RTA-11t suprise....
fitness1
Posts: 16
I'm new here, so I'll preface this post by saying I've been listening pretty seriously for 30 years, and used to work in a high end store.
I'm very particular about system setup.....I get a kick out of audiophiles who spend huge money but don't have a dedicated room they can set their system up in like it should be. I've played around with relatively inexpensive systems and got them sounding like a million bucks just by listening closely and setting the room/speakers up right.
So, with all that said, a few months back I picked up a pair of RTA-8t's and had them hooked up to a casual listening system in my fitness facility. Not sure why I didn't put them on my main audio system to give them a real run, but I didn't.
Then last week, a pair of RTA-11t's popped up on Craigslist about 100 miles from me, and they were basically free (sold for an incredible price with another piece of equipment that will pay for them both!) I drove down and picked them up, and found them to be in near perfect condition.
Initially, I had them on my home theater system as the mains with a Polk powered sub....obviously, they were pretty impressive.
Then, on a whim a few nights back, I put them on my main system. Nothing real fancy.....a vintage Crown Straight Line Two and an Adcom 5500, but again, setup right for close field listening (and I should also mention I do all my listening in total darkness)
I ended up listening until almost 1am......it had been a long time since I'd heard such amazing vocal lushness, dynamics and height. I think the only other speaker that performed quite like these that I've owned were a pair of B&W DM640's that I really loved. They almost have a British "neutrality" to my ear. No vocal sibilance or harshness, plenty of low end (and nice and tight) and great "air" and soundstage. I have about 30 recordings I use for reference, and ended running through them all.
I have them set on a couple of 8 inch cinder blocks, about 46 inches apart from the inside of each box, toed in and I sit about the same distance away from the plane of the speakers. These are the first speakers I've had that perform their best when the tweeter is actually below ear level. I always set them so that it is perfectly at ear level. From my listening chair, ear level is just about the top edge of the upper mid/bass driver. This is where the vocals find their sweet spot.
Anyway, I couldn't be happier with my "free" set of speakers. They really knew what they were doing with these!!
I've got the system warming up as I type.....probably another late night with a glass of Merlot - LOL
I'm very particular about system setup.....I get a kick out of audiophiles who spend huge money but don't have a dedicated room they can set their system up in like it should be. I've played around with relatively inexpensive systems and got them sounding like a million bucks just by listening closely and setting the room/speakers up right.
So, with all that said, a few months back I picked up a pair of RTA-8t's and had them hooked up to a casual listening system in my fitness facility. Not sure why I didn't put them on my main audio system to give them a real run, but I didn't.
Then last week, a pair of RTA-11t's popped up on Craigslist about 100 miles from me, and they were basically free (sold for an incredible price with another piece of equipment that will pay for them both!) I drove down and picked them up, and found them to be in near perfect condition.
Initially, I had them on my home theater system as the mains with a Polk powered sub....obviously, they were pretty impressive.
Then, on a whim a few nights back, I put them on my main system. Nothing real fancy.....a vintage Crown Straight Line Two and an Adcom 5500, but again, setup right for close field listening (and I should also mention I do all my listening in total darkness)
I ended up listening until almost 1am......it had been a long time since I'd heard such amazing vocal lushness, dynamics and height. I think the only other speaker that performed quite like these that I've owned were a pair of B&W DM640's that I really loved. They almost have a British "neutrality" to my ear. No vocal sibilance or harshness, plenty of low end (and nice and tight) and great "air" and soundstage. I have about 30 recordings I use for reference, and ended running through them all.
I have them set on a couple of 8 inch cinder blocks, about 46 inches apart from the inside of each box, toed in and I sit about the same distance away from the plane of the speakers. These are the first speakers I've had that perform their best when the tweeter is actually below ear level. I always set them so that it is perfectly at ear level. From my listening chair, ear level is just about the top edge of the upper mid/bass driver. This is where the vocals find their sweet spot.
Anyway, I couldn't be happier with my "free" set of speakers. They really knew what they were doing with these!!
I've got the system warming up as I type.....probably another late night with a glass of Merlot - LOL Post edited by fitness1 on
Comments
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You can throw a few bucks into them by swapping out the tweeter for the smoother one, and it's a whole new animal again.
I haven't worked in a high end store for awhile, and my ears are too shot now so that I ever will again. I guess with these ears serious listening is out too. But I have had about eight pair of those speakers over the last 20 or 23 years. -
I don't know George....I'd hate to change anything at all, I like them too much they way they are. I just went through a bunch of great stuff (Weavers at Carnegie Hall, Georgia Kelly and Steven Kindler, Stephane Grappelli etc) and they just made me smile big!
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Enjoy them for a while then sometime down the road swap the tweeters and upgrade the crossover components and you will double your pleasure.
BTW, I have a pair of RTA11TL's from new in '91 and love them.
StanStan
Main 2ch:
Polk LSi15 (DB840 upgrade), Parasound: P/LD-1100, HCA-1000A; Denon: DVD-2910, DRM-800A; Benchmark DAC1, Monster HTS3600-MKII, Grado SR-225i; Technics SL-J2, Parasound PPH-100.
HT:
Marantz SR7010, Polk: RTA11TL (RDO198-1, XO and Damping Upgrades), S4, CS250, PSW110 , Marantz UD5005, Pioneer PL-530, Panasonic TC-P42S60
Other stuff:
Denon: DRA-835R, AVR-888, DCD-660, DRM-700A, DRR-780; Polk: S8, Monitor 5A, 5B, TSi100, RM7, PSW10 (DXi104 upgrade); Pioneer: CT-6R; Onkyo CP-1046F; Ortofon OM5E, Marantz: PM5004, CD5004, CDR-615; Parasound C/PT-600, HCA-800ii, Sony CDP-650ESD, Technics SA 5070, B&W DM601 -
Welcome to Club Polk! I've been enjoying my RTA-8Ts for over 20 years. It's a shame you didn't put them in your main listening room for a while. I would be interested in hearing your impressions on them.Marantz AV-7705 PrePro, Classé 5 channel 200wpc Amp, Oppo 103 BluRay, Rotel RCD-1072 CDP, Sony XBR-49X800E TV, Polk S60 Main Speakers, Polk ES30 Center Channel, Polk S15 Surround Speakers SVS SB12-NSD x2
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Welcome to Club Polk! I've been enjoying my RTA-8Ts for over 20 years. It's a shame you didn't put them in your main listening room for a while. I would be interested in hearing your impressions on them.
I still have the 8's here......I'll check them out tonight and see what I think. -
welcome to the club ... ...I had a chance at some 11's recently off of craigslist but it just didn't work out....really like to get my ears on a pair ...enjoy the tunes
