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Post by Djeff on Aug 29, 2018 14:40:40 GMT -5
Thoughts on which amp to power my A9 Polks, using Onkyo rz820 receiver, but sounds under whelming. Manuel’s says 40-500w recommended. Mainly just stereo listening now, but may use for surround in future.
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Post by simpleman68 on Aug 29, 2018 14:52:55 GMT -5
That's a hard question to answer without more information.
1. Do you like SS or tube sound? 2. What's your budget? 3. Any near future upgrades to the rig like a part time surround/theater use? 4. 2 ch music only?
I owned a pair of RTi A9s for 6 years and they open up with a lot of power. I've used an Emotiva XPR-2 (600W X2) as well as a Parasound A21 and they both sounded exceptional. Warm, clear and good stage. Scott
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Post by 509Paul on Aug 29, 2018 18:43:24 GMT -5
I am running mine with two XPA-1 Gen 2 monoblocks.
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Post by leonski on Aug 29, 2018 18:44:26 GMT -5
What is 'underwhelming about the current sound? Won't more power just make for louder underwhelming?
Buy BETTER watts. Onkyo might be Whatever but also probably doesn't like lower impedance loads, like 90% of HT receivers.
If your Polk drops down too low, even if they call it 8 ohms, you might have problems.
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Post by garbulky on Aug 29, 2018 20:53:48 GMT -5
Yeah most important is what is your budget
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Post by garbulky on Aug 29, 2018 20:55:29 GMT -5
Yeah most important is what is your budget For a cheap budget I would recommend A used upa2 or a used xpa 2000 |
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Post by Djeff on Aug 29, 2018 21:42:02 GMT -5
Don't really know the difference between SS and tube sounding amps. The A9's seem to be on the bright side, so don't want to add to that spectrum. Mainly used for audio, 2 channel right now. May run receiver through new LG OLED and do surround in future, but have a Sony sound bar presently for that. Am considering the Emotiva DR-3, for the Polks. If I decide to do a surround setup, would use the DR-3 for the front channels and use the Onkyo for the rear channels? Would like to keep the price < $2000.
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Post by leonski on Aug 30, 2018 0:54:31 GMT -5
Junk out the ONKYO and get yourself a Parasound Halo Integrated.
And HONEST watts @160x2 with very good 4ohm power. Not like the Oinkyo which rates 4ohm power at an UnUsable 10% distortion!
Parasound includes a good DAC section and phono input. And if it follows the P5 preamp which I have, a good headphone output and even a front panel iPod input.
If you aren't using all those nutty HT features, why bother?
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Post by garbulky on Aug 30, 2018 10:07:54 GMT -5
Don't really know the difference between SS and tube sounding amps. The A9's seem to be on the bright side, so don't want to add to that spectrum. Mainly used for audio, 2 channel right now. May run receiver through new LG OLED and do surround in future, but have a Sony sound bar presently for that. Am considering the Emotiva DR-3, for the Polks. If I decide to do a surround setup, would use the DR-3 for the front channels and use the Onkyo for the rear channels? Would like to keep the price < $2000. I'm surprised you want to spend so much for a speaker that costs $200. I would spend less than that unless you are planning to upgrade the speakers. But if that price is what you are looking for I a used XPA-1 gen 2 or XPA-2 gen 2, some of the best amps I've heard. I can't reccomend the gen 3 - at least the regular one. It sounded audibly different in certain areas of the frequency range that I didn't think was quite correct. It has also measured poorly in IMD tests in levels where it's audible. I haven't heard the DR version. But a gen 1 version of the XPA-1 or 2 is also a very solid choice. |
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Post by leonski on Aug 30, 2018 15:44:10 GMT -5
Gar? Not EVERYBODY needs that kind of HP.
Those amps you mention would be OK for my Low Sensitivity panels. But for 95db sensitive speakers? MANY choices in the sub-200 watt arena which would be both affordable and good sounding.
IMO, nearly anything with GAIN should better the ONKYO amps.
Polk calls the RTi9a in at 90db senstivity. This is fine and makes good use of power. The max recommended 500 watts? Pandering to the 'too much is just right' brigade.
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Post by knucklehead on Aug 30, 2018 15:50:52 GMT -5
I use a Yamaha integrated amp to drive my Polks. I get the best of 2 channel and multi channel, 5.2. When the integrated amp is on and I'm playing 2 channel all the multi channel stuff except the Oppo are off. It's a true 2 channel setup for music. A used Marantz integrated amp in the 8xxx lineup can be had for well under $1k, and adds flexibility for a 'hybrid' setup, which is how I view my setup. If you like music like I like music you'll be glad you went that route. I bought my Yamaha integrated amp for just over $600. Its a better choice than a standard 2 channel amp IMO.
