HT Set-up?

4WardMotion

Hello All,

I'm new to this forum and I'm seeking help for my new home theater set-up. I have been without a HT set-up for the past 8 years. It has been a long time coming and I am ready to get a HT system. I use to own a Bose system, but have decided that I want to go with a better all around system for music, movies and games.

During my research over the last few weeks I have seen some great reviews on the RTI A1's and I am leaning this way to start my system. I would love to hear what you all would recommend for a HT system that is great for movies, music and PS3/Wii gaming.

The set-up will be in a room that is about 15' x 20' and opens up to our kitchen area. I can not afford the whole system up front, so I am planning it out and then adding the rest as I can afford it. Right now I have been looking at getting the front R & L speakers and then a receiver to power the system. I have been debating between the RTI A1's or A3's for the fronts. I would love to hear your thoughts on this and what receiver you would recommend to power my system. I have been looking at Onkyo, Pioneer and Yamaha mainly and there seems to be a lot of good and not so good for all.

Back in the early 2003 I had the Bose Lifestyle 12. How will this system compare to that? I know a lot of people hate Bose, but I thought it sounded great at the time, but I didn't have much to compare it too. Your feedback on this and the direction I am looking at going would be greatly appreciated.

One more thing, the speakers have to look nice and not overwhelm the room. My wife is tired of our house looking like a bachelor pad and I am trying to put together a system that will meet her desires of looks while meeting my desires of great sound. I plan to put these on stands for the front, so any recommendations for attractive stands that work with these speakers would be great.

Thanks for the guidance up front and I look forward to hearing all of your thoughts and suggestions.

ShadowTowel

Receiver - Harmon Kardon or Denon - find what fits your budget.

Speakers - I have A3's up front and love them. They have incredible detail, huge soundstage. Just look at the A1's next to the A3's... Feel the weight differences... I dont think you should get A1's as fronts. Maybe rears. Get the A3's to avoid the buyers remorse.

If you get an all RTI line and power it with a harmon kardon... You will realize why people hate Bose. For the money, they absolutely suck. And yea, I bet they sounded fine! But now you'll have the necessary comparison to see how much you were ripped off.

Geoff4rfc

For a room that size, the Monitor 70's are comparable in price when on sale, certainly a lot more speaker for the money. Paired up with a CS2. The Onkyo 808 has plenty of power to drive this system and is going for pretty cheap in some places.

If the RTi line is where your heart is, how 'bout considering the A5's or A7's?

Erik Tracy

4WardMotion wrote: »

Hello All,

I'm new to this forum and I'm seeking help for my new home theater set-up. I have been without a HT set-up for the past 8 years. It has been a long time coming and I am ready to get a HT system. I use to own a Bose system, but have decided that I want to go with a better all around system for music, movies and games.

During my research over the last few weeks I have seen some great reviews on the RTI A1's and I am leaning this way to start my system. I would love to hear what you all would recommend for a HT system that is great for movies, music and PS3/Wii gaming.

The set-up will be in a room that is about 15' x 20' and opens up to our kitchen area. I can not afford the whole system up front, so I am planning it out and then adding the rest as I can afford it. Right now I have been looking at getting the front R & L speakers and then a receiver to power the system. I have been debating between the RTI A1's or A3's for the fronts. I would love to hear your thoughts on this and what receiver you would recommend to power my system. I have been looking at Onkyo, Pioneer and Yamaha mainly and there seems to be a lot of good and not so good for all.

Back in the early 2003 I had the Bose Lifestyle 12. How will this system compare to that? I know a lot of people hate Bose, but I thought it sounded great at the time, but I didn't have much to compare it too. Your feedback on this and the direction I am looking at going would be greatly appreciated.

One more thing, the speakers have to look nice and not overwhelm the room. My wife is tired of our house looking like a bachelor pad and I am trying to put together a system that will meet her desires of looks while meeting my desires of great sound. I plan to put these on stands for the front, so any recommendations for attractive stands that work with these speakers would be great.

Thanks for the guidance up front and I look forward to hearing all of your thoughts and suggestions.

Welcome to Club Polk!

What is your budget for speakers?

You mentioned that you only wanted to start with Front L & R for a Home Theater setup.

You may want to reconsider and at least start with Front Left, Right and a Center - and a subwoofer - especially if you are considering bookshelves.

However, if you can get 'sign off' on your plan, as others have noted - don't rule out a set of Monitor 70s for your fronts. While the Monitor line is 'below' the RTiA line, the Monitor 70 is the top of the line in that series and probably would give you better results if you are looking for room filling sound.

I myself started with RTi4s (previous version of the RTiA1s), a CSi3 center, and a modest PSW303 sub, and RTi4s for surrounds.

My family room is about 12'x16' and it opens onto the kitchen.

The setup above filled the room nicely with sound for movies and did a decent job for music as well.

I did, however, upgrade to the RTiA3s and realized the PSW303 was just not up to the job of what I was after for clean bass.

The RTiA3s are markedly better than the RTi4s for painting a bigger sound and filling the room. RTiA3s with a good sub, can do quite a nice job for HT and even for music, imo.

But, if you can swing it, maybe some Monitor 70s up front are worth consideration.

For the AVR - Pioneers have some good street cred - especially the Elite series - you could probably find a sweet deal on a used Elite.

If you are set on bookshelves - go RTiA3s, dig in the couch cushions for the coin to get a CSiA4 center, and a sub - maybe a PSW505.

You can get surrounds later.

Just tossing out some ideas....

packetjones

I also recommend the A3's. I have them and really liked them. For a HT setup i would also get a sub soon. The recommendations for the monitor series towers is good as well. You could get the monitor 60 or 70 for the same price as the rti's. depends on if you have room for towers or want bookshelfs. Either way it is a good decision to peice together a system of quality components instead of buying a cheap 5.1...good luck

slammin86

I'm going to go with the above poster and say monitor 70's are a great buy for the price.

Geoff4rfc

Geoff4rfc wrote: »

For a room that size, the Monitor 70's are comparable in price when on sale

Erik Tracy wrote: »

- don't rule out a set of Monitor 70s for your fronts. While the Monitor line is 'below' the RTiA line, the Monitor 70 is the top of the line in that series and probably would give you better results if you are looking for room filling sound.

packetjones wrote: »

You could get the monitor 60 or 70 for the same price as the rti's.

slammin86 wrote: »

I'm going to go with the above poster and say monitor 70's are a great buy for the price.

There's 4 solid votes for the 70's mate.

ShadowTowel

Quality or quantity of sound is what it comes down to. I would take rti a3 over m70 personally. I've heard both. M70 puts out a powerful wall of sound, but my rti a3's have a sound quality I much prefer. Just may be me though.

Geoff4rfc

ShadowTowel wrote: »

Quality or quantity of sound is what it comes down to. I would take rti a3 over m70 personally. I've heard both. M70 puts out a powerful wall of sound, but my rti a3's have a sound quality I much prefer. Just may be me though.

When you see a shadow, throw a towel on it :biggrin:

4WardMotion

Thank you all for your feedback!

I really appreciate all that you have to share. One of the reasons that I have been looking at going with the RTI A1's or A3's is the size. One of the big reasons that I went with Bose back in the day was the size. My wife doesn't want our house looking like a bachelor pad so I am trying to put together a system that will sound great and also (hopefully) be pleasing to her. I'm afraid the m70's, being a tower speaker, are going to be too much for her.

I was looking at going back to a satellite speaker system, but I really want something that will give me a really good full natural sound and from the reviews I read, I think something like the RTI bookshelf speakers will do that and hopefully look nice enough in the cherry finish to please the wife. You know the saying, "If mama ain't happy, ain't nobody happy!"

I was also looking at the KEF Q series and the new series from Aperion. One reason I keep turning back to Polk Audio, is because I know it is a solid speaker that has been around for a long time and has a history. I know little to nothing about the KEF or Aperion.

As far as a receiver goes, I really want to find one that will be easy to use and yet powerful enough to really make my speakers sing. It seems a lot of these receivers have a lot of bells and whistles that I'm not sure I will ever use. It seems some of you have said to go Harmon Kardon, my only concern there is that I have read the HK aren't as good for movies. Do you find that to be the case?

I know it seems like I am sold on the RTI A1's or A3's, but I'm not totally yet. What I do like about them is the size, look and feel, plus the reviews made them sound like great speakers in my price range. I'm wanting a sound that I can totally enjoy, whether music or movies and a look that will keep my wife happy.

I plan to get a sub and center asap, but will have to see how the budget falls on the rest first. I want to build a quality system and not just throw one together that fits in my budget now. I figure I have waited 8 years to get this, I want to do it right and have something I totally enjoy at the end of the day.

Please keep the feedback coming! I really appreciate it and hope to take what I learn hear and apply it to my purchase soon. Thanks!

Geoff4rfc

4WardMotion wrote: »

Thank you all for your feedback!

My wife doesn't want our house looking like a bachelor pad "If mama ain't happy, ain't nobody happy!"

Yep, wife approved factor (WAF) is very important. My wife says the same thing to me.....If mama aint happy......so I can relate to that.

Some wives have more tolerance than others, even though mine calls me excessive and ob-sessive, she allows me to have our set up in our bedroom while we're living in our rental. Once we move into our own home, I'll have a dedicated theater room.

Imagine if you will, a 14 X 11 bedroom with a King size bed, full size dresser, now add a 50" plasma, pair of 70's, 40's, 30's, a CS2, an 8" Energy sub and to top it off, an Epik Empire sub. Oh yeah, lets not forget the Onkyo 807 135 watt receiver and LG bluray player.

A guys got to get very creative with space application, I can't wait to have the space you have to work with. At any rate, bottom line is WAF, keeping mama happy, so do what you gotta do bro and maximize your efforts where you can.

Happy shopping

Erik Tracy

4WardMotion wrote: »

Thank you all for your feedback!

I really appreciate all that you have to share. One of the reasons that I have been looking at going with the RTI A1's or A3's is the size. One of the big reasons that I went with Bose back in the day was the size. My wife doesn't want our house looking like a bachelor pad so I am trying to put together a system that will sound great and also (hopefully) be pleasing to her. I'm afraid the m70's, being a tower speaker, are going to be too much for her.

I was looking at going back to a satellite speaker system, but I really want something that will give me a really good full natural sound and from the reviews I read, I think something like the RTI bookshelf speakers will do that and hopefully look nice enough in the cherry finish to please the wife. You know the saying, "If mama ain't happy, ain't nobody happy!"

I was also looking at the KEF Q series and the new series from Aperion. One reason I keep turning back to Polk Audio, is because I know it is a solid speaker that has been around for a long time and has a history. I know little to nothing about the KEF or Aperion.

As far as a receiver goes, I really want to find one that will be easy to use and yet powerful enough to really make my speakers sing. It seems a lot of these receivers have a lot of bells and whistles that I'm not sure I will ever use. It seems some of you have said to go Harmon Kardon, my only concern there is that I have read the HK aren't as good for movies. Do you find that to be the case?

I know it seems like I am sold on the RTI A1's or A3's, but I'm not totally yet. What I do like about them is the size, look and feel, plus the reviews made them sound like great speakers in my price range. I'm wanting a sound that I can totally enjoy, whether music or movies and a look that will keep my wife happy.

I plan to get a sub and center asap, but will have to see how the budget falls on the rest first. I want to build a quality system and not just throw one together that fits in my budget now. I figure I have waited 8 years to get this, I want to do it right and have something I totally enjoy at the end of the day.

Please keep the feedback coming! I really appreciate it and hope to take what I learn hear and apply it to my purchase soon. Thanks!

