Towers aint all that...

VR3
VR3 Posts: 28,773
edited March 2004 in Speakers
This is probally a dead subject. To not be awakened...

But, I have heard others say here "I would buy a HQ bookshelf before a similar priced tower."

I understand why now.

Tonight I turned on the RT5 only, NO SUB :eek: (can you believe that), and no RTi70. The treble set to -3 or so.

The bass of the RT5 falls short, nothing compared to the RT35i. The RT35i has incredible amounts of bass. Room moving bass in some passages. The high end is AMAZING. Incredibly smooth, detailed. The mids, are smooth and blended. The thing that stands out the most is how well the tweeter and midbass work together. They are smooth, no 2.2khz his in the vocals where the tweeter picks up or anything. Completely smooth (pending on recording). All in all, I honestly feel the RT5 is the back bone in my system in 2 channel. It is very tempting to just rid the RTi70 of my system and pick up another pair of RT5 and the SVS. This idea is still in the making. I am definetely considering selling it.
- Not Tom ::::::: Any system can play Diana Krall. Only the best can play Limp Bizkit.
Post edited by VR3 on
· Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Comments

  • faster100
    faster100 Posts: 6,124
    edited March 2004
    lemme know when you do so,
    MY HT RIG:
    Sherwood p-965
    Sherwood sd871 dvd
    Rotel 1075 amp x5
    LSI15 mains
    LsiC center
    LSIfx surround backs
    Lsi7 side surrounds
    SVS pb12/plus2

    2 Channel Rig:

    nad 1020 Pre-amp
    Rotel 1080 stereo amp
    Polk sda 2B
    kenwood grunt Tuner
    realistic lab 450 TT
    Signal cable IC
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • VR3
    VR3 Posts: 28,773
    edited March 2004
    Faster has dibs on the 70's...
    - Not Tom ::::::: Any system can play Diana Krall. Only the best can play Limp Bizkit.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • faster100
    faster100 Posts: 6,124
    edited March 2004
    Thank you...
    MY HT RIG:
    Sherwood p-965
    Sherwood sd871 dvd
    Rotel 1075 amp x5
    LSI15 mains
    LsiC center
    LSIfx surround backs
    Lsi7 side surrounds
    SVS pb12/plus2

    2 Channel Rig:

    nad 1020 Pre-amp
    Rotel 1080 stereo amp
    Polk sda 2B
    kenwood grunt Tuner
    realistic lab 450 TT
    Signal cable IC
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • VR3
    VR3 Posts: 28,773
    edited March 2004
    I agree, couldnt have said it better. I am not saying all bookshelves will slam towers. Just in my case, i like the RT5 over the RTi70 for mid/high performance. It just loses a tad bit of fullness in the lower end.

    I would like to get another pair of RT5 and stack em ;)

    For 2,000 bucks...I'd buy the 1.2

    The RT5 is just an extrodinary little speaker by all means.
    - Not Tom ::::::: Any system can play Diana Krall. Only the best can play Limp Bizkit.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • I-SIG
    I-SIG Posts: 2,243
    edited March 2004
    I can attest that the RT55i's will flat out sing with some a decent seperates behind them. Enough slam to be asked to turn the base down in the dorm, and a definitely clearer midrange and highs than the SDA-1C's.

    Once the SDA's are sold and a new amp purchased, the 55's will be back in action, big time. And yes, I know I'll regret the loss of the SDA's.

    Wes
    Link: http://polkarmy.com/forums

    Sony 75" Bravia 4K | Polk Audio SDA-SRS's (w/RDO's & Vampire Posts) + SVS PC+ 25-31 | AudioQuest Granite (mids) + BWA Silver (highs) | Cary Audio CAD-200 | Signal Cable Silver Resolution XLR's | Rotel Michi P5 | Signal Cable Silver Resolution XLR's | Cambridge Audio azur 840C--Wadia 170i + iPod jammed w/ lossless audio--Oppo 970 | Pure|AV PF31d
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Loud & Clear
    Loud & Clear Posts: 1,538
    edited March 2004
    Originally posted by I-SIG
    I can attest that the RT55i's will flat out sing with some a decent seperates behind them. Enough slam to be asked to turn the base down in the dorm, and a definitely clearer midrange and highs than the SDA-1C's.

    Once the SDA's are sold and a new amp purchased, the 55's will be back in action, big time. And yes, I know I'll regret the loss of the SDA's.

    Wes

    I'm not going to comment on the SDA's (no experience), but I do completely agree with you that the 55i's provide a fabulous, visceral listening experience with some decent gear to back them up. Excellent slam and pace. I've heard most of the RT series speakers, and imo the 55i's are the only ones to live with as a stereo setup. I haven't heard the 150's or 12's, or some of the really big speakers though, so perhaps they can best the 55i's.

    Two Channel Setup:

    Speakers: Wharfedale Opus 2-3
    Integrated Amp: Krell S-300i
    DAC: Arcam irDac
    Source: iMac
    Remote Control: iPad Mini

    3.2 Home Theater Setup:

    Fronts: Klipsch RP-160M
    Center: Klipsch RP-160M
    Subwoofer: SVS PB12NSD (X 2)
    AVR: Yamaha Aventage RX-A2030
    Blu Ray: Sony BDP-S790
    TV Source: DirecTV Genie
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • organ
    organ Posts: 4,969
    edited March 2004
    I think a lot of what you experienced is the lack of drivers being out of phase with eachother. When stacked, there's a chance that one set of speaker is moving slightly faster than the other due to design, cabinet, x-over, etc. So playing only one pair, you get better woofer to tweeter coharency. Glad to hear you're really diggin the RT5's. My parents have them in the bedroom and they're really enjoying them.