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Post by garbulky on Aug 30, 2018 17:14:01 GMT -5
Gar? Not EVERYBODY needs that kind of HP. Those amps you mention would be OK for my Low Sensitivity panels. But for 95db sensitive speakers? MANY choices in the sub-200 watt arena which would be both affordable and good sounding. IMO, nearly anything with GAIN should better the ONKYO amps. Polk calls the RTi9a in at 90db senstivity. This is fine and makes good use of power. The max recommended 500 watts? Pandering to the 'too much is just right' brigade. For budget as I metnioned an XPA-200 or old UPA-2 would be more suitable. I guess the A-300 isn't a bad choice. But I prefer the previous amps. BTW I use 90+ db sensitive speakers and listen at volumes in the upper 60 db's so for me it's about "better watts". But I also agree that an XPA-1 or 2 might be a lot of money to spend on $200 speakers and wouldn't purchase them for that. But he mentioned his budget was $2000 hence my recommendation. |
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Post by 509Paul on Aug 30, 2018 19:04:08 GMT -5
Gar? Not EVERYBODY needs that kind of HP. Those amps you mention would be OK for my Low Sensitivity panels. But for 95db sensitive speakers? MANY choices in the sub-200 watt arena which would be both affordable and good sounding. IMO, nearly anything with GAIN should better the ONKYO amps. Polk calls the RTi9a in at 90db senstivity. This is fine and makes good use of power. The max recommended 500 watts? Pandering to the 'too much is just right' brigade. For budget as I metnioned an XPA-200 or old UPA-2 would be more suitable. I guess the A-300 isn't a bad choice. But I prefer the previous amps. BTW I use 90+ db sensitive speakers and listen at volumes in the upper 60 db's so for me it's about "better watts". But I also agree that an XPA-1 or 2 might be a lot of money to spend on $200 speakers and wouldn't purchase them for that. But he mentioned his budget was $2000 hence my recommendation. Not sure where you are seeing the Rti A9 speakers for $200... when I bought mine two years ago for my home theater setup they were running $800 each with tax. If you have an outlet for these at $200 I will need to buy 5 more for all corners of my 7.1 setup!!!! |
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Post by leonski on Aug 30, 2018 23:48:50 GMT -5
Depending on the OPs desire for *eventual* upgrade, it might make sense to buy MORE amp than actually needed. IF the Onkyo has a resale value, and it probably doesn't, I'd sell that and buy a good,
modern Integrated. The Parasound Halo Integrated is over budget but SHOULD survive a couple upgrade cycles. This is cost effective.
HT stuff never appealed to me. Gear with a lifecycle measured in MONTHS coupled with marginal amp sections just left me head-scratching. The approach followed by EMO with a programmable Pre/Pro and seperate amps is reasonable.
Add a couple card slots for a MM/MC Phone input and maybe a another card slot for a 4k HDMI I/O or even a DAC section or whatever floats your boat. If demand was there, maybe even an FM Tuner module.........Any and all would populate the
add-on slot and provide forward compatible tech or legacy support as the owner saw fit. Heck, make one of the add-on cards a ZONE 2 OUTPUT with stereo OUT or even a digital out.........
Possibilities are limitless..
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Post by emofrmcgy on Sept 3, 2018 21:44:07 GMT -5
Spend the 2k on higher sensitivity speakers. I used an xpr2 on my a9's and they fell apart and compressed like crazy at high..ish levels. The replacement jtr t8's which can be had as a trio on the used market for less than 2k.... Completely blew them away. JMO YMMV
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Post by leonski on Sept 3, 2018 22:53:16 GMT -5
3db is roughly the same as 2x the amp power. A good trade IF you like the new speakers better than 'old'.
Some variability in how sensitvity is measured, so be sure to compare 'like-to-like' in this spec.
'power handling' is another of those specs with several ways to measure.
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Post by gentlejax on Nov 20, 2018 10:22:14 GMT -5
@nd me in line for some $200 RTi-A9's ...I just got a pair local for $480 set and I am pleased at that. moved up from monitor 70 series III and I have yet to hook my subs back up.
I am currently waiting on a PT-100 preamp to arrive. I am running my A9's off a rebuilt Crown Audio K1 wich was benched at 440 rms x 2 after the rebuild.
my former preamp was a Yamaha cx-830 which was old school analog. im interested in seeing how this turns out. up to this point my A9's were never bright but I kept treble set to flat.
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