Bose 301 Series V vs. Polk Audio RC85i

weaverra
weaverra Posts: 4
edited September 2013 in Speakers
I recently purchased a complete surround system at a yard sale. I have (2) Monitor 70's (1) CS20 and (2) Bose 301 V speakers. Unfortunately the wife doesn't like the 70's so those undoubtedly have to go. So that leaves me with the CS20 and 301's. I had the idea of possibly replacing the 301's with the RC85i in wall speakers. How would these compare? I personally think the 301's sound pretty good, but I would like an in wall semi-hidden system. Would I be missing much if anything?
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Comments

  • Msabot1
    Msabot1 Posts: 2,098
    edited September 2013
    There are models of in wall speakers that sound damn good,however when you go that route you're stuck with the room set up that you chose...I prefer being able to move rooms around...to change em up. I have an old pair of Bose 301's...they work good for rears when I want to use them.
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  • weaverra
    weaverra Posts: 4
    edited September 2013
    Have you heard the RC85i's before? If so could you compare to the 301's?
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  • nguyendot
    nguyendot Posts: 3,594
    edited September 2013
    Well the RC85i has a dedicated tweeter - where the 301s have a tiny midrange and woofer. Sound is going to be much clearer on the RC85is, but bass will be better on the 301s as they have a dedicated enclosure.
    Main Surround -
    Epson 8350 Projector/ Elite Screens 120" / Pioneer Elite SC-35 / Sunfire Signature / Focal Chorus 716s / Focal Chorus CC / Polk MC80 / Polk PSW150 sub

    Bedroom - Sharp Aquos 70" 650 / Pioneer SC-1222k / Polk RT-55 / Polk CS-250

    Den - Rotel RSP-1068 / Threshold CAS-2 / Boston VR-M60 / BDP-05FD
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  • TitaniumMan
    TitaniumMan Posts: 93
    edited September 2013
    "Tiny" midrange and woofer? I'm pretty sure the 301 has an eight inch midwoofer. In what Universe can that be described as tiny?
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  • erniejade
    erniejade Posts: 6,321
    edited September 2013
    The Bose has an 8" and 2 tweeters. I see a lot of 301'sIV ( the set with 2 tweeters) are used an a lot of bars for some reason lol.

    Anyway, the 301 ( yes I have a set still laying around the basement) actually do a good job with voice. For HT, and a decent sub, they actually don't sound bad at all. I cannot comment on the RC85i since I have not heard them but, the 301 for HT, in my opinion for a basic smaller setup is better then people think.

    One issue I had with my HT setup when I did use them was the setup on my receiver kept thinking they were out of phase even though they weren't.
    Klipsch The Nines, Audioquest Thunderbird Interconnect, Innuos Zen MK3 W4S recovery, Revolution Audio Labs USB & Ethernet, Border Patrol SE-I, Audioquest Niagara 5000 & Thunder, Cullen Crossover II PC's.
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  • TitaniumMan
    TitaniumMan Posts: 93
    edited September 2013
    Apparently, folks with Definitive Technology bipolar towers experience the out of phase problem as well.
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