Rti A3 - Is subwoofer needed?

Deciding which integrated amp to power these. One that I like the best has no sub out, while the other does. I'm sure a subwoofer can always help, but how needful?

well, for HT your gonna miss everything under 50hz, as thats as low as the 3's go. depending on your tastes, if your a basshead, you can't live w/o lfe, be it music or HT. so if your asking me, get a sub and not only take some load off your amp, but enjoy the full freq range

Not a basshead for certain. Mostly classical, jazz, some rock, of course all have bass of some kind. Sub would need to be added later anyway, just figuring out which amp to get if I have to add one later. Haven't looked at possible Polk subs, but sure they have some.

I have had mine for a few months now. My first thought before they arrived was, "OK, now I need to took for a sub.". Well, after a few days with them, I stopped looking. That is just my personal taste. Since you have been asked about your music, etc. I like bass, but am not a basshead by any means. It doesn't sound lean or naked without a sub, put it that way.
The music I listen to varies, and includes jazz, classical, rock, some pop, & blues. You can always wait to try them out, and decide from there. After all, it is your ears that are going to decide. Good question, though!

Matt

I have RTi A3's as front speakers and a CSi A6 center. No surrounds yet. I think they sounded good, but I just added a subwoofer last night and everything is much fuller.

Even I have the RTi A3 & the bass is quite good but being a basshead I added a System Audio SE 200 Sub & it blended very well with the A3's:smile:

Subwoofers privide the cues for a sence of space that can transform a system from simply sounding good to sounding uncannily "Real". When the funds permit pick up a quality sub or better yet...two. You'll be in awe of how good your system can really sound.

You do not say if this is for HT or music. But you always have the option to use the speaker level inputs available on many subs. Which used to be the Polk prefered method, not sure about nowadays.

http://www.crutchfield.com/ISEO-rgbt...r/connect.html

Jump down to "speaker level inputs"

Former RTiA3 owner here......

Obviously, you do not HAVE to run a sub with the RTiA3s, but as others have noted, as I did, the RTiA3 benefit from a sub - even for music at lower to mid level volumes.

And if you are set on the int amp that you have your eyes on - then the suggestion above using speaker level inputs would work fine.

I run a sub with my RTiA3s and they sound fantastic. When I shut the sub off the overall sound quality diminishes significantly. Thus, I definitely recommend a sub.

I agree with the others that a sub is needed. it just fills in the sound a lot smoother in my opinion.

x2 on what Erik said.

I'm a former owner as well, and even after they broke in I still missed having the last octave or so which they obviously can't reproduce. If I were you, I'd go for a 12" with at least a few hundred watts RMS to back them up. If you decide on the pre without the subwoofer out, you can either use your pre's line-out, or the subwoofer's speaker-level in. You're really gonna want those low fundamentals that you'll miss out on with the A3s alone.

Which integrateds are you looking at?