Yes we listen loud sometimes. Pretty much as loud as the marantz will go. So the specs on the rti A9 says 50-500 watts at 8 ohms. My emotiva is rated at 300 watts per channel at 4 ohms, so 150 at 8 ohms. I know my understanding of all this stuff is elementary, but I figured the emotiva was decent. You think I need a better/bigger amp? And yes I have a matching center channel that runs direct off the marantz.
Kind of hard to say really, I'm no audio EE either. Blowing out 5" 1/4 driver's though never have I ever heard or have I done such a thing. Tweeter's yeah, mostly on cheap speakers.
So you do have the matching center, since you like to Crank up the volume, your room is kind of big maybe a 3 channel ATi amp? EMO amp huh? Good value amp but it really isn't an ATi amp though is it. Could have been source material, like some ole rock music that has a lot of recorded distortion in it.
EMO amps have a high gain if I remember right. At least the first generation, second generation XPA amps did, something around 32? Could be wrong though slept since then.
Anyways, I do agree, speakers is where your funds would be better spent. Those RBH tower's would most Definitely be an upgrade over what you have now. But they are 3k each, unless you find a dealer who is willing to give you a good brother-in-law deal.
