RTI A5S and external amplification??

BiotypE
BiotypE Posts: 21
edited November 2009 in Speakers
I am courting picking up an external amp for my new RTIA5s but I am very budget restricted.

I currently have an Onkyo TX-SR706b rated at 90wpc. Is there an affordable amp that will make it worth the extra cost of going with an external amp.

The A5s are rated to 200watts, anyone have suggestions on an entry level amp that will drive them better than my Onkyo that won't break the bank?
Onkyo TXSR706B
Polk RTIA5s
Acoustech H100 Sub
Kef Egg surround (soon to be Polk surrounds)
Kef IQ6 Center (soon to be Polk center)
Xbox360
PS3
Direct TV HDDVR
Post edited by BiotypE on
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Comments

  • TouchOfEvil
    TouchOfEvil Posts: 967
    edited November 2009
    adcom 545 would do great for a low budget if you don't mind getting used gear.
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  • leroyjr1
    leroyjr1 Posts: 8,785
    edited November 2009
    Adcom

    535
    545
    555
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  • comfortablycurt
    comfortablycurt Posts: 6,745
    edited November 2009
    TouchOfEvil wrote: »
    adcom 545 would do great for a low budget if you don't mind getting used gear.

    +1

    My RTi8's(old version of A5) sound fantastic when being driven by my Adcom 545. It really brought them to life compared to my Onkyo 606. Lots more low end definition, cleaner sounding mid-range, much more sparkle on the highs(not the the RTi's lack sparkle...lol), a lot more headroom.

    The 545 is a great amp for the money. Don't be afraid of the "only" 100 wpc rating.
    The nirvana inducer-
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  • BiotypE
    BiotypE Posts: 21
    edited November 2009
    Thanks for all of the information. To be honest, I am a little afraid of the 100wpc. Why would that be much better than the 90wpc my current Onkyo offers.

    Every place I research says that external amplification makes a pretty large improvment. I am suprised the an additional 10wpc would make a noticable difference.
    Onkyo TXSR706B
    Polk RTIA5s
    Acoustech H100 Sub
    Kef Egg surround (soon to be Polk surrounds)
    Kef IQ6 Center (soon to be Polk center)
    Xbox360
    PS3
    Direct TV HDDVR
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  • comfortablycurt
    comfortablycurt Posts: 6,745
    edited November 2009
    It's not all about the number of watts...the Adcom is a high current design, and is able to provide much larger amounts of power during peak demands. The Onkyo doesn't have a shadow of a hope of equaling the Adcom in SQ. The Adcom has WAAAY more head room. The Adcom is a much better designed amplifier than the one built in to the Onkyo. It's not about the number of watts...it's about the quality of the watts.

    I've driven RTi8's, SDA 2A's and Monitor 7A's with my 545...it's never broken a sweat. It can push them to much higher levels than my Onkyo can as well.

    It can effortlessly push my SDA's to 105-110 db...I've never felt a need to go any higher than that. My normal listening level is around 85-95 db...which isn't quiet by any stretch of the imagination.
    The nirvana inducer-
    APC H10 Power Conditioner
    Marantz UD5005 universal player
    Parasound Halo P5 preamp
    Parasound HCA-1200II power amp
    PolkAudio LSi9's/PolkAudio SDA 2A's/PolkAudio Monitor 7A's
    Audioquest Speaker Cables and IC's
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  • BiotypE
    BiotypE Posts: 21
    edited November 2009
    Thanks for the input. I think you have me sold. I spotted a few Adcom 545s out there at very reasonable prices. Again thanks for the info. I am just now breaking into all of this so I have to take baby steps.
    Onkyo TXSR706B
    Polk RTIA5s
    Acoustech H100 Sub
    Kef Egg surround (soon to be Polk surrounds)
    Kef IQ6 Center (soon to be Polk center)
    Xbox360
    PS3
    Direct TV HDDVR
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  • danz1906
    danz1906 Posts: 5,144
    edited November 2009
    BiotypE wrote: »
    Thanks for the input. I think you have me sold. I spotted a few Adcom 545s out there at very reasonable prices. Again thanks for the info. I am just now breaking into all of this so I have to take baby steps.

    Welcome to the Club!

    Enjoy your Audio Journey!
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  • BiotypE
    BiotypE Posts: 21
    edited November 2009
    I wanted to come back and update this thread. I took your advise and picked up a Adcom 535 off ebay for 88 bucks (a steal) hooked it up to the A5s and I can not believe the difference in how they sound compared to when they are connected to my Onkyo 706.

    I was a little skeptical since the ADCOM is rated at 60wpc and my Onkyo is rated at 90 but this little beast pushes these speakers quite well. I can hear no distortion and that is when playing them way louder than I would normally. The punch in the midbass is worlds better than it was.

