FXi30's or RTi38's for surround duty?

MSkeezer

Hi, as you all know, I recently got a great deal on Polk speakers at CC, and I got the FXi30's for $85 each for my surrounds, which I love. But, I can get a pair of 38's for the same price, so I'm thinking of returning the FX's for them. What do you guys think? I already have a pair of 38's up front, which I got for only $70 each open box, but that store doesn't have anymore open box 38's, only new. I tried getting the other CC's to price match their open box 38's to $70, but they won't do it. Would the 38's be any better? I know they have a bigger woofer, and they can handle more power, so I'm thinking I should jump on this before they sell out.

dorokusai

If you watch more movies than you listen to music, keep the FXi30's. If you listen to multichannel music alot, you may find the RTi38's better suited. That is just a generic statement.

There are a bunch of people here that have both configurations, and have not said anything bad about either setup. I listen to multichannel music and I use FXi30's, they sound great.

You won't drive the RTi38's any more than you will the FXi30's in surround duty. The larger driver is not a big deal for that application...IMO.

RuSsMaN

Who cares, pick one - friggin surround channels.

Cheers,
Russ

TroyD

I dunno, personally, I think either one would work equally well.

My personal opinion (and don't everyone flame at once) is that the rears are ambient noise so really, why get all wrapped around the axle.

I think the quality of rear surrounds has more to do with placement than anything else.

One of the, if not THE best HT I've heard belongs to Russ. He was using cheapie AR's for rears with his B&W front stage and it sounded GREAT. I credit this to proper placement and so forth.

BDT

gidrah

It depends a lot on your room. Especially if your rears are close to your seating positions.

kberg

Originally posted by dorokusai
If you watch more movies than you listen to music, keep the FXi30's. If you listen to multichannel music alot, you may find the RTi38's better suited. That is just a generic statement.

There are a bunch of people here that have both configurations, and have not said anything bad about either setup. I listen to multichannel music and I use FXi30's, they sound great.

You won't drive the RTi38's any more than you will the FXi30's in surround duty. The larger driver is not a big deal for that application...IMO.

I fully agree w/ Doro's statements above.

Airplay355

go with the 30s...they look cooler (since it doesnt really matter what they sound like cuz they are surrounds lol)

jkratzer

Plus the RTi38's are friggin' huge! Stay with the FXi30's.

eclypse

I personally think that the 30's look way too damn small.. Kinda looks like a toy.. Last week i took a trip out of town to pick up the last new pair they had at a CC and as soon as i seen them i said.. "Not!" That wont look right with the rest of my nice looking speakers.

Lets just say i skipped out of there before a salesman had a chance.

andrewe77

I use RTi28's for surrounds and 38's for mains.

Why use big bookshelves for surrounds when the smaller 28's will suffice?

I vote RTi28.

acdds

If you have the money, I would pick up the 38's also so if you go to a 7.1 system you can use the other 38's for rear surround. You'll never get another set of speakers matching your other speakers for that price. Think of it as an investment in the future. Plus you have an excuse to go 7.1! lol
I have the Fxi30's as side surround and a pair of Rti38's as rear surrounds and they sound great. Good luck!

fort

Originally posted by eclypse
I personally think that the 30's look way too damn small.. Kinda looks like a toy.. Last week i took a trip out of town to pick up the last new pair they had at a CC and as soon as i seen them i said.. "Not!" That wont look right with the rest of my nice looking speakers.

Lets just say i skipped out of there before a salesman had a chance.

agree.... that's why i took home the bigger fxi50's.

dorokusai

Well, LOOKS too small is a pretty big generalization. I hope you two, Eclypse and Fort, don't buy much based on that method of thinking.

Performance wise they are VERY similar, specs or no specs.

eclypse

I received my new Csi5 and FXi5.. and let me tell you the FXi5 is huge! hehe.. Even my wife said "damn thats huge!".. Its no toy by any means hehe..

I hooked the center up and used the Fxi5 as fronts for the time being since my Rti12's are on the way and let me tell you that they own! hehe.. I'm like sittin there listening to music with the surrounds on boxes in the fron tof the room and they sound great!.. Should hold me till the real front channel speakers comes ina few days.

Oh yeah.. i like big heavy objects.. The bigger and the heavier they are the better the quality i say.