie, but the answer is probably neither of the above. First, it almost certainly has nothing to do with the receiver(there's no "compatibility" factor involved). The 601 is a fine amplifying device which is audibly transparent(as receivers typically are these days) within its power limits, which its highly unlikely that you're using fully unless the listening room is huge. A mediocre speaker, on the other hand, can of course contribute to a lack of clarity, but the RTi70s don't fall into that category and are unlikely to be the problem. The two leading candidates for the weak link title are the CDs which you're playing and the listening room. Many CDs are poorly recorded and if the listening room is too reverberent it compounds the problem. Experiment with the positioning of the speakers and sound absorbing materials.

opus

JOHN,

Thanks for taking the time to reply. I'm afraid I may be caught up in the "game". I once read a post to another would be upgrader to just "shut up and enjoy his gear". Wise words -- I think.

regards OPUS

opus

John K.,

One more question if you will let me. Can a receiver operating at its higher limits properley control a speaker at its lower or mid range limits? Will it have the power to make the speaker fully perform (not from a volume standpoint but from a range/sensitivity standpoint)?

thanks again OPUS

John K.

Op, I didn't really follow what you meant by "limits". Your RTi70s will be using 1 or 2 watts at a comfortably loud average listening level. Split-second peaks could possibly draw 100 watts or more. If by "range" you mean the frequencies handled, your 601 and nearly all other receivers are flat from 20-20,000Hz and allow speakers to do their best. Again, there's no cause for concern about the 601.

PolkWannabie

If you haven't already addressed these issues you might want to investigate and play with ...

- Speaker toe in
- Spikes or other feet depending on what's on the floor
- Interconnects
- Speaker wire
- power center

All of which can have an effect on what you hear

TheReaper

Originally posted by opus
John K.,

One more question if you will let me. Can a receiver operating at its higher limits properley control a speaker at its lower or mid range limits? Will it have the power to make the speaker fully perform (not from a volume standpoint but from a range/sensitivity standpoint)?

thanks again OPUS

I don't know what people here call it. But I call that 'comming alive', singing, working, or dynamics. Most speakers take a certain amount of power or volume before they start to work their best. In my opinion the RTi70s do take a lot to get started. It isn't that they sound bad at lower volumns. It is that it isn't until I reach the limits of my Onkyo 501 that they start to really work (they are more dynamic sounding).

That is why I never switched to using them as my mains (I got them cheap after I already had R50s for mains). Instead I do a poor man's bi-amp with them. I have the lower half hooked up to my 501's B outs (which get powered by the surround channels). And I have a switch to switch my A mains to the upper half of the RTi70s. They come alive at lower volumes hooked up this way (overall volumn is about the same).

=======================
Toshiba 42" RPHDTV (42H83)
TW Cable (Pioneer Voyager HDTV)
Toshiba DVD (SD-3900)
Onkyo 60wpc bnh 6.1 (TX-SR501B)
AudioSource EQ 100
HP 8775C / ATI AIW 9600XT128
Philips pos DVD/VCR
Monster MSS4 Speaker Selector
Acoustic Research short ICs
Radio Shack long ICs
Polk R50 L/R Mains
Polk R30 L/R Surrounds
Polk CSi40/R50 Center
Polk R30 Rear Center
Polk RTi70 L/R B-Mains (A/B bi-amp)
Sony 10" Sub-Woofer

dbournival

"One more question if you will let me. Can a receiver operating at its higher limits properley control a speaker at its lower or mid range limits? Will it have the power to make the speaker fully perform (not from a volume standpoint but from a range/sensitivity standpoint)?"


Opus, you will find it can to a point. I have a Onkyo 595 (an earlier receiver in the 601's price point). I have had no problem for the 3 years I've owned mine until last week. I was watching the opening scene from Gladiator with a friend louder than I usually do, (I usually have the volume at 50 or so, this time it was at 55 or 56). After about 10 minutes it sounded as the receiver was distorting then it went in to the protection mode. It would not come on for 5 minutes or so (It would just shut down), It seems I just overheated it. I've had no problems since but I've not run it for that high since.

F1nut

If the first watt sucks, why bother!

It seems as though there are a lot of sucking first watts on the market these days.