Rti70's Vs. Fxi50's for Surround?

Gate1way2

hey guys, i know i've asked this before Tower vs. Bookshelf for surround but i just wanted to ask again because it was a 50/50 split on the last Post. I just purchased some brand new Rti70's on Sale for $459.00 a pair (heck of a deal i think). I was thinking of maybe purchasing another pair for the surrounds because of the low price. I originally was planning on purchasing some Fxi50's for $349 the pair. What would you guys recommend. I currently have the Rti70's and a Csi40 Center. Do the Rti70's sound good as surrounds or should I just stay with my orignal choice of the Fx's? I will be listening to 50% satellite, 40%DVD, and 10% Music on the speakers.
P.S. if i do decide to get the fxi50's i would have to mount them 7-8Ft High from the Floor. Is this okay? I have a window on both sides so it doesn''t allow me to put them lower, unless i get stands (which i really don't want to do). Let me know, Thanks
Any comments are greatly appreciated,
Dave

dorokusai

That was a good deal on the RTi70's.

It's really up to you about which. You seriously cannot mount the, FXi50's, lower? If not on the side, what about your rear wall?

If the placement is >7 ft, and you have no way around it. I would get the RTi70's. If you can mount them a bit lower, <7 ft than I would get the FXi50's.

I just would be concerned with surrounds at that height. I am sure someone will disagree, but that is high.

Gate1way2

Thanks for the advice Dorok, ya i'm in a real akward situation, Dorok i'm thinking of sitting them on the on the window trim or something, do you think that would work? What happens when the polk fxi50 are places at 7FT? Is the sound horrible? Now that i'm looking at room i don't even think i have space for the rti70's for rears also.
Thanks for your info,
Dave

danger boy

i've used FX300i's and RT800i's. very similar but older models of the speakers you are looking at. The 800i's in your case RTi70's, go deeper than the surrounds do. The surrounds offer better surround sound tho. the 70's focus the sound to much forward and towards the room. I'd go for the surrounds instead.

Frank Z

I think that you'll get more milage out of the 50's than you will from the 70's based on your movie/music percentage. If you were going for a more music oriented (esp. multichannel SACD/DVD-A) I would say 70's. The 50's are going to provide better dispersion of the surround tracks.

dorokusai

I not afraid that they will sound horrible, I am moreso concerned with you hearing them at all from that height.

The imaging may really get thrown off with that speaker so high, in other words. Even if you calibrate it, when you snuggle into your listening position, the effects may sound way way over your head.

Do you have a digital camera? Take some pics if you do. But anyways, the sill idea is workable, but you are blocking your window then, which aestetically doesn't look that great. Plus it just flat out blocks some portion of your window. How many inches to the left and right of the window do you have? Do you have curtains or blinds on the window?

Have you thought about the FXi30? It is a bit smaller, and just as good.

Gate1way2

Thanks Dorok, and you other polkies for your valuable information, i showed my wife your posts and she finally let me use the living room for my home theatre instead of the family room (I would have purchased a bigger tv than my current 46" if i knew she would let me do this but OH WELL). The only problem with this room Dorok is that is has huge vaulted ceilings, will this effect the sound Dorok? This room has a back wall so i can place the rears against the back wall, Dorok if do purchase the fxi50's and the csi40 for my 6.1 Rear surround how high from the floor should i place them?
Any info would greatly appreciated
Thanks,
DAve

dorokusai

Ah the power of persuasion eh? Glad to hear that you have found a happy medium with the wife...its a long process sometimes, I know.

Here is a good link for information, sorry I didn't pass this on to you earlier. I am a slow thinker sometimes.

http://www.dolby.com/ht/Guide.HomeTheater.0110.html

How big is your room? I am 5.1, but going 6.1 in a couple months. My room is 12W x 18L. I have placed my side surrounds, 6.8 ft from the floor....3 ft above my listening position. They are closer to the rear of the room, probably 5 ft from rear wall.

If you can place your FXi30/50's on the side wall, it would be preffered placement for a dipole speaker. Since you stated that 6.1 is the goal, then mount your rear surround same height as sides, but right in the center of that rear wall. 5.1 sound is very nice, so don't sweat it if the wife factor pushes the speaker placement that way. If you are forced to go 5.1, then mount those surrounds on the rear wall, and go with the bipole switch.

Vaulted eh....beings I have little experience with that kind of room, I can only say that you should be fine. You may have more standing waves, and reflected sound than standard room, but to what extent I am unsure.

Mantis, another forum member, may have some more insight on the effect that a vaulted ceiling room, has on a HT setup.

If the room is larger than mine, than go FXi50, if it is the same or smaller, than go FXi30. I have auditioned both in house and went with the FXi30, because, in my application, found no advantage to the FXi50. I just use my room size as a general statement.

I f you have anything you need answered faster than the forum postings, email me.