RTi12 - Will an adcom 555 run them well?

[hoopdaaron]

I recently upgraded my front speakers to the RTi12's, but running of an Onkyo 901 leaves them a little starved for power. I am looking for a relatively cost effective was to get some power going to these speakers.

ebay has several listings for older model Adcom GFA-555 amplifiers, all in the $300-$350 range. Does anyone have any experience with these amps, or any other recommendations to stay somewhat in this price range?

And will the 200 watts the GFA-555 put out be sufficient for the rta12's?

thanks

hda

[amulford]

yes

[AsSiMiLaTeD]

I'd probably consider bi-amping with that amplifier. Runs the mids and highs off the receiver and the lows off the Adcom. I'm sure someone will chip in here about losing some power in the equation unless you have a high pass filter...but with that amp and that receiver, I think bi-amping will provide you with the most improvement...

If you're not sure about bi-amping, just do a search here on the forums for it...

my $.02

[VR3]

The 555 is a monster amp, tons of power.

However, it will run it - but not to what it can do.

[hoosier21]

Originally posted by Vr3MxStyler2k3
The 555 is a monster amp, tons of power.

However, it will run it - but not to what it can do.

Trey, please explain what you are talking about? 200wpc of high current power isn't enough? I am interested in what IS needed.

[VR3]

Well as noted -

Bigsexy runs a 555 (newer model) on the subs of his 150. AND the 545 on the top post of the 150. He still wants more. (use to, he got rid of the 150 a while back)

The 555 will run it, no problems. But it WONT do what it CAN do.

It *IS* rated for 500 watts for a reason.....

[marcpam]

I have plugged 400 watts per speaker off of an outlaw 770 and compared it to 200 watts per speaker. THERE IS NO DIFFERENCE WHATSOEVER. You can only run them louder. I biamped two channels to receive 400 per speaker. I tested this closely on my rti12's. The extra 200 watts are a waste unless you want to go deaf and blare the speakers. Sound quality wise, there is no diff. I believe that if you upgrade from 100 to 200 it will make a diff. After 200 watts, you are wasting your money. The only reason I would ever think about putting 500 watts per speaker is if you are putting them in an extremely oversized room and you sit far back.

[hoopdaaron]

thanks for all the advice on the amp, once I convince SWMBO to let me out of audio jail I might pick up an Adcom 555 or 555ii that is on ebay, and biwire it with my onkyo 901.

hda

[Sami]

Originally posted by hoopdaaron
I might pick up an Adcom 555 or 555ii that is on ebay, and biwire it with my onkyo 901.
I have mine biamped now with 115W going to the highs and mids, 100W going to the lows. I've been thinking of going the same route next, replacing the 100WPC amp with an Adcom 555. I don't know if there will be a difference but it's worth a try. Maybe I'll try one of these audio stores with good return policy first but then again, money spent on (used) amps is not wasted, you'll always have use for them.

I'm leaning on what Marc says but you'll never know before you try it yourself. I'm not however going to run 600WPC on these babies, they'll be setup as secondary rig in the living room and quite honestly the way they are currently setup is enough.