RTi12 Breaking In

Teseract
Teseract Posts: 44
edited August 2011 in Speakers
I picked up a pair of non-refurb "new" RTi12's from Polk's e-bay store. I've had them a week now, and I must say, those people who say speakers don't "break in" have never heard these things.

When I first hooked them up I was disappointed, as it almost sounded like the speaker was "disconnected" between the mids, tweeter and woofer. Now every time I turn them on they sound a little bit better, a little more cohesive, and the bass is smoothing out. It's like watching a flower slowly bloom, but for your ears.

Pretty strange, I thought my old Sony towers were excellent when I first got them, but these are obviously in a whole different league.
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  • dorokusai
    dorokusai Posts: 25,577
    edited July 2011
    Those take about 200 hours to get settled from my experience. Great looking loudspeaker, welcome Teseract!
    CTC BBQ Amplifier, Sonic Frontiers Line3 Pre-Amplifier and Wadia 581 SACD player. Speakers? Always changing but for now, Mission Argonauts I picked up for $50 bucks, mint.
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  • disneyjoe7
    disneyjoe7 Posts: 11,435
    edited July 2011
    Teseract wrote: »
    It's like watching a flower slowly bloom, but for your ears.

    Pretty strange, I thought my old Sony towers were excellent when I first got them, but these are obviously in a whole different league.


    Enjoy! :smile:

    Speakers
    Carver Amazing Fronts
    CS400i Center
    RT800i's Rears
    Sub Paradigm Servo 15

    Electronics
    Conrad Johnson PV-5 pre-amp
    Parasound Halo A23
    Pioneer 84TXSi AVR
    Pioneer 79Avi DVD
    Sony CX400 CD changer
    Panasonic 42-PX60U Plasma
    WMC Win7 32bit HD DVR


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  • Toolfan66
    Toolfan66 Posts: 17,338
    edited July 2011
    Enjoy!! One of my favorite looking polk floor standers..
    Polk Audio SDA 2.3tl Fully Hot Rodded. 😎

    SVS SB16 X2

    Cary SLP-05/Ultimate Upgrade.
    Cary SA-500.1 ES Amps
    Cary DMS 800PV Network
    OPPO UDP 205/ModWright Modification
    VPI Scout TT / Dynavector 20x2
    Jolida JD9 Fully Modified

    VPI MW-1 Cyclone RCM

    MIT Shotgun 3 cables throughout / Except TT, and PC’s
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  • Teseract
    Teseract Posts: 44
    edited July 2011
    Yeah I was kind of concerned when the carrier called and asked if they had room to turn a semi with a 48' trailer around where I had them delivered... then I had to drive my truck out because there wasn't room, and I found out they were shrink wrapped to a wood palette...

    Then I had to get the handtruck out to get them into my house and almost got squashed when I tripped on a step and it came down on top of me... thank god I'm not a small guy or I might still be trapped under 100lbs of speaker. I think my washing machine is lighter and easier to move than one of these! ;)
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  • disneyjoe7
    disneyjoe7 Posts: 11,435
    edited July 2011
    You're a funny guy stick around...

    Speakers
    Carver Amazing Fronts
    CS400i Center
    RT800i's Rears
    Sub Paradigm Servo 15

    Electronics
    Conrad Johnson PV-5 pre-amp
    Parasound Halo A23
    Pioneer 84TXSi AVR
    Pioneer 79Avi DVD
    Sony CX400 CD changer
    Panasonic 42-PX60U Plasma
    WMC Win7 32bit HD DVR


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  • Toolfan66
    Toolfan66 Posts: 17,338
    edited July 2011
    Lol!!!
    Polk Audio SDA 2.3tl Fully Hot Rodded. 😎

    SVS SB16 X2

    Cary SLP-05/Ultimate Upgrade.
    Cary SA-500.1 ES Amps
    Cary DMS 800PV Network
    OPPO UDP 205/ModWright Modification
    VPI Scout TT / Dynavector 20x2
    Jolida JD9 Fully Modified

    VPI MW-1 Cyclone RCM

    MIT Shotgun 3 cables throughout / Except TT, and PC’s
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  • Sherardp
    Sherardp Posts: 8,038
    edited July 2011
    disneyjoe7 wrote: »
    You're a funny guy stick around...

    HAHA!!!. Awesome story OP. Welcome to the club. I have the RTi12s as well and love them. As Doro said, it may be awhile for them to break in but keep playing them. Play them at different levels( not insane levels) and experience them. They are great floorstanders to say the least.

    What are you driving them with? You may want to consider an external amp in the near future to get the most out of them. Congrats again.
    Shoot the jumper.....................BALLIN.............!!!!!

