Questions on RTi 12's

naturallight

HI. I do have questions on the RTi12's. Im looking to put them in a basement room about 15x24. There is a bar at one end. It has a standard dropped ceiling. Cheap carpet on the floor. There seems to be a lot of conflicting statements about bass output on these. Now with 3 7" woofers, you would think that is not the case. I have a QSC G5 amp to power them, if need be will put out 500watts per channel, so power is not an issue.

This is a music only system, most of the time playing classic rock, with classical throw in. The speakers need to fill the room with sound, which i don't think there should be a problem with. The problem would be with the bass. I would be sitting anywhere from 15 feet back to say 20 feet at the bar. I'm pretty much expecting to "feel" the bass, say on hard driving kick drums, Kind of hard to describe...kind of a chest feel type thing, when you turn them up.

The reports range from, lacking bass to others who say with enough power, you will knock pictures off the wall.

Basically will the RTi12's work for what i want? As an added note, they will be played loud.

I looked at the LSi 15, but that only has 1 8" woofer. So if the 12's have 3 7" woofers and the LSi 15, has only 1 8" woofer, i'm at a complete lose to see why it would have more bass output which some reports seem to say.

Any info would be great. Thanks

tonyb

If you think you might have a problem with bass, why not get a decent subwoofer ? QSC amp and RTI 12's to me says very bright sound. Whats the source for this music only system ? Also depends on if the room has openings on the sides which would make it harder to pressurize the room with low bass. Alot of variables other than woofer size determines the low end you'll hear in your environment.
Don't get so hung up on woofer size, speaker design and build have alot to do with it also.

naturallight

Well it's not me. I can't even listen to the speakers so im just going by what all the reviews say. I have a Jolida 100a as a source, and a Adcom pre amp. This is only a 2 channel system. I only play music, nothing else. I don't want to run a sub.
These should not act like Martin logan stuff..that you NEED a sub.

The big problem here is the reviews...half say its lacking in bass. The other half running big power,(basically 300watts+) say there is plenty of bass.
So I guess the question is..which one is right? I don't want a sub, so if the speakers can't give me the bass. Then i need to look at something else.

This is NOT an HT system....i don't care about explosions..I just want to feel the guys kick drum.

B Run

They should be fine if properly powered. Comparing the Lsi to Rti is apples to oranges honestly. The Lsi's are definitely better for music, it's not all about woofer size either. Cabinet construction, crossovers, driver material, room treatment, placement of speakers etc. all play a huge role in the overall sound you get. I'd go Lsi 15 or consider the 25 with powered built in subs and then you have plenty of bass without running a separate subwoofer.

PrazVT

Are these amps high current? I think that matters more than the wattage. I'm running RTi A7s with a 250wpc / 60A Parasound A21. With 1 less 7" woofer, they kick pretty hard.

naturallight

Ok, first off, i'm old...i think old school. To me if the speaker doesn't have a 12" driver...not sure you could get any bass from them. I'm used to old school stuff. Bozak, old Klipsh, Advent,and a bunch of others, even old Polk SDA's...you turn the volume up....you had bass feel. You could feel it in your chest. i've heard them all. I listened to all this stuff back then. No questions asked, it was there. This new tower stuff....ok i don't get. I could care less about HT stuff. I don't under stand how reviews can be so far off. The RTi 12's either have bass or they don't.
I can understand if you try an push these with a reciver..you may have problems, but if you have a 500watt power amp.....how can they not put out bass?

Can somebody please tell me if these speakers will put out bass or not?
If they can't match the bass the old SDA's put out back in 1987, then these are NOT the right speakers for me. I don't expect them to really meet the old Bozak's but if they can't match the SDA stuff....Not what i want.
Again..this is NOT HT stuff...I don't have it, could care less..this is just old school stereo...i just want to hear music like i used to..nothing more.
Thanks

SRTer

naturallight wrote: »

Can somebody please tell me if these speakers will put out bass or not?
If they can't match the bass the old SDA's put out back in 1987, then these are NOT the right speakers for me. I don't expect them to really meet the old Bozak's but if they can't match the SDA stuff....Not what i want.
Again..this is NOT HT stuff...I don't have it, could care less..this is just old school stereo...i just want to hear music like i used to..nothing more.
Thanks

Yes, RTi12 will make plenty bass. You amp will give more than enough power if it's high high current which I believe it is.

quadzilla

naturallight wrote: »

Ok, first off, i'm old...i think old school. To me if the speaker doesn't have a 12" driver...not sure you could get any bass from them.

Do the math... 3 7s give about the same cone area as a single 12. My RTi12s will move my pant legs from 10 ft away.

naturallight

Thank you for the info. I will order them up on Monday from Polks ebay site.
I would start them off at 1foot off the back wall and 1 foot off the side.
Is there any recomended placement for these?

Thanks again for the help.

Sherardp

That QSC x5 amp is considered pro gear. I personally think it's going to sound pretty bad. Why not something more "musical"? I have a D-Sonic Magnum 1000S on my RTi12s and they sound great paired up with this amp. You don't really need the 500 watts. A solid 200 watt Parasound, Outlaw Audio, Rotel or something of the like would be a better choice and should sound even better with your speakers.

Mike Reeter

Sherardp wrote: »

That QSC x5 amp is considered pro gear. I personally think it's going to sound pretty bad. Why not something more "musical"? I have a D-Sonic Magnum 1000S on my RTi12s and they sound great paired up with this amp. You don't really need the 500 watts. A solid 200 watt Parasound, Outlaw Audio, Rotel or something of the like would be a better choice and should sound even better with your speakers.

