Speaker upgrades

Yungdro1972
Yungdro1972 Posts: 7
edited April 2012 in Speakers
I have owned my current RTi series speakers since 2004, but I am looking into upgrading this year. The two sets of speakers that I am looking at are the newer RTi series or the LSiM series. I am about 75% movies and 25% music. What should I go with for my upgrade? I can get the RTi9's at tremendous savings, so would it be worth it to pay a lot more for the LSiM series? Thanks.
3-D Set-Up
Panasonic 65" ST30 3-D tv, Oppo BDP-93, Onkyo TX-NR709, Emotiva XPA-2, Emotiva XPA-5, Sony (120g) PS3 Slim, Panamax M5300-PM Power Conditioner, Direct TV HD DVR, and (160g) Apple TV.
Speakers
Polk Audio RTi10's, CSi5, FXi3's, and RTi4's. SVS PB12-Plus Subwoofer.

Family Room
Samsung 55" 120Hz HDTV, Panasonic BDP-65, Onkyo TX-SR806, Emotiva XPA-3, Apple TV (160g), Direct TV HD Receiver, and Belkin PF-30.
Speakers
Kef IQ7's, IQ2c, IQ8d's in Maple, and an SVS PB10-isd subwoofer.
Post edited by Yungdro1972 on

Comments

  • Lietuvis91
    Lietuvis91 Posts: 908
    edited April 2012
    It is clear you are not a newb, meaning you are not putting together your first system. Since you have some experience, the first question to ask is why do you want to upgrade, what do you hope to accomplish, what do you feel are the shortcomings of your current system that you hope to address with your upgrade? Is your system currently lacking something, or do you just have some money to blow and want something different for the sake of something different? Let us know, that way it's easier to suggest something specific.

    as a sidenote: rti to rtia is a slight upgrade, but I'm not sure it would different/better enough to be worth the expense involved. What specific rti speakers do yu have now?
    Living Room 7.1 HT Rig:

    M70 | CS2 | M60 | Atrium5 - Surr. | SUB - Emotiva ULTRA12 + Tara Labs sub cable | Pioneer Elite VSX-52 | Parasound HCAs 1000A | Sony BDP-S790 | Belkin PureAV PF60 | MIT Exp2 Wires

    Bedroom 5.0 HT Rig (Music/Movies/Gaming) :

    LSi9 | LsiC | Lsi/fx | Marantz SR7002 | NAD T955 | Sony BDP-S360 | Belkin PureAV PF30 | AQ Blue Racer II ICs & AQ Type 4 wires | PS3
  • Geoff4rfc
    Geoff4rfc Posts: 2,477
    edited April 2012
    Lietuvis91 wrote: »
    as a sidenote: rti to rtia is a slight upgrade, but I'm not sure it would different/better enough to be worth the expense involved. What specific rti speakers do yu have now?

    Agreed, if you're going to upgrade from RTi, go LSiM.
    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
  • Yungdro1972
    Yungdro1972 Posts: 7
    edited April 2012
    Lietuvis91 wrote: »
    It is clear you are not a newb, meaning you are not putting together your first system. Since you have some experience, the first question to ask is why do you want to upgrade, what do you hope to accomplish, what do you feel are the shortcomings of your current system that you hope to address with your upgrade? Is your system currently lacking something, or do you just have some money to blow and want something different for the sake of something different? Let us know, that way it's easier to suggest something specific.

    as a sidenote: rti to rtia is a slight upgrade, but I'm not sure it would different/better enough to be worth the expense involved. W
    hat specific rti speakers do yu have now?

