Powering RTi10 speakers

bdz1

Thinking of building a system with pair of RTi10 in front, FXi5 in back, CSi5 in center, PSW404 subwoofer. Is a Denon 3806 enough power? Or do I need to get a separate amp? I don't understand the amp concept yet - how they're hooked up between the receivers and speakers, what else they require, etc. I'm more comfortable with the old receiver/speaker setup. But if this speaker system needs an amp, I'll do it.

What do you guys think? Thanks for any input.

Schwingding

IMO, it is not enough power to make them shine. The 3806 has equivalent numbers to my Yamaha 5990 - and I did not feel that my RTi10s were showing off anything near their true potential when they were run from the mains on my receiver. I tried the bi-amp mode, in which the surround back amp is employed to power the fronts, too - and it made a big difference. However, I then lost my surround back amp. Also, I blew a tweeter in this mode, and I surmise it was due to the receiver being driven harder than intended, even though I never even approach half the max volume level during use.

I repowered my RTi10s with an Adcom 545 (100w x 2) and they sound much richer and fuller than they did with either of the Yamaha configurations.

BTW, I also had RTi8s as fronts for a while - they did seem to be adequately powered by the 5990.

Ricardo

Welcome to the forum.

You can power the 10's with the 3806 (you won't damage anything if you play them at moderate levels, and they will sound good), but consensus here is that an additional amp will make them sound better. Connecting an amp is simple; just get coaxial connectors to get from the receiver's pre outs to the amp, and then connect the amps to the speakers with speaker wire.

dorokusai

The 3806 will drive those speakers just fine and allow you some flexibility in the future. An additional amplifier is simply not neccesary at this point.

Sherardp

I agree with the others, the amps will drive them harder and give you more power to play with. While the 3806 will do the job, you will surely notice a huge difference with a power amp on those 10s. Supposedly my 7100es is rated at 170watts on all 7 channels driven(its actually like 158 or something like that) and it did a great job driving my 12s. I bought into the Outlaw Monoblocks and bi-amped them and surely its a big difference in the sound.

My thoughts, try the 3806 on them, if you feel like there is lack in what you experience, try 2 M2200 Monoblocks from Outlaw, or any other good brand. I say Outlaw cause they're fairly cheap for first timers like myself going seperates. Get yourself a good set of Audio Interconnects (blue jean, signal,audioquest) and connect to the preout of your AVR to the unbalanced input of the amp. If you bi-amp, remove jumpers, connect speaker wire from avr to the top set of speaker posts on the 10s, connect the speaker from the power amp to the bottom set of the speaker posts on the 10s and youre done. Enjoy and post up a review once you've had time to listen in.

bdz1

Thanks for the replies.

I've decided on the PSW505 for the subwoofer by the way, instead of the 404... not sure if that changes anything...

At any rate, since I'm new to the whole concept of amps, bi-amping, bi-wiring, etc., please let me know if I understand correctly: it would be beneficial, but not necessary, to add an amplifier to my 3806. This doesn't mean it's a bi-amp setup; it's just adding an amplifier to supplement a receiver, right? I believe bi-amping is just when you use two channels to drive one speaker.

Now I'm wondering - should I just use a 2-channel amplifier for the RTi10's but keep the 505 subwoofer, rear speakers, and center speaker running off the 3806? Or should I have a multichannel amp?

And for the hookup, it sounds like you just go from the 3806 preout to the amp, then from the amp to the speakers... do I need to change anything or do anything in the RTi10's? Or is that only when there's a bi-amp setup that you need to mess around with the speaker terminals, jumpers, etc?

Thanks for helping a newbie!!!!

Sherardp

When you bi-amp the 10s remove the jumpers from each speaker. If you plan to just use a power amp on the 10s keep the jumpers in place, go from the preouts of the receiver to the power amp(s), then connect speaker wire from power amp to the speaker. If you bi-amp then you do what I mentioned above. And last but not least, calibrate your setup using your radioshack SPL meter.

As for the type of amp you use, its dependent on you, if you plan to bi amp or let a power amp run the rest of your system then a multichannel is the way to go, if you just want to drive your mains a little more and let the AVR pick up the rest of the work then a 2 channel or one monoblock per speaker will work. Just my 2 cents, others may add or have a little different to say.

Schwingding

Shearardp got it right.

knownalien

I would add that the "better" amp maybe be used for the higher drivers when bi-amping. But on the other hand, if there is a db difference between the two, then putting the stronger one on the bass driver(s) is advisable or else you face a weaker low end.

