RTi or FXi for rear speakers?

POLO

Hey guys,

I am trying to figure out which is a better rear speaker: RTi or FXi or no real difference for rear (not side).

I have a pair of RTi A1 right now, but since my couch it pushed up against my rear wall I am wondering if it would be better to get the FXi A4 instead and mount them on the rear wall at the corners of the couch?

They are more flush with the wall and can get a little bit better angle towards the center of the couch.

I am just running a 5.1 (Not enough room for a 7.2 unfortunately )
RTi A3 Front (have)
CSi A4 Center (buying this week, possibly an A6)
RTi A1 Rear (have)
PSW110 Sub

Thanks,

rosahas

I am thinking about building a similar setup to what you have now. I have a Pro 500 sub instead.

I was told to shy away from the FXi surround, since my room is large with high ceiling. I was given the recommendation to go with RTi A1s.

gnoorts

The following is my setup:
Fronts: LSi 25
Center: RTi A4
Rear: RTi A1
Denon AVR 1909
Yamaha CA-1000 (powers the LSi's from pre-amp out from Denon)

Fortunately, I'm able to get the A1's mounted on the wall maybe 2 feet behind my couch and they provide quite a nice rear sound. Surprisingly, they play nicely with the LSi's too. I've used the FXi's once, on loan from a buddy of mine and they sounded different. I couldn't quantify it as better or worse. The A1's had a bit more direct sound projecting from them, which made the rear soundtracks in action movies a bit more audible to me. The FXi's spread the sound out more and made it feel slightly more like you were there in the movies. However, it was a little less audible compared to the A1's.
Hope that helps.

cheif pontiac

When I had a setup with the couch against the wall I was using the older RT/FX and they worked great for that application. They were on the wall behind the couch at each end and a couple feet above it. I don't know where you have your Ai's at, I would probably put them on the sidewalls facing the couch. If there are walls and a few feet at each end of the couch.

The place I have now is bigger and my RT/FX's were absolutly too small for the rear. I had them on stands for a while on each sidewall just behind my seating position as the back wall is about 8 foot behind me. I finally went to large bookshelf speakers (RT7's) and that improved my surround sound a lot. I am now using full blown towers with the powered woofer (RT1000P's) The rumbling of explosions is now incredible.

POLO

Thanks guys!

It sounds like I should lean towards the FXi A4 for my rear speakers,
If this helps, here is the room setup (approximately),

-> The couch looks a little smaller then my actual but the cousions are correct ;-)

First floor of my condo:


So, replace the RTi A1's with FXi A4's is the question?
I am thinking it would be better for movies, but is the money and time worth it buying and selling the old?

Thanks again,

kevhed72

I had my setup with the couch against the back wall, and then 2 FXiA6s on the back wall....overall, I was not too happy with this. IMO you really need that space behind the primary seating for your surrounds. Soooo, to answer your question, I would stick with the A1s, or flip the whole layout of you room 90 degrees.

deluxman

Go with Rti

POLO

Thanks guys, will keep the RTi's!