TSI 500 vs RTi A5's

sard

Need some help, i am placing my HTS together. I am using a Pioneer VSX 815 reciever to power all. I have a CS10 for center and OWM3 as surrounds

I currently have Digital Audio as front speakers (bought off a truck and some kids 5+ years ago for $300, supprisingly ok). I am going to replace these. Just trying to figure out if I should go with the TSI 500's or RTi A5's? There is no local store I can go too to listen to them so I will go off all advice.

Is my reciever powerfull enough for the TSI and or/ Rti's? I am not in the market for a new reciever as of now. Plans to get a sub soon, that will be last.

Can CS10, OWM3 and RTI's be paried together because they are in a different Polk series?

Thanks for all the help, I am a new comer to surround sound systems - I dont need anything to blow up the house, just to give good sound for movies and Call of Duty

leroyjr1

RTI a5's are better.

danz1906

Welcome,

The A5's are the way to go!

jimmydep

A5's with a CSI-a4 or 6 center

mantis

In my experience with both models I feel the RTia5's are the clear winner here for everything. They do both music and movies better then the TSI's do. The TSI's sound slightly watered down when doing a side by side. They lack like the crossover or something is just slightly off.

cnh

WELCOME TO CLUB POLK!!

Until someone decides to tell us whether or not the TSI-500s share the M-70s 'cascade' crossover design (which they don't seem to?). All I can say is that there is NO way that a pair of Rti-A5s sound as good, musically, as my M70s. And I've heard the Rti-A5s many times and own a set of Rti-A3s which I like fine for HT but I prefer my M-70s for music.

I have no idea what Dan is talking about on the TSI-500s because there is most definitely no crossover problem on my 70s? Higher models of RTi-As and LSIs also have a cascade design. On the M-70s I find that this helps that tower perform like a 'good' bookshelf with more BASS than a bookshelf, because the design gives you a hybrid speaker--a bookshelf/tower? Two speakers in one. The bookshelf images like the smaller design would and the divided bass crossover gives you that extra oooomph on the bottom.

I know this is so subjective...but that slightly 'less' defined M-70 tweeter sounds 'sweeter' than the more 'surgical' Rti version! Just my two cents. With the exception of the Rti-A9s which are a different design that A7s or A5s. I like the A9s fine!

I respect all the other opinions above and I even 'understand' why people think what they do...but tweeter edginess will never win me over musically even if it's the MOST resolving tweeter in the world, In fact that very resolution may be exactly what sounds like fingernails on a chalkboard to me. Sometimes 'omissions' are more musical than hearing 'everything' IYKWIM.

cnh