What are you powering your RTiA9's with? I am amp hunting

my current amp is a pro amp Crown k1 thats fully rebuilt. its not bright at all. but I want to try out a home amp because I have been told my a few people that i am missing something using a pro amp.

so what amp matches well with the A9 so i dont buy an amp that makes these sound like you know what

Comments

  • mrloren
    mrloren Posts: 2,454
    Parasound, B&K and Rotel are ones I would be looking for. Maybe try Emotiva XPA Gen 3 or BasX.
    When I was a kid my parents told me to turn it down. Now I'm an adult and my kids tell me to turn it down.
    Family Room:LG QNED80 75", Onkyo RZ50 Emotiva XPA3 GEN3 Oppo BDP-93,Sony UBP-X800BM. Main: Polk LsiM 705Center: Polk LSiM 704CFront High/Rear High In-Ceiling Polk 80F/X RT Surrounds: Polk S15 Sub: HSU VTF3-MK5
    Bed Room; Marantz SR5010, BDP-S270Main: Polk Signature S20Center: Polk Signature S35Rear: Polk R15 Sub: SVS SB2000
    Working Warehouse; Yamaha A-S301, Sony DVP-NS3100ES for disc Plok TSX550T SVS PB2000 Mini tower PC with 400GB of music
  • F1nut
    F1nut Posts: 49,704
    Musical Fidelity, BAT, Pass Labs, Conrad-Johnson, Audio Research, Mark Levinson, Cary, Bob Carver (tube amps), Boulder, Ayre, T+A and Jeff Roland to name a few.
    Political Correctness'.........defined

    "A doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a t-u-r-d by the clean end."


    President of Club Polk

  • rooftop59
    rooftop59 Posts: 7,952
    Budget makes a pretty big difference here...
    Living Room 2.2: Usher BE-718 "tiny dancers"; Dual DIY Dayton audio RSS210HF-4 Subs with Dayton SPA-250 amps; Arcam SA30; Musical Fidelity A308; Sony UBP-x1000es; Squeezebox Touch with Bolder Power Supply
    Game Room 5.1.4:
    Denon AVR-X4200w; Sony UBP-x700; Definitive Technology Power Monitor 900 mains, CLR-3000 center, StudioMonitor 350 surrounds, ProMonitor 800 atmos x4; Sub - Monoprice Monolith 15in THX Ultra

    Bedroom 2.1
    Cambridge Azur 551r; Polk RT25i; ACI Titan Subwoofer
  • ive had B&K and Parasound. B&K isnt making amps anymore and I dont want to have to pay for rebuild. Parasound is always possible but budget stops at $750 .

    I have aquired 2 amps and they are on their way now.

    #1 Wyred 4 Sound St-500 class D dual mono ice powered class D
    #2 Adcom GFA-555MKII fully rebuilt/upgraded
  • Tony M
    Tony M Posts: 11,009
    edited December 2018
    Adcom 555II fully rebuilt...NICE ! B)
    Most people just listen to music and watch movies. I EXPERIENCE them.
  • RobbyKY
    RobbyKY Posts: 117
    I use the Emotiva XPA3 Gen 3 with the A9's & CSiA6 center connected with AQ Rocket 88's. Many feel this speaker/amp combo is a "bright" combination but I've not experienced that whatsoever. Maybe the cables influence it as I was not so happy with the original home-made Belden wires used during the room build-up but only listened to a few movies before making a snap purchase at a Best Buy on the AQ cables. Been thinking of swapping in a set of MIT avt1's I have on the shelf but been too busy lately with travel and other projects. Wife is currently very happy with movie nights and in the end, that's what matters most!
    Media Room: Parasound JC-5, Cambridge 851N, Schiit Freya, SDA SRS 1.2tl
    Game Room: Carver M4.0t, Carver C-4000, Oppo BDP-105, SDA SRS 1.2tl
    Bar/Card Room: Carver TFM-55, Carver C-1(BillD), Oppo BDP-93, SDA SRS 3.1
    Son's Room: Carver TFM-55, Carver C-1(BillD), Laptop/AQ Dragonfly, SDA SRS 3.1
    Bedroom: McIntosh MC150, Cambridge CXN, SDA 2Btl
    Outdoor Pool Area: Yamaha R-N803 with four Polk Atrium 6
    HT: Polk RTi A9s, CSi-A6, RT-65, RTi-A3's, Marantz SR5012, XPA3, UDP-203, Epson 5040UB


  • dolbyd
    dolbyd Posts: 430
    RobbyKY wrote: »
    I use the Emotiva XPA3 Gen 3 with the A9's & CSiA6 center connected with AQ Rocket 88's. Many feel this speaker/amp combo is a "bright" combination but I've not experienced that whatsoever. Maybe the cables influence it as I was not so happy with the original home-made Belden wires used during the room build-up but only listened to a few movies before making a snap purchase at a Best Buy on the AQ cables. Been thinking of swapping in a set of MIT avt1's I have on the shelf but been too busy lately with travel and other projects. Wife is currently very happy with movie nights and in the end, that's what matters most!

