I bought some 50% clearance EMPTek E55TI towers and E55CI center today...

audiocr381ve

pietro944 wrote: »

These are replacing Polk M 70's....In my working days,when I had lots of dough.I had Linn speakers,Klipschorns,Mirage........Hope to get up to the big maggies or ML Electromotions in a year or 2.....if I live that long(lol).

Can't wait to hear your impressions! Always rooting for the underdog

F1nut

I'm a bit surprised they can only squeeze 40Hz-20kHz +/-3dB out of those 6 ohm, 88dB efficient EMP Tek towers with all those drivers. The 8 ohm, 90dB efficient RTiA 7's -3dB is 35Hz and the 9's is 30Hz.

Drenis

F1nut wrote: »

I'm a bit surprised they can only squeeze 40Hz-20kHz +/-3dB out of those 6 ohm, 88dB efficient EMP Tek towers with all those drivers. The 8 ohm, 90dB efficient RTiA 7's -3dB is 35Hz and the 9's is 30Hz.

I believe the OP had Monitor 70's - (30Hz - 25kHz, Lower -3dB Limit 40Hz). The A9's hit with authority that I doubt the EMP Tek's can match with a "6 driver design".

F1nut

I believe the OP had Monitor 70's

Thanks, I was aware of that. Since the 70's are out of production I thought I would use current production speakers for comparision. That and the fact that the RTiA 9's and the EMP's have about the same driver layout.

Drenis

F1nut wrote: »

Thanks, I was aware of that. Since the 70's are out of production I thought I would use current production speakers for comparision. That and the fact that the RTiA 9's and the EMP's have about the same driver layout.

I figured as much. I was just hopping on your train to pick at it.

heiney9

I would choose the 9's everyday and twice on Sunday. Superb speaker.

H9

slammin86

heiney9 wrote: »

I would choose the 9's everyday and twice on Sunday. Superb speaker.

H9

Drenis wrote: »

I believe the OP had Monitor 70's - (30Hz - 25kHz, Lower -3dB Limit 40Hz). The A9's hit with authority that I doubt the EMP Tek's can match with a "6 driver design".

F1nut wrote: »

Thanks, I was aware of that. Since the 70's are out of production I thought I would use current production speakers for comparision. That and the fact that the RTiA 9's and the EMP's have about the same driver layout.

Not trying to point out the obvious here but what do the RTiA 9's cost? $1500+?
What do the emp tek's cost? $800 for a perfect brand new pair? $400 for a b stock pair like what I got?

I fail to see the comparison guys...

Drenis

slammin86 wrote: »

Not trying to point out the obvious here but what do the RTiA 9's cost? $1500+?
What do the emp tek's cost? $800 for a perfect brand new pair? $400 for a b stock pair like what I got?

I fail to see the comparison guys...

I think the point here is that a lower model of speaker in the next line above the discontinued Monitor line still out performs better with less drivers. The point is how the technology has helped less equal more.

$1500? Please... you can get them for 1k from the ebay store...

slammin86

Drenis wrote: »

I think the point here is that a lower model of speaker in the next line above the discontinued Monitor line still out performs better with less drivers. The point is how the technology has helped less equal more.

$1500? Please... you can get them for 1k from the ebay store...

http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=p5197.m570.l1313&_nkw=RTiA+9&_sacat=See-All-Categories

Didn't really see anything for 1k. Maybe I'm searching wrong. But still...I paid less than $400 for these.

Seems to me that from a price point these are a pretty fair comparison for a M70 which I owned. All I have done in this thread is compare to a M70 because that is all I have to compare to.

Based on your statement I guess you have done a side by side comparison with the emptek and the RTiA polks?
What...you havent? Well how do you know what sounds better or out performs the other?

I'm out of this thread. I am happy with my purchase and after comparing them side by side I know I made the right decision. I never tried to compare these to anything other than a M70. None of you saying that the RTiA polks are better have even heard the emptek speakers. Carry on guys.

