Need help filling out 5.1 setup

jcgriff

I recently purchased a new LCD (Sharp LC-52D64U) and it led to a rash of other purchases including 2 Polk cherry RTi10's and a CSi5. I also bought an Onkyo TX-SR705 (100 watts per channel 7.1) receiver.

I'm curious what everyone would recommend for surround speakers, the FXI3 or 5 or the RTi4 or 6?? Suggestions?

Powered sub recommendations?

For HT the room is 15 X 20 and the listening area is backed up against the wall on the 15' dimension so I don't see using 7.1 since I can't get anything behind me, just above.

I'm also thinking of Bi-wiring or Bi-amping the 10's; I want the best 2 channel music performance I can get. I have an old McIntosh (2105 I think) 125 Watt 2 channel amp I can use. What does everyone think? What do I need to be careful of if I do it?

Sorry for so many questions on my first post.

MADGSF

Welcome to the club jcgriff!

No problem with all the questions and since I am home sick today allow me to be very long winded .

My room is almost exactly the same size as yours and I ended up with TC60i's n the ceiling above the couch. I did this mostly for my aesthetic preferences. The tweeters are pointed at the wall to help disperse the sound. I never tried a FXi speaker but wish I had given the FXi-3 a listen before putting in ceiling. So if you have the space I would give the FXi-3 a try.

Powered subs, you going get a lot of SVS recommendations. That's because they are great subs and the people at SVS are some of the nicest you will meet in the audio business. I suggest you call or email them and see what they suggest. I have the last generation PC-Ultra and love it! It is more than SVS said was needed for my room but I got it lightly used for the same price as a new PC 20-39 Plus so I grabbed. SVS suggested since the PC-Ultra was such a good deal to grab it. This is what I mean, they were very helpful to me even though I was not going to spend money with them. Needless to say I will make any future sub purchase through them.

Now for that amp, I don't know much about that model but if you can by all means use it. I don't think bi-amping using your AVR will be better than running only the McIntosh to the RTI-10's but you can try it and see what you think. From what I have read the RTI series love tube amps, especially the tweeter, and I know that the RTi-10s love power. I use a B&K amp which are supposed to have a "tube like" sound and I like the combination. If you do bi-amp just make sure you remove the jumpers between the speakers posts and you will be good to go.

Sounds like you're off to a great start!

cfrizz

Welcome to CP!

You are putting together a great system. Get either the FXI3's or 5's.

I assume you have preouts on the receiver in order to use that separate amp. By all means do so. All speakers benefit from separate amplification.

Listen to your 10's with the receiver by itself, the hook them up to the amp. Your ears will tell you which is better.

As for subs, Polk has come out with new offerings you may want to check out, otherwise, look into SVS, Outlaw, HSU for subs.

Willow

Cathy, where is your blurb about 200W ?

cfrizz

LOL! Well he already has an amp, which is more than what most people have, so he may as well use it.

If he doesn't think that it's enough & comes back...THEN I will recommend he get a 5 channel 200wpc amp.:p

Now if he was getting an all LSI setup, that would be a horse of another color.:D

AndyGwis

Yes, hook up that MC-2105 to the RTi 10s with the jumpers on, and connect it to your Onkyo's preouts. I think that would bring great results for both 2-channel stereo (music) listening and 5.1 channel surround sound (HT).

Make sure to calibrate as I've found external amps all seem to have different gains than the AVRs they are paired with. For my Carver and B&K, I had to turn down the fronts / turn up the center/surrounds for it to blend well.

AndyGwis

Actually, I gave this more thought.

The Mac is a great amp, no doubt about that. But, unless you have sentimental attachment to it, I'm not sure it's the best amp for this type of setup. When I think Mac, I think high end, refined, classy 2-channel. . . mohagony wood, silk robe, pipe smoking type of amp.

When I think of Polk RTi, I think high value, high performance HT speaker. They need adequate power, reliability, etc. The Mac would sound great, but I wouldn't put it in that system.

I would either keep the Mac for a separate 2-channel system to be built later, or sell it on Audiogon and use that money to buy a real nice 5 channel amp for your setup.

Just my 2 cents, again.

cfrizz

Oh come on Andy! Get down off your high end horse. Screw the name on the front! It's an amp he has on hand...USE IT!

AndyGwis

I was just saying, that amp is VERY nice, maybe even too nice to use with the RTis for HT (by no means a diss on the Rtis, just respect for the Mac).

If you don't like my second response, just read my first one.

Tha'ts the beauty of post-whoring; give enough opinions, and people are bound to agree (and/or disagree) with at least some of them.

cfrizz

And the RTI's are Very nice. the 2 should work together VERY NICELY!

Andy, these are pieces of equipment, they can't be respected or disrespected since they have no feelings. They are meant to be used in any configuration the owner chooses to use them.

I have no patience for this kind of audio snobbery BS! It's an amplifier that will amplify any pair of speakers no matter what the speakers costs.

jakelm

cfrizz wrote: »

And the RTI's are Very nice. the 2 should work together VERY NICELY!

Andy, these are pieces of equipment, they can't be respected or disrespected since they have no feelings. They are meant to be used in any configuration the owner chooses to use them.