    The Gen 3 amps are not bright compared to the older units. Gen 1 amps are way bright on anything.
    I am planing on trying one of the DR2 Gen 3 channel amps soon.
    Main room- RTiA9 x4, CSiA6, in ceiling Atmos RT-70 x4, SVS PC 4000 x2, Marantz 8805A, OPPO 203, Emotiva DR3 G3, Emotiva XPA-2 G3, Emotiva XPA-5 G3, Emotiva X300, Sony 75" 940E, Panasonic Plasma VT50, PS Audio Power Port X2, PS Audio AC-5 x8, AQ Rocket 33 Biwire speaker cables, AQ King Cobra XLR IC, Furman PFi20 W/Cullen cable, SoildSteel S4-4 rack, Gik room treatments

    Office- Legend L600, in ceiling Polk RC80i, Marantz 7704, OPPO 203, Pioneer Elite PDF-59 CD, PSA Stellar 300, Sony 55" 800B, Gik room treatment

    Master BR- Signature ES60, Signature S35 Center, Signature S15 Dolby Height, LSI700 in ceiling, SVS-SB4000, Marantz 5012, Emotiva XPA5 G2, OPPO 203, Pioneer DVL-919 Laser Disc, Sony 55" OLED

    Patio- SDI Atrium8 x3, Emotiva A-100 amps x3
  • gudnoyez
    gudnoyez Posts: 8,056
    Parasound Halo A31 currently have also used a Adcom 5503. Signal Ultras for Speaker cables.
    Home Theater
    Parasound Halo A 31 OnkyoTX-NR838 Sony XBR55X850B 55" 4K RtiA9 Fronts CsiA6 Center RtiA3 Rears FxiA6 Side Surrounds Dual Psw 111's Oppo 105D Signal Ultra Speaker Cables & IC's Signal Magic Power Cable Technics SL Q300 Panamax MR4300 Audioquest Chocolate HDMI Cables Audioquest Forest USB Cable

    2 Channel
    Adcom 555II Vincent SA-T1 Marantz SA 15S2 Denon DR-M11 Clearaudio Bluemotion SDA 2.3tl's (Z) edition MIT Terminator II Speaker Cables & IC's Adcom 545II Adcom Gtp-450 Marantz CD5004 Technics M245X SDA 2B's, SDA CRS+

    Stuff for the Head
    JD LABS C5 Headphone Amplifier, Sennheiser HD 598, Polk Audio Buckle, Polk Audio Hinge, Velodyne vPulse, Bose IE2, Sennheiser CX 200 Street II, Sennheiser MX 365

    Shower & Off the beaten path Rigs
    Polk Audio Boom Swimmer, Polk Audio Urchin B)
  • mrloren
    mrloren Posts: 2,454
    When I was looking for a big amp I looked for a A31. Nothing on the used market for under $2k+. I am glad I went with my XPA3 G3, nice amp, a little forward sounding but not bright at all. XPA3 does have very good detail and imaging,

    Was listening to Paradise Theater last night I kept having to check if the center was on. I had it to -10 and didn't think it was that loud. Wife came home and I couldn't hear what she was saying :) Nice clear detailed sound.
    When I was a kid my parents told me to turn it down. Now I'm an adult and my kids tell me to turn it down.
    Family Room:LG QNED80 75", Onkyo RZ50 Emotiva XPA3 GEN3 Oppo BDP-93,Sony UBP-X800BM. Main: Polk LsiM 705Center: Polk LSiM 704CFront High/Rear High In-Ceiling Polk 80F/X RT Surrounds: Polk S15 Sub: HSU VTF3-MK5
    Bed Room; Marantz SR5010, BDP-S270Main: Polk Signature S20Center: Polk Signature S35Rear: Polk R15 Sub: SVS SB2000
    Working Warehouse; Yamaha A-S301, Sony DVP-NS3100ES for disc Plok TSX550T SVS PB2000 Mini tower PC with 400GB of music
  • RobbyKY
    RobbyKY Posts: 117
    The Gen 3 amps are not bright compared to the older units. Gen 1 amps are way bright on anything.
    I am planing on trying one of the DR2 Gen 3 channel amps soon.