Drenis

Just a FYI I was referring to Polk's ebay store. There are none listed right now but some spectacular deals on LSi's Whether they be 9's for $499 or 15's for $849. Those at there price point will be hard pressed to be matched. I don't have to listen to EMP Tek or a LSi to know who the winner is. There in their own categories as it is.

If your happy then great. Some of us just don't care. Matter of fact I get a kick out of your posts. Since I'm having a **** day, humor me. I think you should hear some Bose speakers dude. Those are the BEST!

pietro944

.......and so cometh the rain.....on our parade....I was about to purchase the Lsi 7's or 9's and keep the M 70's.Thanks to slammin,this deal came up.....I went for it and I'm extremely happy.If this bothers the negative nancies on this site...so be it....I'm still going to be happy:razz:

heiney9

Be happy, but the 9's would be hard to pass up for a completely unknown brand that one person on CP says sounds better than an entry model Polk.

I am not trying to be a negative nancy, just the odds are stacked heavily in favor of the LSi 9's since they have a stellar track record. But it's not my money to spend.

All the EMP Tek buyers, glad you are satisfied.

H9

heiney9

pietro944 wrote: »

.......and so cometh the rain.....on our parade....I was about to purchase the Lsi 7's or 9's and keep the M 70's.Thanks to slammin,this deal came up.....I went for it and I'm extremely happy.If this bothers the negative nancies on this site...so be it....I'm still going to be happy:razz:

Your Happy and you haven't even heard them yet............something wrong with that picture.

H9

Toolfan66

I wouldn't buy these speakers over the RTiA9's or the LSi7's or 9's.

tonyb

Eh, as long as the guy likes them, who cares. Though it makes me wonder why we had A9's sitting in the FM for along time under a nickel which under no pretence, would smoke that EMP. Still, not going to knock anyone for trying different things, even outside of Polk. God knows many of us have and still do. Enjoy your music Slammin.

Toolfan66

tonyb wrote: »

Eh, as long as the guy likes them, who cares. Though it makes me wonder why we had A9's sitting in the FM for along time under a nickel which under no pretence, would smoke that EMP. Still, not going to knock anyone for trying different things, even outside of Polk. God knows many of us have and still do. Enjoy your music Slammin.

I'm not knocking him, hell I think he got a great deal on some different speakers to try out and better yet they look nice. It's just not what I would do is all, nothing more nothing less..

ravaneli

The A9s were on sale last week on newegg for 1k per pair too. Every couple weeks or so you get a chance to get them for a 1000.

I am really happy that these speakers turned out good nice because people that try to bring all-things-non-polk down tick me off a bit. I still remember that guy with the LSi bookies that said they are not all-that. They almost hanged him off a tree. And two hundred years ago they probably would have.

So I will say something and I promise I don't try to bring your speakers down - I actually dislike the finish. The towers are elegant, but that color, paired with that bright glossy finish is a little ghetto for me. I just hate poisonous colors and blingy finish. My A7s may sound brighter and not as true as your empteks, but the finish is absolutely gorgeous. It looks and feels natural wood (and it is) and has no glossy finish.

When it comes to looks, I think the Empteks are a little 'bright' and 'in-your-face', hehe : ) , pun slightly intended. I know Im the only one who doesn't like them, but I still count.

heiney9

Rava,

You missed the point for the guy with the Polk bookies............he never gave them a chance because he never let them break in and had them set-up horribly. THAT is why he was given so much grief, not because he didn't like Polk. If you can't see the difference, then you just don't get it.

H9

PrazVT

Agreed - I don't think I was completely happy w/ my A7s when I first got them. But after listening to the advice and suggestions of the vets on here, I learned that I needed to tweak some things, change out some gear - basically had to adjust the infrastructure to get them to sound better. If you don't make that effort, you're never going to be happy with anything.

Outside of that, the only folks in this thread who can comment on relative SQ merits of the EMPs vs any other speaker are those who've heard them. Whether or not buying the speakers without hearing them was a good move, it was a judgement call. And it sounds like slammin got lucky - so more power to him. And for some, $400 is not that big of a risk.

Feedback has to start somewhere right? Maybe if one or two people try them out, they can chime in next time. Many a google search has turned up old threads here on CP - as in near the top of the search results. That's a good thing for this forum I'd think.

Tankman

halo71 wrote: »

Hopefully a brown van will deliver them!

Don't know what too say about this post?.Sure like dem boots!Oh by the way my wife look Nothing like her!

Syndil

PrazVT wrote: »

Whether or not buying the speakers without hearing them was a good move, it was a judgement call. And it sounds like slammin got lucky - so more power to him.

More and more this is becoming the norm, even with audio gear. The high-end audio shops here in Louisville (Ovation) have all closed down, so at least in my area there is really no other option, aside from buying the consumer-grade crap from Best Buy or one of the other big box stores. Slammin did his homework in that regard and made sure EMPtek had a satisfactory return policy should he have decided he didn't like them.

It's the same with the rest of the internet-direct brands that some of you guys are fans of: HSU, SVS, Outlaw, etc. Sure those are all established and well-known brands now and are considered low-risk purchases, but at one time they were all brand-new and relatively unknown, with "white van" looking websites to match... Or worse. Want a laugh? Go to www.archive.org and look up the first instance of HSU's or SVS's or Outlaw's website. I've seen better sites built by children.

Instead of chiding Slammin and others for buying an unknown newcomer, we should be thanking him for paving the way to possibly another great internet direct brand--or not. But someone has to jump in to try the waters.

cr136124

+1000

pietro944

I got my fedex tracking # and the Emp's in red burl will be delivered next wednesday....won't be able to set-up until my friend comes over on saturday......friend bought my M 70's for $200,so I'm out $197.50net for the 55Ti's.I'm 6'3",so the higher tweeter alignment on the Emp's should work out good for me.

The Revel T-1,also in red burl,was delivered today.....nice sub....I'll test it out with the 70's for a week.I'll break-in the 55ti's for a week or so,before I use it with the Revel.....All in all,I'm pleased the way things are working out.I'm still pondering whether to go buy the Lsi 7's as a seperate 2ch system.....we'll see how this goes.

Sherardp

Def post your thoughts on these. I was thinking of scoring a pair myself. I was looking around the Ebay and saw awesome deals on the LSi15s, and 25s. So I can go that route and move the 12s to the living as well. My entire house is Polk, so a change may be good. Not sure what I want to do, if anything.

pietro944

Sherardp wrote: »

Def post your thoughts on these. I was thinking of scoring a pair myself. I was looking around the Ebay and saw awesome deals on the LSi15s, and 25s. So I can go that route and move the 12s to the living as well. My entire house is Polk, so a change may be good. Not sure what I want to do, if anything.

i asked them for you.....At this time no shipping to Canada or International....50 states only.....sorry:sad:

slammin86

Got my bookshelves today. Packaging was great.









So I hooked them straight to my receiver and played them for a bit without the sub. These sounded much bigger than they were. Very nice soundstage even with them being so close together.



Listened for about 20 min then unhooked them to drill some holes in them. Because I need to wall mount these I had to come up with something.

Before...



After...



Notice anything?

I also removed the rubber foot pads from the bottom.



And finally put a coat of spray wax on them and put them on the wall. LOL. They are not hooked up yet have to go under the house again and secure some wires and cut to length. Last weekend I replaced my old 22 ga htib wire under the house with 12 ga monoprice wire.





It looks like my $747.50 dollar emp tek system is complete. I sold the polks for $350 so depending on how you look at it this upgrade cost me less than $400. If all goes well I will run audyssey this weekend and be done.

halo71

Glad you are liking them! Question though, in that one close up pic of the tweeter. Are the screw heads roughed up or is that lighting in the picture?

slammin86

halo71 wrote: »

Glad you are liking them! Question though, in that one close up pic of the tweeter. Are the screw heads roughed up or is that lighting in the picture?

It is crap lighting combined with the crap camera on my droid x2. They are all black although it does appear that the paint is wore off.

drumminman

Nice! Looking forward to your listening impressions, both initially and after burn in.

sbpolk

Any more thoughts from the OP on his purchase? How about the guy that was getting some in the Burl wood color?