Polk or JBL

audionuts373

I'm looking to upgrade from my Polk TSI300's and am considering either the Polk RTIA7's or the JBL L890's. I'm running a NAD 3140 rated at 40 watts per channel and a Jolida 102 tube amp rated at 25 watts per channel. I mostly listen to jazz, blues, classical and latin music. The reason I am not satisfied with my present speakers is that they don't give the bass response that I like. Any suggestions on my choices would be appreciated.

halo71

why not buy a powered sub? Welcome to the forum!

audionuts373

halo71 wrote: »

why not buy a powered sub? Welcome to the forum!

I never have been a great fan of subs. I did buy a 10" Polk sub but I'm not satisfied with the sound. I've tried moving it around the room and all kinds of different combos with the volume and cutoff frequencies and nothing sounds good to me. The bass is either too weak or too boomy. I like a bass that sounds natural, full but not overwhelming.

Big Dawg

What is your budget? How big is your room? How loudly do you like to listen?

audionuts373

Big Dawg wrote: »

What is your budget? How big is your room? How loudly do you like to listen?

$1000 or less.My room is about 15'X15' and I like to listen at around 85-90db. I like the specs on the two speakers that I'm liking. My problem is that I have to buy over the net because the only speaker dealer within a reasonable drive only carries very high end speakers that are out of my price range.

RamZet

Well before you buy, some companies will let you try their product for 30-60 days. You still have to buy it but if you hate it you can return it and get your cash back.

Do you like Yamaha? I did a lot of reading on their NS777. They are big speakers with an awesome finish. I havent heard them yet but people seem to like them. The Polks & JBLs you linked look simular to them. Maybe check them out.
http://www.amazon.com/Yamaha-NS-777-3-Way-Reflex-Speaker/dp/B0000W4U2C
http://usa.yamaha.com/products/audio-visual/speaker-systems/home-speaker-systems/ns-777/?mode=model
If not,
I did like JBL back in the day and I do like Polk. Its a hard choice but I think you should look at the JBLs. They have a lot going on in the high range area. You see how they have a full range, tweeter and then what looks to be another tweeter.
I tell everyone to do this. Buy one of each, give them a listen, and return the one you dont like.

wayne3burk

JBLs or Polks eh???

you might wanna lay your ears on these -
http://seattle.craigslist.org/see/ele/3425689457.html
or these
http://seattle.craigslist.org/est/ele/3427654557.html

no affiliation

audionuts373

wayne3burk wrote: »

JBLs or Polks eh???

you might wanna lay your ears on these -
http://seattle.craigslist.org/see/ele/3425689457.html
or these
http://seattle.craigslist.org/est/ele/3427654557.html

no affiliation

I've listened to Magnepans and they don't seem to have much bass. I was not impressed by them.

audionuts373

I just discovered the BIC RtR-EV15 speakers today and wonder about their quality. They have received very good reviews from every site that I have looked at. I know that they are not a "Audiophile" brand but who cares if they sound good! Any comments?

B Run

audionuts373 wrote: »

I just discovered the BIC RtR-EV15 speakers today and wonder about their quality. They have received very good reviews from every site that I have looked at. I know that they are not a "Audiophile" brand but who cares if they sound good! Any comments?

I'd pass, you can do better and won't wonder "what if.." later on.

audionuts373

B Run wrote: »

I'd pass, you can do better and won't wonder "what if.." later on.

Maybe you could elaborate on your comment? Have you heard these speakers or do you know someone who owns a pair? Or are you just saying that because they are not a considered top of the line?

By the way, I'm a two channel fan and do not use my speakers for home theater so I'm looking for speakers that going to give me the best sound from hi's, mid's and bass.