    Ah, good to know. I did a lot of searching various forums when putting the HT room together and remember all the "bright" comments on the Emotiva amps. Don't think I ever found a Gen1 vs Gen 3 shootout but blame that on Goggle. As luck would have it, my brother bought the Gen 3 for his new house and then fell into ownership of a Parasound before the Emotiva even landed on his doorstep. The XPA3 came to me basically free so thought I would try it out and found it very easy on the ears as opposed to the reviews I had read.

    Thanks for the enlightenment!
    Media Room: Parasound JC-5, Cambridge 851N, Schiit Freya, SDA SRS 1.2tl
    Game Room: Carver M4.0t, Carver C-4000, Oppo BDP-105, SDA SRS 1.2tl
    Bar/Card Room: Carver TFM-55, Carver C-1(BillD), Oppo BDP-93, SDA SRS 3.1
    Son's Room: Carver TFM-55, Carver C-1(BillD), Laptop/AQ Dragonfly, SDA SRS 3.1
    Bedroom: McIntosh MC150, Cambridge CXN, SDA 2Btl
    Outdoor Pool Area: Yamaha R-N803 with four Polk Atrium 6
    HT: Polk RTi A9s, CSi-A6, RT-65, RTi-A3's, Marantz SR5012, XPA3, UDP-203, Epson 5040UB


  • mrloren
    mrloren Posts: 2,454
    Put on Rush 2112. This LP goes through some very bright and harsh areas. If your ears are not ringing at -10db then it's not bright or there is a hearing problem. with a Sony ES and RTi8 I couldn't go past -15db without experiencing some overly bright harshness.

    I did try a Gen 1 XPA5 once, it was not as bright as the Sony ES AVR. The G3 is a sweet amp and for the price can't be beat. Now would I rather have a Parasound oh yes but my wallet says no.
    When I was a kid my parents told me to turn it down. Now I'm an adult and my kids tell me to turn it down.
    Family Room:LG QNED80 75", Onkyo RZ50 Emotiva XPA3 GEN3 Oppo BDP-93,Sony UBP-X800BM. Main: Polk LsiM 705Center: Polk LSiM 704CFront High/Rear High In-Ceiling Polk 80F/X RT Surrounds: Polk S15 Sub: HSU VTF3-MK5
    Bed Room; Marantz SR5010, BDP-S270Main: Polk Signature S20Center: Polk Signature S35Rear: Polk R15 Sub: SVS SB2000
    Working Warehouse; Yamaha A-S301, Sony DVP-NS3100ES for disc Plok TSX550T SVS PB2000 Mini tower PC with 400GB of music
  • dolbyd
    dolbyd Posts: 430
    mrloren wrote: »
    Put on Rush 2112. This LP goes through some very bright and harsh areas. If your ears are not ringing at -10db then it's not bright or there is a hearing problem. with a Sony ES and RTi8 I couldn't go past -15db without experiencing some overly bright harshness.

    I did try a Gen 1 XPA5 once, it was not as bright as the Sony ES AVR. The G3 is a sweet amp and for the price can't be beat. Now would I rather have a Parasound oh yes but my wallet says no.

    I agree Parasound is an easy decision but you do pay. The new A21+ going for $3150. I am going to try out the DR2 Gen 3 first.
    Main room- RTiA9 x4, CSiA6, in ceiling Atmos RT-70 x4, SVS PC 4000 x2, Marantz 8805A, OPPO 203, Emotiva DR3 G3, Emotiva XPA-2 G3, Emotiva XPA-5 G3, Emotiva X300, Sony 75" 940E, Panasonic Plasma VT50, PS Audio Power Port X2, PS Audio AC-5 x8, AQ Rocket 33 Biwire speaker cables, AQ King Cobra XLR IC, Furman PFi20 W/Cullen cable, SoildSteel S4-4 rack, Gik room treatments

    Office- Legend L600, in ceiling Polk RC80i, Marantz 7704, OPPO 203, Pioneer Elite PDF-59 CD, PSA Stellar 300, Sony 55" 800B, Gik room treatment

    Master BR- Signature ES60, Signature S35 Center, Signature S15 Dolby Height, LSI700 in ceiling, SVS-SB4000, Marantz 5012, Emotiva XPA5 G2, OPPO 203, Pioneer DVL-919 Laser Disc, Sony 55" OLED

    Patio- SDI Atrium8 x3, Emotiva A-100 amps x3
  • I tried out an adcom gfa555II and a Wyred4Sound ST500 class D. I am keeping the class D . both sounded just fine