Recommended Amps and preamps for Polk RTI A7s HELP!!!
Hey guys I’m pretty much a newbie to the audio hifi world, it all started a few weeks ago when I received a Denon 2801 amplifier that he wasn’t using. So I decided to get some speakers I got a really good deal on a pair of Polk Audio RTI A7s upon research they are rated from 20 - 300 Watts. I have done a lot of reading from other users and forums that they really need a lot of power to drive to enable to listen to them properly and perform well. Which is also what the seller told me to invest into a good amp and pre amp. I am currently using the Denon 2801 my dad gave me which is only 90 Watts at 8 ohms, I used the amp to test the speakers when I picked them up and the seller was telling me that the amp I’m using is just not cutting it with the A7s probably only performing at 30% performance wise. I’m really new to the audio world guys once again. I just want to get some advice and tips on how amps and pre amps properly work together and are they hard to hook up to one another I notice on the back of my Denon there is a section that’s says pre out and a white and red connector that says left and right im assuming that’s where I would hook up my pre amp? Also another query I have is should I keep my current Denon amp and just get a pre amp with it? What amps or preamps would you guys recommend that would make the pair of A7s perform well? Also if the speakers got the power that they needed would there be a huge difference in sound and quality and where ? I don’t want to spend thousands of dollars but possibly up to $1000 or less just to begin with as I’m fairly new I will probably want to change a few things but I just want to drive these speakers to perform well to truly get the experience of what there capable of. Sorry guys for all the newbie questions and queries . Any help or advice is much appreciated. Thankyou all
The Denon 2801 is not an amp - it is a Audio Video Receiver, which are typically not the best for music reproduction. No sense in using a preamp with the amp section - that would be your bottleneck. For your price point I would look into a used Rega Brio-R integrated amp, one can be had for $600 or so, retail for $995. You are not going to be able to get an amp and preamp of any quality for your budget. Your Polk's (not high-end) do not need a hi-end amp, a mid-fi integrated would drive them just fine. Everyone starts somewhere and once you get your system together and you become familiar with it you can then focus on how to improve upon it.
Buy the Luxman LV112 integrated amp (Japanese-made) now on EBAY. $140 and free-shipping from Colorado! Seller is: johnkent2018. This is an excellent unit and will drive your Polk speakers with ease! Sell (or throw away) that Denon AV receiver! The Luxman is far better!
For a signal source (cheap) there is a Harmon Kardon HD7400 CD player for $55 + $26 shipping on EBAY. Seller is: proofofauthenticity. Ships from NY. A quality Japanese unit!
Your Polk RTi A7's are a quality speaker! Four-way (2 7-inch woofers, 6.5-inch midrange, 1-inch tweeter) narrow-baffle ported cabinet. Real wood veneer (42x8x17). 55 lbs. A good and enjoyable beginning system! Get the Luxman LV112 and HK HD7400 and you'll be good to go!
Your Denon consumes 5 amps from the wall, at full volume, with all channels driven. Using it strictly as a front 2 channel stereo amp, you might find the sound to be enough, for now ( it has a decent power supply ). Make sure you have all of the surround sound stuff OFF, and the unit is set to STEREO. As you are a newbie, I would stress to you, to 1st set up the speakers properly, using the supplied spikes, and maybe do a little bit of acoustical room treatment, then, listen to what you have, which costs very little, at this time. Your Denon has a preamp out, so you can add a power amp later ( or sooner ), if you find you need or want to. Place the Denon on a non resonant shelf, and if you have something small and heavy ( such as a marble statue, or a weight from a dumbbell set ), place it on the top cover of the Denon, near the center, to eliminate the chassis from ringing. I know this is different from the other recommendations, but I am telling you, do this first. Keep us posted. Enjoy ! MrD.
B&K amps have been used with great results with the RTiA as well as the Parasound HCA series. I would suggest checking out the Polk Audio forum to get more input as many there have experience with the speakers.
Hey guys thank you all for your input so far. I’m thinking of getting an amp that is from 150-180 Watts or 200 Watts if possible and maybe later getting a pre amp to go with it later is that worth doing I had a look Luxman LV112 integrated amp it’s only 55 Watts per channel into 8 ohms isn’t that less then thr Denon 2801 receiver I am using which is 90 Watts per channel. So wouldn’t the luxman drive my speakers less then the Denon?
Only a 3db difference in maximum SPL between the Luxman and Denon. For sound quality the LV112 is the winner here! It was the best I could find with a quick search! I will always choose an amp for SQ rather than maximum SPL!
How about the Schiit Freya tube preamp with the Crown XLS 1502 Drive Core amp. 300 + watts for $399 and free shipping from a number of sites (Crutchfield, Sam Ash ...). This combination would be well-within your budget! Plus being brand-new and under warranty! This would be my own personal choice!
Just wondering do they ship to Australia Melbourne ? Are they a good quality amp? Any other recommendations or suggestions u can think of to recommend? Or should I keep my Denon and just add a preamp..?
The Crown XLS 1502 is indeed a killer amp competitive with the real expensive stuff! If I didn't already have too many amps I would buy one myself! Use the Denon as a preamp from the pre-out jacks. With the money saved get a cheap DVD player (to use as a CD transport) and a Schiit DAC. Truly excellent sound for not much cost! Shipping to Australia could be arranged.
Sorry for the newbie questions and to frustrate you lol but what is the Schiit dac? And how do I look out for how much current an amplifier draws? Because I read some where else where someone said when it comes to looking for an amp and pre amp never look at the Watts because I think the crown xls is only 55 Watts where as the Denon I’m using is 90 Watts but apparently the crown would draw more current which would drive I’m Polk rti a7s bettter then the Denon. I’m just really confused then what do the figures mean then I always thought more Watts was better ? And how do I read current used or pushed out from the specs menu of a ad for amps ?
thanks once again for your help and advice really appreciate you taking the time out to deal with my amateurness lol
Hi guys I found a Denon poa 2800 my only concern is I don’t think it supports optical cable because I could not see any optical ports. But considering thr specs would this be a good amp to drive my speakers Polk rti a7s?
these are the specs.
High End Denon power amplifier High End Denon Power amplifier model POA-2800 Made in Japan Very good condition and Amazing sound(warm open sound and strong power out put) This unit build in very big transformer and 4 big caps 18.000Mf each caps 200 watts pre channel for 8 ohm or 350 per channel for 4 ohm Dimension W- 430 D- 410 H-190 18Kg Everything working in good condition slight scratches
daoki, the POA 2800, as a power amp, would get it’s signal from the pre outs of your receiver, using a pair of single ended ( rca to rca ) cables. The optical connection you speak of ( and all of your sources ) are connected to the receiver. Your main speakers, the Polks, would now connect to the power amp. The Crown would connect the same way. However, the Crown has a pair of fans within its chassis to help with cooling, and depending on the amp placement and your listening position, the fans might be audible, particularly during low level listening or quiet musical passages. Hope this helps. Enjoy ! MrD.
Why not look into the purchase of an integrated amplifier? An integrated has 2-channel preamp and amplifier in single housing. Many have built in DAC or phonostage, some both. Yamaha makes several models, the A-s701 or 801 provide 100wpc into 8ohms, and a claimed 200wpc into 4ohms.
Get either the Rotel RA-1592 stereo integrated amp with built-in DAC. It retails for $2500 new. It is a great and musical sounding integrated amp and has more than enough power to drive your Polk RTi A7. Has good sounding DAC too.
Or if you want to get stereo separates I recommend the Rotel RC-1590 stereo preamp with built-in DAC with the Rotel RB-1582 Mk2 stereo power amp. The RA-1592 integrated is actually the RC-1590 preamp/DAC + RB-1582 Mk power amp put together in a single chassis. The sound is full warm with smooth highs and very refined sounding amps and will be a good match for your Polk RTi A7, which are lean bright and somewhat harsh sounding speakers.
yeah guys I just bought the DENON POA 2800 off eBay for $560 Australia which works out to be $400 US. Can’t wait to pick it up this Friday after work.. The Denon POA 2800 was so hard to find anyone else here in Australia selling the same model. There wer a lot of listings in the USA eBay prices any where from $350 - $1000 but I mean once I add shipping costs and import taxes I would of been paying way too much for it. So I’m pretty stoked I could snap this up while I had the chance. Also yeah the denon 2801 90watts receiver I am using does have preouts left and right red and white ports so it should be able to hook up the power amplifier. Can’t wait to use put these two together on Friday I will let you guys know how everything goes once up and running. Thanks guys for the help and advice much appreciated
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