B Run

No I should have stated that I have not personally heard these but I have heard the Bic sub and the Venturi series and was not impressed with either. They are entry level speakers from an entry level company and they would not be on par with the Rti series, and would most likely be a downgrade from the monitor series. I know that's an ignorant statement to make without hearing that model but i'm confident they are not going to be the upgrade you're looking for, especially with a $1,000 budget. If you like horns and a bigger woofer i'd consider a used pair of Klipsch Heresy's, they're in another league.

mantis

I would stick with Polk over lower end JBL. JBL IMO doesn't really start to shine until you go Synthesis.
The RTIA7's are pretty amazing speakers for the money and smoke your TSi300's to death in every single area. As far as more bass is concerned , you'll get it but it might not be exactly what your looking for in the lower end. Do yourself a favor and add a good musical sub. Check out Martin Logans entry level line in the Dynamo series. They are magic in a box. You will be able to blend them in without knowing you have a sub. It will appear to come from the speakers or the room itself.

Buy the 7's and save for a sub. Trust me here.

F1nut

Since you are 2 channel (good man!!!) I suggest looking at the 703's or 705's, which are going to be much better for music than the RTi A7's. Forget the JBL's and BIC's.

gp4jesus

audionuts373 wrote: »

...the Polk RTIA7's or the JBL L890's.

Should you settle on the Polks, consider Polkdirect on eBay. You should save 25-35% off MSRP. I got mine for $630 shipped almost two years ago.

Tony

audionuts373

B Run wrote: »

No I should have stated that I have not personally heard these but I have heard the Bic sub and the Venturi series and was not impressed with either. They are entry level speakers from an entry level company and they would not be on par with the Rti series, and would most likely be a downgrade from the monitor series. I know that's an ignorant statement to make without hearing that model but i'm confident they are not going to be the upgrade you're looking for, especially with a $1,000 budget. If you like horns and a bigger woofer i'd consider a used pair of Klipsch Heresy's, they're in another league.

The problem with used is finding what you want. I know that there are lots of speakers on Ebay but you never know what you are buying. I have done almost 700 transactions on Ebay and know what I'm talking about. Most sellers over-hype the condition of what they are selling and usually take poor photos of what they are selling.I care very much not only about how the speakers I settle on sound but also how they look. They will be in my living room and they have to be nice! Besides, I'm not looking for any project speakers and from what I seen of used speakers, most will need work.

audionuts373

gp4jesus wrote: »

Should you settle on the Polks, consider Polkdirect on eBay. You should save 25-35% off MSRP. I got mine for $630 shipped almost two years ago.

Tony

Thanks for the tip Tony!

gp4jesus

audionuts373 wrote: »

Thanks for the tip Tony!

You're welcome. BTW I bought all but my sub from Polkdirect. They're refurbs w/a year warrentee.

Hope you find something you're happy with for a long time.

Tony

audionuts373

gp4jesus wrote: »

You're welcome. BTW I bought all but my sub from Polkdirect. They're refurbs w/a year warrentee.

Hope you find something you're happy with for a long time.

Tony

How did they look? I was just on their Ebay site and they have some really great prices! I was just looking at the discontinued RTI10's. Nice!

zane77

I've bought refurb's from Polk Direct on E-bay and wasn't able to tell that they were not brand new speakers. No scratches, dents or any other imperfections. Even the boxes and packing material was new.

audionuts373

zane77 wrote: »

I've bought refurb's from Polk Direct on E-bay and wasn't able to tell that they were not brand new speakers. No scratches, dents or any other imperfections. Even the boxes and packing material was new.

Thanks!

michael1947

Welcome to the club there audionuts 373. Keep in mind that the RT stands for "reference theater" and although they sound nice in all uses I believe they were designed for home theater. I have the little 1's and 3's and they do sing very nice but must be filled in with a powered sub. I also have some RTI A9's which just eat power and the 7's will also out stretch your amp.

Most of the lower end and entry level subs seem to be just as you described them, kind of boomy and not very musical. I use a couple of the Polk Micro-pro subs, 8 inchers, and they do a fine job, very musical. I also use a very nice little REL, I think a T3 or 350 to fill in base for my LSI 9's. You would never know it was in the room and just wonder how those little LSI's could go so low. It's been described as a sub that can play more than one note.