    Home Theater Pics in the Showcase :cool:

    http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showcase/view.php?userid=73580
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  • dorokusai
    dorokusai Posts: 25,577
    edited July 2011
    They really respond well to tubes and a heavy, powerful amplifier.
    CTC BBQ Amplifier, Sonic Frontiers Line3 Pre-Amplifier and Wadia 581 SACD player. Speakers? Always changing but for now, Mission Argonauts I picked up for $50 bucks, mint.
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  • Toolfan66
    Toolfan66 Posts: 17,338
    edited July 2011
    FACT !!!!! ^^^^^^^ I was blown away when I took my RTiA9's to my 2 Channel rig..
    Polk Audio SDA 2.3tl Fully Hot Rodded. 😎

    SVS SB16 X2

    Cary SLP-05/Ultimate Upgrade.
    Cary SA-500.1 ES Amps
    Cary DMS 800PV Network
    OPPO UDP 205/ModWright Modification
    VPI Scout TT / Dynavector 20x2
    Jolida JD9 Fully Modified

    VPI MW-1 Cyclone RCM

    MIT Shotgun 3 cables throughout / Except TT, and PC’s
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • tonyb
    tonyb Posts: 33,014
    edited July 2011
    dorokusai wrote: »
    They really respond well to tubes and a heavy, powerful amplifier.

    Unfortunately, women don't....so tread carefully. Welcome btw.
    HT SYSTEM-
    Sony 850c 4k
    Pioneer elite vhx 21
    Sony 4k BRP
    SVS SB-2000
    Polk Sig. 20's
    Polk FX500 surrounds

    Cables-
    Acoustic zen Satori speaker cables
    Acoustic zen Matrix 2 IC's
    Wireworld eclipse 7 ic's
    Audio metallurgy ga-o digital cable

    Kitchen

    Sonos zp90
    Grant Fidelity tube dac
    B&k 1420
    lsi 9's
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  • Teseract
    Teseract Posts: 44
    edited July 2011
    Wife moved out in February, otherwise I don't think I'd have these. ;)

    I'm thinking of an Emotivia XPA-3 and letting it run my front soundstage (center channel is a Polk CS20). Currently it's running a 7.1 setup off an Onkyo TX-NR708, which is "110w per channel" but only rated at that with 2 channels driven.
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  • F1nut
    F1nut Posts: 50,761
    edited July 2011
    Teseract wrote: »
    I'm thinking of an Emotivia XPA-3

    And you were off to such a good start.
    Political Correctness'.........defined

    "A doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a t-u-r-d by the clean end."

    President of Club Polk

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  • Teseract
    Teseract Posts: 44
    edited July 2011
    Dunno, I'm not a tube amp guy. I'm 90% home theater. I've been poking around Craigslist for something decent but it seems like everyone in this town is selling car amps to drive their annoyingly loud subs in the back of their cars and nothing else.
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  • F1nut
    F1nut Posts: 50,761
    edited July 2011
    Audiogon is your friend.
    Political Correctness'.........defined

    "A doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a t-u-r-d by the clean end."

    President of Club Polk

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  • Teseract
    Teseract Posts: 44
    edited July 2011
    Been there... I'm just filled with dread of the cost of shipping a 60-70lb package cross country only to find I've inherited someone else's problem, and my budget can't swing a couple grand for an amp.
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  • dorokusai
    dorokusai Posts: 25,577
    edited July 2011
    Let the folks here help Teseract. If you have something you want or have questions about, post them here and see what the collective can offer. You may have a known good seller, known problem amplifier...whatever. The body of knowledge here is solid....come in, let the smoke, incense and pretty girls lure you in....its oooooooook maaaaaaaaan. Take the brown acid, its grooooooooo
    CTC BBQ Amplifier, Sonic Frontiers Line3 Pre-Amplifier and Wadia 581 SACD player. Speakers? Always changing but for now, Mission Argonauts I picked up for $50 bucks, mint.
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  • Teseract
    Teseract Posts: 44
    edited July 2011
    I'm poking around but I'm pretty ignorant when it comes to amps (obviously). Someone point me at something good, heh. :p
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  • tonyb
    tonyb Posts: 33,014
    edited July 2011
    Usually Audiogon is pretty good for decent sellers. E-bay your risk is much higher. Check out our own FS section too. A used adcom, B&k, Parasound, Carver, Nad, and others can be had for 3-5 benjamins. Also we have a "wanted" section that you could post what your looking for and other members will chime in with stuff they may have collecting dust.
    HT SYSTEM-
    Sony 850c 4k
    Pioneer elite vhx 21
    Sony 4k BRP
    SVS SB-2000
    Polk Sig. 20's
    Polk FX500 surrounds

    Cables-
    Acoustic zen Satori speaker cables
    Acoustic zen Matrix 2 IC's
    Wireworld eclipse 7 ic's
    Audio metallurgy ga-o digital cable

    Kitchen

    Sonos zp90
    Grant Fidelity tube dac
    B&k 1420
    lsi 9's
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Sherardp
    Sherardp Posts: 8,038
    edited July 2011
    Audiogon and check out Outlaw Audio, Sunfire, Adcom, Rotel, Parasound to name a few. A-gon is an excellent place to start looking.
    Shoot the jumper.....................BALLIN.............!!!!!

