new member & new Polk/NAD set-up

searay40dad

Hi,
My first post on this forum. Hoping someone will give me advice or some thoughts on my set-up. so, here's what I have and what I've done to set up 5.1 and 2 channel. Speakers: Polk RTi12 (L/R fronts); Csi5 center; R50 surrounds; PSW 505 sub. Electronics: NAD T755 AVR; 2 NAD C270 amps.

Using the T755's pre outs for the C270s, I am driving the LF only of each RTi12 main with its own seperate C270, each are operating in bridged/mono mode. So, the RTi12 lows are seeing ~300W each.

I am currently driving the HFs of each RTi12 with the 755 L & R powered channels (yes, speaker brass buss bars are removed). The 755 puts out about 100W continuous/channel but has significant dynamic reserves typical to NAD. The 755 is also driving the center channel. The PSW505 is on the 755 sub pre-out.

Room is about 35x35 but HT is set up in 1/4 to 1/2 of this space. R50s are positioned about 15 ft behind main sitting area vice right behind where viewers would sit. not optimum but dont have a choice here.

To my ears, the set-up sounds deep, powerful and highs are crisp & clear.

Now for some questions:
1) is this horizontal or vertical bi-amping--or a "hybrid" of both?
2) I have good ventialtion around the amps. but, they are running in bridged mode nonetheless (RTi12 are 8 ohm speakers). will this configuration tax the amps in any way over the long haul?
3) I have an extra PSW 303 I'm not using. Would there be any value added by including the 303 in the mix along with the 505 and the RTi12s lows? or would this hookup just bring on cancellation/standing wave issues? I defintely do like base and do have a semi-large room to deal with which is why I'm asking. betwen the 505 and 12s, there is quite a bit of surface area there to move the volume of air needed for good base (or so I think!). i do have a second sub line already ran so it'd be easy to add the 303 in.
4) Auddesy set-up indicated bass mgmt setting for the R50 surrounds to be "on". I override this and dont send any low signals to them. am i correct?

any thoughts on where I'm **** something up, pls feel free to fire away! i'm here to listen and learn;)

thanks!
thanks in advance for your help !!

leroyjr1

Welcome to the club !!!

searay40dad

Thank you. looking forward to learning a little bit here and there. hope i can get some feedback on my first post.

DollarDave

I'm not so sure you are benefiting from running the 270s in mono instead of just using them to bi-amp the RTi12s. I have one of those and it has balls to go all night and then some. That would free up your 755 to run just the center and surounds. Kick-**** setup.

I might be inclined to cash in the R50s and go with something a little more timbre matched with the RTi series, but it's probably not a big issue.

In all, you have great gear and many good options.

And, welcome home. Keep your eyes on your pocket book, folks around here will spend your money pretty easily...

searay40dad

Thanks for the comments. i think I'll give a couple different set-ups a try and see what sounds best, although I dont have the most discriminating ear anymore so I may not be able to tell the difference. I'll probably can the R50s when I stumble across some FXi5s at some point. Haven't done it up to now because I just don't have convenient way to wall mount 'true' surrounds.

Zitro

Welcome to CP! Glad to see another member with a NAD/Polk setup :cool:

cnh

WELCOME TO CLUB POLK!

Nice set up! I'm thinking of getting a used NAD integrated or Cambridge Audio for a bookshelf two channel set up in my Home office. Those NADs have lots of head room--Rti-12s need that!

cnh

searay40dad

thanks again for the hospitality. any thoughts on my second subquestion?

I went to buddies house in '82-83 and his brother had a nice NAD seperates set-up that sounded incredible. I've been hooked ever since. not the best by any stretch but not too shabby either, especially on the audio/2 ch side.

hearingimpared

Welcome to Club Polk! I too use an NAD AVR in my HT rig. It is the NAD T765! This piece is so hefty that I don't need any outboard amplification to get the house shaking.

Ricardo

Welcome searay. Actually, you would be "tri-amping"; horizontally and vertically. I agree with trying to just bi-amp with the 270's and see what you like better, if there's any difference.
I would not be concerned with the amps if they are designed to run bridged.
And with the extra sub, why not add it and see what happens? You have a big area to fill, so if it blends in nicely it can be a good thing.

searay40dad

hearingimpared wrote: »

Welcome to Club Polk! I too use an NAD AVR in my HT rig. It is the NAD T765! This piece is so hefty that I don't need any outboard amplification to get the house shaking.

Thanks for the welcome! Before i bought the 755 I ran my HT on a 761 (100W @ 5 ch). I also tested my latest set-up off the 755 alone for kicks (100W @5 ch too). I heard no noticable difference sound-wise between the 755 or 761. I beleive the 765 specs are very similar to the 761/755, except for being 7 channel. continuous and reserve power are pretty close for all three AVRs. When I added the first amp (120W @ 2ch in stereo mode) I did hear a noticable difference. Just a more robust sound. When I put the 2nd amp in the configuration, huge difference at low volume as well as high, especially when I bridged them. My speakers definitely liked extra boost in power at the low frequencies. The amps just gave me a cleaner sound (lower distortion levels) and significantly more headroom it seemed.

searay40dad

Ricardo wrote: »

Welcome searay. Actually, you would be "tri-amping"; horizontally and vertically. I agree with trying to just bi-amp with the 270's and see what you like better, if there's any difference.
I would not be concerned with the amps if they are designed to run bridged.
And with the extra sub, why not add it and see what happens? You have a big area to fill, so if it blends in nicely it can be a good thing.

I think I'll give it a try a this weekend and see if adding 2nd sub is noticeable in a good way vs. muddying things up.

hearingimpared

searay40dad wrote: »

Thanks for the welcome! Before i bought the 755 I ran my HT on a 761 (100W @ 5 ch). I also tested my latest set-up off the 755 alone for kicks (100W @5 ch too). I heard no noticable difference sound-wise between the 755 or 761. I beleive the 765 specs are very similar to the 761/755, except for being 7 channel. continuous and reserve power are pretty close for all three AVRs. When I added the first amp (120W @ 2ch in stereo mode) I did hear a noticable difference. Just a more robust sound. When I put the 2nd amp in the configuration, huge difference at low volume as well as high, especially when I bridged them. My speakers definitely liked extra boost in power at the low frequencies. The amps just gave me a cleaner sound (lower distortion levels) and significantly more headroom it seemed.

Wow man I really like you. You enthusiam and excitement literally jumps out of the screen. I can tell you are going to be excellent, contributing member.

Welcome again!!!

searay40dad

....and this is actually kind of fun too...

but my wife is like "you're on the internet doing what?" !

cnh

Ha ha...I know what you mean there. My wife says the same thing and adds, "You're a Professional and that 'stereo' stuff has NOTHING to do with your profession. Why are you 'wasting' your time with THAT!"

So now we can't have hobbies? OK where was that cognac!

If you're close to Jersey maybe we'll see ya at Polkfest 2010?

cnh

jrgoswick

1)-I'm not really sure what're getting at with vertical or horizontal bi-amping. My understanding of bi-amping is this: using two amplifiers, one for your high end and another for the lower end. DIS IS GOOD!!
2)-Shouldn't hurt anything. As long as they can breath and don't go into thermal protection(provided they have it), no harm done. DIS IS ALSO GOOD!!
3)-Unless you can tuck the other sub in an opposite corner of the room, I don't see any reason to use it. This is probably up to the misses.
4)-Have no clue. Use your ears to adjust it. What the computer says may not sound right to you(it does happen).

And finally-WELCOME TO THE FAMILY! From what I'm reading, sounds like you've got it nailed. Also-props to the M10's! Those are gems.