How to get the most out of my RTA-8T's?

Nules75

I recently picked up a practically brand new pair of RTA-8T's. These have the SL-2000's. Overall they sound really good....and the bass seems to be decent. I'm still experimenting with placement and the settings on my receiver. They are currently being used for my HT set up along with a smaller sub. What options do I have to make these sound even sweeter?

Thanks!

EndersShadow

Replace the tweeter with the RDO 194.

Purchase from Polk customer service and tell them your a forum member and you will get a discount.

It's a drop in replacement and should make em sound better.

deronb1

Swap out the capacitors with poly film caps and dynamat the baskets.

F1nut

Get a real amp.

cfrizz

Welcome Nules.

My 25 year RTA-8Ts are still going strong, I have the original tweeter in them and they sound fine to me. What really made them come alive is exactly what F1 suggested.

Having them powered by a separate amplifier made all the difference in the world, they now operate to their full potential.

If your receiver has preouts, you will be able to connect a separate amp. I always recommend getting an amp of at least 200wpc, this will drive just about any speakers to their full potential, and I'm NOT just talking about volume.

Tell us what the rest of your system consists of and we can then help you spend more money! LOL!

ken brydson

Have a pair of 8T's in my office rig. Picked up from a garage sale for $35. All original. Everyone suggests swapping the SL2000's for the 194's but with my vintage Marantz they sound pretty good. May get around to the swap someday...

Nules75

cfrizz wrote: »

Welcome Nules.

My 25 year RTA-8Ts are still going strong, I have the original tweeter in them and they sound fine to me. What really made them come alive is exactly what F1 suggested.

Having them powered by a separate amplifier made all the difference in the world, they now operate to their full potential.

If your receiver has preouts, you will be able to connect a separate amp. I always recommend getting an amp of at least 200wpc, this will drive just about any speakers to their full potential, and I'm NOT just talking about volume.

Tell us what the rest of your system consists of and we can then help you spend more money! LOL!

Go easy on me as I am a newbie building my poorman's audiophile set up and will eventually upgrade my amp situation! My 2.0 set up is the one I really want to work on as I truly like listening to my vinyl and occasional CD's. My HT is not a "top" priority, but you know how that goes!

For my 2.0 set up I have a pair of Monitor 7c's and Monitor 4 Series II that share time with a Fisher CA-800 "Studio Standard" integrated amp (100wpc) and a Kenwood KM-991 amp (150wpc)/KC-991 System Control amplifier. Technics SL-D2 turntable and Kenwood CD player. Numark EQ-2400 equalizer.

For my HT set up I'm using a Yamaha HTR-5450 receiver/amp with a Yamaha YST-FSW050 sub. I've been trying to slowly build my HT system without spending too much coin. I've been trying to find some nice mains and am currently using the RTA's with a Recoton HT-423 center channel. If the RTA's work out for my HT set up I plan to get the CSiA4 to compliment them.

I really like the 7's for my 2.0 set up. I'm thinking they're the better option to the 8T's when it comes to listening to vinyl. So far I've had some 4's, 5b's, 7c's and the RTA's and the 7's always seem to come out on top. I sold the 5's and am really wishing I hadn't though.

Thanks!

smglbrth

If you really want to work on your 2 channel set-up and plan to keep the 7C's for that do yourself another favor and redo the crossovers. I had Trey (VR3) do mine but some here, including me at some point (with time), are comfortable doing it themselves.

As much as I love my 8t's (the crossovers are not redone, yet) the upgraded 7's run circles around them now. It wasn't that way when the 7's were all stock. I didn't use to believe redoing the crossovers made much of a difference but boy was I wrong.

I also use my 8t's for the front two home theater channels and they do a really nice job on an older, beefier, Pioneer receiver.

My $.02, not that it matters...

westmassguy

The best center for the vintage Monitors, RTAs, and SDAs, is the CS-350ls. You can also roll your own.

Nules75

westmassguy wrote: »

The best center for the vintage Monitors, RTAs, and SDAs, is the CS-350ls. You can also roll your own.

Interesting. I was just going off the recommendation on the Polk page for the a4 . But, there's a Craigslist ad in my town for the
350ls I was already looking at. He's asking $100. That center looks awesome! Says excellent condition, is that a good deal?

Nightfall

...or a CS400i. You could also use the Monitor 4's you have.

$100 is fair.

westmassguy

Nules75 wrote: »

westmassguy wrote: »

The best center for the vintage Monitors, RTAs, and SDAs, is the CS-350ls. You can also roll your own.

