Yet another TSi500 vs RTi A5 question

rexian

Sorry to bring this up again. I have read several threads on this topic but couldn't come to any conclusion because of some of the contradictory comments as below -

* RTi serries is too bright
* RTi series benefits from the wood enclosure
* RTi8 is brighter than TSi500
* RTi A5 is just another name for RTi8
* RTi A5 is an improved version of RTi8 and is not as bright
* TSi500 must be better as it goes for more in some places

One thing I noticed that TSi500 has better specs and produces deeper bass. I gave them a listen too at two different local stores. They were in different environments and with different amps and music, so I was in no position to judge. I am kind of confused and thought would ask here again if there is any new information.

Thanks.

tonyb

What you will get is opinions as everyone hears differently and uses different gear with the same speakers. Listen for yourself and draw your own conclusions. Both will do fine,even better with a subwoofer, let your ears be the judge.

rexian

Couldn't find a local store nearby with both the speakers but from what I heard in those 2 stores, one is not way better than the other. And that's probably the reason why different people have different opinions on these.

In the other thread on RTi10 vs M70, there wasn't much argument as almost everyone voted for RTi. So, the difference between them is probably quite noticeable unlike A5 & TSi500. I am hoping either will do the job for me (movie/music 50/50).

mole'

rexian wrote: »

Couldn't find a local store nearby with both the speakers but from what I heard in those 2 stores, one is not way better than the other. And that's probably the reason why different people have different opinions on these.

In the other thread on RTi10 vs M70, there wasn't much argument as almost everyone voted for RTi. So, the difference between them is probably quite noticeable unlike A5 & TSi500. I am hoping either will do the job for me (movie/music 50/50).

aren't the M70 and TSi500 almost the same speaker, just the TSi500 is a newer model.

SivaNevets

Sorry to bring this up again. I have read several threads on this topic but couldn't come to any conclusion because of some of the contradictory comments as below -

* RTi serries is too bright
YES

* RTi series benefits from the wood enclosure
YES,MDF. BETTER BUILD QUALITY

* RTi8 is brighter than TSi500
YES

* RTi A5 is just another name for RTi8
YES, RTIA5 = RTI8 WITH SEXIER ENCLOSURER

* RTi A5 is an improved version of RTi8 and is not as bright
YES BUT THEY SOUND ALMOST IDENTICAL

* TSi500 must be better as it goes for more in some places
SOME PEOPLE PREFER TSI500 FOR MUSIC, EVERYONE PREFER RTIA5 FOR HT

cwilliams

mole' wrote: »

aren't the M70 and TSi500 almost the same speaker, just the TSi500 is a newer model.

Pretty close. Keep in mind the TSi500 is bottom ported.

ZeroCoolPolks

Grill design is diff., M70 is raised ,TSI is flush to the cabinet
TSI is bottom ported that's the main reason I bought M70's with front ports, and a couple 100 bucks less

Cabinet face board, TSI laminet Cherry or Black, M70's gray or pewter faceboard & feet, M70 Series II Black faceboard with Black feet.

None of the following stats you'll notice, but bottom ports U probably will if the air is going into carpet or wood all kinds of issues to some and some don't care, but I do.

1 db rating diff., M70 Efficiency 90 dB, TSI 500 91 dB

M70's Overall Frequency Response 30Hz - 25kHz

TSI 500 Overall Frequency Response 28Hz - 25kHz

If using a good subwoofer or not U won't miss the 2Hz and if it's ported into the floor, well that's just wrong in my book.

Monitor 70's or 70 II series my choice. Best Bang for the buck, I have 8 - M70's they sound awesome. they are full range speaker cabinets. 4 powered by a Yamaha RX-Z11, 2 powered by a Yamaha RX-V3900 & 2 powered by a Yamaha RX-V765.

cnh

I'd listen to both if you can. But don't think it matters much. Only if you plan to eventually upgrade your fronts to Rti-12s/A-9s (in which case you'd move the 8s to the back?) I don't think there's much to worry about here. I agree with SivaN above.

