My RTA11TL's in re-use
Gary VT
Posts: 5
I've recently taken my old RTA11TL's from the garage where they have been in use providing me sweet,sweet sounds while changing oil among other notable garage duties.
Originally purchased in 1991 new, they were used for 15 years connected to my old reliable Carver 2450 receiver.Upon accepting change to surround sound and home theater, I retired the Carver and Polks in favor of a Pioneer SXV 1015 A/V with classic Cambridge Soundworks small speakers and HSU VTF-1 sub.
I've again upgraded to Pioneer Elite receiver with HDMI to support my Pioneer plasma and Panasonic blu-ray (and my son's X-Box Kinect). Not satisfied any longer with the depth of the old Cambridge small speakers I decided to bring in the old flagships. I connected them 2 days ago and am waiting to try them with the blu-ray. I'm really hoping to get as close to theater experience sound as possible. I'm hoping to get the front channel explosiveness I know these babies can deliver while watching Independence Day or Apocalypse Now.
Now for the questions: Since reconnecting the RTA11TL's, I've noticed some camouflage of the low end by the Polks drowning out my sub at the lower frequencies. I performed the MCACC set up and made a crossover change to 40Hz to the mains. I also reset the crossover on the sub to 40Hz, some improvement from the sub but still seem to be competing with the polks lower frequency range listed at 22Hz of the low end passive radiator. Any suggestions on tweaking them in to incorporate the best of both the polks and sub? I was thinking perhaps changing the receiver crossover to the mains up to 50/60 Hz?
I've also left left the first generation Cambridge Bi-pole/Di-pole small speakers for my rear surrounds. Although they are small they sound just OK now compared to the range of the Polks that are now in the mains. Is there an upgrade needed to the rear surrounds to raise the sound quality to meet up with the mains? I'd be happy to upgrade to the HSU HB-1's for the rear surrounds.
My Cambridge first generation Center channel plus with its 5 drivers is on level with the SL3000's of the polks and seems to compliment the entire center focus, yet seems flat in comparison to the polks.
My main speaker separation is 7.5 feet and are on flat furniture feet standing on hardwood bamboo T&G flooring. They have been set at 3/4" so the speaker boxes are approx. 1" off the floor surface. The floor makes them seem a little boomy and I've considered carpet squares to absorb some of the resonance from the hardwood. Any other suggestions?
Lastly, I've read the upgrade projects done by others to the RTA11T's and TL's. I'm intrigued at the thought of an improved, already very good speaker set. But, $$ is the problem. Given the speakers 20 year age, I'm also a little suspect on the driver surround condition. They look to be resilient and supple in appearance, but time and the California dry weather does unspeakable things to man made materials and wouldn't be surprised if there was some degradation to the speaker surround materials. I can come up with the change to replace the 6.5" drivers and passive radiators if needed. I truly love these speakers which is why I've kept them. I've never clipped them, or overdriven them because space restrictions would have caused my drywall screws to vibrate loose in my old smaller house.
In closing, the Pioneer Elite receiver conducts condition testing of the speakers and the data seems to be in good curve and response based upon the MCACC set up.
I'm an enthusiast, not an expert, and am ready to listen to all advice.comments that will help me achieve my expected results. If need be, I'll take them out and place them in the living room on my 2.1 music only system and place my Cambridge Model Sixes on stands as my A/V Mains. I know they would rock on my 2.1 with the Polk 12" powered sub in the living room. I have cathedral ceilings and they would fill that space with sound nicely.
Originally purchased in 1991 new, they were used for 15 years connected to my old reliable Carver 2450 receiver.Upon accepting change to surround sound and home theater, I retired the Carver and Polks in favor of a Pioneer SXV 1015 A/V with classic Cambridge Soundworks small speakers and HSU VTF-1 sub.
I've again upgraded to Pioneer Elite receiver with HDMI to support my Pioneer plasma and Panasonic blu-ray (and my son's X-Box Kinect). Not satisfied any longer with the depth of the old Cambridge small speakers I decided to bring in the old flagships. I connected them 2 days ago and am waiting to try them with the blu-ray. I'm really hoping to get as close to theater experience sound as possible. I'm hoping to get the front channel explosiveness I know these babies can deliver while watching Independence Day or Apocalypse Now.
