Anyone try mixing Rti a9 with monitor series speakers?

bansheesho

I have been drooling over the Rti a9s to replace my monitor 60s... My system is probably used 85% for HT.

Has anyone tried mixing the 2 series together? Specifically the cs2 center channel with the a9s? Would that sound bad? Would it sound better than monitor 60s and cs2 center, but not as good as with the rti a6 center?

I wish there was a good place to listen to these around here...

adabro

I upgraded from the Monitors to the RTi’s – I have the Monitor 60’s running as surrounds with RTi A9’s up front and a CSi A6.

The current set up sounds good to me, I have not had any problems with the Monitor-RTi mix, but I’ve never heard how it would sound if I replaced the M60’s with something like the RTi A3’s..

I replaced my CS2 before I added the A9’s so I can’t help there….

bansheesho

Oops I meant csi a6 not rti a6...

I just got the cs2 and the monitor 30s at the end of last year which is why I am asking, don't really want to bail on them right away. I would love to use the m60s as surrounds, but there is no room for them... Infact due to the weird room layout I had to go with the m30s in the rear instead of the m40s which is a shame...

ravaneli

If I have to bet a buck, you probably will be find with monitor 30s for surrounds. Not much goes through them, especially in HT. However if you get A9s, you will like your system without a center better, because the A9s will bring a lot better detail to the dialogue.
Perhaps keep the M30, sell the CS2, and don't use a center until your birthday, and then get the A6 or A4. A4 is on sale on newegg for 179 right now by the way, really really not bad.

tommyt21

bansheesho wrote: »

Oops I meant csi a6 not rti a6...

I just got the cs2 and the monitor 30s at the end of last year which is why I am asking, don't really want to bail on them right away. I would love to use the m60s as surrounds, but there is no room for them... Infact due to the weird room layout I had to go with the m30s in the rear instead of the m40s which is a shame...

I did temporarily try my Cs2 with my A7's before my CSi A4 came in and it does NOT blend well in the front sound stage. There was a distinct echo like some of the front sound stage effects were in a cave. You need to get either a CSI a6 or A4 with the A9's. Surrounds it doesnt matter one iota. The front three need to be timber matched from the same line.

Geoff4rfc

bansheesho wrote: »

Has anyone tried mixing the 2 series together? Specifically the cs2 center channel with the a9s? Would that sound bad? Would it sound better than monitor 60s and cs2 center, but not as good as with the rti a6 center?

I did that for about a month while I was upgrading from Monitors to RTiA's.

And although I didn't experience the difference as bad as Tommy did, there was an obvious difference in sound.

IMO, it wasn't "bad", just not as good as it should have been, and most of time, I was having to bump up the volume in the CS2, it had a difficult time keeping up with the A9's.

But if you plan on upgrading the CS2 to the CSiA6 at one point down the road, then you should be able to live the the difference for a while.

And again, just to reiterate, it wasn't as huge a difference as Tommy's, but noticeable.

bansheesho

Thanks for all the insight... It is greatly appreciated

drummer86

Csi5 for a great price on Polk's ebay store...

bansheesho

After careful consideration I think I have a solution... For what to do with the extra speakers that is... If I move the couches into an L position I could fit the m30s as surrounds and the m60s as back surrounds.. (does that make sense to do it with the m60s as back surrounds?)

fokakis1

ravaneli wrote: »

If I have to bet a buck, you probably will be find with monitor 30s for surrounds. Not much goes through them, especially in HT. However if you get A9s, you will like your system without a center better, because the A9s will bring a lot better detail to the dialogue.
Perhaps keep the M30, sell the CS2, and don't use a center until your birthday, and then get the A6 or A4. A4 is on sale on newegg for 179 right now by the way, really really not bad.

I second this advice. Phantom center with the A9's and monitors as surrounds would be fine.

bansheesho

Would the setup of

Rti a9 front
Csi a6 center
Monitor 30 surround
Monitor 60 back surround

Make sense... Specifically the placement of the m30 and m60 or would it make more sense to switch the 2?

tommyt21

bansheesho wrote: »

Would the setup of

Rti a9 front
Csi a6 center
Monitor 30 surround
Monitor 60 back surround

Make sense... Specifically the placement of the m30 and m60 or would it make more sense to switch the 2?

Sounds like a plan my man!!

maximillian

Personally, I am now not a fan of mixing. I just upgraded my FXi3's (surrounds in a 5 channel HT) to LSIFx's and the difference was evident. My fronts are LSi so I feel the system blends a lot better now.

It's OK to mix the rears, but it won't be transparent. Whether or not this matters to you depends on what you watch and how much saving money depends to you.

I watched some Star Wars after upgrading, during action scenes there is a lot that comes out the rear speakers. It simply sounds better now.

Geoff4rfc

bansheesho wrote: »

Would the setup of

Rti a9 front
Csi a6 center
Monitor 30 surround
Monitor 60 back surround

Make sense... Specifically the placement of the m30 and m60 or would it make more sense to switch the 2?

This is pretty close to my set up. As far as your surround and B.S. placement, you might want to experiment with the placement and see what sounds best where.

In the majority of the movies I watch, I get more sound through the surround than my rears. In fact, I get more activity through my wides than my rears so I don't even employ my rears.

bansheesho

Oh no!!! Hopes and Dreams Fail I just measured the fireplace ledge that my towers have to sit on and it is only 17.5" deep... So I guess at 21.5 inches deep they just won't work for me... The monitor 70s will work up front and match better with what I have already anyway... Damn!!

tonyb

Fireplace ledge ? How far apart would they be then ? Why can't you put them on the floor ?

bansheesho

Why can't you put them on the floor ?

There just isn't room... At the front of the room the tv is mounted above the fireplace mantle. There is a ledge running the length of the front that is elevated about 6 inches off the ground and is about 17.5 inches deep... Front speakers are placed about 6 feet apart center to center.... Due to some weird walkway, door, and window placements the speakers need to be on the ledge... It's ok though, my wife wasn't too keen on the idea of replacing the fronts and center with the more expensive speakers anyway.. she has been pretty gracious thus far with my new additions.... maybe some day I can step it up to something higher end when I have more room to do so.

Geoff4rfc

What? Why give up on the A9's so quickly?

It sounds like, to make things better all the way around for your set up and for the sanctity of the home, you have made your choice, but have you considered incorporating a shelf at each end of the ledge? Something that would jut out enough to support the depth of the speakers?

Just a thought............

ravaneli

Man, I would still get RTi. Get the 5s, they will fit. Same thing as the 9 anyway, especially if you have a subwoofer.

Geoff4rfc

ravaneli wrote: »

Get the 5s, they will fit. Same thing as the 9 anyway, especially if you have a subwoofer.

??????? The only thing the same with the 5 and the 9 is that they share the same series. Different size drivers, number of drivers, different dimensions, different power output.

I think if you had left your statement at, "Get the 5's, they will fit", then it would have made sense.

The OP's concern is the depth of the speaker and being able to fit on the ledge, unless I'm missing something with the second part of your statement.

bansheesho

How about the rti a7s vs the monitor 70 ? Used about 85% for ht and also considering the speakers I already have.
Polk lists the depth at 17.75 inches roughly... As long as the legs arent right at the ends it should work, but how for do rhese need to be away from the wall?
If made properly a platform may work too though... Maybe the rti a9 can go back on the list

tonyb

Maybe a pic of the room would work wonders for suggestions.

bansheesho

Will post pic when power comes back on at work... The picture app dosent play nice with the phone. But after more thought i am really considering the a9s again or a7s .... Anyone have insight on the sound of the a9 or a7 vs a monitor 70?

Geoff4rfc

bansheesho wrote: »

but how for do rhese need to be away from the wall?
If made properly a platform may work too though... Maybe the rti a9 can go back on the list

I believe I made this suggestion in post #18

These speakers have port guards on the back so placement close to the wall is possible, but I would think, that for better imaging, having them pulled off the wall a couple of feet is best. I would talk to Polks tech people and see what they say on the matter.

bansheesho wrote: »

Anyone have insight on the sound of the a9 or a7 vs a monitor 70?

I recently upgraded from M70's to A9's. The upgrade is very noticeable to say the least. Certainly more detail, I continually hear stuff in my movies that I haven't heard before with the 70's.

ravaneli

The Newegg deal is expiring 3/25, if it matters to you. A pair of (black) A5s for 539 and free shipping. Simplifying things a little here, It's like A9 put in a smaller cabinet because the passive subwoofer was removed. If you use a subwoofer anyway this setup will be much easier to get. A5s are cheaper and easy to drive with a decent receiver, and instead of passive subwoofer in the cabinets you use your powered sub, which is usually a lot cheaper than buying a passive sub + amp to power it. Also, unless you have a big room, the huge A9s may come a little intrusive to the look and space in the room.
Just a scenario... I have the A7s myself and while a bit large and distracting the attention from the TV (A6 too) I absolutely love the look of the tower. Size can be good or bad thing, when it comes to aesthetics, personal preference.

bansheesho

I'm sure the a5s sound nice but I am looking for something to fill in the 70-150 hz range better, and I think the a9s would do a really good job of this as well as add clarity .... The size of the a9s is also something that I like, as well as being a pretty full range speaker

tonyb

Plus your receiver should do fairly well powering them, so get them and let us know how they sound.

bansheesho

There is a pic of the tv room, though it is a little bit dated. I built a shelf on the right side of the room and incorperated it into the bookshelf and moved all the electronics over there and hid the cables (and of course added the new reciever). The only thing left under the tv is the center channel. I also moved the couch and loveseat to form an L so the walkway to the back door is behind the loveseat now... It also has the advantage of being the ideal spot for listening now. We are going shopping for a proper L couch this weekend to make it a permanent setup...

My plan was to move the M30s inline with where the loveseat is and put the m60s behind the loveseat.

I have given my list of speakers to my wife and let her know which ones I wanted most, we will see what she suprises me with (We like to buy eachother presents).

tonyb

Wow man, that TV is pretty high up there, almost touches the ceiling. Still, I see plenty of room on the floor on both sides of the fireplace. If it was me, I'd use the long wall where that chair is for the TV and system, move that chair next to the fireplace by the shelves. Just my .02

bansheesho

The tv is positioned so it can be viewed from the kitchen as well, so changing the tv position is not an option.

zane77

I have both the A7's and A9's . I think the 9's give you a little better mid and dig a little deeper, but they both sound pretty good.