2. amps-preamps
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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


Tony
daoki
mrdecibel
3,063 posts
 
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.
mesch
3,479 posts
 
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. 
caphill
674 posts
 
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.
daoki OP
26 posts
 
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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