New system...may have made a mistake!

sdcfan19

I'm just started a new job in the last 3 months and have really been upgrading the HT. I've bought quite a bit of stuff but think I might have made a mistake. This is the system I have

LSiC center
RTi10 fronts
M20 rears
Pioneer VSX-1017 AVR

The fronts and rears are rated for 8ohms, but as you well know, the center is rated for 4ohms. I've been running this for about 3 weeks and everything is running fine (only mild garbage but I only get this with satellite, not DVD or XBOX 360). Are there any problems running the center with this amp? I might look at selling it and going to a CSi A6. I've also read that a preamp might be the item I should look for. If thats the case, I only have about $400, so is there a brand and model that would work best? Any info would help guys. Thanks in advance.

dorokusai

It's not rated for it but I wouldn't expect any issues with a single 4ohm loudspeaker.

Get the right center channel. The CSiA6 is a great choice for the RTi10. Don't worry about a pre-amp at this point.

tcrossma

A pre-amp isn't going to do you any good unless you have a separate power amp. I don't think the LSiC is timbre matched with those speakers, but it *is* a damn good speaker (I have one). The LSI series likes power, so you'd probably get more "oomph" from that center if you had more power than the AVR will give you, but what you have will work.

beardog03

dorokusai wrote: »

It's not rated for it but I wouldn't expect any issues with a single 4ohm loudspeaker.

Get the right center channel. The CSiA6 is a great choice for the RTi10. Don't worry about a pre-amp at this point.

good advise, IMO...

and welcome to Club Polk !

Sherardp

or try to find a CSi5 on sale.

Yashu

Yeah... the center you have is not voice matched to the mains. You definitely need to keep all the speakers from the same basic series. The better budget route for the rears would be monitor 30s, that uses the same exact tweeter as RTi, but the center is more important at this stage and it is way off as far as sound goes when compared to the mains. CSi5 is the way to go if you can find one... or whatever they replaced it with. Just anything that uses the polk silk tweeter from the RTi. That LSi vifa is worlds apart from the RTi tweeter and you are not getting a seemless soundstage.

sdcfan19

Yashu wrote: »

Yeah... the center you have is not voice matched to the mains. You definitely need to keep all the speakers from the same basic series. The better budget route for the rears would be monitor 30s, that uses the same exact tweeter as RTi, but the center is more important at this stage and it is way off as far as sound goes when compared to the mains. CSi5 is the way to go if you can find one... or whatever they replaced it with. Just anything that uses the polk silk tweeter from the RTi. That LSi vifa is worlds apart from the RTi tweeter and you are not getting a seemless soundstage.

Does the CSi A6 have the silk tweeter?

Kex

I would not get RTi10s unless you're planning on getting an external power amplifier at some stage. Most (all?) receivers cannot drive them properly. There are a couple of threads somewhere from current owners who found that out and had to change their plans.

If this were me, with that receiver, I would be thinking more along the lines of RTi8 or RTi6 for the front, CSi5 for the center and RTi4 for the rear, so I would basically downgrade the front to something more reasonable for AVR power (without woofers), upgrade the rear, and match the center ... There are some great deals still around for the 2007 RTi/CSi range.

Of course, if bringing anything back is difficult at this stage, the RTi10 are still great speakers, so you could find options to work around any issues.

P.S. Welcome to the Club!

jflail2

I currently have RTi-10's and a CSI-3 and am running them with a simple Denon receiver. It has preamp outs for when I add an amp down the road, but the system sounds surprisingly good to not have more power. I'm sure the 100w per channel is not enough to coax out the sound these speakers are capable of, but I can't complain with this setup considering I wasn't financially prepared to pick up an amp as well at the time.


That being said, I am seriously considering selling my reciever to a friend and picking up an Emotiva pre/pro combo....

nm4710

I'm running an RTi10/CSi5/RTi6 setup. I've tried a few different receivers (HK 245, Sony 5300ES, Denon 2808) and I've tried a few different outboard amps as well. Here's my take: only a very high end receiver (top of the line Denons, Adcom, Rotel, etc.) is going to drive the CSi5 and RTi10 to anywhere near potential. Frankly if you're not going to invest in one of those top line receivers or outboard amps there is no point in even buying these speakers. For the budget-minded an RTi4/CSi3 setup with a good sub will take you much further.

Keep in mind that this advice is coming from someone who made exactly that mistake. I've even tried my RTi10s with the denon 2808...in my honest opinion they fell flat. The woofers on the 10's barely moved and the bass output was unimpressive.

Also the CSi5 is a real power hog...it sounds ok with modest power...but truthfully hardly any better than a CSi3. When you throw 200 watts its way it is noticeably better than the CSi3...but the difference isn't nearly as dramatic as you'd be led to believe.

Early B.

Your speakers are fine. Take that $400, buy a subwoofer, and enjoy.

sdcfan19

I should have mentioned that I have a sub. It's not top end, but its something that I might replace in the new year. I bought the CSi A6 tonight and WOW, what a difference. I really wasn't getting close to this much out of the LSiC. The next issue is the fronts (RTi10's). They are great for movies and TV, but when it comes to music they fall a little short. I had the AVR turned up to -10dB and it wasn't loud at all (for my taste).
Like I said in my first post, I'm kinda new at this and am learning quickly. Would an amp help my situation? I've started looking into some and like what I've read. When it comes to amps, I'm REALLY new. I know basically nothing when it comes to them. Are they going to give me louder fronts? What are some good names? What is the price range? What make/model will work well with the RTi10's?

Thanks

Yashu

I would look into some good amplification like Adcom. They make stong amps that are pretty good priced.

There are other brands... like outlaw, and some others that people here like... (I like NAD, but they don't make but one amp now, they used to have a selection, but they only have the one c272, which is probably overkill) but Adcom is right up your alley. That will get those RTi10s singing. Also look into new rears to complete the set... maybe some monitor 30s or RTI4s. Then you will have matching tweeters all around and it will sound pretty damn good.

sdcfan19

I'll look into that. Thanks for the advice.

Kex

sdcfan19 wrote: »

... but when it comes to music they fall a little short. I had the AVR turned up to -10dB and it wasn't loud at all (for my taste).
Like I said in my first post, I'm kinda new at this and am learning quickly. Would an amp help my situation? I've started looking into some and like what I've read. ...

Here's some more reading for you!

http://www.hometheatersound.com/features/cinemacynergy/cc_20010901.htm

sdcfan19

Kex wrote: »

Here's some more reading for you!

http://www.hometheatersound.com/features/cinemacynergy/cc_20010901.htm

That answered the majority of my questions. I've spent a lot of time looking for something just like that. A big thanks goes out to everyone that has helped me. Your input and patients has gone a long way in helping me with the HT.

cfrizz

That's why we are here! Welcome to Club Polk, enjoy your new system.