RTI8 vs. RTiA5

Sci-fi Polk Guy
Sci-fi Polk Guy Posts: 194
edited April 2012 in Vintage Speakers
Hi guys,
I am looking for a great deal on a pair of large floorstanders. I auditioned the RTiA5's, and I really liked them. I saw the RTi8's on Polk eBay for $400 for the pair. The RTiA5's are about $800 for the pair. The RTiA5's and the RTi8's look nearly identical. What's the difference between the two, besides the price? I'd really appreciate some input from you guys who are familiar with both of these speakers. Thanks!!:smile:
Paradigm 11seMkIII mains, w/ Zu Audio jumpers
Paradigm CC 450 center, w/ Zu Audio jumpers
Polk Audio RTi6 surrounds
Paradigm SE sub
Sony BDP S5100 blu-ray player
Panasonic 50" plasma
Yamaha RX A1000 receiver
Parasound HCA 1205A amp
Audioquest Evergreen IC's
Post edited by Sci-fi Polk Guy on
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Comments

  • unclebiskabobka
    unclebiskabobka Posts: 109
    edited April 2012
    The rtia series has a slightly upgraded crossover, if I'm not mistaken. Also they have an upgraded cabinet that is much more attractive in my opinion. It you're leaving the grills on, there's not as much of a difference, but still. Other than those, they are pretty much the same speakers.
    TV - LG 42" LED
    Receiver - Pioneer VSX-521
    Front speakers - Polk Monitor 40's Series II
    Center - Polk Monitor CS1 Series II
    Surround - Polk Audio OWM3
    Subwoofer - JBL L8400P


    "I was born with music inside me. Music was one of my parts. Like my ribs, my kidneys, my liver, my heart. Like my blood. It was a force already within me when I arrived on the scene. It was a necessity for me-like food or water."
    ~Ray Charles~
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  • gp4jesus
    gp4jesus Posts: 1,987
    edited April 2012
    Uncle you are not mistaken about the XO. The 'A5 sexy-shaped cabinet is more rigid and has less standing wave issues compared to the boxier RTi8. You can $ave on refurbs at Polkdirect on eBay.
    Samsung 60" UN60ES6100 LED Outlaw Audio 976 Pre/Pro Samsung BDP, Amazon Firestick, Phillips CD Changer Canare 14 ga - LCR tweeters inside*; Ctr Ch outside BJC 10 ga - LCR mids, inside* & out 8 ga Powerline: LR woofers, inside* & out *soldered LR: Tri-amped RTi A7 w/Rotels. Woofers - 980BX; Tweets & “Plugged*” Mids - 981, connected w/MP Premiere ICs Ctr Ch: Rotel RB981 -> Bi-amped CSi A6 Surrounds: Premiere ICs ->Rotel 981 -> AR 12 ga -> RTi A3. 5 Subs: Sunfire True SW Signature -> LFE & Ctr Ch; 4 Audio Pro Evidence @ the “Corners”. Power Conditioning & Distribution: 4 dedicated 20A feeds; APC H15; 5 Furman Miniport 20s *Xschop's handy work
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  • David R
    David R Posts: 134
    edited April 2012
    I bought a pair of the 8's for $300. You can still get that deal if you are patient. Fry's will still put them of sale once in a while. My wife did not like the looks so I sold them to my brother. They are very good for the money. If you like loud music you will not be disapointed. I have RTIA7's now, better low's and highs. I am trying to audition the LSIM 705's to see if I should upgrade to them. Your ears.
    Panasonic 65" Plasma - Panasonic Blu-ray. Onkyo TX-NR809 RTi A7s fronts - MK CS150s surronds.
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  • gudnoyez
    gudnoyez Posts: 8,124
    edited April 2012
    I own the A5's and couldnt be happier, matched with a pair of A3's makes for a pretty good Combo for HT and music playback. I see deals all the time on the A5's more so than I do for the A3's.
    Home Theater
    Parasound Halo A 31 OnkyoTX-NR838 Sony XBR55X850B 55" 4K RtiA9 Fronts CsiA6 Center RtiA3 Rears FxiA6 Side Surrounds Dual Psw 111's Oppo 105D Signal Ultra Speaker Cables & IC's Signal Magic Power Cable Technics SL Q300 Panamax MR4300 Audioquest Chocolate HDMI Cables Audioquest Forest USB Cable

    2 Channel
    Adcom 555II Vincent SA-T1 Marantz SA 15S2 Denon DR-M11 Clearaudio Bluemotion SDA 2.3tl's (Z) edition MIT Terminator II Speaker Cables & IC's Adcom 545II Adcom Gtp-450 Marantz CD5004 Technics M245X SDA 2B's, SDA CRS+

    Stuff for the Head
    JD LABS C5 Headphone Amplifier, Sennheiser HD 598, Polk Audio Buckle, Polk Audio Hinge, Velodyne vPulse, Bose IE2, Sennheiser CX 200 Street II, Sennheiser MX 365

    Shower & Off the beaten path Rigs
    Polk Audio Boom Swimmer, Polk Audio Urchin B)
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