New to Polk - awaiting my A9's

[cienega]

Hi everyone. Finally decided to upgrade my old Cerwin Vega speakers and after doing quite a bit of research settled on Polk. I'm sure glad I clicked on the "forums" tab on their home page. What have I gotten myself into ?! I've been pouring over the various threads for days and thankfully learned about the Polk ebay store and picked up a pair of A9's for much less than I ever thought possible. (thanks guys). Since I saved all that money I'm thinking about my next upgrade already. (anyone else justify like that?) I'm not going to run out and buy anything before I've put the new speakers to work but I enjoy researching this stuff and from what I have read it looks like a new amp would be next. I currently have an HK 3490 which can accept an external amp. Any suggestions / advice ? I will be using this setup along with a 10" Titanic sub (for now) from Parts Express. Sorry to ramble just kinda excited and anxious to learn from some pros. Thanks in advance for your help.

[kawizx9r]

Welcome to Club Polk!....all I've got to say is get ready to thin out your wallet :D

[cnh]

Welcome to the Club...

For now you can run a 2.1 set up with your Harman Kardon and be pretty pleased with it....but as kawiz says...you won't stop there.

cnh

[fbm211]

An adcom GFA-5500 would be a good choice.Or a 545...I never heard of those speakers,,what is thier power handling?..And welcome to CP.

[bklynNupe]

Congratulations Cienega, and welcome to the forum!
You will not be disappointed with the a9’s! I got mine a few weeks ago as an upgrade from the a5’s. Wonderful mid-bass and the break-in is like building muscles at the gym, stronger and more detail with time. I already notice a difference within a few weeks.
Are you doing HT and music? If you are doing HT, I highly recommend a CSI A6, with an external amp this is an amazing center . When you are ready, those a9’s will bless you with some extra power. :D:cool::D

[leroyjr1]

An adcom GFA-5500 would be a good choice.Or a 545...I never heard of those speakers,,what is thier power handling?..And welcome to CP.

UP to 500 watts

[AudioGenics]

very nice purchase !

[BB3]

cienega, Congratulations and welcome to the Club.

Those Polk A9's sure are nice. I hope you enjoy the heck out of them.

Take Care.------B.B.3

[cienega]

Thanks for the welcome. I'm sure I will lighten up my wallet but I feel it's money well spent when you consider all the hours of enjoyment you get out of it. Now on to the dumb newbie questions: I've already looked at some amps and noticed the used one's are a heck of a lot cheaper but I get a little worried too. Anyone go this route initially? I also had a "B" set of Paridigm bookshelfs hooked up to help with the high end. Not sure if most people use them with a stereo setup and how am amp would come into play. I assume hooking up the amp to the receiver is pretty easy. Still open to any other suggestions as far as the amp but the Adcom 5500 looks pretty good. I'll let you know how the A9's sound after I get them. Thanks again - you really do have a good thing here.

[leroyjr1]

Adcom 555II is a great amp for the price and runs about $350

[jimmydep]

Welcome to Club Polk, I'm glad you found the e-bay store.....really nice stuff there.

As far as your future needs, just keep reading and researching, separates are the way to go, and used amp are just as good (but cheaper) than new ones.

Keep us posted we're always ready to help spend your money.


Jimmy

[dougy]

I used to have an Adcom GFA5500 and I wish I still had it...an absolute beast! Tremendous value on the pre-owned market. Built like a Sherman tank!.

...and mucho congrats on the new speakers. They are are gorgeous and look to be one tremendous value. Good job!

[cienega]

I used to have an Adcom GFA5500 and I wish I still had it...an absolute beast! Tremendous value on the pre-owned market. Built like a Sherman tank!.

...and mucho congrats on the new speakers. They are are gorgeous and look to be one tremendous value. Good job!

Just unboxed speakers - they are beautifully made, can't wait to hear them. I'm already looking for a used Adcom 200 w amp. I think I owe the A9's that much... :D

[rayslifecycle]

thankfully learned about the Polk ebay store and picked up a pair of A9's for much less than I ever thought possible. (thanks guys). Since I saved all that money I'm thinking about my next upgrade already. (anyone else justify like that?)

All Too Often

Welcome Cienega, Congrats on your new speakers and good luck with your newly discovered audio journey.

[cienega]

Hauled the Cerwin's out for garage duty and carefully carried in the A9's. It's Sat. night and I'm gonna test these big boys out. Next week I will add the amp. I want to see the improvement at each increment. Time to rock !!

[Keiko]

Welcome aboard cienega.

Got vinyl? ;)

[fossy]

Welcome to Club Polk.....A9's to start ?? WOW Enjoy

[mmadden28]

Hauled the Cerwin's out for garage duty and carefully carried in the A9's. It's Sat. night and I'm gonna test these big boys out. Next week I will add the amp. I want to see the improvement at each increment. Time to rock !!

Welcome to the wallet draining club!!

Good way to go about it. But give the speakers a chance to break in/loosen up as well before you start doing any comparisons.

Post some pics when you get them setup.

[danz1906]

Congrats-Enjoy the A9s!

[superjunior]

cienega, where ya at? you didn't hurt yourself moving those a9's around did you? or are you still listening :) let us know what you think and enjoy.
jr

[jacob.simpson]

Congrats enjoy them for a very long time.

[cienega]

cienega, where ya at? you didn't hurt yourself moving those a9's around did you? or are you still listening :) let us know what you think and enjoy.
jr

Stayed up till 3:30 enjoying these beautiful speakers. I read someone else's speaker review and wondered if they were exaggerating when they said they started smiling while listening. Well after about an hour I turned it up a bit more (not too loud yet) and felt my spine tingle when I heard a particular passage of a favorite song and yes I broke out into a goofy grin. The best word to describe them is CLEAR. I plan on enjoying them for a long time and to continue to learn from all of you. The Adcom 555ii should be arriving this week - hopefully before Sat night !

