TSi500 vs. RTiA7

jeffsang

I'm looking to build myself my first serious home theater set up and was leaning towards Polk speakers. I was going to just start with the a pair of floorstanding speakers, hoping to spend less than $1k for the pair, and was leaning towards the TSi500s, especially since they currently come with a free sub. I stumbled upon the Polk ebay store though, where I see they have a very good price on a refurbished pair of the RTiA7s, which I'm now giving some serious thought to.

Unfortunately, I haven't had the chance to demo the A7s. I would welcome anyone's thoughts on: How will the sound differ? How much better will they sound? Is buying a refurbished model direct from Polk a good idea? Finally, if I go with the A7s, am I going to now have to build my system with the more expensive RTi series instead of the TSi series and is it worth it?

Thanks!

cnh

WELCOME TO CLUB POLK!!

While I prefer the Rti-A9s to the A7s. The A7s will give you more powerful sound and a bit more detail up top than TSI-500s...but they must be properly matched with 'warmer' sounding AVRs and amps? If you can afford to step up to the RtiA line--you won't regret it! Especially if you have a larger space to fill with sound.

cnh

leroyjr1

You can save a ton of money buying used or refurbished. Polk direct eBay store is an outstanding value and the product is like brand new, very hard to tell the difference. Also your local craiglist has great deals if you don't mind buying used.

Ericw2431

+1 on rtia I had and very good indeed!....and some of the 'refurb' items arent really refurbs some are actualy new!=0

B Run

I agree with going for the Rtia's as well, but if you don't go with the monitors over the Tsi's and save yourself some cash.

EndersShadow

+1 for the RTi's over the TSi's....if you can step up to the LSi's those are better than both.....

Upstatemax

I have the RTi A7's and I have also done an in home demo on the TSi 500's. IMO the RTi A7's are FAR better...

They hit harder, are more detailed and hell, they even look MUCH nicer.

Down side to the A7's, the more good quality power you can get to them, the better. The TSi will be easier to drive.

But if your looking for a good qaulity HT system and that you can continue to grow into, the RTi A7's are hard to beat.

jeffsang

Thank you everyone for your feedback so far. I'm definitely leaning more towards the A7's now. My current receiver is a few years old and 100w/channel, but was planning on upgrading that in the near future as well anyway. I assume though that A7s will still sound okay until I can do that, even if they aren't reaching their full potential. Any suggestions on receivers that would match well with them? I'd like to spend $500 or less, if possible.

dorokusai

Onkyo TX-SRxxx.....anything in your range can be had. There is a lot of Pioneer Elite buzz for closeout models so I'd keep your eyes peeled for anything being disco'd.

jeffsang

Thanks dorokusai. I was actually already leaning towards that line via Crutchfield, but reviews of them online said they were a "brighter" sounding AVR, whereas cnh recommended that I look for a "warmer" sounding one. I guess another reminder than these terms are very subjective.

dorokusai

jeffsang wrote: »

Thanks dorokusai. I was actually already leaning towards that line via Crutchfield, but reviews of them online said they were a "brighter" sounding AVR, whereas cnh recommended that I look for a "warmer" sounding one. I guess another reminder than these terms are very subjective.

That's a mouthful at least :biggrin: Good luck. Post back with what you get....it's not hard to get it right when it comes to HT.

Upstatemax

I have been happy with my denon AVR 2808 that powers my A7's. I know there is a lot more headroom on my speakers, but I might have to file for a divorce to buy seperates...

Then, if I'm in a divorce I can't afford a new amp... It's a slippery slope. :frown:

Guess I will stick with my wife and give the seperate amp a rest, for now.

If you do go with a new receiver, get one with pre-outs. That way if you decide to get a seperate amp for the A7's down the road, you will have no issue using your new receiver.

PrazVT

If you do go with a new receiver, get one with pre-outs. That way if you decide to get a seperate amp for the A7's down the road, you will have no issue using your new receiver.

Agreed. When you do eventually get an external amp, it'll sound like you upgraded your speakers

Gulfstrings

Upstatemax wrote: »

If you do go with a new receiver, get one with pre-outs. That way if you decide to get a seperate amp for the A7's down the road, you will have no issue using your new receiver.

This is really important. An AVR with preouts will allow you to add a power amp later. Doing so will make those A7s in to the "serious" home theater you're looking for.

Enjoy the journey.

jeffsang

Was able to test drive the A5s and the A9s today and loved them both. Unfortunately, I couldn't listen to the A7s but I feel confident they'll sound somewhere in between the 5's and the 9's. However, when I went to purchase on the ebay store, they were sold out, agh!!! Oh well, I'm sure another sell will pop on there soon. Rest assure, when they do, I'll be all over that.

jeffsang

They just put a few more up for sale and I got a pair. Will let you guys know when they arrive and I give them a listen. I'm very excited. Thanks for all your help thus far.

BtrSound

Upstatemax wrote: »

I have been happy with my denon AVR 2808 that powers my A7's. I know there is a lot more headroom on my speakers, but I might have to file for a divorce to buy seperates...

Then, if I'm in a divorce I can't afford a new amp... It's a slippery slope. :frown:

Guess I will stick with my wife and give the seperate amp a rest, for now.

If you do go with a new receiver, get one with pre-outs. That way if you decide to get a seperate amp for the A7's down the road, you will have no issue using your new receiver.

She likely will not even notice if you just show up with it. It is easier to ask for forgiveness than permission. Do you keep a seperate mad money account for your toys?

Upstatemax

BtrSound wrote: »

She likely will not even notice if you just show up with it. It is easier to ask for forgiveness than permission. Do you keep a seperate mad money account for your toys?

I do... But the account has been sucked dry for a new camera for the new baby.

Plus I think she will notice when she has to turn it on to use the system.

jeffsang

Hey all. So my new RTiA7's came a bit ago. I also just got a Yamaha RX-V667 to match with it so that I could have better processing, bi-amp capability, and most importantly, an HDMI connection between my computer and my receiver. Let me say that I'm just absolutely loving the whole set up. Best money that I've spent in a very long long time. Listening to the new speakers is just amazing, I'm hearing new details in the music I've loved for years that I didn't even know where there. Just incredible. My receiver has a bunch of pre-outs, but considering that I'm an apartment dweller, I don't think I could add an amp in this building without all my neighbors rising up in revolt.

BtrSound

Divorce would definately add a LOT of additional cost to your stereo budget. I recently had to upgrade my camera due to new Child. Which one did you go with. I decided on the Cannon T2i. It is pretty nice.

txcoastal1

Upstatemax wrote: »

I do... But the account has been sucked dry for a new camera for the new baby.

Plus I think she will notice when she has to turn it on to use the system.

But, the wife and kids appreciate later when alled curled up listening and watching a nice HT....asked my wife "would you rather me be at the bar":biggrin::biggrin:

Upstatemax

BtrSound wrote: »

Divorce would definately add a LOT of additional cost to your stereo budget. I recently had to upgrade my camera due to new Child. Which one did you go with. I decided on the Cannon T2i. It is pretty nice.

Went with an Olympus E-PL1. Wanted something pretty portable that still took good shots and could shoot HD video.

I also had to keep in mind that my wife hates complicated... The full auto mode is great for her.

BtrSound

Happy wife happy life

drewg74

jeffsang wrote: »

Hey all. So my new RTiA7's came a bit ago. I also just got a Yamaha RX-V667 to match with it so that I could have better processing, bi-amp capability, and most importantly, an HDMI connection between my computer and my receiver. Let me say that I'm just absolutely loving the whole set up. Best money that I've spent in a very long long time. Listening to the new speakers is just amazing, I'm hearing new details in the music I've loved for years that I didn't even know where there. Just incredible. My receiver has a bunch of pre-outs, but considering that I'm an apartment dweller, I don't think I could add an amp in this building without all my neighbors rising up in revolt.

Hey all, new to this forum and site. Jeffsang, I just bought the Yamaha RX-V667 yesterday and I joined this forum to get opinions on a good set of speakers to go with this receiver. Any updates on the RTiA7 speakers you bought? I'm torn between these and the TSI500 pair. I've already listened to the TSI500 and was impressed, but I have nowhere to go to listen to the RTiA7. Any further feedback would be appreciated. Thanks!

mdale

jeffsang wrote: »

Hey all. So my new RTiA7's came a bit ago. I also just got a Yamaha RX-V667 to match with it so that I could have better processing, bi-amp capability, and most importantly, an HDMI connection between my computer and my receiver. Let me say that I'm just absolutely loving the whole set up. Best money that I've spent in a very long long time. Listening to the new speakers is just amazing, I'm hearing new details in the music I've loved for years that I didn't even know where there. Just incredible. My receiver has a bunch of pre-outs, but considering that I'm an apartment dweller, I don't think I could add an amp in this building without all my neighbors rising up in revolt.

Recenlty paired a new Yamaha RX-V667 receiver with Polk RTI-A7 fronts. The new receiver is substantially "warmer" than my previous Yamaha HTR-5560 receiver. Did you (or anyone out there) encounter issus/problems with bi-amping this receiver with the speakers? I'm a little worried that the amp's internal crossover circuitry could harm the speakers. Any advice? Thank you.

PrazVT

I wouldn't bother using the bi-amp feature with an AVR as you're not really using 2 different amplifiers to power the speakers. If it was a multi channel power amp, yes. With an AVR it's not worth it - you can try it and see if you hear a difference.

@jeffsang

Adding an external amp doesn't mean you're just going to play it louder. It means, even at the same volumes you listen at now, you'll get more dynamic sound, better bass. It's the quality of the power in an external amp (ie. high current) that improves the speaker performance. So living an apartment has no bearing on that decision.

mdale

PrazVT wrote: »

I wouldn't bother using the bi-amp feature with an AVR as you're not really using 2 different amplifiers to power the speakers. If it was a multi channel power amp, yes. With an AVR it's not worth it - you can try it and see if you hear a difference.

@jeffsang

Adding an external amp doesn't mean you're just going to play it louder. It means, even at the same volumes you listen at now, you'll get more dynamic sound, better bass. It's the quality of the power in an external amp (ie. high current) that improves the speaker performance. So living an apartment has no bearing on that decision.

PrazVT: According to the Yamaha rep, bi-amping the 667's "discrete" amplifers will produce a discernible improvement in audio quality. So I tried it out last weekend, and I do think that it resulted in slightly more power (perhaps just 3 dB) and better signal separation between the speaker drivers. I didn't think the A7s could have sounded any better, but they actually do. I understand that active bi-amping would be even better, but can't afford it right now. Thank you for your response. - mdale

wutadumsn23

That Rep could probably sell a ketchup popsicle to a woman in the desert, wearing white gloves too, lol. That is what they have to say, logically speaking Bi-Amping with an AVR adds no power, since it gets the power from the same place it did before you Bi-Amped it, one single amp. Having said that, glad you are enjoying your system mdale, and if it sounds good to you, that is the only thing that matters.

-Jeff