Upgrading from RTi10s to...

Canedog

I purchased my RTi10s back in November from Tweeter. The speakers sound okay but not worth the money considering the sound-quality of the music. All music sounds poor. Rock, Classical, pop, etc. However, movies sound good and games on the xbox 360 sound good as well...

I'm considering upgrading to LSi 15s but wondering if its worth the money. I have a Denon 1905 Receiver, a Velodyne 10, CSi5 center and FXi 5 surround speakers. I also have a Polk SW 10 for the surround speakers.

Should I upgrade to the LSi 15s or will I need to upgrade other items to really hear a difference from my current setup? My next purchase will likely be my final upgrade.

Willow

You'll need an amp to power the LSi's that denon will not do the trick.

Giuseppe

Maybe you need a better amp?

Frank Z

I doubt the problem is speakers, I'd take a good long look at what you are powering them with. The 10's are a fairly large speaker and will benefit from a better amplifier than what you have in your Denon.

Placement and room accoustics are going to contribute to the sound quality as well.

Canedog

The speakers are fairly loud as they are so I'm not looking for loud speakers. I'm look for natural sounding speakers that play music well. My house includes a wife and child, so I don't need speakers to be any louder... will an amp simply make my speakers louder?

okiepolkie

If you are looking for muscial speakers, then the LSi's will provide a better experience than the RTi's in my opinion.

Since your Denon has pre-outs, you can, and should, add an external amplifier to the LSi's to reach the potential of the LSi's.

Frank Z

An amplifier should do one thing and one thing only....amplify the signal it receives. In a perfect world you wouldn't be able to tell the difference from one amp to the next.

A seperate amp will increase the available power to the speakers, the volume level is still goung to be at your discretion.

Keep in mind that using a receiver, although convenient, is not the ideal means of listening to music, or movies for that matter. The amplifier in your receiver shares a power supply that is used for the tuner and all the other functions that the receiver performs. A seperate amp won't have to rely on a shared power supply.

Moving from te RTi10's to LSi's is a pretty big jump, and not just in price. The Lsi's have a very different tonal quality and image far better than the RTI's. Since they are a 4 ohm speaker they will require more power than your existing receiver can provide. Yes you can get sound from the LSi/1905 combo, but the receiver won't fair to well at slightly elevated volume levels. You may find it going into the Protect Mode due to the demands of driving a 4 ohm load.

wingnut4772

I would not get the LSIs if you are not going to get an amp.

audiobliss

Seeing as how you're dissatisfied with your current setup, getting an external amp is not an option. It is a must. Period.

I would personally get a two-channel or three-channel amp (for the L-C-R speakers) and let the Denon power the rest. Make sure you get an amp that will adequately power a 4ohm load (LSi series) or that you can take back should you decide you want to move up to the LSi series.

Listen to your RTi10's with the new amp and see what you think. That may do just the trick, or you may still find yourself wanting more. If the latter is the case, take back the amp if it won't handle 4ohm loads, and get the LSi15's and an amp that will power them adequately.

aaharvel

i've read from reviews that the rti's mesh great with tube gear. I mean GREAT.
I guess the next best thing is MOSFET S.S.

Canedog

Hey Zero,

Thank you for the clarification! I always assumed Amps were to make everything louder. My system is plenty loud as it so buying something to make my set up louder is not my goal. My goal is enjoy have good souding HT and Music. My RTis have been more then adequate in HT mode. Movies sound great. Games on my XBOX 360 sound fantastic. But music... ugh.

Could my Denon 1905 be the culprit of poor music playback? Would an amplifier make my music playback sound better? Will I hear much improvement with LSi 15s if I'm using a Denon Receiver?

audiobliss

Will you hear an improvement with your RTi10s if you add an amp? Emphatically yes. Will it be enough to satisfy you? That only you can answer once you've heard it.

If you go with LSi15s and power them with your Denon, there most likely won't be much at all of an improvement.

Bottom line: RTi10 would benefit from an external amplifier and may suit your needs with an external amp. The LSi series demand an external amplifer.

Canedog

So what improvements will I hear with an AMP? Also, should I set all my speakers(L/C/R) to small and let my two subs handle bass? Will that change help improve the sound of music playback?

