Anyone run an HK receiver on the RTI series?

Laura Palmer

I've just purchased my RTi speakers, and I'm wondering if anyone here has had experience with any HK receivers...particularly the HK635... does it power your speakers sufficiently? How does it sound?

I'm concerned the wattage won't be enough for my RTi12s but the HK635 is all I can afford really. I can't rationalize doing seperates yet.

Thanks!

bobman1235

Originally posted by Laura Palmer
I've just purchased my RTi speakers, and I'm wondering if anyone here has had experience with any HK receivers...particularly the HK635... does it power your speakers sufficiently? How does it sound?

I'm concerned the wattage won't be enough for my RTi12s but the HK635 is all I can afford really. I can't rationalize doing seperates yet.

Thanks!

I run RTi70's with my HK525. I think it powers them just fine. At some point when I have money I'd liek to buy a separate amp, but I wouldn't worry about powering them. I had an old Pioneer receiver before, and it sounded like crap, and they rated their wattage almost DOUBLE what the HK rates theirs at.

You'll most likely want to set them to small and have a powered sub, though.

Dennis Gardner

Laura,

Any receiver will not get the most out of the RTi 12s. This isn't to say that you won't enjoy the sound that you are able to achieve, it is simply that those models love 250 watts or so each. I love my HK 7200 receiver so much that when I need to add an amp to it, I will most likely look into an HK model for the upgrade. Music and movie tracks alike are full and rich on the HK.

At the moment, within a reasonable price point the receivers garnering the most attention are the Pioneer 1015, HK 635, and Denon 3805. They all have their devotees touting their merits.

For musicality, I would go with the HK, if processing power were top need, I would buy the 3805, if value was paramount, the 1015 fits best. I think you have to realize that each has its own strong points.

Since a receiver is always a compromise when compared to top model seperates, you have to ID your needs and plan for upgrades by buying models that allow. Preamp outputs are a must for later amps.

You can't really go wrong in my eyes with the HK. You will love the sound quality.

DG

AsSiMiLaTeD

Just make sure whatever receiver you get has pre-outs so that you could add another amp down the road if you wanted.

Laura Palmer

Yeah all of them definetely have Pre-Outs...very important, I agree.

I know the HK does not support bi-amping though, so I am curious what would be better... bi-amping on the 1015, or NOT bi-amping on the HK635.... hard to say.

I'm sure my surrounds and center will have enough power, it's just my RTi12s I'm concerned about...


But alas, I cannot afford seperates yet unfortunately

bigsexy1

Laura you can pick up a HK PA2000 power amp real cheap, like $200 new (US that is) and use it to bi-amp your 12s. Put it on the woofers and use the 635 for the tweets/mids.

The 636 is an excellant choice. You will not regret it. I have a HK AVR8000 that was their flagship from a couple of years ago, and I'm seriously considering picking up a 636 to use with it as a pre/pro for movies and the amps in it to drive the rear channels in a full 7.1 surround setup.

Airplay355

hang out in the flea market section and on audiogon, a nice amp for cheap is bound to show up.

Willow

Audio mart on Bank near Nepean has some used gear. I have been eyeing an adcom 5ch he wants 750 but it's been there for almost one year Im sure you could get him down to 500$.

Laura Palmer

Oh that's a good idea, I didn't know Harman Kardon made amps anymore... are you sure that's not discontinued? I'd rather buy new if I could. I wonder if they sell these at Future Shop, as I'm unaware of any other HK dealers in Canada (particularly Ottawa or Toronto).

And I'm sure Audiogon make excellent amps and Adcom, but I've heard that there may be sonic differences between your speakers if you're driving seperate amps to different speakers. Whereas, I may be able to avoid these sonic differences if I get the same brand amplifier as my pre/processor (aka. HK635)

Oh and if I end up getting an amp anyway, is there any real advantage to going with an HK635 over an HK435 or something. Does it process any better? Or is it just increased wattage ratings?

Airplay355

using an amp thats different from your processor in brand name is not going to make your speakers sound bad....even if you used different amps on the mains and the surrounds there wouldn't be a big enough difference for you to tell. just because you have an HK receiver doesnt mean you need an hk amp. Adcom is perfectly fine, as are alot of other brands.

Laura Palmer

It's weird, everyone keeps saying these speakers need 250wpc but all the amps I find are like 100wpc or 125wpc... but none I've seen come close to 250wpc.

I know adcom does in the 5 channel amp market... but if I'm just looking for a stereo amp (2-channel) is there any product (without it costing an absolute fortune) that will drive 250wpc.

Cause if I'm upgrading from a receiver that practically does 100wpc as the HK635 can...I wouldn't want to upgrade unless it were giving me a SIGNIFICANT boost in wpc...no?