    Home Theater Pics in the Showcase :cool:

    http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showcase/view.php?userid=73580
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  • Systems
    Systems Posts: 14,873
    edited July 2011
    Guys maybe some of the old timers can help me out with this..How can i put this..are the RTi12's better for HT? are they Musically incline?..I am seriously looking to upgrade from my Polk 70,s..Would going from a 2.1/2 way to a full 3 way with the 7" woofers and sealed upper mids make for a wider sound stage?..Musically the M70's are great with the 200 watts driving them.Would that be enought for the RTi12's?..any input from you guys would help me out on this...
    Testing
    Testing
    Testing
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  • toucanet
    toucanet Posts: 580
    edited July 2011
    Teseract wrote: »
    I'm poking around but I'm pretty ignorant when it comes to amps (obviously). Someone point me at something good, heh. :p

    Welcome to the Club Teseract!

    What is your budget range for procuring an amp?
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  • Teseract
    Teseract Posts: 44
    edited July 2011
    The RTi series to my understanding is "meant" for Home Theater while the LSi series is more for music. I've never listened to the LSi series but they're supposed to be less bright and "smoother" with the ring tweeter. Both are power hungry, though the RTi series is 8ohm while the LSi's are 4ohm.

    I've only had RTi12's for about a week. I have a fairly small room (11' wide x 13' deep) and with the RTi12's listening to 2 channel stereo I've turned my head to check if the surrounds were on before. It's pretty noticeable, for example, listening to Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah". This was off my HTPC in FLAC format. If I had to describe them, I'd call them a very clear and accurate speaker, especially in the mid and upper ranges, and I can see why people would say they're fairly bright.

    I have a pretty "live" room though, I'm putting up some sound treatments this weekend hopefully to "clean it up" a little. One nice thing about the wife moving out is she can't prevent me from putting up such things anymore. I live in a rental so it's going to be a little ghetto. ;)
    ctank wrote: »
    Guys maybe some of the old timers can help me out with this..How can i put this..are the RTi12's better for HT? are they Musically incline?..I am seriously looking to upgrade from my Polk 70,s..Would going from a 2.1/2 way to a full 3 way with the 7" woofers and sealed upper mids make for a wider sound stage?..Musically the M70's are great with the 200 watts driving them.Would that be enought for the RTi12's?..any input from you guys would help me out on this...
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  • dorokusai
    dorokusai Posts: 25,577
    edited July 2011
    RTi = Reference Theater Improved
    CTC BBQ Amplifier, Sonic Frontiers Line3 Pre-Amplifier and Wadia 581 SACD player. Speakers? Always changing but for now, Mission Argonauts I picked up for $50 bucks, mint.
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  • Teseract
    Teseract Posts: 44
    edited July 2011
    Right now I can probably swing around $400, next Friday a bit more, but I'm really looking at a max of around $600 for my planned budget if I was to purchase prior to August.

    I'm PMing with a guy in the "For Sale" forum about a Adcom GFA-5500... we'll see if that pans out I guess.

    toucanet wrote: »
    Welcome to the Club Teseract!

    What is your budget range for procuring an amp?
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  • Systems
    Systems Posts: 14,873
    edited July 2011
    Teseract..first let me say welcome too the Polk Club...Sorry about that.I should have said that first on your Thread.I am new here too and still trying to find my way around here.I will look into the LSi series for sure.And thanks for your input on the RTi12's.
    Testing
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  • Systems
    Systems Posts: 14,873
    edited July 2011
    dorokusai wrote: »
    RTi = Reference Theater Improved
    ..Thank you Sir!..
    Testing
    Testing
    Testing
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  • Teseract
    Teseract Posts: 44
    edited July 2011
    Just sent the funds via PayPal for the Adcom GFA-5500, this should be interesting!
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  • Systems
    Systems Posts: 14,873
    edited July 2011
    Really nice amp!...GFA-5500..Big Caps!..Damping Factor is like 700!. will wakeup them RTi12's for sure..
    Testing
    Testing
    Testing
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  • Sherardp
    Sherardp Posts: 8,038
    edited July 2011
    You after you get it all connected and set up.
    Shoot the jumper.....................BALLIN.............!!!!!

    Home Theater Pics in the Showcase :cool:

    http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showcase/view.php?userid=73580
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  • Teseract
    Teseract Posts: 44
    edited July 2011
    ctank wrote: »
    Really nice amp!...GFA-5500..Big Caps!..Damping Factor is like 700!. will wakeup them RTi12's for sure..

    I'm a go big or go home kind of person (thus the RTi12s instead of the RTi A7s I was going to get.)

    What does the damping factor do?
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