I had my 12's bi-amped at one time with 125 wpc@8 ohm. driving the mids and tweets and 200 wpc@8 ohm. powering the lower end,both amps were Adcom.

I also used the Adcom 200 wpc@8 ohm. driving the entire speaker and couldn't distinquish much difference in the Bass output.

I had a Parasound HCA-1500A 200@8 ohm. powering them also and the 12's never lacked in Bass...my problem was always with the bright top end....for music that is,for HT they were very good.

txcoastal1

naturallight wrote: »

Thank you for the info. I will order them up on Monday from Polks ebay site.
I would start them off at 1foot off the back wall and 1 foot off the side.
Is there any recomended placement for these?

Thanks again for the help.

Try spiking them and moving off the 1' by 1' axis off the wall even if you can't leave them there...just take a listen....i think the sonics will inprove greatly....changing the speakers will probably be a waste of money in the 1' off the wall scenario

naturallight

Thank you for all your information. I have not bought anything yet. I found that Polk also has a set of the LSi15's on there also. Now of course there more money. Which puts these at the top of my price range.

There supposed to have better mids and high end as compared to the 12's.
Now if i listened to Violin stuff all the time...then i can see it. But for classic rock, i'm not sure there worth the extra money. Plus the 1 8" woofer would seem kind of lacking as compared to the 12's 3 7" drivers.

Again, i've tried to go thru anything i can find about the LSi15...again...lacking bass deal with these.

My feeling is the 12's are just a better deal for me, and the music i play.
Anybody feel this is right or wrong?....I just didn't want to jump on the 12's with the 15's sitting there.
I've tried to justify the extra cost of the 15's..at least to myself...but i can't listen to any of these speakers..so it's really tough.

I pretty much know all the Polk speakers will sound good....just a question of money.

EndersShadow

naturallight wrote: »

Thank you for all your information. I have not bought anything yet. I found that Polk also has a set of the LSi15's on there also. Now of course there more money. Which puts these at the top of my price range.

There supposed to have better mids and high end as compared to the 12's.
Now if i listened to Violin stuff all the time...then i can see it. But for classic rock, i'm not sure there worth the extra money. Plus the 1 8" woofer would seem kind of lacking as compared to the 12's 3 7" drivers.

Again, i've tried to go thru anything i can find about the LSi15...again...lacking bass deal with these.

My feeling is the 12's are just a better deal for me, and the music i play.
Anybody feel this is right or wrong?....I just didn't want to jump on the 12's with the 15's sitting there.
I've tried to justify the extra cost of the 15's..at least to myself...but i can't listen to any of these speakers..so it's really tough.

I pretty much know all the Polk speakers will sound good....just a question of money.

Many would say go with the LSi 7's and then get a really good sub to augment them. The ebay site has 2 pair of 7's on it. With their ~500 dollar price you have an additional 500 to spend and stay around the price of the LSi 15's.

I know lots of folks on this forum that have done that rather than going with the 9's or even 15's.

Personally I have the 15's and like them, but I havent really gotten to test them out to their max for a long period (15 secs max before my neighbors come knocking).

naturallight

Sorry..i just went for the 12's...the price was right...the speakers are great...just could not deal with the extra money.

They should be here in a week or so......can't wait.

Mike Reeter

Don't be stranger and report your findings after you've spent some time with them.

If the 12's need to go up or down any steps,have some help lined up,they are HUGE & HEAVY

treitz3

naturallight wrote: »

Can somebody please tell me if these speakers will put out bass or not? If they can't match the bass the old SDA's put out back in 1987, then these are NOT the right speakers for me.

These will put out the bass when properly fed and powered, no doubt about that. That said, it is a different kind of bass than that of the SDA's. These may not be the speakers you are looking for just based upon your description of what you are looking for unless you add a musical sub, such as the VMPS.

But honestly, if you are looking for that SDA sound again, why not just buy the SDA's? They are not that expensive.

naturallight

Well for a long time, i've had no room for large speakers. I just moved and now have the space. I've been listening to an old set of large Advents. Which in a 12x12 room, work fine. They put out plenty of bass (chest feel) type bass, if i'm saying it right. But in a much larger and longer room, they get lost.

I don't remember any of the 1980's speakers lacking in bass, much less any of the Polks. I will just have to wait and see how they sound.

naturallight

I really don't understand your statement....different type of bass???
Ok, i've been out of this for a very long time. I have not looked at speakers since the 1980's. I've been listening to these old Advents..for a LONG time.

Do all these new speakers NOT put out "normal" bass? Do you now have to have a sub, just to get back to what old speakers use to do????

I'm sorry, i just don't understand...is not bass, still bass? How can it be different?

treitz3

Well, like you said in your own words...."chest feel" type bass. The Rti 12's can have that but it's a more refined bass [as compared to your Advents, for example]. Neither is bad, it just depends on your preference.

naturallight

thank you for that explanation. i'm used to speakers from the 60,70, 80's.

I don't consider the Advents, unrefined persay. But it's only a 2 way speaker, can only do so much, as compared to the 12's....so yes..i can understand them not being as "refined" as the 12's. That makes more sence to me.

I will just have to wait till they get here. Thank goodness i don't have to move them up stairs. I have a dolly...will just take them from the driveway to the basement....same level. Not sure i could get them out of the box..may just have to cut the box. My back is shot...can't wait...LOL