My knowledge of AMPs is nill. I've always relied on my receiver to do everything.

audiobliss

Setting your speakers to small could conceivably help now with your Denon doing the work, as it would lighten its load. However, when you get an amp I would set everything to large.

This thread is kmartin971's debate about getting an amplifier to run his LSi's. On the fifth page he reports his findings when he finally added an amplifier.

If you'll search the forums, there have been two or three other occurences of members recently reporting great improvements in their systems when they added amps.

Canedog

any thoughts on an Audiosource AMP from BestBuy? How much do E/L amps cost?

audiobliss

I would stay away from Audiosource. You might like it, though.

Here's a list of manufacturers you can get started looking at:

Outlaw Audio Products Page

Rotel HT Multi-Channel Amplifiers

Adcom Multi-Channel Amplifiers

B&K Products

NAD Home Theater Products

Audiosource Amplifiers

AMC Amplifiers

Sunfire Amplifiers

Parasound

I'm not up on the going rate of amps, but I would say a good two or three channel amp (used) would run you about $400 to 700 or so.

aaharvel

try and find one of the PA h/k amps on ebay. There supposed to be good, from what I hear...

Canedog

whats the difference between a 2-channel AMP and a 3-channel AMP? I've never experienced any distortion with my RTi10s so I'm still wary of buying an AMP in the first place. I simply don't play my system that loudly. I simply want my RTi10s to sound better.

aaharvel

a 3channel will power your center speaker as well.
a 5channel amp will power your L/R, center and surrounds.

"I simply don't play my system that loudly. I simply want my RTi10s to sound better."

that's the whole point buying a separate amp.

audiobliss

Ok, I thought Sean adequately addressed this in his post...maybe not.

An amp's purpose is NOT to make the music louder. It is to make the music BETTER. If you're looking to improve upon the sound of your system, the next choice, nay, the ONLY choice you have is to get an amp. Whether you keep the RTi10s or get other speakers, an amp is a necessity. The difference is remarkable.

If you don't wanna get an amp, fine. You don't have to. But you do to get the sound you're looking for. And like I said, maybe an amp on the RTi10's won't do it either. The LSi15's may be what you need. But they'll require an amp, too.

So, get an amp for your RTi10's. If that doesn't do it, get the LSi15's.

Canedog

Looks like I will be getting an AMP. Are they difficult to configure/install? What should I set my speakers to in my receiver? All large?

audiobliss

They're not difficult to setup at all. You just have to have an extra set of interconnects. You connect the amp to the receiver's preouts with the extra interconnects, and then hook up the speakers to the amp instead of the receiver.

Canedog

will everything I need be included in the box or will I need to purchase additional items? If so, which items do I need to buy? Again, I'm a NOOB

danger boy

you will need additional RCA interconnects from your Denon to your amp.. in this case if you are getting a 2 channel amp.. you'll need one pair of RCA interconnects.. stay away from Monster Cable... because it isn't not going to help your cause.. it might defeat what you're trying to accomplish.

Amps give you better sound from your speakers... like everyone else said earlier.. not more volume.. it provides cleaner sound from your Denon to your speakers.. by taking all the load off the receiver.

Once you get an amp... listen to some music in 2 channel stereo only.. not 5 or 7 channel.. 2 channel only and compare the sound with the amp.

good luck.

oh yeah... you don't need a big **** amp either.... something in the neighbor hood of 125 to 200 WPC will be plenty. you might want to make sure the amp can run 4ohm speakers.. JUST IN CASE you do decide to purchase LSi speakers in the future.. you'll be set up for those with the amp.

okiepolkie

You will need to hire an electrician to come and install a dedicated 20 amp circuit just for the amplifier. Be sure to use 8 gauge or higher for all the electrical runs from the circuit box to your outlet, then need an upgraded power wire from a reputable company, such as signal cable, to help your amplifier get everything out the electricity coming into your home. A line conditioner is next, to keep the amplifier at 120 volts all the time. Then you need to get a set of interconnects. A stereo pair of interconnects is all that is necessary for the installation. The only thing included in most amplifier boxes in the original power wire and the amplifier itself.








































Oh yeah, you are a NOOB. The last two sentences in my explanation lead you in the right direction.

I'm not knocking any of the other things I mentioned, I'm just showing you where you might go in the future:)