RTiA3/CSiA4 not loud

darkling · August 2012

Hi. I have a Pioneer VSX-518 and two RTiA3s and a CSiA4. I know that this receiver is on the low end, but I've always thought it should be a little louder. For listening to the news or watching TV it is fine, but when I want to hear loud music, I can still talk over the music without any effort.

I have one really good reason to keep this receiver: it fits the space that I can put a receiver.

But I'm curious anyway, would other receivers rated at 120 watts be any louder?

Can anyone offer a remedy? A good amp for 3 channels that won't break the bank? Another receiver that is on the small side but has the power?

Also, I find the situation with loudness to be ever worse with the RM7s & 8s I have. Since they're so much smaller, shouldn't they at least sound a little better at high levels?

cnh · August 2012

I used to run a similar configuration in my basement with an older VSX-711 5.1 channel Pioneer. And never had any problems with loudness? But I also ran a Polk sub down there and cut off the LFEs at 100 hz.

Are you not running a sub? That alone would make a BIG difference.

cnh

darkling · August 2012

No, I have no room for a sub, but really, I don't feel like the low end sounds bad at all. I think the mid sounds murky.

Erik Tracy · August 2012

I used to run RTiA3s and a CSi3 with a Yamaha AVR, RX-V1800 with a sub in a medium sized family room to 'stoopid loud' levels.

And when I hooked in my Carver power amp and used the Yamaha as a pre-amp, I got close to reproducing a live Who concert - clean and loud enough for my kids to say "DAD - TURN IT DOWN!" :cheesygrin:

Not sure if your Pio has preouts, but if it does - then maybe you should look for a nice used deal on an external power amp.

darkling · August 2012

Well that's good to know. What do I look for when I buy an amp?

Erik Tracy · August 2012

darkling wrote: »

Well that's good to know. What do I look for when I buy an amp?

What is your budget? And we can go from there! :-)

halo71 · August 2012

Correct me if I am wrong here. But that AVR does not have preouts. So buying a power amp would be useless. And if he can "still talk over the music without any effort" I would look to something either hooked up wrong or the settings in the AVR cause that don't sound right.

tonyb · August 2012

I would tend to agree with Halo ^^^.

Have you set up the receiver ? It should have a channel level adjustment in the receivers setup menu.

darkling · September 2012

Ah--you guys have gone over my head. To set up the receiver, I connected the speaker wires (14 gauge) to the receiver and the speakers. There's more?

This is my receiver: Pioneer VSX-518

And I really don't understand why I couldn't connect it to an amp.

cnh · September 2012

You have NO OUTPUTS on the back of your AVR that would allow you to send the sound to an external amp. Most entry and even mid-level AVRs do NOT have that feature!

Look at the back of a Pioneer VSX 1222 toward the middle. See the pre-out panel. Now look at yours, no such panel!

cnh

cnh · September 2012

Also, take a look at your manual. Make sure your speakers are set to Full Range if there is not sub. And learn how to adjust the sound LEVEL on each channel. It's on your remote and in the manual. Make sure (look at the manual) that the sound is not -20 db down (some Pioneers had an attenuation feature that reduces that sound level--see manual).

Another trick is to use the Loudness/Midnight settings to 'BOOST' the bass/treble volumes if you haven't. There is a noticeable difference in the volume of entry level Pioneers with that OFF and with it ON! Your speakers are fairly efficient so there is NO way that even a 518 can't produce some serious volume on those!

You will have to read the manual to get at some of this.

And YES, there ARE other adjustments that can be made. Few if any AVRs are simple plug and play devices!

cnh

darkling · September 2012

Ok, good stuff to know, cnh. Last time I hooked this kind of stuff up was in the early 90s. I think we just ran the speaker wire from the receiver to the amp and from the amp to the speakers then--don't quite remember.

I know that I've set it to Full Range without the sub, but I've never made any adjustment to the level on each channel. That may be that fix I'm looking for.

Thanks so much!

gp4jesus · September 2012

darkling wrote: »

I think the mid sounds murky.

I assume from your center?Even w/out a sub, use your AVR to cut off your LR @ 80-100, your center @ 100hz. While you'll miss the bass that your AVR is sending to the sub you don't have, those small-ish drivers in your center should appreciate it big time.

I used RTi A1*s as LRs early on. They use 5 1/4" MWs, similar to those in your center. After I got a sub, I experimented w/them* full range and using the sub to "handle the heavy lifting." They*'re mid range response much preferred something else taking the bottom 2+ octaves for music & more so w/ theatre.

Although those '3s, even w/their larger 6.5" MWs can have issues handling newer recording's extended, thicker bass signals.

Also how long is your wire? 14 gauge is a bit thin for full range more than a few feet. A double run w/stacked bananas should help damping cleaning up mid response. Some Polkies will chime-in w/disagreement on these details, thus making me responsible for stirring up trouble. For that please allow me to extend heartfelt apologies before the mud starts to fly.

Shaloam, Tony

RTiA3/CSiA4 not loud

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