Use all FXi series or mix with RTi A3's for surround duty?

gfong

Just upgraded my FXi A4's to new FXi A6's. They will be here in a week or so from the online retailer.

I am running a 5.1 configuration and have the capabilities to run a 7.1 config if I choose to.
I already have new RTi A3's that I was going to use as rears if I decided to go to a 7.1 config and move the FXi A4's to the sides for surround duty.

In my current 5.1 config the new FXi A6's will replace the 4's that I used as rears.

With my new purchase this leaves me with 2 FXi A4's and 2 RTi A3's; I need to decide which ones to keep for 7.1? (I may never go to a 7.1 config, but want to keep speakers just in case.)

In the FXi A6 write up on Polk it states...Use two pairs for 7.1 for the ultimate home theater system!

Of course I would use the 4's and the 6's that I already have for this.

Has anyone used 4 FXi series speakers for rears and surrounds?

Which do you think would sound better, RTi A3's in the rear with FXi A6's for the surrounds or FXi A6 and A4's for rear and surround.

My fronts are RTi A9's and CSi A6 which are all hooked to a 3 channel amp and the rears are powered by my AVR.

Apprecaite the comments and suggestions.

mdaudioguy

I tried FXis on the sides and in the back, and I preferred them on the sides. Admittedly, I only have two, so I don't exactly know how four would sound. I think a lot has to do with the shape of the room. Mine is longer than it is wide, and this configuration (FXi on sides and RTi in back) works well for me. What are your room dimensions? What's your layout? How much room behind the listening position?

gfong

mdaudioguy wrote: »

I tried FXis on the sides and in the back, and I preferred them on the sides. Admittedly, I only have two, so I don't exactly know how four would sound. I think a lot has to do with the shape of the room. Mine is longer than it is wide, and this configuration (FXi on sides and RTi in back) works well for me. What are your room dimensions? What's your layout? How much room behind the listening position?

Thanks for the comments. 7.1 would not be ideal in the room I am in now, that is why I have not gone that route. I am future proofing!

I could set it up to "test out" but my listening position is 1.5 feet from the back wall and I felt that having the speakers directly above my head firing toward the front would not work great.

I have the FXi A4's set to either side of me firing at each other and set to dipole (just like in the picture). This works great and the FXi A6's will take their place once they arrive.

Room is 18 ft long by 12 ft wide

You layout sounds like mine, but I do not have the option of moving my seating position forward like in the bipole pic. My couch is 1 ft from the back wall so my listening area is about 1.5 away from the wall.

Thining about it, maybe running the FXi A6's in bipole above me and the 4's on the sides in dipole could work; the FXi A6's would diffuse the sound better than the direct firing RTi A3's could.

But then if I moved and had the room to put a speaker behind me I would possibly want the RTi A3's back there. Maybe I will keep all of them! lol (j/k)

mdaudioguy

You're smart not trying to force it all in. Yes, I agree that your seating position is too close to the back wall. I think you need more space to make 7.1 work right. I think of it as each speaker needing a little breathing room in order to do its job effectively.

Why not try using the RTiA3s in a little 2-channel bookshelf system for another room... at least for the time being?

gfong

mdaudioguy wrote: »

You're smart not trying to force it all in. Yes, I agree that your seating position is too close to the back wall. I think you need more space to make 7.1 work right. I think of it as each speaker needing a little breathing room in order to do its job effectively.

Why not try using the RTiA3s in a little 2-channel bookshelf system for another room... at least for the time being?

Thanks for the reassurance, apprecaite it. It's good to talk things out and see what is what!

I may keep the RTi A3's for a rainy day as I have one other smaller Polk speaker setup in use. (5.1 RM20 setup)
The RM20 speakerss are not even close to the RTi A3's but I love the little stands that you get with them.
Very compact 5 speaker system and looks good with the other smaller tv. Pretty bad when stands are a selling feature!

I am looking forward to gettting the FXi A6's, I think they will enhance my multi-channel SACD music and of course add a little more to the rear stage for movies.

mdaudioguy

I started out with a pair of these:

I didn't keep them, because I didn't think they sounded great for music. Wish I had played around with them longer, though. Very solidly built. The store also allowed me to exchange them for the RTi10s and some other stuff. It's also somewhat rare to find someone else on here who uses them, too.