RTi A9 vs RTi A7

Geoff4rfc
Geoff4rfc Posts: 2,480
edited October 2011 in Speakers
With a decent sub able to carry out most LF tasks, and the 9 having two 5 1/4 mids and the 7 having one 6.5 mid, which speaker is going to bring a better bang for the buck? Assuming of course the speakers are going to be set to small.
Source: BRP Panasonic UB9000, CDP Emotiva ERC3 - Display: LG OLED EVO 83 C3 - Pre/Pro: Marantz 8802A - Amplification: Emotiva XPA-DR3, XPA-2 x 2, XPA-6, Speakers, Mains/2ch-Focal Kanta No2's, C-LSiM706, S-702F/X, RS-RTiA9's, WS-RTiA9's, FH-RTiA3's, Subs - Epik Empire x 2

Cables: AudioQuest McKenzie XLR's/CDP/Amp, Carbon 48/BRP, Forest 48/Display, 2 channel speaker cable: Furutech FS Alpha 36 12AWG PCOCC Single Crystal (Douglas Connection)

EXPERIENCE: next to nothing, but I sure enjoy audio and video MY OPINION OF THIS HOBBY: I may not be a smart man, but I know what quicksand is.
When I was young, I was Superman but now that old age has gotten the best of me I'm only Batman
Post edited by Geoff4rfc on

Comments

  • over50
    over50 Posts: 201
    edited October 2011
    I had the simular question, and took me awhile to decide. The bottom line is i bought a subwoofer i felt was able to handle the low frequency. Why would i need any woofers that the rt7 or rt9 offer? I went with the rt5 and a decent subwoofer. Works fine for me.
    Marantz SR 7007
    polkaudio RTi10
    polkaudio CSi A6
    polkaudio RTiA3
    B&K ST.3140 Power Amplifier
    HSU Research VTF2 MK3
    Vizio P65-C1
    Panasonic 605 blu ray
    Onkyo DS-A4 i-pod Dock
    Universal Remote
    BDI Icon 9429 TV Stand
  • SRTer
    SRTer Posts: 372
    edited October 2011
    Geoff4rfc wrote: »
    With a decent sub able to carry out most LF tasks, and the 9 having two 5 1/4 mids and the 7 having one 6.5 mid, which speaker is going to bring a better bang for the buck? Assuming of course the speakers are going to be set to small.

    Questions you must answer first...

    What is the purchase for? HT or Music, HT and Music 50/50.

    Will you use a AVR to power the towers or a amp? And what kind?

    Lastly, will you consider the RTi A5's? If you are going to only use the 80Hz crossover, you might be better served by get the RTi A5 which needs less power to sound great and doesn't have the multiple 7 inch woofers which you will effectively be neutering.

    RTi A5's are great and a nice sub will bring the rest of the system together for less money, which is the BANG FOR YOUR BUCK.

    I have had the RTi A9's and A7's. As well as RTi8 which is the predecessor to the RTi A5's and is built nearly identical.
    Fronts: Polk RTi A9
    Center: Polk CSI A6
    Rears: Polk RTi A7
    Receiver: Pioneer Elite SC-35 (140 watts x 7)
    Amplifier: Adcom GFA-555 Mk.II (200 watt @ 8 ohms)
    Sub: Polk DSW PRO 500 (10 inch, 200 Watt)
    TV: Samsung 59 inch 3D Plasma 600 Hz PN59D7000
    Sources: Samsung BD-D6700 3D Blu-ray Player, DirecTV, PS3, iPhone 4 and IPod Classic with Apple Lossless Tracks
  • SRTer
    SRTer Posts: 372
    edited October 2011
    over50 wrote: »
    I had the simular question, and took me awhile to decide. The bottom line is i bought a subwoofer i felt was able to handle the low frequency. Why would i need any woofers that the rt7 or rt9 offer? I went with the rt5 and a decent subwoofer. Works fine for me.

    I think your setup is ideal for Geoff4rfc. I did a similar setup with RTi8's for front and rears on a Pioneer Elite VSX-23 with a PSW-111. It was great and got me into the bigger towers.

    Now, if you look at you sig, something is wrong.

    Onkyo TX-NR807
    polkaudio RTiA5(fronts)
    polkaudio CSi A6
    polkaudio RTiA3
    polkaudio HSU VTF2 MK3
    Vizio E472VL
    Panasonic 605 blu ray
    ipod-Konnet Dock
    Remote=Universal Remote
    TV Stand=BDI Icon 9429

    When was there a polkaudio "HSU VTF2 MK3" sub?

