Gmoneywp15

Gmoneywp15

Audioholic Intern
Had another thread going about loudspeakers. But I think it really belongs in the amp section now. So I have polk RTI. A9. They are being powered emotiva a300. Wondering if the amp is underpowered for these speakers? I was looking at getting possibly a different amp. my mid range speakers are blown in both of the Polks. I purchased replacement OEM speakers for the towers. But want to figure out why they got blown since the emotiva is well below the RMS power of the towers. Could it be underpowering? I guess that’s the first question. After that, I wanna figure out what amp I need to purchase not looking to spend a ridiculous amount of money, but I’ll spend what I need to.
Marantz 1607
Emotiva A300
2 x RTI A9
2 x Hsu VTF3 mk5

considering amps
ATI AT6002
Emotiva XPA-2 Gen 3
Rotel RB 1590
 
j_garcia

j_garcia

Audioholic Jedi
Since you are listening loud per the other thread, likely they are underpowered. With 2 subs, do you have them set to small or filter them in any way? The A300 is probably sufficient for average listening but not loud listening. ~200+ wpc and a beefy power supply should do the trick, so maybe any of those amps. I have an A500 I picked up used and I run only my Atmos speakers off it. It was being used by my son in law with my old 4 Ohm speakers and it couldn't handle them.

350-400W is probably overkill, but certainly won't hurt if SPL is what you are after.

And there's this:
 
Tankini

Tankini

Audioholic Chief
Since you are listening loud per the other thread, likely they are underpowered. With 2 subs, do you have them set to small or filter them in any way? The A300 is probably sufficient for average listening but not loud listening. ~200+ wpc and a beefy power supply should do the trick, so maybe any of those amps. I have an A500 I picked up used and I run only my Atmos speakers off it. It was being used by my son in law with my old 4 Ohm speakers and it couldn't handle them.

350-400W is probably overkill, but certainly won't hurt if SPL is what you are after.

And there's this:
Forgot about those monoprice amps, yeah OP those are also solid choice. Just a note, many on AH like those Buckeye amps solid also. They are class D. Very good spec's gobs of power plus weigh a lot less. But cost is about the same as class A/B amps..
 
Gmoneywp15

Gmoneywp15

Audioholic Intern
Since you are listening loud per the other thread, likely they are underpowered. With 2 subs, do you have them set to small or filter them in any way? The A300 is probably sufficient for average listening but not loud listening. ~200+ wpc and a beefy power supply should do the trick, so maybe any of those amps. I have an A500 I picked up used and I run only my Atmos speakers off it. It was being used by my son in law with my old 4 Ohm speakers and it couldn't handle them.

350-400W is probably overkill, but certainly won't hurt if SPL is what you are after.

And there's this:
Yes. I have them set to small.
 
Gmoneywp15

Gmoneywp15

Audioholic Intern
Since you are listening loud per the other thread, likely they are underpowered. With 2 subs, do you have them set to small or filter them in any way? The A300 is probably sufficient for average listening but not loud listening. ~200+ wpc and a beefy power supply should do the trick, so maybe any of those amps. I have an A500 I picked up used and I run only my Atmos speakers off it. It was being used by my son in law with my old 4 Ohm speakers and it couldn't handle them.

350-400W is probably overkill, but certainly won't hurt if SPL is what you are after.

And there's this:
I have my amp plugged into a surge protector. But not a power supply. Will any UPS work? Or is there a particular ones I need to be looking at?
 
P

PENG

Audioholic Slumlord
In you decision making process, be reminded of the following facts:

- Going from a 150 to 300 W amp, you will gain 3 dB increase, and will sound louder just like turning the volume up by 3 dB, or 6 clicks if the volume increase is the typically 0.5 dB per step on Marantz AVRs.

- Doubling seating distance will result in 6 dB loss assuming no room gain, so if you sit 4 meters instead of 2, you will lose 6 dB SPL, like turning the volume down by 12 steps (again assuming 0.5 dB/step).

- "Power", while it is mainly a product of V (voltage) and I (current) can be misleading in many cases, it is better to pay attention to power amp's voltage and current capabilities instead of just focussing on their advertised "power" specs in watts. A power amp's output of say 150 W into 8 ohms, may be okay outputting 200 W into 4 ohms, but if there are lots of contents that require the amp to drive long enough into 4 ohms and below, it will not be able to sustain at that output level.

