Polk TSi300 or RTi8s?

jm75

I'm looking to purchase a 2-channel stereo system for listening to (classical) music in the sub-$700 range. I've found that I can get a pair of new Polk TSi300s or the discontinued Polk RTi8s for about the same price. I'm wondering what I should do since I'm not able to test either of them. For the receiver/integrated amp I'm thinking of a NAD C316 BEE, a Yamaha AS500, a Marantz PM5004, an Onkyo TX-8050 or maybe even an Onkyo A-9555 (though frankly the power output on the TX-8050 and the A-9555 look close enough that I'm not sure the A-9555 would be worth it.) The source for the speakers would be my computer, which doesn't have an outboard DAC at the moment, but I will eventually get one. I can't get a subwoofer (my lease forbids it.)

Thanks in advance for your thoughts! JM.

cnh

Welcome to Club Polk!

The Rti-8s are a few classes above the TSi300s which are only the entry level of the TSi towers! So I'd take the 8s over them any day.

You would need warmer amplification for them so the NAD and Marantz would do as would the Onkyo A-9555 which was very well reviewed for its musicality.

If it were me I'd get a higher model NAD or the Onkyo A-9555 if you can "still" find one of those!

There are other choices, you could consider an HK 3490 in that price range or the Outlaw RR2150. You should listen to some of these to see if you like the sound, if possible!

cnh

jm75

Hi, thanks for your response. I just want to be clear that I'm not deciding between the TSi300 and the RTi a7 speakers but between a TSi300 and the old RTi 7 that Polk stopped making a few years ago. I'm not sure how much speaker technology has changed over the last few years. Unfortunately I don't live in an area where I can test out any of the equipment.

Thanks again! JM.

cnh

Outside of some cabinet design differences the basic sound of a set of RTi-8s is not very different from the newer RTi-A5s (not 7s--the 7s would have been RTi-10s under the old numbering system).

The basic diver units and crossovers are pretty much the same between the old and new Rti series. So no need to worry about that.

cnh

jm75

Thanks again: after doing some further research I think you're right. I went ahead and got the RTI8's and the Onkyo A-9555, which had some incredible reviews. Very excited! Now I can start worrying about DACs and power amps...

JM.

B Run

Should be a nice combo, congrats. Don't know what you DAC budget is but I ran the Arcam rLink dac for a while and really liked it, especially for only being $250.

jm75

That's pretty much my DAC budget for the moment (~$250). But it looks like there's a few things in that range that people like, particularly the Dragonfly.