CsI A4 with Rti A3

dowop

I can get a good deal on a pair of Rti A3`s .
Would they work good with my Csi A4 center?

dowop

Also would like to know if there would be a noticeable improvement over my Rti A1~s

Erik Tracy

Yes. You can get good results w/ a CSiA4 with RTiA3s.

I ran the CSi3 with RTiA3s - and with a bit of tweaking (bump the center level in the AVR settings after running auto calibration) the results worked well, imo.

As for RTiA1 vs RTiA3, I modestly started out with RTi4s (predecessor of the RTiA1) and stepped up to RTiA3s. I noticed a bigger sound stage with the RTiA3s.

My full comparison is towards the bottom of this thread
http://forum.polkaudio.com/discussion/72553/rtia3-vs-rti4-death-match-coming-soon/p1

rpf65

The CSI A4 is probably the best choice to pair with the RTI A3's. The A6 will normally overpower the A3's, as it would do with the A1's.

As far as a noticable improvement over the A1's, yes. If you like the A1's, and the work well for you, you'll love the A3's.

I have both of them. If you consider MSRP, and you think the A1's are a fair price, you will probably think the A3's are a great deal.

dowop

I really do like the A1`s. I live in a condo & 90% + is movies & TV at low to moderate volume.Was told that the bigger speakers would even sound better at low volumes.
Was considering the A5`s as I think the Csi A4 is the recommended center for it.
I do have room for Csi A6 in my TV stand but it would be on a center shelf.
I had a Paradigm set up before & it sounded boomy with the center there.
I even plugged the ports.
Sold the Paradigms & went with Klipsch.
Did not like them. They are in the closet.
The Polks sound good.
I would like the Csi A6 but think it would probably sound boomy or chesty as I have read because of being kinda confined in the stand.

dowop

Am I wrong about the Csi A6 sounding boomy or chesty if it is placed on a shelf below the TV?

rpf65

More than likely it's because of the size and room itself. If you have wood, concrete, or laminate floors, for instance, that may be contributing to the issue. I would also suggest the A4 over the A6 for smaller rooms. If your not somewhere in the neighborhood of 10 feet back, the A4 would probably be a better choice.

For the A1 and A3 I would personally recommend the A4 center. The A5 it would depend on the room size. Smaller rooms the A4 and larger rooms the A6. You can use the A5's in a pretty small room. I think they would probably work in a 10x12 room or larger.

The stand will have almost no effect on the sound performance of either center channel. You could slide either one in a space with 1/8 inch clearance on all 4 sides, and it will sound almost exactly as it would with 6 inches of clearance in your stand.

dalylaleahthor

I have the a3 and they are no slouch by any means. I think they'll match perfectly with the a4 but usually the consensus is that the bigger the center the better. In other words get the best center you can for the speaker line you're trying to get but if you have the a4 and was debating between the 2 I'd personally get the a3.

dowop

I have the Csi A6 & Rti A3 coming today.
Always have been bothered by the thought something else will sound better.
Made a lot of costly mistakes with that line of thought.
Hopefully maybe this might not be one of them.

dowop

Hooked up the Csi A6 first & could tell a difference.Did sound more full than the Csi A4. Then hooked up the Rti A3 & it was more of a subtle difference. Maybe not a good way to compare but the system does sound different for the better.

rpf65

Glad you like them. They take about 80 hours to break in.

andrew82

@dowop, I had RTi A3s and the CSI A4 + a sub as my main rig. It's a great setup. The CSiA4 puts out plenty of sound when given good power. I can only imagine that the A6 would do even better. I don't think it'll be overpowering, per se, as the A3s put out a big sound on their own.

Hope that it's working out well for ya.

dowop

So far so good.
Thanks.
Will report back soon when they get broken in.
Trying to make up my mind now about Denon 4200 vs Yamaha 1050.
They are both on sale.
Have the Denon 4100 & really like it especially the L.F.C. since I live in a condo but it is not 4k ready.

andrew82

Do you have a 4K tv? If not, I'd hold off on getting a new receiver for as long as you can, as each is outmoded within a few years of purchase anyway.

Of those two receivers, I'd probably go for the Aventage given the brand's reputation. Although they honestly seem like the same receiver, with the Aventage $100 more. The Aventage is also about 5lbs heavier, but offers 15 fewer watts. If you like your Denon, just upgrade to the 4200, otherwise, close your eyes and click.

dowop

Yes I have a 4k tv. The receiver works fine cause there is not that much 4k content.
It is a smart tv so I am thinking I could stream Netflix & Amazon 4k by using a optical cable. The good price right now is what is making me consider.
Probably not practical though...........maybe.