Which amplifier to drive RTi4's

silversubaru
silversubaru Posts: 42
edited July 2009 in Speakers
Hi everyone, Daniel here from SA.
I have a spare pair of 4's that I want to use primarily for playing music at parties instead of using my main system so they will be driven quite hard for extended periods of time. Can anyone suggest a couple of amplifier models that would successfully drive the 4's. I will be connecting up my i Pod to the amplifier too.

I'm naturally going to look around for something second hand. I have found an Onkyo A807 stereo amp but dont know much about this model so I'm hoping that someone here will have some more info....

Thanks!
Post edited by silversubaru on
· Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Comments

  • leroyjr1
    leroyjr1 Posts: 8,785
    edited July 2009
    Pretty much any amp or receiver should do the trick. The rti4's are very easy to drive. If you're on a budget a nice adcom pre amp and 545II or 535 will do the trick.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • AudioGenics
    AudioGenics Posts: 2,567
    edited July 2009
    how about a Rotel RB 990 -BX
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Erik Tracy
    Erik Tracy Posts: 4,673
    edited July 2009
    silversubaru wrote: »
    Hi everyone, Daniel here from SA.
    I have a spare pair of 4's that I want to use primarily for playing music at parties instead of using my main system so they will be driven quite hard for extended periods of time. Can anyone suggest a couple of amplifier models that would successfully drive the 4's. I will be connecting up my i Pod to the amplifier too.

    I'm naturally going to look around for something second hand. I have found an Onkyo A807 stereo amp but dont know much about this model so I'm hoping that someone here will have some more info....

    Thanks!

    I used to use RTi4s as my mains, still have a pair for my surrounds - gem of a speaker and like leroyjr1 said...easy to drive.

    Give them a good clean amp with +100watts/channel - they can handle it and benefit from power headroom.

    Just don't expect too much of them by driving them too loud...for a mid-sized room they can do an admirable job to fill a room pretty loud...in a big room with lots of people for a party they may strain - after all they are a small bookshelf.

    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.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Intel92
    Intel92 Posts: 146
    edited July 2009
    Your receiver will work just fine.
    Theater rig:
    Pio Elite Pro 111-FD
    Pio Elite VSX-01TXH
    Mains: RTi12s
    Center: CSi5
    Surrounds: FXi3s, RTi6s
    Sub: Velodyne V-1012-B
    Amp: Carver TFM-35
    Harmony 890
    PS3

    2-channel rig in progress:
    LSi15s
    .........

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • silversubaru
    silversubaru Posts: 42
    edited July 2009
    Thanks for the replies guys. Has anyone heard of an Onkyo AVR400? I cannot seem to find specs on this amplifier and one of our local HT outlets has one for sale (used of course)
    D
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • slowpolky
    slowpolky Posts: 714
    edited July 2009
    silversu,,,, are you looking to buy a used receiver ? If so let me know as I have a spare one thats not being used
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • VSchneider
    VSchneider Posts: 443
    edited July 2009
    You may want to run a shipping quote to SA first, slowpolky, before you offer to split costs :D
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • silversubaru
    silversubaru Posts: 42
    edited July 2009
    'A' for effort there, 'dankie my maat' which is Afrikaans for 'thanks my mate!'
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • silversubaru
    silversubaru Posts: 42
    edited July 2009
    I have an option to purchase a NAD 317 in excellent condition. Does anyone have any experience with this amplifier and at 80w pc and knowing that NAD spec is often underrated, would this amp drive the 4's nicely or would it be too much power?
    Thanks
    Daniel
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • cfrizz
    cfrizz Posts: 13,415
    edited July 2009
    It will do just fine. There is no such thing as too much power.
    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
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • thuffman03
    thuffman03 Posts: 1,325
    edited July 2009
    +1 on never having too much power.

    Get a Carver, Adcom or Nad amp. They all will make your speakers sing.
    Sunfire TGP, Sunfire Cinema Grand, Sunfire 300~2 (2), Sunfire True Sub (2),Carver ALS Platinum, Carver AL III, TFM-55, C-19, C-9, TX-8, SDA-490t, SDA-390t
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • silversubaru
    silversubaru Posts: 42
    edited July 2009
    Too true on the power issue!
    One more question..... Is it as easy as I think it will be to hook up my i pod to a stereo amp. Is it simply a case of running a cable from the i pod and then connecting rca type plugs on the other end into the amp?
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • cnh
    cnh Posts: 13,284
    edited July 2009
    Do you mean you're not going to use a pre-amp? Just try to control the sound volume on a power amp from an ipod?

    I suppose that's possible but I think that would be a waste. Also MP3s will only sound so good on any piece of equipment...a power amp and Rti-speakers are overkill for such a low grade audio format IMHO. Should consider upgrading your music for a system of this quality....

    cnh
    Currently orbiting Bowie's Blackstar.!

    Polk Lsi-7s, Def Tech 8" sub, HK 3490, HK HD 990 (CDP/DAC), AKG Q701s
    [sig. changed on a monthly basis as I rotate in and out of my stash]
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • silversubaru
    silversubaru Posts: 42
    edited July 2009
    If you run your i pod through the stereo amp, wouldnt you be able to control the volume via the amp's volume controls?
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • VSchneider
    VSchneider Posts: 443
    edited July 2009
    I think your "hook up my i pod to a stereo amp" sas misunderstood as "hook up my i pod to a power amp". Yours is obviously either an integrated amp or a stereo receiver, since you are talking about volume controls.

    edit:
    Also, make sure to get to the line out of your iPod vs. the headphone output. The better the quality of your MP3s, the more noticeable the difference will be.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • silversubaru
    silversubaru Posts: 42
    edited July 2009
    Yep, my bad! I'm looking at purchasing a NAD integrated amplifier with full tone and volume control.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • silversubaru
    silversubaru Posts: 42
    edited July 2009
    Ok, so I picked up the NAD integrated amp last night and I have hooked it up to my RTi4's and am playing cds via my Onkyo dvd/cd player.
    Wow- my 4's have simply come alive and you can really hear the difference that an integrated amp makes.

    In fact, the sound reproduction sounds better than driving my RTi8's in stereo mode via the Onkyo 705 receiver and I think it shows that perhaps NAD's power rating of 80wpc could even be close to or more than the 125wpc that the Onkyo is pushing out.....

    I'm going to hook up the 8's to the NAD a little later on and I guess that will give me the answer!

    Great amp, I would suggest it to anyone that can still find one.
    Daniel
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • danz1906
    danz1906 Posts: 5,144
    edited July 2009
    silversubaru wrote: »
    Ok, so I picked up the NAD integrated amp last night and I have hooked it up to my RTi4's and am playing cds via my Onkyo dvd/cd player.
    Wow- my 4's have simply come alive and you can really hear the difference that an integrated amp makes.

    In fact, the sound reproduction sounds better than driving my RTi8's in stereo mode via the Onkyo 705 receiver and I think it shows that perhaps NAD's power rating of 80wpc could even be close to or more than the 125wpc that the Onkyo is pushing out.....

    I'm going to hook up the 8's to the NAD a little later on and I guess that will give me the answer!

    Great amp, I would suggest it to anyone that can still find one.
    Daniel

    Congrats-Enjoy!
    Linn AV5140 fronts
    Linn AV5120 Center
    Linn AV5140 Rears
    M&K MX-70 Sub for Music
    Odyssey Mono-Blocs
    SVS Ultra-13 Gloss Black:D
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter