Better speaker: RTA 12 or RTA 15TL?

steelglam

I have a pair of original version Polk RTA 12's. Not the A, B, or C version...but the original. I like them well enough (though I've heard the later A/B/C versions are superior).

But there is a local ad for a pair of RTA 15TL's for under $200. Which seems like a good price.

I've never heard the 15TL's, but I know that they are considered the "big brother" of the RTA 12's, and some think very highly of them.

For those that have heard both, which of the two do you like better? If I were to pick up the RTA 15TL's, I'd probably have to sell my RTA 12's due to a tight budget. So, I'm wondering which of the two would be better.

steelglam

Sorry, forgot to post this at the end and I can't edit the previous message now, so here it is:

Or, alternatively, even if the RTA 15TL's are better...are they more of a lateral (but slightly higher) move from the 12's rather than a serious upgrade? In the sense that, would it be better to hold on to the 12's and wait for a pair of Monitor 7's or SDA's or something like that to come along?

Which ones have the smoothest and most detailed presentation and can still do well at loud volumes?

Ricardo

I have not heard the 12's, but the RTA 15 TL's are very nice sounding speakers; at that price (if they are in good condition), you should buy them and if you don't like them you might even make some money.

silvertuner

Ricardo wrote: »

I have not heard the 12's, but the RTA 15 TL's are very nice sounding speakers; at that price (if they are in good condition), you should buy them and if you don't like them you might even make some money.

^^^what he said


the 15's sound very good, better than the 12's IMO, then again im bass hungry too

geppy1

First as has been pointed out, there is only one true RTA speaker . That is the 12. Not sure what is RTA about the 8,11 15.
I have had the orignal RTA 12 and RTA 12Bs and Cs. There is a noticeable difference but I have never compared the original RTA 12 to the 15tl. We did run a late RTA 12B side by side with an RTA 15TL. I really wanted the RTA 15TL to win but it was not happening. Several experienced people listened The RTA 12B was quicker more open and less muddy sounding. One friend looked at me and said they sound like a megaphone compared to the 12s. There has more bass weight in the 15s but it seemed deeper in the 12s with more punch. The 15 was a little smoother but it cost. For example on the Blues Brothers live album there is very little attack on the horns and such on the 15s. The 12 just sounded more like a live concert. in the room. The 15 just seemed like to many drivers . The RTA 12B was more accurate in the bass. A number of others have had a similar outcome. I suspect the 15 may?? be better then the original 12, but you will not know until you try. Depends on what you are really looking for and your mileage may vary.

Cayuga

Keep your 12's and look for some SDA's, more of an upward move.

Ricardo

Cayuga wrote: »

Keep your 12's and look for some SDA's, more of an upward move.

I disagree; SDA's are different, but not necessarily better. You have to listen to them and decide if they are for you.

And I should add that when I say the 15TL's are very nice sounding speakers.......this is after some minor xover modifications. In stock they do have some shortcomings.

Toolfan66

Cayuga wrote: »

Keep your 12's and look for some SDA's, more of an upward move.

I disagree as well, it's easy to push the SDA bandwagon like they are the only Polk speakers that are good,and worth having. There are a number of great speakers out there that Polk has made. One of my favs is the RT55i's.

With that said ,I would take a set of 15tl's over the 12's and mod the hell out of them.. ,as Ricardo said they can have there shortcomings, they can be a little bommy at times,that is why I would mod them IMO.

Hamatym

I did a very quick side by side comparison in a 20' x 20' room between:

RTA12C (RDO194 & new caps)
vs.
RTA15TL (RDO198's, all else stock)

After a couple songs, I noticed the sound to be much closer than I first would have expected. In the end, I preferred the 15's because you could hear much more detail from all those driver's in the midrange and bass. I am getting my 15's XO's upgrade by Ben as we speak:) I also can't stand that fabric hat the RTA12's have...so another benefit to the 15's was the nicer appearance.

geppy1

The 15s area beautiful looking speaker

geppy1

I agree with the comment on SDAs. Not better, different I am about at my limit of trying to love them. I have had 4 different sets in 15 years and it seems it is just not for me. I like what they do but the tradeoffs bother me more. I like the 2Bs the best of the ones I have had.

maxilla

steelglam wrote: »

I have a pair of original version Polk RTA 12's. Not the A, B, or C version...but the original. I like them well enough (though I've heard the later A/B/C versions are superior).

But there is a local ad for a pair of RTA 15TL's for under $200. Which seems like a good price.

I've never heard the 15TL's, but I know that they are considered the "big brother" of the RTA 12's, and some think very highly of them.

For those that have heard both, which of the two do you like better? If I were to pick up the RTA 15TL's, I'd probably have to sell my RTA 12's due to a tight budget. So, I'm wondering which of the two would be better.

For under $200? That's ridiculously low. Where are they? I'll buy them in a heart beat!

Cayuga

I apologize for my reply saying keep the 12's look for some SDA's. The two speakers are different and many arguments could be made about the word better. My bad, next time I'll think before I type.

steelglam

Too late...someone already snagged them. Oh well. I think I was leaning toward sticking with the RTA 12's anyways after I read through the responses here. My original thought process was look for SDA's or Monitor's to try a "different" Polk sound instead of moving within the same line.

But if the 15TL's were known to be heads and tails above the 12's, I would have considered getting the 15TL's and maybe selling the selling the 12's.

Someone also is selling a pair of Monitor 5jr's locally or $50. Anyone have any sense of how these compare to other bookshelf speakers by Paradigm, B&W, Boston, and the like?

heiney9

geppy1 wrote: »

I agree with the comment on SDAs. Not better, different I am about at my limit of trying to love them. I have had 4 different sets in 15 years and it seems it is just not for me. I like what they do but the tradeoffs bother me more. I like the 2Bs the best of the ones I have had.

I'd be interested to hear what you personally think the trade offs are. Me personally I don't hear too many trade offs. They aren't perfect, but what trade offs are you speaking of? I'm also not implying SDA's are better, etc or for everyone. Just like to get your perspective since you've been trying different SDA's for years.

H9

thesurfer

Keep in mind, just because someone says a certain model is better, or its newer, does not make it a fact,,, if you like what you have,, stick with it,, i personally like the older rti, line over the new line,, because i depend on my ears to tell me what i like, not someone elses,,or the marketing hype,,

geppy1

Pretty much the same things Stereo Review mentions in the review of the 1C. A slightly soft and laidback sound that does not come froward of the grills. Also not the best for rock. The RTA 12Bs for example have a 3D stage that comes forward. The presentation is out in front of you and sometimes almost as wide. The SDAs come acroos as a very wide but flat stage with any depth behind the speakers. Someone described it as a billboard wall of sound. More depth to the RTAs. HOWEVER the SDAs have nice bass weight and the images are very solid and a little more there which is very appealing. Once again NOT beter or worse ,just different. That makes jkeeping one or the other a hard choice. Need for cash is going to decide that

heiney9

See, I get just the opposite. I would agree they are a little laid back, but that's a good thing. I hear layers of soundstage and never flat. It expands from the center well beyond the speakers and some sounds are out in front of the speakers. In fact these speakers have as much depth of soundstage as most I've heard. Almost as much as a Maggie, almost.

For instance I can hear crash cymbals way in the background, a snare in the solid foreground, guitar slightly out in front, vocals dead center in front of me and background singers just slightly off to the side.

Thanks for the reply. It's interesting to hear about contrasting experiences with the same speakers. Just goes to show synergy plays a large role in individual systems.

H9

Ron Temple

heiney9 wrote: »

See, I get just the opposite. I would agree they are a little laid back, but that's a good thing. I hear layers of soundstage and never flat. It expands from the center well beyond the speakers and some sounds are out in front of the speakers. In fact these speakers have as much depth of soundstage as most I've heard. Almost as much as a Maggie, almost.

For instance I can hear crash cymbals way in the background, a snare in the solid foreground, guitar slightly out in front, vocals dead center in front of me and background singers just slightly off to the side.

Thanks for the reply. It's interesting to hear about contrasting experiences with the same speakers. Just goes to show synergy plays a large role in individual systems.

H9

That's how they sound in my room. Since I recently switched back to 1Cs as fronts, I've been appreciating the layered imaging more and more. Tonally, there were some instruments that the LS90s handled better or were more pleasing to my ears...others not so much. The layered soundstage the 90s couldn't provide and the laid back presentation of the SDAs is much more appealing to me. The 90s weren't forward by any means, but in comparison to 1Cs, midrange was lean and the treble a tad hot...and then there was the slam and weight...I'm glad I have it back.

Toolfan66

heiney9 wrote: »

See, I get just the opposite. I would agree they are a little laid back, but that's a good thing. I hear layers of soundstage and never flat. It expands from the center well beyond the speakers and some sounds are out in front of the speakers. In fact these speakers have as much depth of soundstage as most I've heard. Almost as much as a Maggie, almost.

For instance I can hear crash cymbals way in the background, a snare in the solid foreground, guitar slightly out in front, vocals dead center in front of me and background singers just slightly off to the side.

Thanks for the reply. It's interesting to hear about contrasting experiences with the same speakers. Just goes to show synergy plays a large role in individual systems.

H9

I experience the same imaging, I close my eyes and the wall and speakers disappear!!! I love it..:cool:

turbomustang84

I know this is an old thread but i have had all the speakers mentioned by the original poster and presently have a pair of RTA-12Cs and when I first bought them i was trying to drive them with a 200 watt Amplifier and thought they sounded good until i got an amp that was nearer 400 watts per speaker and then they became the speakers i will die with.
i even prefer them to several of the SDAs I have heard but i have not had a chance to play with the totl SDAs yet so i wont include those but when driven well my RTA-12Cs
have humiliated a lot more expensive speakers and when i run across another set i will buy them

K_M

We, listened to pretty much all of the Polks back in the day, and finally bought a "Smaller" SDA model, and a set of RTA11t's and 5 Jr+ models.

Years later got another SDA (truly forget which iteration, as they have so many darn numbers and it is in out other house)
But the one constant we found, was between the similar models with multi drivers, there was not a big difference sound wise, but merely a slightly maybe deeper bass, or a bit cleaner or a slightly different imaging.

We actually preferred the RTA11t to the 15, but "Wanted" to like the 15 better.

Fast forward to today, honestly while we like all of them still, the SDA effect I guess is no longer important to us.

We got a few different Lsi models, and honestly prefer them and they have a more precise image, more resolving, and simply just a better more coherent sound overall.

Still like our older models, but I guess, no longer totally in love with them, if that makes sense....