Now for the questions: Since reconnecting the RTA11TL's, I've noticed some camouflage of the low end by the Polks drowning out my sub at the lower frequencies. I performed the MCACC set up and made a crossover change to 40Hz to the mains. I also reset the crossover on the sub to 40Hz, some improvement from the sub but still seem to be competing with the polks lower frequency range listed at 22Hz of the low end passive radiator. Any suggestions on tweaking them in to incorporate the best of both the polks and sub? I was thinking perhaps changing the receiver crossover to the mains up to 50/60 Hz?
I've also left left the first generation Cambridge Bi-pole/Di-pole small speakers for my rear surrounds. Although they are small they sound just OK now compared to the range of the Polks that are now in the mains. Is there an upgrade needed to the rear surrounds to raise the sound quality to meet up with the mains? I'd be happy to upgrade to the HSU HB-1's for the rear surrounds.
My Cambridge first generation Center channel plus with its 5 drivers is on level with the SL3000's of the polks and seems to compliment the entire center focus, yet seems flat in comparison to the polks.
My main speaker separation is 7.5 feet and are on flat furniture feet standing on hardwood bamboo T&G flooring. They have been set at 3/4" so the speaker boxes are approx. 1" off the floor surface. The floor makes them seem a little boomy and I've considered carpet squares to absorb some of the resonance from the hardwood. Any other suggestions?
Lastly, I've read the upgrade projects done by others to the RTA11T's and TL's. I'm intrigued at the thought of an improved, already very good speaker set. But, $$ is the problem. Given the speakers 20 year age, I'm also a little suspect on the driver surround condition. They look to be resilient and supple in appearance, but time and the California dry weather does unspeakable things to man made materials and wouldn't be surprised if there was some degradation to the speaker surround materials. I can come up with the change to replace the 6.5" drivers and passive radiators if needed. I truly love these speakers which is why I've kept them. I've never clipped them, or overdriven them because space restrictions would have caused my drywall screws to vibrate loose in my old smaller house.
In closing, the Pioneer Elite receiver conducts condition testing of the speakers and the data seems to be in good curve and response based upon the MCACC set up.
I'm an enthusiast, not an expert, and am ready to listen to all advice.comments that will help me achieve my expected results. If need be, I'll take them out and place them in the living room on my 2.1 music only system and place my Cambridge Model Sixes on stands as my A/V Mains. I know they would rock on my 2.1 with the Polk 12" powered sub in the living room. I have cathedral ceilings and they would fill that space with sound nicely.
Post edited by Gary VT on
Comments
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The Driver surrounds should be fine as they are rubber and not foam.
RTA11TL's go deep. You may want to cross them over higher if you want more sub sound than speaker. Not sure why you would want this myself but if you need to hear your sub maybe placement is an issue.
I would update the crossovers myself. The age of the components alone would have me do this but I have heard the sonic difference of before and after to know it is a worthwhile updating. -
The Driver surrounds should be fine as they are rubber and not foam.
RTA11TL's go deep. You may want to cross them over higher if you want more sub sound than speaker. Not sure why you would want this myself but if you need to hear your sub maybe placement is an issue.
I would update the crossovers myself. The age of the components alone would have me do this but I have heard the sonic difference of before and after to know it is a worthwhile updating.
Joe, Thanks for the reply and advice. I've read and have been told about the crossover issue. Is the crossover something I would need to modify on the existing network or is the crossover a made to go drop in? I have the schematics that were put on the forum for the mod, I'm just not certain where I would get the parts. Are these available from Polk? Do you happen to know whether the replacement tweeters are that much better than the 3000's? -
Polk does not sell a replacement crossover for these. You would need to source the parts from an outside source like Sonicraft & Madisound or you could use one of the guys here that redo Crossovers for a reasonable price. Here is a link to some of the work that Vr3MxStyler2k3 did. He does a real good job.
Modified Crossovers by Vr3MxStyler2k3
As for the replacement tweeter from Polk. It is that much better. The 3000 is a great tweeter for it's day but the replacement 198 fixes any issues that were heard in the original. It is smoother and has better control over the highs than the 3000's ever had.