    Thanks for the reply. The current set up consists of a csi5, rti10's, fxi3's, and rti4's in the rear. My reason is probably more of a want than a need. I have a good friend that works at best buy, and can get a very substantial discount on the new RTIa 9 towers, fx surrounds, and csi a 6 center speaker. I also was thinking about changing to a cherry finish as well. Don't get me wrong, I am keeping my older Polks and transferring them to my family room set up to replace a 5.0 set of Kef Q series speakers which I plan to sell. They are more musical speakers, and I watch more movies than anything so the Reference Theater speakers would suit my family room better. I have never hear the LSiM series speakers, and I am not sure if they would suit my upgrade better.
    3-D Set-Up
    Panasonic 65" ST30 3-D tv, Oppo BDP-93, Onkyo TX-NR709, Emotiva XPA-2, Emotiva XPA-5, Sony (120g) PS3 Slim, Panamax M5300-PM Power Conditioner, Direct TV HD DVR, and (160g) Apple TV.
    Speakers
    Polk Audio RTi10's, CSi5, FXi3's, and RTi4's. SVS PB12-Plus Subwoofer.

    Family Room
    Samsung 55" 120Hz HDTV, Panasonic BDP-65, Onkyo TX-SR806, Emotiva XPA-3, Apple TV (160g), Direct TV HD Receiver, and Belkin PF-30.
    Speakers
    Kef IQ7's, IQ2c, IQ8d's in Maple, and an SVS PB10-isd subwoofer.
  • Yungdro1972
    Yungdro1972 Posts: 7
    edited April 2012
    Thanks. I was kind of thinking that too, but will they suit me for home theater?
    3-D Set-Up
    Panasonic 65" ST30 3-D tv, Oppo BDP-93, Onkyo TX-NR709, Emotiva XPA-2, Emotiva XPA-5, Sony (120g) PS3 Slim, Panamax M5300-PM Power Conditioner, Direct TV HD DVR, and (160g) Apple TV.
    Speakers
    Polk Audio RTi10's, CSi5, FXi3's, and RTi4's. SVS PB12-Plus Subwoofer.

    Family Room
    Samsung 55" 120Hz HDTV, Panasonic BDP-65, Onkyo TX-SR806, Emotiva XPA-3, Apple TV (160g), Direct TV HD Receiver, and Belkin PF-30.
    Speakers
    Kef IQ7's, IQ2c, IQ8d's in Maple, and an SVS PB10-isd subwoofer.
  • VR3
    VR3 Posts: 28,782
    edited April 2012
    Definitive Technology if you are looking for pure theater performance... IMO
    - Not Tom ::::::: Any system can play Diana Krall. Only the best can play Limp Bizkit.
  • Yungdro1972
    Yungdro1972 Posts: 7
    edited April 2012
    VR3 wrote: »
    Definitive Technology if you are looking for pure theater performance... IMO
    Where can I demo a set of Def Tech speakers?
    3-D Set-Up
    Panasonic 65" ST30 3-D tv, Oppo BDP-93, Onkyo TX-NR709, Emotiva XPA-2, Emotiva XPA-5, Sony (120g) PS3 Slim, Panamax M5300-PM Power Conditioner, Direct TV HD DVR, and (160g) Apple TV.
    Speakers
    Polk Audio RTi10's, CSi5, FXi3's, and RTi4's. SVS PB12-Plus Subwoofer.

    Family Room
    Samsung 55" 120Hz HDTV, Panasonic BDP-65, Onkyo TX-SR806, Emotiva XPA-3, Apple TV (160g), Direct TV HD Receiver, and Belkin PF-30.
    Speakers
    Kef IQ7's, IQ2c, IQ8d's in Maple, and an SVS PB10-isd subwoofer.
  • Geoff4rfc
    Geoff4rfc Posts: 2,477
    edited April 2012
    Shoot, if you don't want to spend the coin on the LSiM series and you can get a good deal on the RTiA series, jump on that and get yourself a good amp.
    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
  • Geoff4rfc
    Geoff4rfc Posts: 2,477
    edited April 2012
    Oops, just saw your sig. You already have some amps :cool:
    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
  • Lietuvis91
    Lietuvis91 Posts: 908
    edited April 2012
    People say great things about the LSIM line, but I have not heard them yet, so i cannot comment.

    For a mostly HT focused setup the RTIA9 would probably be a quite nice step up from your rti10s, especially if you can get good deals on speakers. Those speakers are a good bit bigger, so make sure you're ok with their size, and of course go listen to them if you have the opportunity, because that's the best way to decide. RTIA9s also need a good bit of power to sound their best, an external amp is preferable, so hopefully you don't plan to run them off of some cheap receiver.
    Living Room 7.1 HT Rig:

    M70 | CS2 | M60 | Atrium5 - Surr. | SUB - Emotiva ULTRA12 + Tara Labs sub cable | Pioneer Elite VSX-52 | Parasound HCAs 1000A | Sony BDP-S790 | Belkin PureAV PF60 | MIT Exp2 Wires

    Bedroom 5.0 HT Rig (Music/Movies/Gaming) :

    LSi9 | LsiC | Lsi/fx | Marantz SR7002 | NAD T955 | Sony BDP-S360 | Belkin PureAV PF30 | AQ Blue Racer II ICs & AQ Type 4 wires | PS3
  • Yungdro1972
    Yungdro1972 Posts: 7
    edited April 2012
    Lietuvis91 wrote: »
    People say great things about the LSIM line, but I have not heard them yet, so i cannot comment.

    For a mostly HT focused setup the RTIA9 would probably be a quite nice step up from your rti10s, especially if you can get good deals on speakers. Those speakers are a good bit bigger, so make sure you're ok with their size, and of course go listen to them if you have the opportunity, because that's the best way to decide. RTIA9s also need a good bit of power to sound their best, an external amp is preferable, so hopefully you don't plan to run them off of some cheap receiver.
    Thanks again guys. My gallery is up in the system showcase if you guys want to take a peek. I will more than likely go with the RTia9's. My amps are 300wx2 and 200wx5 in my 7 channel set-up. An AVR just can't cut it IMO.
    3-D Set-Up
    Panasonic 65" ST30 3-D tv, Oppo BDP-93, Onkyo TX-NR709, Emotiva XPA-2, Emotiva XPA-5, Sony (120g) PS3 Slim, Panamax M5300-PM Power Conditioner, Direct TV HD DVR, and (160g) Apple TV.
    Speakers
    Polk Audio RTi10's, CSi5, FXi3's, and RTi4's. SVS PB12-Plus Subwoofer.

    Family Room
    Samsung 55" 120Hz HDTV, Panasonic BDP-65, Onkyo TX-SR806, Emotiva XPA-3, Apple TV (160g), Direct TV HD Receiver, and Belkin PF-30.
    Speakers
    Kef IQ7's, IQ2c, IQ8d's in Maple, and an SVS PB10-isd subwoofer.
  • chumlie
    chumlie Posts: 8,658
    edited April 2012
    If you can get the rti a9's, csi a6 and the fx surrounds for a good price and your interest is in home theatre, it seems like a no brainer. Get them.
  • Yungdro1972
    Yungdro1972 Posts: 7
    edited April 2012
    chumlie wrote: »
    If you can get the rti a9's, csi a6 and the fx surrounds for a good price and your interest is in home theatre, it seems like a no brainer. Get them.

    That's what I was thinking, but I don't plan on buying speakers again for a while after this. I wish I could put my ears to some LSiM's. I have heard the newer RTiA series, and I like them.
    3-D Set-Up
    Panasonic 65" ST30 3-D tv, Oppo BDP-93, Onkyo TX-NR709, Emotiva XPA-2, Emotiva XPA-5, Sony (120g) PS3 Slim, Panamax M5300-PM Power Conditioner, Direct TV HD DVR, and (160g) Apple TV.
    Speakers
    Polk Audio RTi10's, CSi5, FXi3's, and RTi4's. SVS PB12-Plus Subwoofer.

    Family Room
    Samsung 55" 120Hz HDTV, Panasonic BDP-65, Onkyo TX-SR806, Emotiva XPA-3, Apple TV (160g), Direct TV HD Receiver, and Belkin PF-30.
    Speakers
    Kef IQ7's, IQ2c, IQ8d's in Maple, and an SVS PB10-isd subwoofer.
  • chumlie
    chumlie Posts: 8,658
    edited April 2012
    Lsi m's for serious music system would justify the price but for your purpose. Go with the rti a series package. You will be more than happy.