MSRP for the Rti-A5s is higher than the TSI-500s. There is NO confusion from Polk on that. So I'd cross that off your list. What retailers sell them for is not relevant here.

If you do movies and music...equally--get the TSIs or Ms.

If you plan to upgrade to 12s or A-9s do get the 8s or A-5s. The A-9s are pretty IMPRESSIVE.

cnh

mole'

cwilliams wrote: »

Pretty close. Keep in mind the TSi500 is bottom ported.

ZeroCoolPolks wrote: »

Grill design is diff., M70 is raised ,TSI is flush to the cabinet
TSI is bottom ported that's the main reason I bought M70's with front ports, and a couple 100 bucks less

None of the following stats you'll notice, but bottom ports U probably will if the air is going into carpet or wood all kinds of issues to some and some don't care, but I do.

1 db rating diff., M70 Efficiency 90 dB, TSI 500 91 dB

M70's Overall Frequency Response 30Hz - 25kHz

TSI 500 Overall Frequency Response 28Hz - 25kHz

If using a good subwoofer or not U won't miss the 2Hz and if it's ported into the floor, well that's just wrong in my book.

Monitor 70's or 70 II series my choice.

for the price of the 2 i would go M70. for a lil more you can get the RTi10 from J&R $249.99 a pop

rexian

SivaNevets wrote: »

...
SOME PEOPLE PREFER TSI500 FOR MUSIC, EVERYONE PREFER RTIA5 FOR HT

Thanks SivaNevets, I decided to go for the A5s.

ZeroCoolPolks wrote: »

Grill design is diff., M70 is raised ,TSI is flush to the cabinet
TSI is bottom ported that's the main reason I bought M70's with front ports, and a couple 100 bucks less
...
...
Monitor 70's or 70 II series my choice. Best Bang for the buck, I have 8 - M70's they sound awesome. they are full range speaker cabinets. 4 powered by a Yamaha RX-Z11, 2 powered by a Yamaha RX-V3900 & 2 powered by a Yamaha RX-V765.

I was avoiding the monitor or the older RTi series because of the looks. Both TSi and RTi A look better to me and my wife and since A5 is considered (here and in other threads) as good as M70/TSi500 (if not better), I went with it for smaller footprint and looks.

For the amp, my plan is to run the A5s with my current amp (7x70W) and then later with Emo UPA-7. It's being discussed here. I need a receiver to connect my Wii and the TV to the amp as well but still want to use my Xonar card. It's still in the air as I don't have the budget now ...

mole' wrote: »

... for a lil more you can get the RTi10 from J&R $249.99 a pop

I saw the deal but not a fan of how these look. If I had a dedicated HT room, may be ... but then I'd also need a powerful amp to get the best out of these.

rexian

cnh wrote: »

...
MSRP for the Rti-A5s is higher than the TSI-500s. There is NO confusion from Polk on that. So I'd cross that off your list. What retailers sell them for is not relevant here.
...
If you plan to upgrade to 12s or A-9s do get the 8s or A-5s. The A-9s are pretty IMPRESSIVE.

cnh

The prices of 500s and A5s are reversed at their own outlet consistently. That confused me, not the pricing at retail stores. I currently don't have plans to upgrade my A5s (I haven't yet received them ). Going for TSi would have made the center upgrade easy. Now I have to get a CSi center ... more $$. Wonder how much do they sound better than a CS10 (ignoring the timbre matching with RTi lineup).

cheif pontiac

I would like to know what Polk engineers/designers think of the TSi500 and Rti a5. I am sure that the creation of similar price point components, with different looks is more of a marketing department thing. the price on the TSi500 and Rti a5 are close as pairs, when you are packaging them in a home theater package then there is a greater separation. One would either be buying and Tsi systen with PSW sub or a RTi A system with a DSW sub. Now as a package of 6 or 8 speakers one is now looking at a $500 plus difference in price. The comparison has a greater disparity.