You don't see many towers used in 2 channel any more although LSI-15's seem to be an excellent choice however at 4 ohms a new amp would likely be in order. Klipsch generally run a little more efficiently and they make a wide variety of excellent speakers for 2 channel. It's complicated and everything matters. Try to make some friends who live close buy and go have a listen to their gear and maybe do some more reading in the 2 channel part of the forum, it does'nt take too long to get up to speed. Good luck and have fun.

BlueFox

michael1947 wrote: »

You don't see many towers used in 2 channel any more although LSI-15's seem to be an excellent choice however at 4 ohms a new amp would likely be in order.

I have to disagree with that. Monitors on a stand can certainly sound good, but for almost all speaker manufacturers, towers are at the top of line, and they have various models at different price points. And, towers have the stand built-in.

Dawgfish

Have you considered going the vintage Polk route? For two channel some SDAs, RTA-8s, RTA-12s, Monitor 7s, 10s, etc are going to smoke the RTI-A7s. I had the RTi10s and most of the vintage Polks listed above and it's no comparison. If you want some newer Polk series I would look at either the LSis or LSiMs. I have the LSiM-703s and love them.

SolidSnake1988

How about some mordaunt speakers, might cost a little more but i've read they are musical speakers.

gp4jesus

audionuts373 wrote: »

How did they look? I was just on their Ebay site and they have some really great prices! I was just looking at the discontinued RTI10's. Nice!

What Zane said!!

Allow me emphasize: IF buy Polk, shop @ Polkdirect. I believe in the RTi A7 platform for HT. For music I think it's the LS(?) series you want. More $, but I think you'll like 'em right out of the box.

Just a friendly tip: Polk intended speakers w/RT or RTi or RTi A in the model as a HT speaker. Rerference Theater improved. From there I think Polk took its cue from the military's nomenclature practice: e.g. M1 Abrams battle tank. The M1A1 has significant improvements over the M1; the M1A2 more of the same. The RTi A7 is an improved RTi 10-different XO & shaped closure. The RT/RTi/RTi A series unmodified noted by many, myself included, to be bright &, depending upon electronics, edgy.

I said all that to say this: you may be happier w/another line of (Polk) speaker or brand. But if you settle on Polk, Polkdirect will $save you buck$ w/out the used buyers remorse.

Merry Christmas! Tony

audionuts373

AAARRRRRGGG!..............Sorry!

If only I had a time machine to go back BEFORE "Home Theater" speakers dominated the speaker industry!

F1nut

You don't see many towers used in 2 channel any more

That's simply not true.

20hz

I think your preferance of music wont get much of a gain from a sub , but if you get small speakers you will need a sub but in your case I think a more " musical " sub is what you would like , a Energy brand sub produces a cleaner sound without the overwelming rumble that you dont like .
I suggest Energy or Mirage speakers for your setup they sound really smooth .
I had a energy center ch ?ec200? it sounded VERY good .
I like polks ( I have a few ) but the build quality of the energy and that smooth high and and clean midrange I think will compete with anything . I heard some Mondurant shorts they sounded nice but no highs and the low end was weak but a great midrange .
Also listen to Kef speakers

audionuts373 wrote: »

I never have been a great fan of subs. I did buy a 10" Polk sub but I'm not satisfied with the sound. I've tried moving it around the room and all kinds of different combos with the volume and cutoff frequencies and nothing sounds good to me. The bass is either too weak or too boomy. I like a bass that sounds natural, full but not overwhelming.

Dawgfish

Which is exactly why I recommend going vintage to look at speakers that actually were designed without any regard to home theater. It seems like if you are not certain people/handles it seems like nobody cares what you have to say around here anymore.

audionuts373

OK, now I will really get some people riled up here! How about Cerwin Vega XLS-12's? :eek: