rtia7 and emotiva amp.

[mway]

Hey all,

I got myself some rtia7's, but for the time being am on an amp budget and was wondering if the Emotiva upa-500 would cut it (seeing as so many speak well of the xpa)? For now I am just using the 2 speakers, but may upgrade at some point.

[cfrizz]

Will they play, of course, will they operate to their full potential, no. Save & get and XPA.

[mway]

I would rather have speakers that actually do something, instead of waiting and saving. Couldn't I get something like the xpa-2's later, and use this for surrounds or something?

[ZLTFUL]

Personally, I would avoid the UPA-500.
See if you can track down a used UPA-5 (UPA-500=80wpc UPA-5=125wpc).
The 500 is a 2U chassis and tips the scales at 23lbs.
The 5 is a 4U chassis and weighs in at over 3 times that.

The 500 is too much of a compromise IMHO.

What are you using for a pre/pro? If you are using an AVR, get one of the more powerful 2 channel amps to power the 7s and then run the rest off your AVR. Then pick up another down the road etc.

[cfrizz]

I would rather have speakers that actually do something, instead of waiting and saving. Couldn't I get something like the xpa-2's later, and use this for surrounds or something?

Of course you can, if you have enough outlets and whatnot, you can buy monoblocks if you want. A receiver will run your speakers right now, they just won't be powered to their full potential.

[Geoff4rfc]

First of all, welcome to the club. Second of all, I agree with Frizz.

Take it from someone that's done the same thing you're willing to do, compromise. Save up and do it right the first time. You've got killer speakers, they really deserve great power.

[pdxfj]

I recently picked up a 2ch Parasound amp (80wpc) for use down the road. I also have Rti-A7's which are being driven by a much larger Sony ES amp.

Just for fun I hooked the Parasound up to the A7's. It sounded very nice, but I could tell the amp was running out of juice trying to push the towers.

When I switched back to the Sony amp (200wpc) the A7's jumped to life and I have never felt like the amp was even breaking a sweat.

As others have said, save your pennies for a higher power amp. I thought there was an Outlaw monoblock in the FM right now. Even though it is only one amp, they pop up for sale all the time so it wouldn't take too long to find a mate for it. The Outlaw would smoke the EMO.

[Thorton]

First of all, welcome to the club. Second of all, I agree with Frizz.

Take it from someone that's done the same thing you're willing to do, compromise. Save up and do it right the first time. You've got killer speakers, they really deserve great power.

+1. Don't compromise. Save up and put some power to the A7's which you can do at a reasonable price used or wait for the higher emotiva. While playing the A7's with an moderately powered AVR (don't know what you have) watch the volume level. Keep it at a moderate level until your amp purchase.

[cfrizz]

Here ya go! http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/show...ctual-shipping

[mway]

I am bypassing a receiver, and connecting directly to my htpc. As the 7's have the connectors already to the top and bottom, couldn't I run 2 channels to each tower giving 160w to each?

[gp4jesus]

I am bypassing a receiver, and connecting directly to my htpc. As the 7's have the connectors already to the top and bottom, couldn't I run 2 channels to each tower giving 160w to each?

if your AVR struggles w/4 ohm loads, that may get some improvement as each channel will see 8 ohms. Full range the A7s are 4 ohms below 125 hz.

Can't hurt to try it. Either way take easy w/ the "loud" knob until you add a sub & higher quality power.

Tony