Interesting. I was just going off the recommendation on the Polk page for the a4 . But, there's a Craigslist ad in my town for the
350ls I was already looking at. He's asking $100. That center looks awesome! Says excellent condition, is that a good deal?

Excellent price, just check all the drivers. It was Polk's TOTL Center

Nules75

Here's the ad.

http://phoenix.craigslist.org/evl/ele/4936861138.html

Nules75

Woo Hoo! Gonna pick up the CS-350ls for $80 this evening! I'll let you know how it goes....:)

ken brydson

Nules75 wrote: »

Woo Hoo! Gonna pick up the CS-350ls for $80 this evening! I'll let you know how it goes....:)

That's a good deal on an awesome center. Congrats!

westmassguy

Great, I'm pretty sure you'll be happy with it. As I said before, be sure to check that all the drivers are working. Also, the Crossover has a single Capacitor, and is an easy upgrade. If you plan to do your 8Ts, use the same type of Capacitor.

Nules75

westmassguy wrote: »

Great, I'm pretty sure you'll be happy with it. As I said before, be sure to check that all the drivers are working. Also, the Crossover has a single Capacitor, and is an easy upgrade. If you plan to do your 8Ts, use the same type of Capacitor.

How does the 350ls compare with the CSiA4 that Polk recommends for the 8T's? I'm guessing it helps make up for the low end for sure. Are the TL's good tweets? I do plan on eventually upgrading my 7's and the 8T's to the 194's......will they be a good compliment? It will be a while until I can get to the crossovers.

Thanks again for all the great input!

westmassguy

I can't comment on the CSiA4, since I've not had ears on it. I can tell you the CS350ls was and is the Center to use with the Vintage Polks. Many here on the forum use it and recommend it. I built my own Center, but the CS350 was excellent also. It's a big heavy beast. Once you get it dialed in with your AVRs equalization/timber matching, it will blend very well.

Nules75

Okay, I'll actually be picking it up at my lunch today! For future reference.....right now I'm using a Yamaha HTR-5450 for the RTA's and the 350LS. Is it sufficient? If not, what would be a good match (keep in mind I don't have a lot of money to spend on it at the moment!) If not something specific, what would be the specs I should look for if I come across something?

EndersShadow

Nules75 wrote: »

Okay, I'll actually be picking it up at my lunch today! For future reference.....right now I'm using a Yamaha HTR-5450 for the RTA's and the 350LS. Is it sufficient? If not, what would be a good match (keep in mind I don't have a lot of money to spend on it at the moment!) If not something specific, what would be the specs I should look for if I come across something?

You should be "ok" with that. Dont go nuts with the volume (ie all the way up for long periods of time), or you "might" risk clipping the speakers, otherwise you will be fine.

Nules75

EndersShadow wrote: »

Nules75 wrote: »

Okay, I'll actually be picking it up at my lunch today! For future reference.....right now I'm using a Yamaha HTR-5450 for the RTA's and the 350LS. Is it sufficient? If not, what would be a good match (keep in mind I don't have a lot of money to spend on it at the moment!) If not something specific, what would be the specs I should look for if I come across something?

You should be "ok" with that. Dont go nuts with the volume (ie all the way up for long periods of time), or you "might" risk clipping the speakers, otherwise you will be fine.

HAHA, I don't think that will be a problem! I feel if I went nuts with the volume I would be like the guy in that old Memorex commercial! It's a fairly small room at this point, so unfortunately I probably wont get the opportunity to turn it up very much anyway.....

Nules75

Is there a version similar to the 350LS that has only 2 drivers? Someone else has a center for sale that looks just like the 350 but only has two drivers and the same tweeter. The seller doesn't have or know the model number. Wondering how it compares....

http://phoenix.craigslist.org/evl/ele/5007132820.html

Nules75

I think I figured it out....looks like a CS275. I just picked up the 350LS, so I'm not going to worry about it!! Can't wait to hook this baby up! Now, how to do it without the wife noticing......

westmassguy

Nules75 wrote: »

I think I figured it out....looks like a CS275. I just picked up the 350LS, so I'm not going to worry about it!! Can't wait to hook this baby up! Now, how to do it without the wife noticing......

I don't have one of those anymore, so I can hookup whatever I want

Nules75

westmassguy wrote: »

Nules75 wrote: »

I think I figured it out....looks like a CS275. I just picked up the 350LS, so I'm not going to worry about it!! Can't wait to hook this baby up! Now, how to do it without the wife noticing......

I don't have one of those anymore, so I can hookup whatever I want

HAHA, lucky you! My wife has developed a keen eye for new speaker additions lately. I suppose if this thing wasn't such a hulking beast I could do it!

westmassguy

Hulking beast are good. Just ask Dr. Banner