Well, if you have to get your wife to approve and bookshelves seem to be the choice, you won't be disappointed with RTiA3s - maybe get a micropro sub to start for fronts and a sub - that would be a sweet start!

ShadowTowel

I could probably have posted this comment in a million different threads, but what is with this listener fatigue brightness stuff?? I get the theory of brightness, but I have never in my entire life been bothered by what something sounds like and lost interest in what I'm watching. Has anyone REALLY been that bothered by the brightness of a speaker?

ShadowTowel

DSkip wrote: »

Its real. You might just be the lucky one who it doesn't bother. If the frequency response isn't balanced, and you have an excess in the higher octaves, it gets harsh very quick and hard to endure. Its much more prevalent in a car due to how reflective those waves are, but still happens in some household systems.

Hmmm... I would assume most stock car audio systems aren't very nicely calibrated, nor of good quality. So if my crappy audio system in my car doesn't bother me, I am guessing I'm one of the lucky ones?

packetjones

I started off the same as you did. I wanted to get a quality system that I could afford and expand on later. I ended up starting with a pair of A3's and a Harman Kardon 254 AVR. I was pretty happy with the system. I then added a CSiA4 center to the mix and was even happier. I ran the 3.0 system for a while until I could afford a budget sub and added a psw110. This 3.1 system lasted me for quite some time and I was very happy with it.

I liked the quality of the components that I had. I went with the RTI line because I felt it was a higher quality speaker than the other ones that are out there in the same range as my budget. I eventually wanted more and picked up a pair of A5's and moved the A3's to surrounds. Everyone will recommend what they have but I really like the mix of the HK receiver and the RTI's. You could get the same 254 i have at a reasonable cost since it is an older model.

4WardMotion

Thank you everyone for the great feedback!

The last few posts got me thinking and what I think I'm going to do is start off with the A3's for my fronts and see how I like them. If I feel that I need more up front once I get these up and running then I will get some towers for the fronts and move the A3's to the surrounds. I really like this option and it gives me some room to change if need be.

As far as a receiver goes, I'm still not sure. It seems there are pros and cons to all of them. In turn, making it a difficult decision. If anyone else out there feels they have got the perfect answer (not really) I am open to hearing your thoughts on this.

One last thing, can anyone recommend some nice speaker stands to put the A3's on? I have only seen the Sanus, but know nothing about them and how sturdy they are. What keeps the speaker sitting on them without falling off. Would love to hear your thoughts, suggestions and ideas on this.

Thanks again for all the great help. I feel it has really helped me feel more comfortable in the direction I think I'm going to go. If you have any other thoughts, I'm open to hearing them.

Erik Tracy

4WardMotion wrote: »

Thank you everyone for the great feedback!

The last few posts got me thinking and what I think I'm going to do is start off with the A3's for my fronts and see how I like them. If I feel that I need more up front once I get these up and running then I will get some towers for the fronts and move the A3's to the surrounds. I really like this option and it gives me some room to change if need be.

As far as a receiver goes, I'm still not sure. It seems there are pros and cons to all of them. In turn, making it a difficult decision. If anyone else out there feels they have got the perfect answer (not really) I am open to hearing your thoughts on this.

One last thing, can anyone recommend some nice speaker stands to put the A3's on? I have only seen the Sanus, but know nothing about them and how sturdy they are. What keeps the speaker sitting on them without falling off. Would love to hear your thoughts, suggestions and ideas on this.

Thanks again for all the great help. I feel it has really helped me feel more comfortable in the direction I think I'm going to go. If you have any other thoughts, I'm open to hearing them.

I think you'll be happy to start with RTiA3s as fronts. If you have any money left over at all, you may want to consider a subwoofer as that combination will give you some ear grinning sonic enjoyment for music and movies.

ShadowTowel

Yeah the A3's put out incredible sound. Don't let your eyes fool your ears into thinking the sound is "small."

I can close my eyes and pretend towers are there... My ears don't tell me otherwise!

The towers will be better for bass response, but get a nice sub and you're set! My A3's + sub = amazing sound!