RT5000 system vs RTiA series

jdustinb

Thoughts? I'm considering selling my rt3000p's to move over to the RTiA series of speakers (RTiA6, CSiA6, F/XiA6) as I'm having trouble filling out to a full rt5000 system. Growing impatient waiting and wondering what kind of move this is - lateral or upgrade?

Really interested in general impressions/opinions of other readers.

dorokusai

Upgrade in every way. The high end is far more accurate and the midrange is everything you know now but with a bit more extension and fullness. The very low end is much tighter although you may feel they don't hit as hard, give it time, as they will break in as time goes on. Good luck since you'll need to get some power behind them as well. just a nice, solid 2-3CH amplifier would be perfect to add-on to the Denon. I'm just guessing that this is what you plan on doing.

jdustinb

dorokusai wrote: »

Good luck since you'll need to get some power behind them as well. just a nice, solid 2-3CH amplifier would be perfect to add-on to the Denon.

I figured as much and would plan to do so within the next year but curious if I could initially get by without adding the amp. I know sound quality will be affected, but I wonder exactly how much. Relative I know, but general impressions again would be appreciated.

mdaudioguy

jdustinb wrote: »

I figured as much and would plan to do so within the next year but curious if I could initially get by without adding the amp. I know sound quality will be affected, but I wonder exactly how much. Relative I know, but general impressions again would be appreciated.

Well, there is no RTiA6 model. Which of these are you interested in? http://www.polkaudio.com/products/series/rtia

I think the answer to your question is, yes, you can "get by", especially if the fronts you're planning to get are the bookshelves or the small towers. The larger towers (A7, A9) would also "get by" without an amp, but only if the AVR is one of the beefier models. I tried looking up your AVR for specs, but there's not much out there for a Denon AVR-3212CI. Is that the correct model number?

dorokusai

Yeah, you'll be fine for now and you seem to know what direction you need to go into. Have fun.

Mark

jdustinb

mdaudioguy wrote: »

Well, there is no RTiA6 model. Which of these are you interested in? http://www.polkaudio.com/products/series/rtia

I think the answer to your question is, yes, you can "get by", especially if the fronts you're planning to get are the bookshelves or the small towers. The larger towers (A7, A9) would also "get by" without an amp, but only if the AVR is one of the beefier models. I tried looking up your AVR for specs, but there's not much out there for a Denon AVR-3212CI. Is that the correct model number?

Fat fingering left and right over here

Meant to say the RTiA9's - and the receiver is a Denon AVR-3312ci with discrete 125w/ch.

civilian

I've often wondered as well how the RT-3000's would stack up to the newer RT's though thinking the RTiA9 is a more fair comparison.
2-8" drivers at 300 watts vs. 3-7" drivers with say a 500 watt amp.

mantis

As said already , if you did a side by side , you would realize the improvements they made over the years. Polk is fantastic at this and listens to their customer comments on what should be improved.
In history the RT series line has been on the bright side. They really balanced out the sound in the RTIA series and IMO the very best that line has ever sounded.
I have owned , Installed and been around all RT lines past and present and I heard improvements each new model year. Small tweaks here and there yielded huge results in what the RTIA represent .

BUT with all that said the older RT series speakers are still fantastic and at the current used prices they are a incredible value. Paying half of retail or less is an amazing deal. You are getting speakers that can compete with anything made today at full asking retail price and the older polks will hold their own or sound better.

dpowell

The other thing you don't have to worry about with the newer series is they don't have internal amps that require repairs over time.

pdxfj

With good power the RTi-A's are quite impressive. They are a little on the bright side as others have mentioned and even more so if you have an amp that is a little bright as well (like I have...).

If you're willing to take the plunge and upgrade the XO components, the transformation is simply amazing. I followed Trey's recommendations on components and couldn't be happier. Everyone who hears my setup is amazed at how smooth everything sounds.

jdustinb

Thanks everyone for the informative responses - definitely helped sway my decision to get my rt3000p's ready to be listed this weekend.

I'm taking the plunge and moving to the RTiA series. Hoping to use my Denon AVR-3312ci to power the center and surrounds and pick up a 2 channel amp for the fronts. Definitely excited! But will be sad to see the RT3000p's go after having them for 10+ years. They've served me well.

pdxfj wrote: »

If you're willing to take the plunge and upgrade the XO components, the transformation is simply amazing. I followed Trey's recommendations on components and couldn't be happier. Everyone who hears my setup is amazed at how smooth everything sounds.

pdxfj - can't say I'm familiar with Trey, but I would like to hear recommendations on crossover components. I've read some interesting debates as to what frequency the A9's should be crossed over at.