Pioneer 815 - stong enough to power Polk RTi8 speakers?

[Bluesmoke]

I've spent a lot of money on my car recently and really need a budget receiver with powe to drive these speakers. My room is 12 feet by 16 feet. I don't plan on playing movies at reference level or anything. As long as it's smooth and clear at low levels. Just a 3.0 setup at the moment. I'll get a better receiver when I add more speakers later this year. I'm currently borrowing a friend's HK AVR 135 and it seems to be good enough, so the toss up is should I get the 815 or pay a bit more for the 135? The Pioneer has more power rating (yes I know HK power is conservative). I read somewhere that not enough power can send dirty signals to your speakers and damage them. I love the RTi8s and definately don't want to blow anything up. I'm a newbie at this so any advice here will help. Thx.

 

[uback007]

You should have no problem with the Pioneer...
Its a solid amp for the money.. I have it powering some Paradigm's and it performs flawlessly with power to spare. Plus, if you decide to make the foray into home theartre, this receiver is all that you will need for a great system with the most bang for the buck..
Good luck!

 

[zumbo]

Not enough...

You like the way it sounds with H/K, then I would get H/K. Here is a steal from an authorized dealer.
http://www.jr.com/JRProductPage.process?Product=3974031

Don't let the specs fool you. The Pioneer is 22lbs. The H/K is 44lbs.

 

[Bluesmoke]

Not enough...

You like the way it sounds with H/K, then I would get H/K. Here is a steal from an authorized dealer.
http://www.jr.com/JRProductPage.process?Product=3974031

Don't let the specs fool you. The Pioneer is 22lbs. The H/K is 44lbs.

Are you out of your mind? That thing is $699. If I had $700 to spare I would've gotten a Denon 3805 or something. I can get the HK 135 for $300can and the Pioneer 815K for $270 (plus tax). Remember, my receiver will be temporary as I put too much money into my car. I will be buying a 7.1 flagship type receiver later in the year or early next year when the HDMI issues are sorted out and prices go down. It's like buying a Ferrari without learning to drive. I'd like to get used to a entry receiver first to see what I need and don't need for future purchases.

The 135 weighs around 25lbs, not 44.

 

[zumbo]

Are you out of your mind?

Nope. Are you? You didn't give a budget. I can't read minds. I found a great deal on a receiver with plenty of power for your speakers. You will not find enough power with your budget, but I guess you will find something that works for now.

 

[zumbo]

The 135 weighs around 25lbs, not 44.

The weight I listed was for the receiver I listed. Looks like you take offense to the help you asked for. I am not trying to Bluesmoke up your ***. Good luck.

 

[Bluesmoke]

Nope. Are you? You didn't give a budget. I can't read minds. I found a great deal on a receiver with plenty of power for your speakers. You will not find enough power with your budget, but I guess you will find something that works for now.

Please don't take this the wrong way. I was being sarcastic. Perhaps I should have put one of these to indicate my surprise. My budget is around 350canadian.

How does power come into play? I'm not sure how it works. As I stated, I will not be turning the unit up to scare away neighbours. I have a baby so it will not be very loud at all. Would I still need a lot of power to drive the RTis regardless of volume being used? I know they can handle insane amounts of juice.

 

[mtrycrafts]

How does power come into play? I'm not sure how it works. As I stated, I will not be turning the unit up to scare away neighbours. I have a baby so it will not be very loud at all. Would I still need a lot of power to drive the RTis regardless of volume being used? I know they can handle insane amounts of juice.

With your needs, your selection will be fine. Power drives speakers louder. Speaker's impedance and sensitivity determines what power you may need as the loudness levels you want to achieve and room size also comes into the calculation picture.

 

[MacManNM]

I would have to disagree with Mrty there. I dont think that Pioneer is going to have enough to push those Polks. You can ask anyone on this forum who has those RTi speakers, they like the power. I would go with something like this:
http://www.ubid.com/actn/opn/getpage.asp?AuctionId=10608869

Which has a little more juice.

Your other option is to get the Pioneer and get an external power amp. You can get something decent used. That unit has pre-outs, and it might well service you for a long time.

 

[Bluesmoke]

I would have to disagree with Mrty there. I dont think that Pioneer is going to have enough to push those Polks. You can ask anyone on this forum who has those RTi speakers, they like the power. I would go with something like this:
http://www.ubid.com/actn/opn/getpage.asp?AuctionId=10608869

Which has a little more juice.

Your other option is to get the Pioneer and get an external power amp. You can get something decent used. That unit has pre-outs, and it might well service you for a long time.

Hmm, I'm still unclear on the matter. This is how loud I would be playing movies and music - not loud enough to be heard from 2nd floor bedrooms. I don't play loud at all. Does that still mean I will need more power than the 815? One thing I don't want to do is somehow damage my speakers. Will the Polks force the 815 to go into clipping mode (don't know the term, sorry) just to send enough juice? I really don't want to spend too much since I will be buying a better receiver probably around summer or so.

 

[MacManNM]

Hmm, I'm still unclear on the matter. This is how loud I would be playing movies and music - not loud enough to be heard from 2nd floor bedrooms. I don't play loud at all. Does that still mean I will need more power than the 815? One thing I don't want to do is somehow damage my speakers. Will the Polks force the 815 to go into clipping mode (don't know the term, sorry) just to send enough juice? I really don't want to spend too much since I will be buying a better receiver probably around summer or so.

It's not a matter of how loud it is. Everyone I have talked to has noticed increased bass response from adding a beefier amp to the Polks. There are several reasons that this could be, but I won't speculate. Buy the 815, if it sounds good then its a win, if it doesn't, you still have the option of adding an external amp.