Just comparing the two one could sway one over the other with source components. As a package one is really making a much wider decision.

mole'

rexian wrote: »

The prices of 500s and A5s are reversed at their own outlet consistently. That confused me, not the pricing at retail stores. I currently don't have plans to upgrade my A5s (I haven't yet received them ). Going for TSi would have made the center upgrade easy. Now I have to get a CSi center ... more $$. Wonder how much do they sound better than a CS10 (ignoring the timbre matching with RTi lineup).

i will soon have a CS2 and a CSi5 FS

mole'

rexian wrote: »

I saw the deal but not a fan of how these look. If I had a dedicated HT room, may be ... but then I'd also need a powerful amp to get the best out of these.

enjoy your new sperakers

PS

DONT HAVE THEM SHIPPED VIA UPS

mystik610

cheif pontiac wrote: »

I would like to know what Polk engineers/designers think of the TSi500 and Rti a5. I am sure that the creation of similar price point components, with different looks is more of a marketing department thing. the price on the TSi500 and Rti a5 are close as pairs, when you are packaging them in a home theater package then there is a greater separation. One would either be buying and Tsi systen with PSW sub or a RTi A system with a DSW sub. Now as a package of 6 or 8 speakers one is now looking at a $500 plus difference in price. The comparison has a greater disparity.

Just comparing the two one could sway one over the other with source components. As a package one is really making a much wider decision.

It probably is mostly a marketing decision. Prices for a product will inevitibly fall over time....and as such, Polk's margins on each speaker will decline over-time...that's just the nature of supply and demand. Given those conditions, it behooves any electronics manufacturer, such as Polk, to refresh its line-up periodically. It's the same reason why TV manufaturers are shoving 3D down our throats prematurely. As the technology grows stale, manufacturers need to find new reasons to differentiate their newer products and justify a higher price point.

Speaker technology doesn't change very much....the product life cycle of speakers is much shorter than the advancement of the technology. As such, for a lot of speaker manufacturers (Polk and many others included), tend to release new versions of products with very few, if any, functional improvements.

We also have to consider that for a lot of people, speakers serve both a functional and an aesthetic function, and as such, speaker designs need to reflect currently popular aesthetic styles. The Monitor's and TSi's reflect the styling of the early 00's, with a lot of faux titanium/silver accents. The TSi's and RTi A's reflect the styling of the late 00's with a lot of piano black, minimalistic design, and accented shapes (although the curved cabinets do serve a functional role as well). Often times the desire for aesthetically pleasing design takes precedence over the functional role, and causes speaker technology to regress.

rexian

cheif pontiac wrote: »

I would like to know what Polk engineers/designers think of the TSi500 and Rti a5.
...
Now as a package of 6 or 8 speakers one is now looking at a $500 plus difference in price. The comparison has a greater disparity.

I'd like to know that as well though I have already made the decision.

You are right, I too wanted to avoid the RTi so that I could get the CS and RCi speakers. The quality of TSi500 and A5 are close enough that either would be right in most situations. The prices of CSi and TCi are way too high but I may just have to bite the bullet for a CSi (not before mole' gets his CS2 and CSi5). For surrounds I am still considering RCi.

mole' wrote: »

i will soon have a CS2 and a CSi5 FS

Please post your experience. I'm very interested to know.

mole' wrote: »

enjoy your new sperakers

PS

DONT HAVE THEM SHIPPED VIA UPS

Thanks. I didn't have any control over it but they shipped via FedEx

MLZ

My RTi8's (and RTia5's and the LSi series) have Polk's "Power Port" technology while I do not think the TSi500 does.

I'm curious what this means and how much difference it makes or maybe this is "old technology" and so not in newer speaker lines.

rexian

I received the speakers today and set up almost immediately. Haven't used for HT yet, just for music and so far so good. Not a huge improvement over my Cambridge Soundworks speakers but the sound does seem fuller now.

I set the speakers as "large" and LFE crossover at 65Hz; bass sounds nice, not overpowering but tight. Enjoying a few FLACs and 320kbps MP3s in the 2-channel mode with ASIO ... life is good

Thanks guys.