    This has now got me interested in picking up a larger 3 channel amp for the fronts and using the adcom for my r + l surrounds.

    So I just wanted to swing back in here and say thank you and to confirm that it has made a very MASSIVE difference in how these speakers sound.
    Onkyo TXSR706B
    Polk RTIA5s
    Acoustech H100 Sub
    Kef Egg surround (soon to be Polk surrounds)
    Kef IQ6 Center (soon to be Polk center)
    Xbox360
    PS3
    Direct TV HDDVR
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  • packetjones
    packetjones Posts: 1,059
    edited November 2009
    i am glad that you came back and posted your impressions. I have the A5's as well and am currently using a HK254 rated at 50W/ch. I have been curious about getting a budget amp and did not know what to expect.

    Looks like i will be looking into on of the lower priced Adcom's as well to see what difference it makes. thanks for the info.
    Front - RTiA5's
    Rear - RTiA3's
    Center - CSiA4
    Sub - PSW110
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  • BiotypE
    BiotypE Posts: 21
    edited November 2009
    You wont regret it. I had an HK240 (great reciever but needed hdmi hookups) rated at 60wpc. HK are usually a little more accurate when it come to true power ratings. I was floored at how much better this little adcom 535 make the A5s sound. I can't imagine what they will do with a more powerfull amp.

    The biggest difference is that the amp actually drives the midbass woofers on the speakers. It felt enemic before and I could localize the bass from my sub. Now that the speakers are better powered it centered the bass completely and I can actually set them to 80hz (recommended for HT) and they sound awesome. Best purchase I have made in a while.

    I can crank the system so loud now in my relatively small viewing area with total clarity.
    Onkyo TXSR706B
    Polk RTIA5s
    Acoustech H100 Sub
    Kef Egg surround (soon to be Polk surrounds)
    Kef IQ6 Center (soon to be Polk center)
    Xbox360
    PS3
    Direct TV HDDVR
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  • comfortablycurt
    comfortablycurt Posts: 6,745
    edited November 2009
    Good to hear!!(literally...lol)

    I was amazed when I first got my 545. It was a night and day difference compared to my Onkyo 606.


    Congrats on the 535...That's a steal at $88!!
    The nirvana inducer-
    APC H10 Power Conditioner
    Marantz UD5005 universal player
    Parasound Halo P5 preamp
    Parasound HCA-1200II power amp
    PolkAudio LSi9's/PolkAudio SDA 2A's/PolkAudio Monitor 7A's
    Audioquest Speaker Cables and IC's
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  • mystik610
    mystik610 Posts: 699
    edited November 2009
    I added an external amp to my RTi8's (pretty much the same speaker as the A5's) and they're a totally different animal now. Keep in mind that when Onkyo rates their amps, its on a two-channel PEAK basis. The actual output is probably around 40 WPC or less.

    Adding an external amp will really bring out the mid-range, tame the brightness of the speaker, a create a very 'full' sounding sound-stage. The mid-range detail in the RTi line is great...an external amp really makes them shine
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  • selkec
    selkec Posts: 187
    edited November 2009
    I totally agree with mystik. Get an external amp. No receiver can compare to an external amp. I have the rti150's now running off an emotiva xpa-3 and they sound like different speakers to running off just the reciever. Look for a reciever that has the key features you want PLUS pre outs. Pre outs are a must have. Then look for an amp. There are alot of good brands out there and good deals like on audiogon and on all the forums. You could get the emotiva UPA-2 right now on sale for 249. It would be a step up from a reciever.
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  • dorokusai
    dorokusai Posts: 25,577
    edited November 2009
    I like the Adcom suggestion and @ $88, you can't go wrong.
    CTC BBQ Amplifier, Sonic Frontiers Line3 Pre-Amplifier and Wadia 581 SACD player. Speakers? Always changing but for now, Mission Argonauts I picked up for $50 bucks, mint.
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  • BiotypE
    BiotypE Posts: 21
    edited November 2009
    I should probably be posting this in the other forum but.... since I am getting all the info I need in this one I have one other question. Now that I have an amp and I am very impressed with the results, would it benefit me to find a matching preamp for the Adcom 535. I understand a preamp basically conditions the signal going ot the amp but I am curious if it is something that would be worth it.

    I currently have thw two rtia5 being powered by the adcom 535. The A4 center is being powered by the Onkyo as are my L and R surrounds. What would be the next logical purchase for me here. Another amp or a preamp?

    Thanks for all the help. I have learned a ton on these forums.
    Onkyo TXSR706B
    Polk RTIA5s
    Acoustech H100 Sub
    Kef Egg surround (soon to be Polk surrounds)
    Kef IQ6 Center (soon to be Polk center)
    Xbox360
    PS3
    Direct TV HDDVR
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