2+2

Laura, why dont you downgrade your receiver to a 235 or 335 and get a 2ch amp for those bad boys RTi12s.....You still will have enough power to drive the surrounds with the receiver....

gregure

Laura,

I think you have made an excellent choice w/ the 635. In my opinion, I think it would be better to stick w/ that unit and get a nice amp when you can afford it. The 635 has a lot of power and will drive your system perfectly for movies, but for music a separate two-channel amp would be best. I would recommend the B&K Reference 200.2 (about $900 new) for later. I would also recommend against bi-amping. The benefit of adding a separate amp is that it does not share the same power source as the processor. You will find the sound to be more open and warmer if you run the 12's on a separate alone. I would think the B&K would power them fine, but if you're really set on wattage (kind of misleading really), you could look for something even stronger, although that will really cost you. For example, the McIntosh two-channel amp that runs 250 wpc is at least $2-3k. Something from Carver or Adcom would probably be cheaper, but not as warm or musical. Don't think of it simply in terms of wattage though, a good 200 wpc amp can seem stronger and more durable than a lesser 300 wpc amp. B&K amps are pretty strong, even given the 200 wpc rating, and they're not too pricey.

jmierzur

Originally posted by Laura Palmer
It's weird, everyone keeps saying these speakers need 250wpc but all the amps I find are like 100wpc or 125wpc... but none I've seen come close to 250wpc.

The following articles discuss power requirements.

Watts Up with Amplifier Power?

Secrets of Amplifier and Speaker Power Requirements Revealed

Based on your listening habits, music type, room size etc., only you can determine the appropriate power requirments to fit your needs.

As per your original and subsequent questions, try to listen to your speakers with the receivers you mentioned and go with what you think is the best.

PS - Audiogon is a web site for used equipment. www.audiogon.com

Dennis Gardner

Laura,

200 watts is only 3-4 db louder than 80 watts. Barely noticeable.

200-250 watts isn't a hard rule, it is a "sweet spot" type of suggested guideline that has been found to work very well with the larger Polk towers that have multiple mid-woofers. This is true of the LS-90, RTi150 and the recent RTi12. Having multiple woofers that aren't extremely sensitive requires more of a power amp than easier to drive bookshelf models.

Used amps and college budgets go hand in hand. You won't need a warranty on an amp nearly as often as you will a receiver or DVD player.

A couple models that I would look at for your towers are: Carver TFM 25/35/42/45/55 or M1.0/1.5. Polks love Carver amps and these are 200 - 400 wpc models.

Parasound also makes great value amps and I would look at: HCA 1200 or 1500 models.

I know the trials you are going through when each step-up in quality of a component seems to require another step-up in the sound chain. This is an age old problem we have all gone through before. That is why there is such a great used market for audio gear. We all want the best sound our $$$ can buy.

Good luck in your hunt,

DG

shiu

I don't know about the RTi12 but last year I listened to the RTi10 many times in those little Future Shop H.T. rooms. Future shops (in Ont. Canada) typically use HK models to demo their speakers including JBL and Polks. I found that with the AVR430, even the much lower priced JBL floor standing speakers sounded better than the RTi10. Switched to the 630, the RTi opened right up and overall sound quality improved significantly. The RTi8 sounded good with either one.

Based on that experience, I have to conclude that if you own RTi10 speakers, you need power. I can only imagine this is more so with the larger RTi12.

mrmusicman

Laura,
I second the motion about stepping down to the 335,mostly if you plan on adding an amp in the future.The money you save between the two diffrent recievers you can put into an amp.
I have a H/K 310 and added the Outlaw 755 5x200wpc and it made big difference.

Mike

Laura Palmer

But I just wanted to confirm one more time that the

HK635 *will* power the RTi12s better than a Pioneer 1015 *even* though the HK cannot bi-amp, correct?

See I'm hoping I can stick with the HK635 now, and buy a seperate amp to attach to my pre-outs down the road. (Maybe not so much "down the road" actually, I may pick up a couple of those Outlaw 200wpc monoblocks actually. It seems like a good idea.)

I don't know if I want to downgrade to the AVR335 or below though, at the lowest maybe the 435...because I still want some of the nice features of the 435+ and make sure I have great power for my rears and center which I know I would never buy a seperate amp for.

Anyone here use the monoblocks with the RTi12s?

Thanks!

shiu

If the 1014/1015 in fact has the same P/S, amps and electronics as the Elite 52TX (many believe it does) then I would think that it would power those huge RTi12 better than the 635 can, here are links to H.T. lab measurements of the Pioneer and the HKavr630 (similar in power to the 635)

http://hometheatermag.com/receivers/1204pioneer/index2.html

http://hometheatermag.com/receivers/804hk/index2.html

Either one should do a reasonable job and you can always add an amp down the road, in order to get the best out of the RTi12.

I have not listened to the 435, but I have no idea why the 430 could not do even the RTi10 any good. A few watts less should not have make any noticeable difference (see PolkThug's chart on your other thread), but to my ears, the 430 could not handle the big RTis.

Laura Palmer

Oh wow, interesting that the Pioneer 1015 may power them better than the HK 635 considering the HK is twice the price. I guess bi-amping does make a lot of difference.

Thank you for the links!

shiu

Sorry I didn't mean that the 52TX(1015?) would give you more power due to biamping. I meant according to H.T. mag's lab measurements, it has more 1,2,& 5 channel driven power, 8 or 4 ohms, than the 630. This is without biamping. The following link give you a list of other receivers H.T. mag reviewed and tested, including Marantz and Denon models:

http://hometheatermag.com/receivers/

Just realize you are from Canada, for sure you will find the 635 expensive. Canadian Future shops, and other authorized dealers sell them at or near the MSRP whereas in the U.S., you get deep discounts (up to 40% or more).

If you would consider Denon, the 3805 is a better deal. At least you won't pay roughly the same as people in the U.S. The Denon has much more power, especially for 2 channels, than the 635.