I have no patience for this kind of audio snobbery BS! It's an amplifier that will amplify any pair of speakers no matter what the speakers costs.

My amp catches major attitude with certain speakers.:D I had to put it in the corner with a dunce hat more than once....I ain't scared:p

AndyGwis

I'm just saying, I'm not sure I would drink a 1959 Merlot with a Krispy Kreme doughnut when $1 black coffee is a better match. . . that's all. Not saying the Krispy Kreme doesn't taste like glazed heaven or anything like that or that it wouldn't be a sweet tasting combo; just not the best value combo.

Also, the McIntosh is old and I personally wouldn't want to risk damaging it on that application when it could easily be traded for a sweet multi-channel amp.

Sherardp

Welcome to the club Griff, we all started at post #1. Stick around, great forum to be apart of. Allot of valuable information has already been passed, as for surrounds the 5s are huge, so save a few bucks and go with the 3s. Enjoy and post up when you get everything setup. One last thing, you have a nice size room so look into the SVS PB 12 Plus2 or the new Ultra PB13. You cant go wrong with either, and add a Radioshack SPL meter to the cart.

jcgriff

Thanks for the quick responses. By the way my name is John and I'm in LA. (Can't seem to get back in to add any info to my account, I'll have to work on that).

It seems the quick consensus is to go for the FXi's and do some more research on the subs but SVS seems popular. I'll give it a little more time on the speakers to see if someone else has something to say. At least I'll feel well informed as my credit card balance climbs faster than the national debt.

The Mac was part of my dream system when I got my first paying job. I still have the MX-115 Pre and a Revox B795 linear tracking turntable I added later. In fact I still have a Nakamichi 600 Cassette deck in a box somewhere (not much call for that and my wife has a mixing deck she uses anyway). Unfortunately the speakers, IMF Studio Monitors, gave up the ghost a number of years ago. Having kids does take some of the audio snob out of you, or at least the ability to afford being one.

The Mac is a beautiful piece of equipment (yes, with actual Walnut or Mahogany enclosure, I forget which ) and since I can't afford a separate 2 channel setup right now I think I'll try it with the the RTi10's to see how they sound. The Onkyo has pre-outs for all speakers.

I want to be sure I do this right so I don't damage anything. If I use the Mac connected to the Onkyo pre-out's I DON'T remove the jumpers on the speakers and use one wire from the Mac. Also, I can connect them at 4/6/or 8ohm on the Mac, I assume I stick to 8. I just thought of this, with this setup I can probably bi-amp the center with the Onkyo; will the possibilities for wasting calibration time never cease.

If I decide to use the Onkyo back surround channels to bi-amp the RTi10's (with 200 total watts) I WOULD remove the jumpers and use a second separate wire to connect, right?

I won't get around to doing this until at least next weekend but I'll let you know how it goes.

By the way Andy and Cathy, what's the recommendation on the nice 200wpc 5-1, just in case I change my mind after hearing the Mac with the RTi10's? The Sunfire Cinema Grand Signature sure sounds impressive.

engtaz

Spend the funds on Front, Center and Sub. the side and rear to a lesser degree. Remember, Most of the sound in HT comes 1st from center and sub and front speakers.

Good Luck,
engtaz

Kex

jcgriff wrote: »

Thanks for the quick responses. By the way my name is John and I'm in LA. (Can't seem to get back in to add any info to my account, I'll have to work on that). ...

Hey John, I'm too new here to welcome you properly, but I'm in Adam's Hill myself (inside the 134/2/5 triangle in Glendale, just East of Hollywood and Griffith Park, North of downtown).

cfrizz

Hi John. My Sunfire is a great amp, I got it from a member here on CP. My prepro I just got last week from Audiogon. Which is another option to get good equipment from.

You can also look into Rotel, Parasound, Outlaw Audio, NAD...the list is endless.

Looking forward to reading your review of your system.:)

jcgriff wrote: »

By the way Andy and Cathy, what's the recommendation on the nice 200wpc 5-1, just in case I change my mind after hearing the Mac with the RTi10's? The Sunfire Cinema Grand Signature sure sounds impressive.

cfrizz

I know what you're saying Andy. I still say it's a bunch of audio snobbery BS!

jcgriff

I bought the FXi A4's at Amazon this morning, they were the same price as the 3's, not sure why.

AndyGwis

Johnny LA,

You've got a great start on your HT setup. Good snag on the FX's this morning. I'm not familiar with the A4s, but I'm sure they will be stellar.

You are correct with regards to your wiring questions / assumptions. I would opt for choice number 1 with the Mac and not bi-amp with your onkyo. If you put onkyo amps on the high frequencies and MAC on the lows in a biamp, I think the highs will get jealous, go on strike, and just stop working.

Audio snobbery aside, if possible, I'm not a fan of biamping, especially when the Mac has way more than enough power for the Rti10s on it's own. Hook it up directly to the RTi10s and to the Onkyo preouts, leave the jumpers on or make your own from spare/bare wire, calibrate, and enjoy!

I would add B&K to your 5-channel amp list, especially the 200.5. Rotel, Outlaw, Acurus, Sunfire, etc. are all very popular choices around here as well.

Welcome again. Bounce any questions you have off us and someone will eventually give you a reasonable answer.