 

[PENG]

If you have a full 6.1 system, the 135 may be preferred, but for your 3.1 system, the 815 is quite comparable to the HK. If fact, the 815's two channel rating may even be slightly higher. Both units seem to have similar size power supply transformer. The 815 actually appears to have a bigger one.

Here's the link to the rear panel of the 135:
http://manuals.harman.com/HK/QuickStart Guide/AVR135rear.pdf

It's power input is specified at 300W (540W maximum according to the manual).

link to the 815:
http://www.pioneerelectronics.com/pna/product/detail/0,,2076_4153_209695979,00.html
Click on close up back view.

It's input power is specified at 480VA, or 360W (no maximum specified).

To me the RTi8 can do okay with less powerful amps as long as you don't push too hard. It's the RTi10 and up that seem to have problem with anything less than a HKAVR630, Denon AVR3805 etc.

Mac made a good point, the Pioneer has pre-outs, this feature allows you to add a power amplifier in the future when you need more power. You cannot do that with the HKAVR135.

 

[mtrycrafts]

I would have to disagree with Mrty there. I dont think that Pioneer is going to have enough to push those Polks. You can ask anyone on this forum who has those RTi speakers, they like the power. I would go with something like this:
http://www.ubid.com/actn/opn/getpage.asp?AuctionId=10608869

Which has a little more juice.

Your other option is to get the Pioneer and get an external power amp. You can get something decent used. That unit has pre-outs, and it might well service you for a long time.

From his post, it doesn't appear he is interested in 'pushing' his speakers where he is and his babies.

 

[mtrycrafts]

Hmm, I'm still unclear on the matter. This is how loud I would be playing movies and music - not loud enough to be heard from 2nd floor bedrooms. I don't play loud at all. Does that still mean I will need more power than the 815? One thing I don't want to do is somehow damage my speakers. Will the Polks force the 815 to go into clipping mode (don't know the term, sorry) just to send enough juice? I really don't want to spend too much since I will be buying a better receiver probably around summer or so.

Some people have problems reading what you requested and think like they are the ones listening, not you.
From what you wrote, you are fine, the amp should not clip at all.
At some time in the future when you want reference levels, 105 dB spl and louder in the bass, your needs will be different. Today, you are fine.
Unfortunately, nothing here is in concrete about these recommendation, so you will have to judge yourself.

 

[speakerman39]

Here is an idea. Why not go ahead and get the Pioneer 915 or better yet the 1015 which is an awesome receiver???? I have seen the 915 for around the $299 range and the 1015 for around the $425. Personally, I own a Yamaha RX-V757 and would highly reccomend it as well. Also, the Yamaha RX-V657 would be another option. You should be able to look around and get some really good deals. Good luck in your choice.

 

[PENG]

Here is an idea. Why not go ahead and get the Pioneer 915 or better yet the 1015 which is an awesome receiver???? I have seen the 915 for around the $299 range and the 1015 for around the $425. Personally, I own a Yamaha RX-V757 and would highly reccomend it as well. Also, the Yamaha RX-V657 would be another option. You should be able to look around and get some really good deals. Good luck in your choice.

The problem is, we have to pay much more in Canada, for products from HK, and to lesser extent, Yamaha. We do get a little closer in price for Pioneer and even Denon (to lesser extent), for some reason. May be because Costco sell their entry level products.

There are more reasonable deals in Canada right now for the HK's AVRX3X series only because the X4X are out. Given his budget, the 815is it, and the 915 won't give him any more meaningful power. The 1015 is a different story but cost much more.

 

[Zuke]

Go to Best Buy, get the 815, if it is poo then return it and try again. Also look into the Yamaha HTR5840 it around the same price as the 815.

 

[Bluesmoke]

The problem is, we have to pay much more in Canada, for products from HK, and to lesser extent, Yamaha. We do get a little closer in price for Pioneer and even Denon (to lesser extent), for some reason. May be because Costco sell their entry level products.

There are more reasonable deals in Canada right now for the HK's AVRX3X series only because the X4X are out. Given his budget, the 815is it, and the 915 won't give him any more meaningful power. The 1015 is a different story but cost much more.

Yup, precisely I'd love to get a 1015tx for what you Americans get - $250 or so. At Future Shop or Best Buy, the god damn thing is $699. It's actually cheaper for me to buy it from an online US store, have it shipped to a weed dealer, have him pack about $50 worth of weed in it, and ship it to me, where I have to pay customs taxes and duty fees.

 

[Bluesmoke]

Bump.

Gonna buy my receiver tomorrow along with a Velodyne DPS 10 sub and return the CSi3 center since I can't make up my mind on whether I will keep it when I buy a better receiver around summer. I can get them anytime. Hence, I will be running a 2.1 setup with my RTi8s and the Velodyne for now.

Someone was telling me that the HK 135 really has no competition in its price range since it's high current and you have to spend a lot more to get high current in other brands (Denon, Onkyo, etc...).

Can't decide between the 135 and the Pionner 815. Damn. Any advice?

 

[mtrycrafts]

Someone was telling me that the HK 135 really has no competition in its price range since it's high current and you have to spend a lot more to get high current in other brands (Denon, Onkyo, etc...).

Can't decide between the 135 and the Pionner 815. Damn. Any advice?

Be very careful with that 'high current' claims and how it is claimed.

http://www.audioholics.com/techtips/audioprinciples/amplifiers/HighCurrentAmps.php

There are other good reading materials at this site