Safe volume levels for RTI12's

Jason_k
Jason_k Posts: 110
edited May 2008 in Speakers
Any of you guys have any recommendations of how high not to drive my RTI 12's. I have a denon 3808. Only finally hook it up the weekend and I got to say I was blown away, only new to this. I don't have them on an external amp yet, and I don't have them bi-wired from the avr. I maxed out the volume a few times 18 I think the denon for about 20 seconds. sounded great but I don't want to damage those 12's. Any advice would be appricated. Thanks
Post edited by Jason_k on

Comments

  • amulford
    amulford Posts: 5,020
    edited May 2008
    I wouldn't do that too much. You're gonna damage your speakers, trust me I know. If you like it loud, like me, then get yourself a seperate amp. You'll fry your receiver, too. BTDT, on both counts;)
  • Ron Temple
    Ron Temple Posts: 3,212
    edited May 2008
    You can easily run out of gas anywhere from -20 to -15 for demanding HT, due to the 20 and 30db peaks. Running an AVR or even an amp balls out is not good. Everything has limits, they should put a redline on AVRs...;). Most amps have some sort of clipping indicator. I'll bet you a dollar you just clipped your Denon.

    Combo rig:

    Onkyo NR1007 pre-pro, Carver TFM 45(fronts), Carver TFM 35 (surrounds)
    SDA 1C, CS400i, SDA 2B
    PB13Ultra RO
    BW Silvers
    Oppo BDP-83SE
  • Jason_k
    Jason_k Posts: 110
    edited May 2008
    I hope I never clipped it, paid way to much for it. Should be a setting in the avrr to limit the volume. Doesn't make sense that they make these things so easy to damage
  • Jason_k
    Jason_k Posts: 110
    edited May 2008
    what do that mean I just clipped my denon. Doesn't sound good
  • cfrizz
    cfrizz Posts: 13,415
    edited May 2008
    There is a volume limit, it's called YOUR EARS & COMMON SENSE! It's not the avr's fault if you don't have any!:rolleyes:
    Jason_k wrote: »
    I hope I never clipped it, paid way to much for it. Should be a setting in the avrr to limit the volume. Doesn't make sense that they make these things so easy to damage
    Marantz AV-7705 PrePro, Classé 5 channel 200wpc Amp, Oppo 103 BluRay, Rotel RCD-1072 CDP, Sony XBR-49X800E TV, Polk S60 Main Speakers, Polk ES30 Center Channel, Polk S15 Surround Speakers SVS SB12-NSD x2
  • Ron Temple
    Ron Temple Posts: 3,212
    edited May 2008
    If the AVR didn't go into protection you're probably fine. However, the source whether music or HT signals the amps in the unit to reproduce peaks that sometimes require huge amounts of current. If you're already at full gain the amps will clip, sending a squared off soundwave that can damage both the receiver and speakers. There's nothing left in the tank, but the AVRs amps will try to do it anyway (or more probably will go into protection). This is a very simplified explanation.

    I'd suggest you get a SPL meter and calibrate your system. I'm sure Audessey has got you pretty close, but it's good to know what your limits are. I'd think you'd be able to achieve peaks in the low 100s safely (more with a sub) in most rooms. Just remember a 3db increase requires twice the power. Output in the low 100s with music is enough to drive most folks out of the room :).

    Combo rig:

    Onkyo NR1007 pre-pro, Carver TFM 45(fronts), Carver TFM 35 (surrounds)
    SDA 1C, CS400i, SDA 2B
    PB13Ultra RO
    BW Silvers
    Oppo BDP-83SE
  • Kchill
    Kchill Posts: 262
    edited May 2008
    Ron, with an amp hooked up will it run the reciever hot if you crank it up? Or does it just send the signal to the amp. In otherwords when a amp is hooked up does the pre-outs just send a signal to the amp that lets the amp know how loud to get? Or do I have to turn the amp up with a seperate control?

    Kind of like when I use my MP3 player I have to blast it up to full blast then I control the volume with my reciever.
    Retired Onkyo 520 (returned broken HK 247)
    Now a Pioneer 1018
    CSi3
    2- RTI10's
    2- R50's
    2- Fxi3's
    Onkyo 250W Sub
    Polk psw-10

    "Inch by inch lifes a cinch, yard by yard life is hard"
  • Erik Tracy
    Erik Tracy Posts: 4,673
    edited May 2008
    Jason_k wrote: »
    I hope I never clipped it, paid way to much for it. Should be a setting in the avrr to limit the volume. Doesn't make sense that they make these things so easy to damage

    Depending on what is in your owner's manual - there may be that exact feature!

    I know for the Yamaha RX-V1800/3800 AVRs, there IS a feature to set the upper limit from -20 to +16.5db

    It works, too, cuz before I hooked in my power amp, the AVR would shut down at -10db (which was the default after running auto setup).

    Check your manual - you may have that feature and just need to down adjust it.

    Erik

    H9: If you don't trust what you are hearing, then maybe you need to be less invested in a hobby which all the pleasure comes from listening to music.
  • Ron Temple
    Ron Temple Posts: 3,212
    edited May 2008
    Kchill wrote: »
    Ron, with an amp hooked up will it run the reciever hot if you crank it up? Or does it just send the signal to the amp. In otherwords when a amp is hooked up does the pre-outs just send a signal to the amp that lets the amp know how loud to get? Or do I have to turn the amp up with a seperate control?

    Kind of like when I use my MP3 player I have to blast it up to full blast then I control the volume with my reciever.
    Depends on the amp. Some amps have gain contols that need to be balanced with the AVRs signal during calibration (somewhat like a sub calibration). Once you're calibrated you leave the gain on the amp alone. Others make full power available leaving the gain totally up to the AVR. The signal from the pre-outs utilizes as much power as is needed from the amp to produce dbs at the set MV level. The AVR should run cooler because it's amps are bypassed.

    Combo rig:

    Onkyo NR1007 pre-pro, Carver TFM 45(fronts), Carver TFM 35 (surrounds)
    SDA 1C, CS400i, SDA 2B
    PB13Ultra RO
    BW Silvers
    Oppo BDP-83SE