Thoughts on my setup and speaker recommendation

rosahas

Hi,

I have purchased the following:

Onkyo TX NR-808 7.2 receiver
Pair of RTi A1 for rears
RTi C4 for center
Pro 500 sub

I am trying to setup a 5.1 system in a large room with high ceiling.

Both me and my wife are not fans of floorstanding speakers, so I bought the following bookshelfs.

I am thinking about buying a pair of RTi A3's for fronts.

The only other option would be a pair of A5's which we are trying to shy away from.

Thanks in advance for your thoughts,

Rohit.

thuffman03

Welcome to the forum.

I don't have a suggestion because I, unlike you, like full size full range speakers. So I cannot comment on the bookshelf speakers you are asking about but I am sure there will be many opions and options to choose from by other members of the forum.

bopicasso

I first had polk bookshelf rti6s. Then found a good deal on the rti8s so I bought two pair figuring I can make some money. The soundstage was huge compared to the small bookshelf speakers. For a home theater floorstanding speakers are a must! You will be missing out using bookshelfs for your L/R main speakers.

renowilliams

rosahas wrote: »

Hi,

I have purchased the following:

Onkyo TX NR-808 7.2 receiver
Pair of RTi A1 for rears
RTi C4 for center
Pro 500 sub

I am trying to setup a 5.1 system in a large room with high ceiling.

Both me and my wife are not fans of floorstanding speakers, so I bought the following bookshelfs.

I am thinking about buying a pair of RTi A3's for fronts.

The only other option would be a pair of A5's which we are trying to shy away from.

Thanks in advance for your thoughts,

Rohit.

Well I have the RTIA5 speakers for fronts with RTI6s(predicessor to the RTI3s) for rears with a csi40 center. This combination foor 5.1 is just great in my 14' x 14' tv room. It really is a nice soundstage. If you can find a way to live with the A5s.

Here is some pics of my setup. If you can locate A5's with cherry finish, they really do look nice.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/renowilliams/

kawizx9r

To the OP,

do you have kids or pets? Things to consider if you're going to use bookshelves in case they're going to be on stands.

Ideally, you want the tweeter to be between 6" above or below your ears as you sit down. AT ear level would be optimal.

-Freddy

spock 2054

rosahas wrote: »

Hi,

I have purchased the following:

Onkyo TX NR-808 7.2 receiver
Pair of RTi A1 for rears
RTi C4 for center
Pro 500 sub

I am trying to setup a 5.1 system in a large room with high ceiling.

Both me and my wife are not fans of floorstanding speakers, so I bought the following bookshelfs.

I am thinking about buying a pair of RTi A3's for fronts.

The only other option would be a pair of A5's which we are trying to shy away from.

Thanks in advance for your thoughts,

Rohit.

I upgraded from bookshelf speakers to monitor 60's for surrounds - never going back to small speakers. A pair of A5's would not only sound better, but they would class up your room a bit. How far away from your front speakers do you sit? Have you thought about mounting a pair of dipole speakers for the rear channel on the wall?

rosahas

Rick88 wrote: »

I happen to like bookshelves myself, but only for a small to medium size room such as mine. Sounds like you are a candidate for full range towers. With a large room (how large?) with high ceilings I think you would not only benefit from full range towers, but an external amp as well. Of course this is also dependant on your listening habits.

It's our living room 20 x 16 ft room with high ceiling. On top it opens up to our kitchen and our breakfast area.

The plan is to mainly watch casual TV and light music. Occasional movies.

rosahas

kawizx9r wrote: »

To the OP,

do you have kids or pets? Things to consider if you're going to use bookshelves in case they're going to be on stands.

Ideally, you want the tweeter to be between 6" above or below your ears as you sit down. AT ear level would be optimal.

-Freddy

Yes, I do have kids.. a toddler and a 6 month old. Which is why, I am shying away from the floorstanding ones for the most part. Plus, I would like to keep them on the wall if possible. More and more I am hearing positive feedback towards floorstanding so far.

rosahas

spock 2054 wrote: »

I upgraded from bookshelf speakers to monitor 60's for surrounds - never going back to small speakers. A pair of A5's would not only sound better, but they would class up your room a bit. How far away from your front speakers do you sit? Have you thought about mounting a pair of dipole speakers for the rear channel on the wall?

I would probably sit around 10 feet from the fronts... at least that is the plan.

I am not familiar with dipole speakers.. which ones would they be in the RTi series. I figured I would stay in the same series to be safe.

Thanks.

rosahas

renowilliams wrote: »

Well I have the RTIA5 speakers for fronts with RTI6s(predicessor to the RTI3s) for rears with a csi40 center. This combination foor 5.1 is just great in my 14' x 14' tv room. It really is a nice soundstage. If you can find a way to live with the A5s.

Here is some pics of my setup. If you can locate A5's with cherry finish, they really do look nice.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/renowilliams/

Nice... .. it's a 16 x 20 living room. I think overall the A5s would probably fit better here. I am just trying to find ways to convince myself.

rosahas

bopicasso wrote: »

I first had polk bookshelf rti6s. Then found a good deal on the rti8s so I bought two pair figuring I can make some money. The soundstage was huge compared to the small bookshelf speakers. For a home theater floorstanding speakers are a must! You will be missing out using bookshelfs for your L/R main speakers.

OK thx.. another floorstanding vote!

Gadabout

I'll second what Bobicasso said. I started with the RTi6's as Mains and they worked pretty well in the smaller living room. I bought a new house and the room and ceiling was larger (20 x 24 x 10), it also opens up into the kitchen area.

The Rti6's just wouldn't cut it anymore in the larger room. I moved them to the rears and have the RTi10's for the mains and upgraded my sub. (I also added more amplification, but that is another story).

If you can find a solution to kiddies and floor standers, I too think you would be more satisfied with floor standers.

All Most forgot.....

Welcome to Club Polk!

Scott

PS Perhaps there is a local polkie that would let you listen to floor standers or RTi6's that you could listen too before you buy.

rosahas

Gadabout wrote: »

I'll second what Bobicasso said. I started with the RTi6's as Mains and they worked pretty well in the smaller living room. I bought a new house and the room and ceiling was larger (20 x 24 x 10), it also opens up into the kitchen area.

The Rti6's just wouldn't cut it anymore in the larger room. I moved them to the rears and have the RTi10's for the mains and upgraded my sub. (I also added more amplification, but that is another story).

If you can find a solution to kiddies and floor standers, I too think you would be more satisfied with floor standers.

All Most forgot.....

Welcome to Club Polk!

Scott

PS Perhaps there is a local polkie that would let you listen to floor standers or RTi6's that you could listen too before you buy.

Thanks!

I did hear A5s vs A3's. A5s definitely sound better. I think the kids issues is a bigger one for now. I wish I could do 7.1, but with high ceiling I can't install two more speaker with my room setup at this point.

I might have to just go with A3s for now!

Thanks for all the input.. really appreciate it and looking forward to becoming a polkie myself

Rohit.