New HT, looking for my front stage. Tsi400's, vs RTI8's, vs RTIA5's. L/C/R will be the same

wglong

I'm building out my new HT and have a 120" acoustically transparent screen and will be putting the L/C/R speakers behind the screen. I plan to use the same speaker as my L/R for my center due to the feedback that this is the best option (is it?).

I'm going to Fry's this weekend; however, I'm not too hopeful I'll be able to test all three of these options there. Best Buy here is hopeless and doesn't have any Polk's on display.

I need 3 of the same speaker, and right now through the ebay Polk store I can get the RTI8's for $149 refurb and then a pair at $399 that are new. That seems like a great deal. I'll worry about my surrounds when I pick my front stage.

I hear the RTI's are better for HT and Tsi400's are better for movies. Just need to make sure the RTI/RTIA can be powered properly with my 95W Denon.

Is there a real difference between the RTI8 and RTIA5. I keep reading conflicting information around the woofer and tweeter. I don't care about appearance since they will be behind the screen.

Room: Multipurpose 14x22x9, 100% movie viewing
Equipment: Denon AVR-X2100W, no plan for amp (AVR doesn't have pre-outs)
Sub: BIC F12

Help me decide!

cnh

Welcome to the Polk Forums.

If a speaker is GOOD for HT then it goes without saying that MOVIES are HT and it is ALSO good for movies since they're the same thing! So I don't understand your statement above.

The RTI/A series is your HT/MOVIE option.

The A5s and 8s have the SAME drivers inside. The only real difference is the enclosure which is curved and more appealing in the A5. Polk says this helps the sound some, many feel they sound pretty similar if not the "same" so I wouldn't worry about that.

Since the "easiest" to power are the 8s/A5s they can certainly be powered to reasonable volumes by that Denon. If you go BIGGER you might NEED MORE AMPLIFICATION! Especially on the 12s/A9s.

It is important though to get the BIGGEST center channel in the series so get the CSi5 or the CSi-A6.

wglong

Thanks for the feedback. That verifies what I was thinking. All but the center speaker answer

Granted, I'm limited on my audio/ht knowledge; however, the readings I've done look like if at all possible, the center speaker should be the same as the L/R if possible. That's why I was planning on using the same speaker as the L/R. The CSi-A6 looks like it has the same woofer/tweeter size as the RTI8. So, shouldn't I go with the RTI8 as my center to match my L/R?

cnh

The CSi-5 is the Rti-8 iteration and the CSi-A6 is the new version. Either will do!

Driver matching is important. But the most important thing is that you're in the same series as the "tweeter" plays the most important role. So the CSi-3 and the Csi-A4 would also work. But we usually advise people buy the BIGGEST center available in the series because about 50 percent of the info on a surround track is processed to the CENTER in a surround system. The L/Rs are also important, then the sub, and lastly the surrounds which don't necessarily have to match the front speakers!

cnh

gudnoyez

I was pushing my RTIA5'S with a Denon 891 also running A3's and a A4 and a A6 center and they sounded pretty good in 2 Channel they were getting 105 watts they sounded good but since I got My Onkyo and a Amp that's giving them 200.wpc they the A5's sound fantastic. My suggestion to you is sell your receiver get the 8's with the money you save on The 8's get the Denon X4000 that will be plenty of power for the 8's and you will have pre outs for when you want to get an amp down the road.

wglong

The Denon x2100 is going to have to do. I'm hoping it's enough to power this system.

Any other feedback on the center channel? Should I get a 3rd RTi8 or the CSi5?

gudnoyez

Then get the 8's and a CSIA4 as a center if you don't plan on getting a different receiver, or get the CSIA6 only if you plan on a receiver upgrade down the road, the A4 is a decent center.