Powering Rti12's?

Fatty McButter
Fatty McButter Posts: 19
edited December 2011 in Electronics
A buddy of mine is thinking about picking a pair of Rti12's from the polk ebay store, and needs some help powering them. This is a bit out of my range of expertise, so I figured we could ask you guys.

He is planning to eventually build up to a 3.1 system, maybe even 5.1 someday. First, he will just have the Rti's in a 2.0 configuration until he saves up money for the center and sub.

The question is, how much power does he need to power these things? He doesn't want to spend tons of money, and is looking at the Yamaha rx v667. My feeling is this will not be enough power. What kind of budget receiver/amp setups can you recommend? The use is primarily video games and movies.
Post edited by Fatty McButter on

Comments

  • dorokusai
    dorokusai Posts: 25,576
    edited November 2011
    Not enough power. You need a ballsy AVR or a outboard amplifier, period. 200wpc is a standard suggestion.
    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.
  • Fatty McButter
    Fatty McButter Posts: 19
    edited November 2011
    Yep, I figured as much. Trying to convince him to get the Rti 8's. I think that is more in his price range....
  • jbooker82
    jbooker82 Posts: 1,627
    edited November 2011
    I run my RTI A7's with a Carver A-753x. It is 250 watts x3. You should shoot for a 3 or 5 channel amp if he is going to be running a 3.1.
    AVR: Onkyo Tx-NR808
    Amplifier: Carver A-753x 250 watts x 3
    Fronts: Polk RTI A7 (modded by Trey VR3)
    Center: CSI A4 (modded by Trey VR3)
    Rear: FXI A4
    Sub: Polk DSW Pro 660wi
    TV: LG Infinia 50PX950 3D
    Speaker Cable: AudioQuest Type 8
    IC: AudioQuest Black Mamba II
  • Sherardp
    Sherardp Posts: 8,038
    edited November 2011
    Coolest name tag I've seen in awhile Fatty. Try to score a Pioneer SC-05 for a good price. That will power everything and then some with the IceAmps.
    Shoot the jumper.....................BALLIN.............!!!!!

    Home Theater Pics in the Showcase :cool:

    http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showcase/view.php?userid=73580
  • tonyb
    tonyb Posts: 33,065
    edited November 2011
    A pioneer SC anything should power them fine. Keep in mind most big floorstanders need some juice to sound their best. A midline receiver just doesn't cut the mustard with big towers.
    HT SYSTEM-
    Sony 850c 4k
    Pioneer elite vhx 21
    Sony 4k BRP
    SVS SB-2000
    Polk Sig. 20's
    Polk FX500 surrounds

    Cables-
    Acoustic zen Satori speaker cables
    Acoustic zen Matrix 2 IC's
    Wireworld eclipse 7 ic's
    Audio metallurgy ga-o digital cable

    Kitchen

    Sonos zp90
    Grant Fidelity tube dac
    B&k 1420
    lsi 9's
  • mufsoman
    mufsoman Posts: 636
    edited November 2011
    My 12's sounded fine with just the Pio SC07, but sound great with the Rotel 1095 !!!
    Sony 83A80L TV and Roku Ultra
    Denon 3800
    Parasound HCA-2205A
    SVS Prime towers, center channel and bookshelfs (side surrounds)
    Atmos: Mirage Nanosats x 4
    Turbo MFW-15 x 2
    Panasonic DP-UB820
    APC H15
    Morrow MA4 & AQ Cobra IC's, AQ Midnight speaker cables
  • deronb1
    deronb1 Posts: 5,021
    edited November 2011
    gotta have 200 wpc.....period. Have not heard the "ICE" amps, but having owned 12s. Only A LOT of power brings out the low end in these. It's a big speaker, needs big power.
  • SRTer
    SRTer Posts: 372
    edited November 2011
    deronb1 wrote: »
    gotta have 200 wpc.....period. Have not heard the "ICE" amps, but having owned 12s. Only A LOT of power brings out the low end in these. It's a big speaker, needs big power.

    Pioneer Elite ICE powered AVR will get the job done. I have personally used a SC 35 with RTi A9 fronts and RTi A7 rears and it did do a fine job. The added amp did improve the sound in the lower bass region.

    If you don't want to have to buy a amp, the RTi A7's and SC35/37 would be great.
    Fronts: Polk RTi A9
    Center: Polk CSI A6
    Rears: Polk RTi A7
    Receiver: Pioneer Elite SC-35 (140 watts x 7)
    Amplifier: Adcom GFA-555 Mk.II (200 watt @ 8 ohms)
    Sub: Polk DSW PRO 500 (10 inch, 200 Watt)
    TV: Samsung 59 inch 3D Plasma 600 Hz PN59D7000
    Sources: Samsung BD-D6700 3D Blu-ray Player, DirecTV, PS3, iPhone 4 and IPod Classic with Apple Lossless Tracks
  • Fatty McButter
    Fatty McButter Posts: 19
    edited November 2011
    Thanks a lot guys, this actually led into my next question, which is for me rather than my friend. I just picked up the sc35 a few months ago, and was also looking to upgrade to the rti a9's, or possibly even the lsi's.

    I know they both need a lot of power, and I am not sure how the sc35 will fair all alone... I do know that it makes my rti a5's sing though. :mrgreen:

    I had avoided going to those bigger towers because I did not want to buy an amp. However, it appears my list of things to buy for my HT is dwindling, so maybe I should add it to the list.
  • tonyb
    tonyb Posts: 33,065
    edited November 2011
    It would do ok on the 9's, but the LSI towers I would get an amp for.
    HT SYSTEM-
    Sony 850c 4k
    Pioneer elite vhx 21
    Sony 4k BRP
    SVS SB-2000
    Polk Sig. 20's
    Polk FX500 surrounds

    Cables-
    Acoustic zen Satori speaker cables
    Acoustic zen Matrix 2 IC's
    Wireworld eclipse 7 ic's
    Audio metallurgy ga-o digital cable

    Kitchen

    Sonos zp90
    Grant Fidelity tube dac
    B&k 1420
    lsi 9's
  • chadam44
    chadam44 Posts: 68
    edited December 2011
    The LSis will need more than the Pio will give you. Find a good 2 channel amp and give them juice that way. Should work well with the RTiA7s though.
  • nhhiep
    nhhiep Posts: 877
    edited December 2011
    For Rti12s or A9s, that is top of the Rti line. you better get the top AVR for them, I mean 150WPC at least. or better yet, get an AMP. Adcom 555 with 200WPC x2 is usually around 250-350 used.
    The AVR that your friend has will kill the speakers and/or itself soon or later because of distortion. it's like buying an expensive car and using cheap gas/tires.

    I was driving my Rti12s with a denon avr 3806, puts out 125WPC and couldn't get any bass out of it, until I get an AMP with 300WPC.