External Amp or New Speakers?

Theheadsn
Theheadsn Posts: 413
edited November 2011 in Electronics
Currently I have my sc-37 hooked up to my tsi500's and cs20 (as well as inifinity in-ceiling rears). I know the ICE amp inside puts out a good deal of power but I would love to get an external amp. Not looking to break the bank and probably going to buy used, especially for my first amp. Ive seen a couple good Adcoms, and I know people are wishy washy about Emotiva. Maybe even a Parasound or Carver.

Either or, is the difference noticable over the ICE amp? (havent decided on a 2 channel or 3). I planned on only getting an amp that puts out 200wpc, Id love to find one thats higher, if I can find one for the right price. Id love some monoblocks but being broke puts a damper on getting them.

I understand that external amps improves clearity, but seeing as I have just the Tsi's, should I worry about upgrading the speakers first then deal with the amp situation?

*HT setup 90% of the time*
Home Theater Setup
  • Receiver - Onkyo TX-RZ1100
  • Mains - Polk RTi A9's
  • External Amps - Outlaw 2200 Monoblocks for L/R/C
  • Center - Polk CSiA6
  • Side Surrounds - Polk FXiA6's
  • Atmos - 4 Polk 80F/X RT's
  • Sub - SVS PC-4000
  • T.V. - LG OLED65C7P

Post edited by Theheadsn on
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Comments

  • tonyb
    tonyb Posts: 33,065
    edited November 2011
    Upgrade the speakers, that Pioneer is capable of driving the crap out of the TSI's.
    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
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  • leroyjr1
    leroyjr1 Posts: 8,785
    edited November 2011
    You'll noticed the biggest difference upgrading your speakers.
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  • Theheadsn
    Theheadsn Posts: 413
    edited November 2011
    Ok then i guess my next question would be, should I just go with the rti's? Or should I save up for the LSi's?
    Home Theater Setup
    • Receiver - Onkyo TX-RZ1100
    • Mains - Polk RTi A9's
    • External Amps - Outlaw 2200 Monoblocks for L/R/C
    • Center - Polk CSiA6
    • Side Surrounds - Polk FXiA6's
    • Atmos - 4 Polk 80F/X RT's
    • Sub - SVS PC-4000
    • T.V. - LG OLED65C7P

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  • chumlie
    chumlie Posts: 8,658
    edited November 2011
    The Rti's sound great to me, but i haven't heard the Lsi'. And from what i understand your gonna need more power for the Lsi's. Allthough an amp really makes the Rti's Shine. I went from tsi 400's to Rti a7's. Then i put a parasound hca1500 on the Rti's HUGE differance. Going from 400's to A7's was really noticeable but after the amp they really took a leap. Runnong from a Pioneer vsx-33.
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  • AsSiMiLaTeD
    AsSiMiLaTeD Posts: 11,728
    edited November 2011
    Check out the new Ali line. I wouldnt even think about an amp until you get new speakers. The rti would be an upgrade, but probably not huge
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  • tonyb
    tonyb Posts: 33,065
    edited November 2011
    Theheadsn wrote: »
    Ok then i guess my next question would be, should I just go with the rti's? Or should I save up for the LSi's?

    If you go with the LSI line, I would get an amp for them too. Even the RTI A9's, but anything under that your receiver should do fine.
    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
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  • cfrizz
    cfrizz Posts: 13,415
    edited November 2011
    Get the amp first and hear the difference for yourself over the receiver and hear what your speakers are truly capable of. Once that is done you just might decide to scrap the upgrade to your speakers. At least you will know they are being run to their full potential.
    And you will also be in an excellent position to upgrade to the LSI's in the future.

    I know these guys rave about the ice amps in receivers, but they are still just receivers so corners are being cut somewhere. I simply no longer trust receivers to power my speakers to their full potential anymore.
    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
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  • mantis
    mantis Posts: 17,312
    edited November 2011
    I'm gonna build you an upgrade.

    Mains - RTIa7's
    Center - CSia6
    Surrounds -TC60i's
    Sub - DSW Micropro 2000

    This system would benefit you for a theater first system over your current system. You can sell all of your current speakers and put the profits towards your new package.
    Dan
    My personal quest is to save to world of bad audio, one thread at a time.
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  • Theheadsn
    Theheadsn Posts: 413
    edited November 2011
    Im leaning towards the RTias (I would LOVE the LSis but god thats so much money...). Has anyone went from the tsi500's to the rtias? or higher? And would it be worth it to goto the a9s instead of a7s? Anyone experience the two?

    There are NO real good audio places around here except best buy and frys. But frys has an actually theater room set up, but you cant tell whats exactly hooked up and whats running it.

    Btw, I still plan on getting an external amp :) more power is always better. Is 200wpc decent? Or should I really save up and just go the monoblock (or higher) path?
    Home Theater Setup
    • Receiver - Onkyo TX-RZ1100
    • Mains - Polk RTi A9's
    • External Amps - Outlaw 2200 Monoblocks for L/R/C
    • Center - Polk CSiA6
    • Side Surrounds - Polk FXiA6's
    • Atmos - 4 Polk 80F/X RT's
    • Sub - SVS PC-4000
    • T.V. - LG OLED65C7P

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  • chumlie
    chumlie Posts: 8,658
    edited November 2011
    Go with Mantis setup. 200 is plenty of power. No need for monoblocks. IMO
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  • Sherardp
    Sherardp Posts: 8,038
    edited November 2011
    +1 with Mantis's recommendation. The only thing I would change is go with the big boys for mains instead.

    http://www.ebay.com/itm/PAIR-RTi12-CHRRY-Floorstanding-Loudspeaker-Polk-Audio-/360375500353?pt=Speakers_Subwoofers&hash=item53e80dbe41
    Shoot the jumper.....................BALLIN.............!!!!!

    Home Theater Pics in the Showcase :cool:

    http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showcase/view.php?userid=73580
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  • B Run
    B Run Posts: 1,888
    edited November 2011
    I just picked up a pair of Rti 12's on black friday, and am running them off my SC-35 and they sound fantastic. I realize that a 200wpc amp will really wake them up, but for only having about 6 hours on the as we speak i'm very happy with them. I didn't have Tsi's but I went from the Monitor line to the Rti line and it's a big improvement. I ran Rti8's as my mains for about a year and a half until yesterday and I can say the 12's are leaps and bounds better even without an amp. I'd definitely upgrade speakers and then get an amp when funds allow, but the amp won't be IMMEDIATELY necessary unless you go with LSI's.
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