rti70's power handling

[kvm]

I am thinking about bi-amping my rti 70's. I have a marantz 7300ose rated at 110wpc and adding a marantz power amp rated at 150wpc. So 110 to the highs and 150 to the low, same for the center csi40. also running a pw404 sub and probably going to do fxi30's for surround. Paid 1100. for the 7300 and can add the amp for about 650. so for about 1800. I can do 270wpc. A lot of bang for the buck and I like the 7300. Questions 1. Am I just power mad? 2. Is this overkill for the rti70's? They are rated up to 250 but if you bi-amp is the rating 125 for each connection or still 250? I'm thinking bang for the buck this is more volume than I am ever going to need unless I lose my hearing and then I will probably still be able to feel it. Bottom line for about 650. I can about triple my power.

[Tour2ma]

1st... welcome to the club...

the rating is a continuous power ratng for the entire speaker. the power handling for the separate drivers in a bi-amp scheme is not necessarily half the total. also is not likely to be equal.

but in any case don't worry, the 70's will take the scheme you mention... and more. more speakers are hurt by underpowered amps clipping than by overpowering them. as you mention, you will likely never overdrive your 70's, your ears won't let you...

as for overkill... not in my book. more power is great on two counts:
1. power for transients, without fear of clipping.
2. clean power - as amps' thd spec's are set at rated output, the further you are from max, the cleaner the watts...

[bigsexy1]

I concur with T2M 100% (as usual).
Go ahead and go for it, then never look back.

[kvm]

Thanks guys. I decided to go for it. 1 Marantz MM9000 is on its way. I also ordered a pair of Fxi50's for the rear instead of the 30's. I figured when it comes to a/v you only regret what you didn't do. Maybe I can get back to "normal?" soon. I was content with my system until we got the widescreen 2 months ago. Since then I replaced all my speakers, rcvr, dvd player, added a sub adding and amp, I've bi-wired now bi-amping, spent hours online researching and hitting the boards. It will seem strange to just sit back and enjoy it.

[scornful]

hooked like a junkie.... lol

[wlrandall]

You won't regret it. Just as Tour said, most speakers are blown by being overdriven with insufficient power. I'm driving my 800i's with 210 W/ch with an H/K AVR7000 and PA2000. Best I've hit so far was 114.5 dbC with minimal clipping. My ears hurt for days...

[kvm]

How did you bi-amper's go about setting the gain to be =? As much as I have played with my settings now ( large, small, bass management, crossover, speaker level vs lfe, I could spend my entire social life adjusting the channel gain controls on the amp.