That said, I would never use those bass X series amp with large not too easy to drive speakers like the A9 unless for near field and required SPL is not particular loud. Polk spec them as 8 ohm nominal, but the actual impedance/phase angle curve would likely tell a less optimistic picture, do you have those curves, if do please post so we can something more definitive of their "power" needs.
 
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AcuDefTechGuy

AcuDefTechGuy

Audioholic Jedi
@Gmoneywp15 I'm out, PENG has chimed in. He is an retired EE, you lucked out!
First thing I do is get rid of that Emo. Probably blew his speakers in first place. :D

Not just about quantity, but also about quality. ;)



For ATI, just need the AT1822 200W x 2Ch into 8 ohms (300W x 2Ch into 4 ohms).
 
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Tankini

Tankini

Audioholic Chief
First thing I do is get rid of that Emo. Probably blew his speakers in first place. :D

Not just about quantity, but also about quality. ;)

For ATI, just need the AT1822 200W x 2Ch into 8 ohms (300W x 2Ch into 4 ohms).
OP did state he could up his budget to 6k. Give me a budget of 6k and those RBH tower's you posted would be ordered already with the matching center plus 3 channel ATi amp. Yeah sell off that EMO amp or rededicate to surround speaker use

Now that's a serious upgrade. His RTi-A9's are good, but let's be realistic, they are Not RBH tower speakers are they.

Them RTi-A9's, I mean that's like getting a supermodel without the good putnami. RBH tower's those you posted up, be like having a Cobra under the hood.:D
 
Gmoneywp15

Gmoneywp15

Audioholic Intern
First thing I do is get rid of that Emo. Probably blew his speakers in first place. :D

Not just about quantity, but also about quality. ;)



For ATI, just need the AT1822 200W x 2Ch into 8 ohms (300W x 2Ch into 4 ohms).
Funny, the only reason I bought the Emo was it was recommended by several people on here when I bought it in 2019.
 
Tankini

Tankini

Audioholic Chief
Funny, the only reason I bought the Emo was it was recommended by several people on here when I bought it in 2019.
Would one or two of those here on AH that recommended EMO be, @AcuDefTechGuy or @PENG :D lol.;) You really want an upgrade? I mentioned ATi amps, never owned any from ATi but many on AH do use them. Speaker LCR is where you funds would be better spent..
 
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Tankini

Tankini

Audioholic Chief
Had another thread going about loudspeakers. But I think it really belongs in the amp section now. So I have polk RTI. A9. They are being powered emotiva a300. Wondering if the amp is underpowered for these speakers? I was looking at getting possibly a different amp. my mid range speakers are blown in both of the Polks. I purchased replacement OEM speakers for the towers. But want to figure out why they got blown since the emotiva is well below the RMS power of the towers. Could it be underpowering? I guess that’s the first question. After that, I wanna figure out what amp I need to purchase not looking to spend a ridiculous amount of money, but I’ll spend what I need to.
Marantz 1607
Emotiva A300
2 x RTI A9
2 x Hsu VTF3 mk5

considering amps
ATI AT6002
Emotiva XPA-2 Gen 3
Rotel RB 1590
So, after rereading your post, All 4, 5"1/4 driver's are blown? OMG! Ouch! That's like blowing two 10" driver's kind of. You did that? Or someone left the volume really high and you came behind them not knowing the volume was at reference level, and Pow!! Just curious how 4 driver's get knocked out at the same time.
 
j_garcia

j_garcia

Audioholic Jedi
Hey, don’t kid around like that or some newbies might believe it! :D

To newbies: Emo will NOT touch their amps after the warranty expires. :D
Back in the day, I think that was different. They replaced my amp when I had an issue no questions asked, repaired my pre/pro free even out of warranty also (when they were doing all manufacturing in-house). Then a few years later, when the same thing happened to the pre, there was a meager trade in or cost involved because they didn't have a replacement unit anymore. The new model was about 3-4 months out and I decided to go back to Marantz instead.
 
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