[NJPOLKER]

Welcome to Club Polk

[reeltrouble1]

Ah, I sense great potential for you. As you have been welcomed I will try to provide just a few words as you now head down your path.

Never confuse the difference between an essential and a necessacity.

Understand it is far better to seek forgiveness rather than permission from a significant other for audio gear.

Everything Matters, absolutely everything.

Tubes Rule.

OK, now that ought to get you going, enjoy the ride.

RT1

[mmadden28]

..
Understand it is far better to seek forgiveness rather than permission from a significant other for audio gear.

RT1

Of that, there is no doubt!! :cool:

[cienega]

Of that, there is no doubt!! :cool:

And with that new found knowledge I am happy to say my Adcom amp is here (via pony express I think, criminy). Actually I rec'd it last friday and got everything ready to go when my brother in law came over and talked my head off all night (new meds I think). You know how it goes - get a new toy and something stops you from using it right away, but tonight is the night ! Got some beer on ice and the wife is happy shopping so I'm all set. What am I gonna play first...

[woodhead 2]

Welcome to the club.

[Ern Dog]

You don' waste any time going for it.

Well, what did you think about the adcom paired with the A9's?

[Mark1]

Isn't it possible those rti a9s are allready broken in, being refurbs from polk direct? Just curious.

[Retro152]

Welcome to the Club! Enjoy the A-9's.:D





Pat.

[reeltrouble1]

And with that new found knowledge I am happy to say my Adcom amp is here (via pony express I think, criminy). Actually I rec'd it last friday and got everything ready to go when my brother in law came over and talked my head off all night (new meds I think). You know how it goes - get a new toy and something stops you from using it right away, but tonight is the night ! Got some beer on ice and the wife is happy shopping so I'm all set. What am I gonna play first...

cinega,

excellent. an amplifier with high current is an essential, so money well spent, beware, you will meet those along the path who try to dissuade you with talk of necessacities, they however are the waste by definition, since they are necessary they are quickly used up so you have to spend more money to replace them, by never getting them in the first you can break the cycle and focus on the essential's like your audio gear, its all really (reely) quite logical.

So how is the amp????

RT1

[jimmydep]

cinega,

excellent. an amplifier with high current is an essential, so money well spent, beware, you will meet those along the path who try to dissuade you with talk of necessacities, they however are the waste by definition, since they are necessary they are quickly used up so you have to spend more money to replace them, by never getting them in the first you can break the cycle and focus on the essential's like your audio gear, its all really (reely) quite logical.

So how is the amp????

RT1

:confused::confused::confused:

[mmadden28]

He had me confused for a second at first as well, but I believe he is responding to

... Actually I rec'd it last friday and got everything ready to go when my brother in law came over and talked my head off all night (new meds I think). You know how it goes - get a new toy and something stops you from using it right away, ....

or after reading it again--maybe not ???

[reeltrouble1]

don't fret guys, it almost always takes a few years before most of my posts make any kind of sense at all to members, however, once they do you will look around and realize how far down the audio Rabbit Hole you've fallen.

One long time member refers to the posts as TedSpeak.

RT1

[mmadden28]

Was I even close?

[cienega]

cinega,

excellent. an amplifier with high current is an essential, so money well spent, beware, you will meet those along the path who try to dissuade you with talk of necessacities, they however are the waste by definition, since they are necessary they are quickly used up so you have to spend more money to replace them, by never getting them in the first you can break the cycle and focus on the essential's like your audio gear, its all really (reely) quite logical.

So how is the amp????

RT1

Perhaps he means silly things like kids clothes, haircuts, stuff like that which you must buy again and again. Now an Adcom amp, it will probably last longer than your wife or if you get tired of it you can trade it in on a different one. Speaking of neccessities, the amp rocks. Up again till 3:30 listening to music - everything from Dave Brubeck to Alice in Chains. The amp definately brings out the A9's but I keep wondering how loud can I turn this up? HK says you can turn the receiver up to 0 db but -20 sound pretty loud! I was thinking that the speakers are breaking in but it is probably the amp, and judging from the looks of the speakers, they were never or hardly ever played. I looked at them very carefully in good light and could not find any signs of handling or use. I cant wait to help break these speakers in some more !

[reeltrouble1]

well, stuff for the kids is essential, so dont skimp there, but other stuff, pfffft, who needs it, as long as you have a great stereo.

generally you do not want to turn your gain up past 1:00 on the dial, can you? yes, but you are risking damage to the amp and the speaker drivers. glad to hear you are liking your rig, I would suggest you get a sound pressure meter and measure your db at the listening chair, everyone is different but 85-90 db seems to work for most, if you like it softer no big deal, you do though need to leave a bit of room for your transient sounds.

RT1

[al_32us]

Receiver - Yamaha RX3800
Amp - two Emotiva Xpa-1
Center - Polk Csi-6
Surround :Polk Rti's 1s
Sub: Polk SW1000
PS3
Sony SACD Player

I have Rti9's and they where Ok until I bough Emotiva amplifiers. The sound difference now is simply amazing. For stereo sound I am using just sony player, bypassing yamaha and the sound is much smoother. When I am running through Yamaha, sound is much harsher. Before I bought two amps that was a different story and Yamaha was producing a better sound. My system is far from being the top notch system but I was able to assemble it for less then $3000. For this kind of money it sounds great.

Until I bought amps I was kind of disappointed in Rti 9s because they were sounding in the same way as my old Canton speakers. Now I am really happy with them. they just need more power then regular receiver can provide. I was using bi-amp with my Yamaha and on paper it had to deliver 280W per channel but it was only on paper. Emotiva's 500W made a difference.