    Maurice
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • VR3
    VR3 Posts: 28,773
    edited March 2004
    I have played the RTi70 alone and the RT5 alone, switching through them while turning off amps, etc.

    The RT5 is much more pleasing to me alone than the RTi70. The RTi70 (to me) sounds hissy, bright, and muffled on the high end. Kinda boomy in the low end.

    The RT5 is smooth, detailed, and very refined in all areas. The bass is tight, accurate, and still present at most all volumes.

    Together stacked, they level each other out. The RT5 fills in the top end, and adds more midrange prescene, while the RTi70 fills in the low end and adds force. It sounds great, but the RTi70 still adds hiss to the high end at louder volumes. Overall, I still like them stacked over them on their own. Stacked to me, is truly the way to go with the smaller speakers.

    I plan to buy another pair of RT5 to stack.

    - INSOMNIAC Sid
    - Not Tom ::::::: Any system can play Diana Krall. Only the best can play Limp Bizkit.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • VR3
    VR3 Posts: 28,773
    edited March 2004
    Here is my upgrade plans...

    HT -

    No pecific order
    1) SVS PCi 22-31
    2) Polk Audio RT5 (and stands)
    3) Sell Polk Audio RTi70

    Summer Rig -

    No pecific Order
    1) Polk Audio SDA 1B or C
    2) Adcom GFA-555 or 555 II
    3) Yamaha CX-2 (buy off my dad)
    4) Panasonic DVD player, sounds great with music, IMO
    - Not Tom ::::::: Any system can play Diana Krall. Only the best can play Limp Bizkit.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • organ
    organ Posts: 4,969
    edited March 2004
    I think it's time for you to try out a pair of LSi7 or 9. It seems like you're really getting into the 'English sound'. If you like your RT5's this much, I'm sure you'll LOVE the LSi.

    Maurice
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • VR3
    VR3 Posts: 28,773
    edited March 2004
    LSi is WAY to expensive, and picky with placement.

    RT5 sells for about 100-120 bucks + shipping. LSi7 ranges from 400+
    - Not Tom ::::::: Any system can play Diana Krall. Only the best can play Limp Bizkit.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • brettw22
    brettw22 Posts: 7,623
    edited March 2004
    You should bypass another pair of the 5's and get the Rt7's. Those things are the RT16's lil brother and I can attest to the brute strength of that line.......
    comment comment comment comment. bitchy.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • weavercr
    weavercr Posts: 289
    edited March 2004
    IMO I think the RTi55 are the best speaker of the RTi line. Thats why I own 3 pair of them, 2 in use and 1 set NIB, opened to check them out only.


    "If you had $2200, you could buy used Dynaudio 1.5 SE bookshelves, or you could buy a brand new pair of Klipsch Reference RF-7 towers."

    I would take the RF-7
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • organ
    organ Posts: 4,969
    edited March 2004
    Weaver,
    Have you heard the RF-7 or La Scala? I'll be looking at them when I'm done with the RF-35 (in a looooong time). I'd also take the RF-7.

    Maurice
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Bill H
    Bill H Posts: 17
    edited March 2004
    Back in the day many concert halls had LaScala's and they rocked! I saw Johnny Winter with Rick Derringer playing with him and I'll never forget that night. There were LaScala's everywhere!

    We also had a Stereo shop where I lived that carried the complete Klips line. The Belles were the same as the LaScala's, just in a home cabinet. They also carried JBL's, the S7, S7R's and the S8 and S8R's were also bad to the bone. I always wanted a pair of LaScala's or S8R's. Just could not afford them...

    Bill
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • steveinaz
    steveinaz Posts: 19,538
    edited March 2004
    I do prefer the soundstaging, and wonderful midrange of bookshelf speakers, and I love 2-way speakers. To me, nothing beats a well designed 2-way, and nothing is smoother; but I also like the "big" sound of a tower, not mention the earthshaking bass you can get with a good tower speaker--it too adds to the realism of the music.

    My preference for towers is due to the fact that I have to have a dual-woofer arrangement. I like the idea of 2 woofers sharing the load. To me it presents a much cleaner and deeper reaching bass. I'd never own a single woofer tower.
    Source: Bluesound Node 2i - Preamp/DAC: Benchmark DAC2 DX - Amp: Parasound Halo A21 - Speakers: MartinLogan Motion 60XTi - Shop Rig: Yamaha A-S501 Integrated - Shop Spkrs: Elac Debut 2.0 B5.2
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • organ
    organ Posts: 4,969
    edited March 2004
    Sean,
    What equipments were they connected to? Being 104db/w/m, they are the ultimate in 'garbage in, garbage out'.

    The Klipschorn require the right room to sound its best. They were designed to be placed in the corners where the conrners become an extension for the rear loaded horn.

    I LOVE the sound of horns. The horn tweets in the 35's are so sweet. A great thing about horns is their sensitivity. Every CD sounds so different that you'd think you changed the source, pre or amp.

    Bill,
    You can find used La Scala on audiogon for abot $1500 or less. Not sure what speakers were used in the concerts I attended because it was too dark to see. But they were horns for sure. The last one I saw had HUGE bass horns the size of large meat freezers that hit you hard in the guts.

    Have you auditioned the RF line? Much cheaper than the Heratige line.

    Maurice
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter