Budget Bedroom Bookshelves - Polk Monitor 40B, RTi4, or RTi6?

halo

I need to replace a pair of Polk R15 bookshelf speakers that were damaged while I was moving a few years ago.

I'm looking into three different models of Polk Audio to replace them: Monitor 40B, RTi4, and / or RTi6.

The R15s did a decent job in the bedroom but they were definitely lacking in the low end.

The three candidates that are up for replacing the R15s are:

Polk Audio Monitor 40B

Polk Audio RTi4

Polk Audio RTi6

I'd like to use these mainly for TV and movies but I will use them for music from time to time.

The speakers will be powered by either an HK AVR 340 or by a Sonic Impact T-amp using the HK as a pre/pro.

I will not be using a sub in the bedroom.

I'd like something that digs a little deeper than the R15s (65Hz) and I don't want something that sounds "boomy" or "muddy."

My budget is $160 for the pair, I can go higher, but the less spent the better for the WAF.

Any advice would be appreciated.

Thanks in advance!

halo

Oh, the TSi100 is also a candidate, but I'm not sure if they dig deep enough.

I tried the thread that @dorokusai has them in for trials, but the link for the reviews goes nowhere.

halo

Thanks @nbrowser but, correct me if I'm wrong, I thought that the RTiA3 is the newer version of the RTi4.

halo

Sorry @nbrowser - The RTiA1 is the newer version of the RTi4 & the RTiA3 is the newer version of the RTi6.

halo

I would usually agree with you, as long as the midrange isn't sacrificed

halo

What is the current hierarchy in the Polk line up in regards to the series, that is?

halo

lol. Yes, last time I was following things, it was the LSi on top, the RTi, second, and the R series in last place.

Nowadays, if I may ask, what follows the RTiA is the TSx, the Tsi, and the Monitor line? As for the TSx & the TSi, which is the better of the two? I don't believe that I'm even remotely interested in the T15 (looks exactly like the R15 I have now) or the R150. So, in my mind, even the monitor line is a step up from the R15s that I'm using now.

I found the manual for the R-series online elsewhere. LINK I haven't been around here for a while but I cannot find things as easily as I could before. A lot of the links from older threads lead nowhere.

marvda1

just read.
http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=113182.0

halo

@DSkip - I've read the reviews and, while the general consensus is that these are a very good pair of speakers, they lack the bottom end I am looking for in a pair of bookshelf speaks. Make no mistake, I was considering them fora short time. I was also considering the Epos-3. Alas, they suffer from a lack of low-end as well.

halo

@DSkip - no subs in my bedroom, space is way too tight. I always felt that the best sound came from one speaker, rather than a speaker paired with a sub. Just my $0.02.

Erik Tracy

I used to own both the RTi4 and the newer/bigger RTiA3(upgraded model from the RTi6).

If you are ok with the bigger sized RTi6 -go for that and play with how close to the back wall it is placed to get the tradeoff of bass reinforcement and muddled response.

EndersShadow

RTi over Monitor 40's. I ran the Monitor 40's in my bedroom for a bit with a CS1.

Eventually for fun I did a side by side compare between the Monitor 40's and the Infinity Primus P162's. The P 162's kicked the crap out of the Monitor 40's and my buddy agreed. More clear and better bass.

This was with both sets powered by a HK 3490, so power was decent for both.

I'd look at those Primus speakers again as they are really good. And I liked the center from that line as well (in concept, never heard it myself).

Any reason the LSi 7 hasn't been considered? Guessing mostly budget wise. Or heck I know space is an issue, but one of the surroundbars with a wireless sub (so you can put it anywhere it will fit) like the Surroundbar 2000? Of the Polk ebay site your in maybe 120-130 bucks. I love the 1000 we bought for our bedroom for just TV usage.

cnh

LSi-7s would need more than a T-amp to drive them well!

The Pioneers are a great value. I use them in my basement 3.1, but obviously there is a SUB in the mix. They have better imaging and cleaner sound than a lot of Polk entry level bookies and are a lot cheaper on sale. Dskip is right there.

I also own Rti-4s and A3s. I've never been a huge fan of the A3s, they are a little picky about amplification with a lot of AVRs, you have to find the RIGHT synergy--A3s seem to like older Denon AVRs more than others, for example. The Rti-4s work very well with an 8" sub in a smaller room. My bedroom system has a pair of those, a 100 watt 8" sub and an Onkyo 604 powering it. All you need in a small room for a decent HT experience, half the time I can't turn it UP!

cnh

halo

Thanks for the suggestions!

The LSi7's would require a dedicated amp to drive them. That said, I have never been a fan of the LSi7 as I much prefer the LSi9.

It looks like my bookshelf speakers will be powered by my HK AVR 340 or by the Sonic Impact T-amp utilizing the pre-outs on the HK. The optical cable from my TV will feed the signal to the HK and either the HK or the SI will drive the speakers.

I wouldn't knock the SI at all. Sure it's small, but it sounds very clean and it drives Polk speakers quite well. I had it powering a set of R.T.A. 11Ts at one point and it even drove a set of R.T.A. 15 TLs.

I do have a serious SS amp in storage, but I cannot bring that into the bedroom. The AVR, itself, is pushing the WAF big time.

I ordered a pair of the RTi6s and I will see how they fare in the boudoir. If they are too picky or "boomy" or "muddy," I will return them and look for something else.

I will not be using a sub in the bedroom, so that rules out the Pioneer SP-BS22-LR and the Epos-ELS3. No doubt that both of these are very clean and clear in the upper registers and in the midrange, but they lack the bottom end I'm looking for from a bookshelf.

If I could find a nice used pair of Von Schweikert VR1's, I'd be a happy camper. lol. But, I've been looking and I haven't seen any up for sale in the last couple of months.

The VR2 is an amazing speaker, one of my all time favs, but I have no room for floor standing speakers in my apartment and they are out of the budget.

polkfarmboy

RTI6 are awesome speakers!!!

Erik Tracy

I think you'll be pleasantly surprised at the sound you get from the RTi6s.

Congrats and enjoy!

ken brydson

DSkip wrote: »

Could you pull off some Monitor 4's or 5jr's?

I saw some 5jr's on the Seattle CL earlier today. $125 IIRC...

I'd also suggest some RT28 or 38i's. They sound good and are pretty easy to find.

halo

Nah, the old Polks have no WAF. The newer series has clean lines and should sound very good in the bedroom. Remember, I was using R15s and had no issues, so the RTi6s are going to be a step up from them.

I've had my fair share of vintage Polk loudspeakers, I'm glad I had them when I did and that I got to try a lot of different things in my, now long gone, 2-Channel set up.

Erik Tracy

Post up your comments when you have some time with the RTi6s!

And remember the rules here...pics...or it never happened!

halo

Sure thing Eric. I cannot connect to my old threads or my old system showcase. I had plenty of pics around here. lol.

halo

Here are the R.T.A. 11Ts that I used to have. They were slightly damaged during shipping when I got them, so I was grateful to have had help from my dad and fellow polkie, @scompRacer, to get them built back up. They got a new vinyl wrap, new bases with carpet spikes, RDO198 silk dome tweeters, new drivers, and Solen caps with new resistors on a partial x-over refresher.

I ran these speakers with the SI and I could not believe how good the combo was. This silly "little" amp + a portable Philips CDP, and the RTA 11Ts were pretty stunning.

Here's a picture:

halo

As I mentioned earlier, I ended up going with the RTi6. They arrived last night. I also decided to use them with a Marantz 1402 thanks to @cnh and his posting of the lowered price for it at accessories4less.

I used one shelf from a StudioTech HF-4 that I already had, but wasn't using, to accommodate the Marantz's being placed under the TV. I wanted to use the 4" legs (with the feet I had about 1/2" clearance on the top of the AVR), but I ended up going with the 7" instead, giving the AVR room to breath vs the cleaner look (the AVR runs a little warm).

It sounds good the way it is, with everything running through the Marantz.

I was pleasantly surprised at the amount of bass the RTi6 delivers. However, these speakers are very big. The footprint is almost twice that of the R15. I'm beginning to wonder if I should have given the RTi4 a try instead. I like the way the RTi6 sound, they just occupy a lot of real estate. I found it hard to believe how much each speaker weighs; I thought that they were going to be heavy, given their size, but they are very light. I almost thought that they were made out of plastic and not MDF. When knocking on the cabinet, they sound quite hollow.

Unfortunately, I cannot have the TV's volume up/on at the same time or I get an annoying echo. Someone on a different forum (AVS?) said this is because the receiver has to decode the digital signal and convert it to analogue, and the decoding and converting is what is behind the delay vs using a direct analogue output from a TV (which I don't have). Now, the sound isn't "thin" like it was using the Parts Express DAC to the SI.

I will definitely try the SI through the pre-outs on the Marantz at a later date.

Again, thank you to everyone who chimed in and helped out

cnh

Looks great! Very clean and uncluttered. And, yeah, Rti-6s are a little large but they should weigh close to 16 lbs each, no?

Glad everything is working out and it all came in for the Holidays!

Enjoy!

cnh

gudnoyez

I think it looks good and the Rti6 are great for that application. I wouldn't even consider the rti4s if you want to gain some of that real estate back why not wall mount them next to your tv that would look good, I wall mounted my Rtia3s with some pinpoints they hold them well, here are ones that are pretty much the same but half the price of the pinpoints, here they are in case your interested.
http://www.amazon.com/VideoSecu-Clamping-Mounting-Surrounding-MS56B/dp/B000X9O8SI/ref=sr_1_3?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1419817955&sr=1-3

halo

Thanks guys!

@gudnoyez - Not a bad idea, mounting them to the wall, but I'd imagine that the bass response would suffer, being so close to the wall?

@cnh - I guess so, maybe I don't know my own strength? I thought the Marantz NR 1402 was really lightweight as well @ 18.08 lbs! lol

halo

I just watched U571 and I am pleased to report that no sub is need with the RTi6 speakers. Absolutely fantastic. Exactly what I was looking for in a replacement for the Polk Audio R15s. It actually sounds like I have a sub going in the room. Love it!

I'd like to get my ears on the Pioneers one of these days.

If anyone in the Chicagoland area would be willing to arrange a demo, I would appreciate it!

gudnoyez

Actually the A3's mounted in the rear 2 feet above ear level slightly tilted they are about 3 inches away from the wall I bet you could adjust yours even more as the RTIA6 are square which will let you mount yours further forward the A3's are oval so 3 inches is about as far as I can go with still being able to clamp them, it don't look like your that far away from the wall in the picture.

ken brydson

halo wrote: »

I just watched U571 and I am pleased to report that no sub is need with the RTi6 speakers. Absolutely fantastic. Exactly what I was looking for in a replacement for the Polk Audio R15s. It actually sounds like I have a sub going in the room. Love it!

I'd like to get my ears on the Pioneers one of these days.

If anyone in the Chicagoland area would be willing to arrange a demo, I would appreciate it!

Actually that movie has unreal subsonic bass. Without a sub you are missing a TON of material. The depth charge scenes are some of my demo stuff.

halo

@ken brydson - yes, lol, I am aware. I used to have an SVS 20-39 PCI that I LOVED, but I could not use it in my apartment, so it was sold to fund other projects at the time.

I used to grin and laugh like a child when I played the "Darla" scene from Finding Nemo. Some day I will own another SVS but, for now, the RTi6 fills my bedroom with far more sound than the R15 did, and I'm very pleased with that level of performance from the bookshelf speaker, all by itself.

halo

@gudnoyez - the RTi6 are about 9" from the back wall right now.

ken brydson

halo wrote: »

@ken brydson - yes, lol, I am aware. I used to have an SVS 20-39 PCI that I LOVED, but I could not use it in my apartment, so it was sold to fund other projects at the time.

I used to grin and laugh like a child when I played the "Darla" scene from Finding Nemo. Some day I will own another SVS but, for now, the RTi6 fills my bedroom with far more sound than the R15 did, and I'm very pleased with that level of performance from the bookshelf speaker, all by itself.

Glad you were speaking from experience. I can't even count how many people I've had over who were raving about their Bose system or HTIB and then I give them a demo. Darla is great too, I've had people nearly shart themselves. And then they go home with their tails between their legs...