Sherardp

knownalien wrote:

I would add that the "better" amp maybe be used for the higher drivers when bi-amping. But on the other hand, if there is a db difference between the two, then putting the stronger one on the bass driver(s) is advisable or else you face a weaker low end.

Agreed

cfrizz

Welcome BDZ! Good stuff here. I will only add that if you go to separate amplification, once you hear the difference in 2 channels you will no doubt get the itch to hear the difference in 5!

Good luck with your decision!

josh_parsons626

If I was you I would get a good 5-channel amp and use your denon just for a pre/pro. Hook all 5 speakers to the 5-channel amp. Then like Sherardp said get 2 Outlaw Audio 2200 monoblock amps to bi-amp your 10's and you will have one hellacious sounding system buddy.

But if I may put my 2 cents in. I love Polk Audio till the day I die. I'll never strafe from Polk. But they're subs suck! LOL Sorry to say but they do. You may wanna look at some SVS Subs.

knownalien

josh_parsons626 wrote:

If I was you I would get a good 5-channel amp and use your denon just for a pre/pro. Hook all 5 speakers to the 5-channel amp. Then like Sherardp said get 2 Outlaw Audio 2200 monoblock amps to bi-amp your 10's and you will have one hellacious sounding system buddy.

But if I may put my 2 cents in. I love Polk Audio till the day I die. I'll never strafe from Polk. But they're subs suck! LOL Sorry to say but they do. You may wanna look at some SVS Subs.

agreed totally. But in your suggestion I would use the mono blocks for the surrounds and use whatever 5 channel amp to drive both fronts (bi-wired) and center. That way you can use the internals of the Denon to tweak the DB of the surrounds. Oh, and right on about SVS. I am sorry to say that the weakness in Polk's subs have been their ability to go low and loud. SVS to the rescue. While the SVS cylinders can't hold a candle to the Polk subs in looks (the LSi sub that is) they are bass so loud makes your soul jump out and search for a new body.

Sherardp

Agreed, SVS has got the science done right, Last night I had a lil BBQ and had Pirates of the Carribean on, good bass in the soundtrack here and there. A few of my guests actually stopped what they were doing to ask if it was thundering outdoors. That PB12/Plus 2 is hell guys, best money spent.

knownalien

^^^ and the great thing is that even though I think you have topper of the line compared to what I do, SVS makes sure that everyone gets to wet their beak. How fortunate are we that we get to embibe in such companies as Polk who have the name, power, and commitment, and the Outlaws and SVS's of the worlds who have the heart like Polk. The marriage of the two is truly great and I do not suspect that however much I may earn a year, Polk will always be in my house: the affordable dream for the modest man.

Sherardp

The plus 2 is mid line of the bunch I think. The Ultra is the top performer.

Schwingding

Could you guys hijack a thread any more? <g>

Holydoc

Schwingding wrote:

Could you guys hijack a thread any more? <g>

anyone see that movie "Over the Hedge"? hmm?

reeltrouble1

Waaaaa,,,,,, Over the Hedge now that is a funny one.

I would just use the Denon for a while, see how you like it, sort of "kick the tires" on her a bit, you have to live with gear for a while, get to know what it can do, what you like, what you dont.

RT1

MillerLiteScott

I just bought some RTi10's and I have a Yamaha RX-V795. Enough power or not?

I really have not been able to test them yet because of the wife and kids. They sound pretty good for movies. I will have to wait for to try them on some music when the family is out of the house.

Sherardp

Get an amp when the finances allow, or you feel youre ready to give one a shot. For some its a no -brainer for others who are first timers, its take a little time to get into seperates. You have no idea of what youre missing until you've gone into the other side of the HT world of seperate amplification. I'm just touching the service of it myself. Welcome Aboard Miller Man

MillerLiteScott

Thanks for the bad news. I had a feeling it would not be enough power. It will have to do for now. After reading some of the other threads it seems that the Parasound amp is a popular upgrade.

Which leads to my next question.

I do want to upgrade to an amp that accepts HDMI. Should I just do that or go the seperate route and does someone make an adapter/processor to handle the HDMI for seperate amplification.

I am still new to all the new HT technology and just want to have a direction or plan to execute as budget allows.

cfrizz

If I'm not mistaken, it is your prepro or receiver that has to accept HDMI. Amps just have to drive speakers, speaker cable & interconnects are all you have to have for those!

Welcome to Club Polk!