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amp (or receiver) recommendation for Polk Audio RTi A7 floorstanding speakers

I started off building a 7.1 home theater system. Based on advice received here, I changed my plans. I'm re-purposing some of my components to a dedicated music system in another room. I would like some advice on this music system. (I'm keeping the home theater system in the smaller room and using smaller speakers with it.)

I am looking for a music system that will give me smooth, sweet, soft, silky treble with instruments like the Indian sitar or sarangi. These instruments can be challenging. I hope the system also has clarity and detail and enough punch for alternative rock in a large room.

I have two possibilities for listening location. One room is 18 feet x 22 feet with a tile floor, floor to ceiling windows on back wall and 8 foot ceiling. The front wall has a book case.

The other possible room is about 25 feet x 40 feet with a vaulted ceiling (approx 16+ feet at center). Back wall is also mostly glass. Flooring will be wood soon, but for now it is carpet. Neither room has curtains (or any window treatments) over the windows.

My old room was 11.5 feet x 11.5 feet and these speakers were too much for that small space (along with a large TV).

Let's assume I can arrange either new room so that my listening position and the speaker placement closely conforms to the "golden ratio" (http://www.ecoustics.com/articles/stereo-speaker-placement-optimum-sound/).

Here are the components I already own and would like to use:

  • pair of Polk Audio RTi A7 floorstanding speakers (8 ohms) - Sensitivity (1 watt @ 1 meter): 89 dB. Recommended Amp Power Per Channel: 20 watts → 300 watts
  • pair of Polk Audio RTi A5 floorstanding speakers (8 ohms) - Sensitivity (1 watt @ 1 meter): 90 dB. Recommended Amp Power Per Channel: 20 watts → 250 watts
  • Klipsch RP-250C Center Channel Speaker (probably won't use)
  • Klipsch R-112SW Subwoofer 600 W, powered
  • LG UP875 4K BLU-RAY PLAYER (plays audio CDs) (features HDMI, USB, and optical digital audio output)
  • computer with Asus X99 Deluxe II motherboard featuring Crystal Sound 3 audio (https://www.asus.com/us/Motherboards/X99-DELUXE-II/) (features USB, HDMI or optical S/SPIF output)
  • Focusrite Scarlett 6i6 USB audio interface (if needed) (https://us.focusrite.com/usb-audio-interfaces/scarlett-6i6)

Music will be played from my computer or the LG UP875 disc player.

What I have in mind is a 2.1 system with TWO pairs of front speakers (4 speakers total). I tried a dual front speaker setup briefly and I liked it, although I understand it is unconventional. But I have the speakers and I would like to try using them all. (If that is a really bad idea, even in a larger room, I'll give up on it.)

Also, I am curious to try bi-amp'ing and the speakers support it. If I use dual front speakers and bi-amp them 8 powered channels are required.

In a smaller room, I would not need a subwoofer with these front speakers. I don't know how that will turn out in a larger room. I don't listen to bass boosted music. But I assume I'll need a subwoofer. I assume I will not use the center channel speaker at all. I can return it.

Here's what I anticipate I'll need:

  • something with an amplifier
  • something with a sub out for the subwoofer
  • something to connect everything together (and, I guess, let me choose between the disc player and computer as sources)

What I do *not* need from the new components:
  • analog input sources
  • streaming, WiFi or networking (other than what I do with the computer)
  • home theater features or video support
My budget is about $1000, although I have some flexibility. But I only have about $2300 invested in the other components (not counting the center speaker, which I won't use, or the computer which is multi-purpose). So it doesn't seem to make sense to spend a whole lot more.

I am new to audio and home theater. I'm just learning now and I want to gain some experience before I increase my budget too much. Later, if I purchase much more expensive speakers, I'll get a more expensive preamp / amp combo. In my (limited) understanding the heart of an audio system -- where the money should be spent -- is the speakers and the amp. But with my most expensive speakers (the A7's) being $600/pair, it seems unreasonable to spend more than $1000 on a preamp+amp / integrated amp / stereo receiver (whichever is recommended) for this setup. If my logic is wrong, I guess I could be talked into increasing the budget to $2000 or so.
lowoverdrive
lowoverdrive OP
169 posts
 
"What will your source be...CDP, streaming, computer files?"

Some kind of CD player and computer files played directly from the computer (via USB or HDMI or optical digital audio out on the computer), or I could pass the computer's audio out through a Focusrite Scarlett 6i6.
jl35
3,956 posts
 
agree with the Yamaha recommendations...if you don't need the DAC the previous Yamaha A-s500 is quite good, and under your budget...
lowoverdrive OP
169 posts
 
I just purchased the Yamaha P5000S from Amazon that willemj mentioned.

mesch - "With your budget I would encourage you to purchase a integrated amplifier."

Yes, this is very sensible advice and I intended to go this route -- up until the moment I saw the Yamaha P5000S on Amazon...

So now that I have opened that can of worms, what shall I pair the P5000S with? I hope I didn't make a mistake here because I do not yet see the preamp that seems to meet my needs / budget.

willemj mentioned either the Pioneer U-05 or the Oppo 205 as a front end. I like the Oppo 205, but not right now and probably not for this room / system. And the Pioneer U-05 appears to ship from Japan. My strategy right now is to purchase things I can easily return (given that I still don't really know what I'm doing).

The Yamaha P5000S sold by Amazon can be returned, no questions asked. But assuming I made a good choice there, what else can I pair it with? Anything at $500 or less? The Pioneer U-05 is $842 (free shipping on Amazon) but it is only sold by 3rd party sellers and in that case sometimes returns are a problem. I'll spend up to that price range of $800 if absolutely necessary.

However, the Yamaha A-S801BL is $899 on Amazon right now and if I can't find a suitable front end for the P5000S, I will cancel that order (or return it) and go for the Yamaha A-S801BL instead. I saw multiple people recommend the 801 and I tend to think it would be a good choice as well.

BTW, I submitted a return for the Polk RTi A5's (the smaller of my two floorstanding speakers). So I will be using only the A7's in this system.

jl35
3,956 posts
 
you can also find a factory refurbished 801 for $699 and 701 for $549  - just to make it more complicated...
swampwalker's avatar
swampwalker
5,138 posts
 
What if I set up the music listening area in 1/4 of 1/3 (or 1/2) of the room? Ido not require that the sound achieve a certain level all the way in the back of the room, for example. The room will be open, but I can establish my listening position closer to the speakers if needed. Will that work?
If you set up the speakers part way back in a very large room, it will help with volume issues, but will alter the balance of direct vs. reflected. It's not ideal to do it that way but lots of folks have to overcome/work with room limitations.  The sound you are hearing is a combination of direct radiation from the drivers in the speakers and reflected sound from all of the various surfaces in the room. There is software that allows you to simulate influence of the room by inputting speaker location, listening location, room dimensions and even furniture. With most speakers, it is useful to have them set up a fair to moderate distance from the walls behind them and to the sides (feet vs. inches).

Some kind of CD player and computer files played directly from thecomputer (via USB or HDMI or optical digital audio out on the computer), or I could pass the computer's audio out through a Focusrite Scarlett 6i6.

That's why I recommended the Peachtree or similar integrated with a built in DAC and multiple digital inputs that accept coax (aka SPDIF), USB and toslink connections.  The DAC in the Peachtree integrated, or even a modest stand-alone DACs like the myDAC will be superior to the one in most computers. 

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