front speaker upgrade

tasdisr

Hi,

I currently have the following set up and am considering an upgrade to my front speakers.
I have been looking at the Polk RTi8 from Polks ebay store. Would this be an improvement over my
current front speakers?

Onkyo TX-SR809
Polk RTi6 Front speakers
Polk CSi3 Center speaker
Polk OWM3 Rear speakers
Polk DSW PRO 550wi Subwoofer
Toshiba A35 HD DVD
Sony BDPS590 BluRay
Sharp LC-60C8470U TV

Thanks

dkg999

If your sub is integrated well with the RTi6's, I would probably bump up your center channel first. That's where all your main dialogue comes from in a HT system. The RTi6's are no slouch unless you are going for mega-loud levels. If you were going to upgrade them I would look for RTi10's and move the RTi6's to surround duty.

tasdisr

dkg999 wrote: »

If your sub is integrated well with the RTi6's, I would probably bump up your center channel first. That's where all your main dialogue comes from in a HT system. The RTi6's are no slouch unless you are going for mega-loud levels. If you were going to upgrade them I would look for RTi10's and move the RTi6's to surround duty.

Thanks, don't think the wife will go for towers any larger than the RTi8's. I see Polk's ebay store has the CSi5 center channel speaker available. The thing is huge, but might make the most sense as far as upgrading goes.

tasdisr

We did go to Best Buy today and listened to some speakers, mainly some smaller bookshelf speakers. Listened to some Definitive Technology ProMonitor 1000's, some StudioMonitor 55's. The 1000's were very bright sounding and the 55's sounded much better, but I still liked the Polk RTi6's I have better as did my wife.

The only speakers she seemed to like better were some Martin-Logans at $499.00 each. She did mention on the way home that maybe a pair of the RTi8's and a CSi5 might be a much better idea especially since the Polks would be around $300.00 less than the Martin-Logans.

She did balk at the RTi10's. There maybe hope yet.

Geoff4rfc

tasdisr wrote: »

There maybe hope yet.

Heck yeah there's hope. If she's in for the RTi8's and the CSi5, you may very well be in for an i10. If you can find both to audition and have her with you, that would be key!!!

tasdisr

Not sure where I would audition them since they are discontinued and not a lot of places to look around here. But after listening to some of the other speakers and not hearing anything that I really liked more than the RTi6's that I have I would feel comfortable purchasing the RTi8 and CSi5 without auditioning them.

The Def Tecs and Martin Logans were the only speakers that we have listened to while we were together, she usually lets me shop for home audio equipment on my own. So far I still like the Polk sound over anything else I have heard in my price range.

Geoff4rfc

If you're happy with your RTi6, you will love the RTi8. I know a hand full of guys that just recently gotten both the i8's and A5's and they are in love with them. Really digging music in 2ch through them.

Yeah, those and the CSi5 would be a nice upgrade for you.

tasdisr

I think the RTi8's and CSi5 would be a pretty decent upgrade and with the prices for new in the box product from Polks ebay site it would come at a pretty reasonable cost. Now to convince my better half!!

Geoff4rfc

I can help you with that but it's going to cost you!!! Just place the order, when it shows up, don't say anything. If wifey doesn't react then you're in the clear, but if she speaks up......you just say...."but hon, I told you I was going to order them and you said okay, remember when I was going to work and I woke you up to tell you??"

This is a one off, so use it wisely

cmy330go

CSi5 and RTi8 are a great match. The center is probably going to be a little more noticeable of an upgrade than the towers. But I'd imagine you'll be quite satisfied all around.

tasdisr

Geoff4rfc wrote: »

I can help you with that but it's going to cost you!!! Just place the order, when it shows up, don't say anything. If wifey doesn't react then you're in the clear, but if she speaks up......you just say...."but hon, I told you I was going to order them and you said okay, remember when I was going to work and I woke you up to tell you??"

This is a one off, so use it wisely

I like that, I may have to try that!

mr2686

Well I'll chime in as one of the people that recently purchased the RTI8's and a CSI5 (also have RTI4's in the rear) and love them. Both movies and music sound amazing with my 100wpc pumping through them. I was in the same boat as OP since the wife didn't want the larger towers so the RTi8's seemed to be a good compromise and they have worked out very well...well, not so well in that I get very little done during the week since I'm listening to music or watching movies/concerts in surround sound. By the way, Led Zeppelin DVD = picture quality so so, but audio with the RTI8's is...OUTSTANDING!

tonyb

My advice....since you need the wife's approval, buy the biggest/badest she will allow. Wives like speakers that are pleasing to the eye, so keep that in mind when trying to sell her on something. They usually don't like big monkey coffins in their living rooms.

drumminman

So true, looks are very important. Sometmes, though, the little woman will surprise you . . . . . . . . . . I went from Def Tech BP30's (8 1/2" wide, ~ 46" tall), to SDA 2.3TL's (~20 5/8" wide and 55" tall - they look even bigger).

She likes them better because they look "elegant".

tasdisr

I guess I will see what the wife has to say when she gets home tomorrow.

craigpsu

The first setup I bought was RTI8s, CSi5, FXI3. I really liked them, in fact I have yet to get rid of them even though I am not using them.