Rti A7 midrange issues
I'm looking to upgrade my home theatre/music setup. I have a HK3600AVR, a really cheap set of towers, a polk RM-302 centre and R-150 surrounds.
I was interested in the RTi A7s and they sound great to me in store, and can be had for $799/pair - however, I've read in other forums that the RTi A9's have a much better midrange. I can't find a pair in store to listen to, so even though the RTi A7's sound good, I don't know what I'm potentially missing in the A9's. I was also told that the A9's have been discontinued at future shop up here in Canada.
So, 2 questions:
1)If I upgrade to a Csi A6 and 2 Rti A7's, and listen to music in 5 channel stereo mode on my AVR, will the centre channel's mid-range focus help improve the supposed lack of midrange on the A7's?
2) Is the Rti A9 being discontinued completely, is the whole Rti A line on its way out? I know there are new LSi M's poised to hit the shelves soon, but is there change coming at the RTi pricepoint as well?
Thanks for helping a newb!
I was interested in the RTi A7s and they sound great to me in store, and can be had for $799/pair - however, I've read in other forums that the RTi A9's have a much better midrange. I can't find a pair in store to listen to, so even though the RTi A7's sound good, I don't know what I'm potentially missing in the A9's. I was also told that the A9's have been discontinued at future shop up here in Canada.
So, 2 questions:
1)If I upgrade to a Csi A6 and 2 Rti A7's, and listen to music in 5 channel stereo mode on my AVR, will the centre channel's mid-range focus help improve the supposed lack of midrange on the A7's?
2) Is the Rti A9 being discontinued completely, is the whole Rti A line on its way out? I know there are new LSi M's poised to hit the shelves soon, but is there change coming at the RTi pricepoint as well?
Thanks for helping a newb!
Post edited by books on
Comments
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I upgraded from 7's to 9's and it is not that the 7's lack anything, it is that the 9's do it better.
Csi A6 and 2 Rti A7's, and listen to music in 5 channel stereo mode on my AVR, will the centre channel's mid-range focus help improve the supposed lack of midrange on the A7's
You will have no problem with the 7's using them like you mentioned. They will work great.
The RTiA7's are a great speaker and sound fantastic in home theater as well as Multi-channel music.
In stereo mode they work great and like to have power. -
WELCOME TO CLUB POLK!
I think you'd be happy with the combo you list above. Would you be a little more happier with the RTI-A9s, yes. But I wouldn't worry about that. You can always upgrade later, if you even want to.
As far as Rti-A series being phased out? You must know something many of 'us' don't? Haven't heard anything about a new line there, yet.
cnhCurrently orbiting Bowie's Blackstar.!
Polk Lsi-7s, Def Tech 8" sub, HK 3490, HK HD 990 (CDP/DAC), AKG Q701s
[sig. changed on a monthly basis as I rotate in and out of my stash] -
IMO, you will need an amp to properly drive the 9's, but can get away with an AVR with the 7's.listen to music in 5 channel stereo mode on my AVR
There is no such thing as 5 channel stereo. The term stereo means 2 channels.I was also told that the A9's have been discontinued at future shop up here in Canada.
Maybe Future Shop has stopped carrying the 9's, but I don't think that Polk would stop making just speaker out of the line.Political Correctness'.........defined
"A doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a t-u-r-d by the clean end."
President of Club Polk -
Yes but there is 5 channel "stereo" mode on almost every avr i've seen. not sure what it does with the center channel, but the surrounds are in stereo just like the mains.Living Room 2.2: Usher BE-718 "tiny dancers"; Dual DIY Dayton audio RSS210HF-4 Subs with Dayton SPA-250 amps; Arcam SA30; Musical Fidelity A308; Sony UBP-x1000es
Game Room 5.1.4: Denon AVR-X4200w; Sony UBP-x700; Definitive Technology Power Monitor 900 mains, CLR-3000 center, StudioMonitor 350 surrounds, ProMonitor 800 atmos x4; Sub - Monoprice Monolith 15in THX Ultra
Bedroom 2.1 Harmon Kardon HK3490; Bluesounds Node N130; Polk RT25i; ACI Titan Subwoofer -
Yes but there is 5 channel "stereo" mode on almost every avr i've seen. not sure what it does with the center channel, but the surrounds are in stereo just like the mains.
Yes I agree, it's a DSP mode that some manufactures include in their AVR's. Front left and right channels get split to the center and the rears receive the same signal as the left and right fronts.
Fake surround mode!
From the World English dictionary:
Sterophonic: Often shortened to: stereo (of a system for recording, reproducing, or broadcasting sound) using two or more separate microphones to feed two or more loudspeakers through separate channels in order to give a spatial effect to the sound. -
Yes but there is 5 channel "stereo" mode on almost every avr i've seen. not sure what it does with the center channel, but the surrounds are in stereo just like the mains.
It's called a whole lot of bad sound.Political Correctness'.........defined
"A doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a t-u-r-d by the clean end."
President of Club Polk -
H9: If you don't trust what you are hearing, then maybe you need to be less invested in a hobby which all the pleasure comes from listening to music. -
Sorry about that.Political Correctness'.........defined
"A doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a t-u-r-d by the clean end."
President of Club Polk -
2) Is the Rti A9 being discontinued completely, is the whole Rti A line on its way out? I know there are new LSi M's poised to hit the shelves soon, but is there change coming at the RTi pricepoint as well?
With no concrete facts of my own... I have a friend who works at Frys Electronics, according to him. They were invited to a polk audio new product training session late last year and was told that the RTI a's are scheduled to be replaced.... He mentioned that it is pretty much the same speakers (drivers) but the cabinets are squared off somewhat...this is hear say but it was also unsolicited so he has no reason to make it up... So folks, don't be surprised......
Erik UOnkyo NR-3007
Carver M-4.0t
Parasound HCA 1200MKII
Parasound HCA 2205A
RTI-A9
Csi-A6
Tsi-100 (Highs)
M5 (Rear)
Rti6(Surrounds)
RT7(Wides)
Oppo DV-981HD
PS3
X360
Klipsch Sub12
Klipsch Sub10 -
Thanks for all the feedback. One reason I'm so attracted to the Polk lineup is the active community of customers supporting one another on Club Polk. Kudos to you all.
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Who would have though. Company coming out with a new product to replace a current one. You can spend forever waiting for the next new, big thing. There will always be a replacement on the horizon, unless the company is going down the tube.
The monitor series has been discontinued and people are still buying them up. Just cause they have been replaced doesnt mean they are no longer any good.
I have the 7's and am happy with them. Like the other guys said I wouldnt want to run the 9's off of an AVR.AVR: Onkyo Tx-NR808
Amplifier: Carver A-753x 250 watts x 3
Fronts: Polk RTI A7 (modded by Trey VR3)
Center: CSI A4 (modded by Trey VR3)
Rear: FXI A4
Sub: Polk DSW Pro 660wi
TV: LG Infinia 50PX950 3D
Speaker Cable: AudioQuest Type 8
IC: AudioQuest Black Mamba II
