RTA 15TL's impressions

bluecomet

I just picked up a pair of RTA 15TL's from a fellow member and they are in very good condition. I was curious to hear the next generation speakers Polk came out with after the SDA series. They seem to be very good in the mids and overall a very good speaker. The one thing I noticed was how similar they sound to my SRS 3.1tl speakers. The slight difference seems a little bigger bass in the 3.1tl's. I am curious to know why Polk used a woofer coming out the back of the speaker. I have not seen to many reviews of these speakers and wondered if the audiofile reviews were favorable in the day of the RTA 15tl's.

decato

bluecomet wrote: »

I have not seen to many reviews of these speakers and wondered if the audiofile reviews were favorable in the day of the RTA 15tl's.

I also own the RTA 15TL's and like them very much. A while ago I started this thread: http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?t=48075

It contains info about modifications to the crossover and a copy of the article from Stereo Review magazine.

bluecomet

Thanks for the info. I totally agree with the review of the day that said because of the position of the tweeter, the speaker sounds much better in a seated position. Nice job on your modded 15tl's. Room placement also seems key to these speakers.

Vette C6.r

bluecomet wrote: »

II am curious to know why Polk used a woofer coming out the back of the speaker.

It's actually a radiator. Not sure if you just had a typo or what.

Some feel that the bass is bloated. Try to keep away from that back wall.

bluecomet

The more I lesson to them the more I like them. They sound much better at higher volume. The bass really doesn't bother me maybe because I have them away from the wall.

aviator

There is a set of RTA 15TL currently listed on eBay located in Franklin, OH, wish they were in Texas.

No affiliation.

charley95

aviator wrote: »

There is a set of RTA 15TL currently listed on eBay located in Franklin, OH, wish they were in Texas.

No affiliation.

There is also a pair of 2.3's in Mi. on the bay at starting bid of $400.00.
Could these be a members set? I can't let my 15's go that I bought new.
Maybe perform some mods. on them this winter.

Toolfan66

I had the 15tl's for a short time, and I thought they sounded bloated in the low end. I tried everything setting them up just couldn't get into them, and I was disappointed as I really like the way they look... I tried to sell them local here in Denver, I ended up selling all the innards here on the forum and setting the cabinets out with the trash, It was a very hard thing to do!!!! But I knew I would have no use for them...

bluecomet

That's a shame. It looks like many of us are enjoying the RTA 15tl's, I know I am.

dorokusai

Exaggerrated bass response, almost bloated midrange, soft high end. It's an ok loudspeaker. Even the smallest SDA is a more balanced loudspeaker but that's a whole 'nother ballgame.

Toolfan66

I think the 55i's are a thousand times better and they are much smaller..

Just my opinon, as always enjoy what you have..

cincycat13

I still remember the DIY 15TL center project made with Tool's help / parts. I am currently wishing I had done the same project with the other half. I took a look at the Ebay ones with those thoughts as I am close enough for pick up, but that price is CRAZY! I also wanted to hear some stock 15TLs to see what others are hearing. I am still letting the 198 tweets get a few hours on them. With the tweet swap, Jantzen foil inductors, spikes, and Larry's rings I don't hear bloated, but I doubt these sound stock.

I have not heard the 55i's...but I do have some 55s in my house so I can A/B when things settle in.

Toolfan66

I want to build a center out of a RTi7...

geppy1

Doro hit it on the head as that was my experience agaisn RTA12bs and I really wanted the 15s as the shape and look of the cabinets is great.. I had LS 90s a couple of times and LSI15s I think I would lean toward the RTA 15s only becasue the seem even better balanced then the LS 90s which seem very very bass heavy. The word home theater runs through my head. Another nice looking cabinet though. Then we have the LSI15. Sounds really nice. The sound is out in front of you but does not extend much outside of the speakers. Very musical , clear and appealing, until the bass comes in, then something is not right. Almost seems like a sub. Disconnected from the rest of the spectrum. A friend looked at me while listening and said, who thought that was good bass?? I keep looking at and trying the larger speakers post Monitor/SDA era (RTA 12B is considered a Monitor series speaker) and cannot help but think the later speakers are designed with a slight tilt towrd home theater. maybe i am worng but I have tried and tried. Do not know much about the RT gear

aviator

Hmmm,

Maybe my thought of using RTA 15TL for rears in a surround setup isn't that good an idea after all.

bluecomet

geppy1 wrote: »

Doro hit it on the head as that was my experience agaisn RTA12bs and I really wanted the 15s as the shape and look of the cabinets is great.. I had LS 90s a couple of times and LSI15s I think I would lean toward the RTA 15s only becasue the seem even better balanced then the LS 90s which seem very very bass heavy. The word home theater runs through my head. Another nice looking cabinet though. Then we have the LSI15. Sounds really nice. The sound is out in front of you but does not extend much outside of the speakers. Very musical , clear and appealing, until the bass comes in, then something is not right. Almost seems like a sub. Disconnected from the rest of the spectrum. A friend looked at me while listening and said, who thought that was good bass?? I keep looking at and trying the larger speakers post Monitor/SDA era (RTA 12B is considered a Monitor series speaker) and cannot help but think the later speakers are designed with a slight tilt towrd home theater. maybe i am worng but I have tried and tried. Do not know much about the RT gear

RT gear is nice but they sound the best in a HT setup in my opinion. They do not compare to the SDA's.

bluecomet

cincycat13 wrote: »

I still remember the DIY 15TL center project made with Tool's help / parts. I am currently wishing I had done the same project with the other half. I took a look at the Ebay ones with those thoughts as I am close enough for pick up, but that price is CRAZY! I also wanted to hear some stock 15TLs to see what others are hearing. I am still letting the 198 tweets get a few hours on them. With the tweet swap, Jantzen foil inductors, spikes, and Larry's rings I don't hear bloated, but I doubt these sound stock.

I have not heard the 55i's...but I do have some 55s in my house so I can A/B when things settle in.

I am the guy who bought the RTA 15tl's on ebay and I don't regret it. I wanted a set in nice condition and I got it. I have RT55's and I don't think they are superior to the RTA's. The RTA's if set up correctly are a very good speakers. Can they be improved? Sure, even the SDA's can be improved. Speakers in general need proper gear to sound there best, I not sure if these RTA's have been modded internally but I am not hearing a bloated base either.

cincycat13

I am sorry. I was referring to the ones in franklin oh with a current BIN of $700 as crazy. I would pay some to get nicer cabinets but I can not afford that ballpark and I think they are black. I could get some veneer and DIY for less.

bluecomet

No problem. I paid $350 from a fellow member. They were also on ebay and are in excellent shape. If you can find RTA 15tl's in that price range go for it. They are worth it.

OCSEBASHIFI

decato wrote: »

I also own the RTA 15TL's and like them very much. A while ago I started this thread: http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?t=48075

It contains info about modifications to the crossover and a copy of the article from Stereo Review magazine.

?Do you have emblems for this tower?.