Receiver for RTi10?

oldsoccerguy · August 2005

I recently purchased RTi10 speakers. The salesman at Fry's recommended a Harman Kardon HK3480 receiver (125 w per channel). Is this an adequate receiver for these speakers? I have on a 30 day trial.

Ricardo · August 2005

From what I hear, 125 W would not bring the best bass out of the RTi10's. You looking into 2 channel only? Do you have a sub? Does that receiver have pre-outs so that you could add an AMP in the future?

Early B. · August 2005

Should work fine. It's a very nice stereo receiver.

oldsoccerguy · August 2005

I am looking at two channel only and have no sub.

ND13 · August 2005

125 watts from HK will do just fine. It's high current and most likely conservatively rated.

Fry's is giving you a 30 day trial on that receiver????

Ricardo · August 2005

If I were you, I would pay attention to the people with the most posts

..Having said that......I can get into a soccer discussion anytime

ND13 · August 2005

HTrookie wrote:

If I were you, I would pay attention to the people with the most posts

..Having said that......I can get into a soccer discussion anytime

Not always true

. It's just that HKs are alot different than your typical Sony, JVC, Pioneer, etc.., when it comes to their power ratings is all. 125 HK watts is equal to about 200 Sony watts.

aaharvel · August 2005

that h/k will do just fine for moderate levels. if you want to make your ears bleed than you'll need separate amplification.

MacLeod · August 2005

Why not get you a simple receiver with pre-outs and then get a seperate amp. An amp rated at 125 watts per channel will make 125 watts per channel all day long. A receiver rated at 125 watts per channel wont even come close unless its one of those $5000 Denons with the massive amp attatced.

Mike682 · August 2005

An HK receiver with pre-outs would be a great choice. You'll get some decent power out of the HK and depending on your listening preferences, you can always add a separate amp in the future if you feel you want more power.

gregure · August 2005

The HK 3480 is a fine stereo receiver, and it's not so much that it's 125 watts are equal to 200 watts from someone else, so much as it actually outputs 125 watts per channel, not into one channel at peak volume. The amp is a decent one, and was actually given special mention in Stereophile magazine as a quality two-channel receiver. Just keep in mind, if you get a sub, the sub out only outputs full range to the sub, and full range to the speakers, with no crossover. You'll need a sub w/ its own crossover if you want it to sound decent.

Separates would be a decent way to go as well. You can get the B&K PT5 preamp and Reference 125.2 amp combo for about $1500, and the PT5 does have bass management. I can certainly attest to the fact that B&K sound great on Polks.

marker · August 2005

^ What he said.

The HK3480 is a beast with lots of power and current to be a receiver. It's not seperates, but probably the very next thing to them. Great features and even looks too.

However, in a PM, a board member here who at one time or the other has had both the HK 3480 and the Denon DRA-685 told me he swears up down that the Denon was more powerful and better sounding than the HK.

I can't comment on that myself as I have no experience with the Denon model, however, refurbs of either can be picked up for around $200 or so shipped, and you probably couldn't go wrong with either.

IMO, they are great relatively inexpensive ways to get started towards seperates since they have pre-ins and outs, sub outputs, zone 2, etc, and either would be good matches for the RTi10.

oldsoccerguy · August 2005

thanks for the input. I stayed with HK3480 and the RTi10's. With my old ears, the system works nicely. by the way, when I went back to Fry's the RTi10's had gone down to $442 each so I received a $110 refund.

I did note that the HK3480 owner's manual describes and diagrams a remote that is not the one that came with the unit. Anyone know about that?

oldsoccerguy · August 2005

I am embarrassed. I emailed HK about the "wrong" remote in the box. They emailed back immediately and advised me of the cover that needs to slide down and behold...the missing buttons. So, the good news is that HK did not mess up the remotes....and, they replied promptly and politely to a stupid question.

2+2 · August 2005

oldsoccerguy wrote:

I am embarrassed. I emailed HK about the "wrong" remote in the box. They emailed back immediately and advised me of the cover that needs to slide down and behold...the missing buttons. So, the good news is that HK did not mess up the remotes....and, they replied promptly and politely to a stupid question.

That's funny!!!

Enjoy...HK has some nice stuff...

ND13 · August 2005

oldsoccerguy wrote:

I am embarrassed. I emailed HK about the "wrong" remote in the box. They emailed back immediately and advised me of the cover that needs to slide down and behold...the missing buttons. So, the good news is that HK did not mess up the remotes....and, they replied promptly and politely to a stupid question.

Hehehe!!! Don't worry, it happens to the best of us.

gregure · August 2005

This is moot at this point, since you've decided to sticke with the HK, but I should have thought about the Denon 685 earlier. I think it is a superior unit, as we use it to run Martin Logan floor standers quite frequently in the store I work at. However, it does not have a sub out, which is certainly a limiting factor for a two-channel setup.

marker · August 2005

So when you said it is a superior unit, are you saying you would also rate the Denon 685 ahead of the HK 3480?

gregure · August 2005

Yes, in terms of sound quality and amplifier power, I would rate the Denon ahead of the HK. Thus the term superior. I only drew attention to the lack of sub jack as a potential problem for a two-channel setup if someone wanted to include a sub.

marker · August 2005

Interesting, that's 2 members here I know of now who have had some hands on experience with both models and have both basically said the exact same thing when comparing the 2. I'm a little surprised to be honest, but there must be something to it! All I can say is that Denon must be a beast then!

gregure · August 2005

The Denon is definitely heavier than the HK. I think the Denon has a warmer sound, too. It drives Vienna Acoustics speakers and Martin Logan speakers decently, which is saying something. Of course, something beefier would sound better, but for any 8 ohm set of speakers, the Denon does a fine job. HK is solid too, just not quite as powerful.

Receiver for RTi10?

Comments