    Don't you mean HSU Research VTF2 MK3?
    Fronts: Polk RTi A9
    Center: Polk CSI A6
    Rears: Polk RTi A7
    Receiver: Pioneer Elite SC-35 (140 watts x 7)
    Amplifier: Adcom GFA-555 Mk.II (200 watt @ 8 ohms)
    Sub: Polk DSW PRO 500 (10 inch, 200 Watt)
    TV: Samsung 59 inch 3D Plasma 600 Hz PN59D7000
    Sources: Samsung BD-D6700 3D Blu-ray Player, DirecTV, PS3, iPhone 4 and IPod Classic with Apple Lossless Tracks
  • gfong
    gfong Posts: 1,079
    edited October 2011
    I have had the 7's and upgraded to the 9's. In home theater use the two are hard to tell apart. With two channel or mulit-channel music the 9's stand out. When using a sub in music with the 7's or the 9's, the 9's win hands down.

    IMO if using for home theater movies get the 7's. If using for music and movies go with the 9's. Either way they both require a sub for movies.

    Search on here and you will find a bunch of comparisons of the two.
  • Geoff4rfc
    Geoff4rfc Posts: 2,480
    edited October 2011
    Thanks for the replies. I listen to mostly H.T. but I love listening to my CD's and Internet radio a lot as well. I have a 200 wpc amp to drive the speakers with and I have a pretty powerful sub, that is if you consider an Epik Empire powerful.

    I did do a search on Home Theater Mag.com and saw the reviews on each. One of the mentions were; the treble was a bit edgier on the 7 than the 9, not quite as smooth.

    Although I've never heard the 5's, I'd think my Monitor 70's would sound as good as the 5's.

    I believe the 9 is the direction I'm heading.
    Source: BRP Panasonic UB9000, CDP Emotiva ERC3 - Display: LG OLED EVO 83 C3 - Pre/Pro: Marantz 8802A - Amplification: Emotiva XPA-DR3, XPA-2 x 2, XPA-6, Speakers, Mains/2ch-Focal Kanta No2's, C-LSiM706, S-702F/X, RS-RTiA9's, WS-RTiA9's, FH-RTiA3's, Subs - Epik Empire x 2

    Cables: AudioQuest McKenzie XLR's/CDP/Amp, Carbon 48/BRP, Forest 48/Display, 2 channel speaker cable: Furutech FS Alpha 36 12AWG PCOCC Single Crystal (Douglas Connection)

    EXPERIENCE: next to nothing, but I sure enjoy audio and video MY OPINION OF THIS HOBBY: I may not be a smart man, but I know what quicksand is.
    When I was young, I was Superman but now that old age has gotten the best of me I'm only Batman
  • jbooker82
    jbooker82 Posts: 1,627
    edited October 2011
    Geoff4rfc wrote: »
    Although I've never heard the 5's, I'd think my Monitor 70's would sound as good as the 5's.

    I dont know. There have been guys that upgraded from monitor 70's to RTI A5's and said it was well worth it for the sound quality they gained. More drivers doesnt always eaqual better sound.
    AVR: Onkyo Tx-NR808
    Amplifier: Carver A-753x 250 watts x 3
    Fronts: Polk RTI A7 (modded by Trey VR3)
    Center: CSI A4 (modded by Trey VR3)
    Rear: FXI A4
    Sub: Polk DSW Pro 660wi
    TV: LG Infinia 50PX950 3D
    Speaker Cable: AudioQuest Type 8
    IC: AudioQuest Black Mamba II
  • SRTer
    SRTer Posts: 372
    edited October 2011
    Geoff4rfc wrote: »
    Thanks for the replies. I listen to mostly H.T. but I love listening to my CD's and Internet radio a lot as well. I have a 200 wpc amp to drive the speakers with and I have a pretty powerful sub, that is if you consider an Epik Empire powerful.

    I did do a search on Home Theater Mag.com and saw the reviews on each. One of the mentions were; the treble was a bit edgier on the 7 than the 9, not quite as smooth.

    Although I've never heard the 5's, I'd think my Monitor 70's would sound as good as the 5's.

    I believe the 9 is the direction I'm heading.

    Well, if you like RTi A's, then you will love the RTi A9's. The real plus is that you already got a amp.
    Fronts: Polk RTi A9
    Center: Polk CSI A6
    Rears: Polk RTi A7
    Receiver: Pioneer Elite SC-35 (140 watts x 7)
    Amplifier: Adcom GFA-555 Mk.II (200 watt @ 8 ohms)
    Sub: Polk DSW PRO 500 (10 inch, 200 Watt)
    TV: Samsung 59 inch 3D Plasma 600 Hz PN59D7000
    Sources: Samsung BD-D6700 3D Blu-ray Player, DirecTV, PS3, iPhone 4 and IPod Classic with Apple Lossless Tracks
  • jkg123
    jkg123 Posts: 114
    edited October 2011
    If you like the RTiAs, and you want the best bang for your buck, go with the A5s. But if you want the best, then go with the RTiA9s, but make sure you get an amp.