Goodbye to my trusty RM7500...into the RTI world. Would love advice on the setup i have

K_cin

Hello fellow polk lovers!

I have had a 5.1 polk RM7500 with a psw650 dual 10in sub for about 15 years now. I still loved the look and sound of set to this day but the system has taken its share of bruises and one satellite is now blown. After deciding it is time to let the system expire I have took advantage of the craigslist Christmas market and put together the below system.

For $800 I put together this new setup:

two RTIA7 for fronts ($400 for pair, still had boxes, mint)
two RTI8 for rears ($300 for these two along with the PSW505)
CSI5 for center ($100, perfect condition, wow its big for a center!)
PSW505 for sub

I am running a Denon avr1913 for the receiver. I equally use my system to watch sports, movies and listen to music.

All items are in excellent shape and sound tested but I have yet to put the system all together. These were 3 different deals I made too put together all the pieces.

I do plan on keeping the setup for at least 10 years would love to hear some comments and suggestions for best set up. One concern I have is that my ears are so tuned to my trusty old rm7500's that even if higher quality I may yearn for the sound I am used too. Also my old psw650 sub rocked, wondering how much of a step down the psw505 might be. I wouldn't have got a new sub but matching aesthetics is nice to have.

tonyb

Toss up on the subs, personally I'd look into an SVS or HSU sub on the used markets, far better than either of those.

The weak link I see is that receiver, your speakers could benefit from some more power to them. Either a receiver with more balls to it like a Pioneer SC version, or add an external amp. Though I don't believe that Denon of yours has preouts to even add an amplifier.

K_cin

Thanks. I will surely keep my eye for a higher end sub along the way. Upgrading the receiver will have to wait a bit, but will give me something fun to research after I get the setup complete as is. (I already had the denon) I am sure glad to not have to deal with any speaker stands any more. I plan on keeping an eye out for two more RTI8s down the line to expand to a 7.1 system with all RTI towers

tonyb

If you do that, you'd be taxing that receiver pretty well. Don't under estimate the need for power with some bigger speakers.

K_cin

Thanks again. Yeah I wouldn't add them anytime soon. Sub / Receiver / Bigger house / Then maybe add the extra two towers. I am sure several pairs will pop up over time. To start off definitely just the 5.1. Should be putting it all together tomorrow. Nervous excitement haha

K_cin

So got to install the speaker alignment and so far pretty happy with the purchase. The sound quality is surely much more crisp and deep than the RM7500s. I am not overly tech savvy and currently have it set up as all "small" and the sub on. If I turn the fronts to large the sub is only active during dolby and not stereo audio it seems. I am going to research what other set-up options I should be considering but if anyone can point me in a good direction that would be great. I think the sub crossover on the AVR1913 is set at 80.

tonyb

Go in the receivers setup menu and see if there is an option for fronts to large plus subwoofer. It may or may not, that's an entry level receiver and some won't have all the options the higher series of receivers do.

If your using the speakers set at small, crossed over at 80 in the receiver, make sure the crossover on the sub is set to the highest value. That takes the crossover on the sub out of the equation so you don't have 2 crossovers working at the same time.

Personally, I like them set to large plus subwoofer but that's just me. I think the large setting gives them a fuller sound.

K_cin

I think you are correct Tony the Denon AVR1913 is too low end to push the fronts as Large with a sub. It will seem to do it for dolby digital sources but not stereo/music. So as of now I made sure to set the crossover on the sub all the way up to 120 and have all speakers set to small with the sub on and crossover at 80. It sounds pretty damn good, and I am in an apartment so not sure its worth upgrading the denon just yet.

polkrtifan

I agree with your comments tonyb. I would upgrade the sub. I picked up an SVS sub and dumped my old Polk W125. It was a game changer. As for the receiver, I picked up a refurbished one and saved a ton of money. It has worked fine. My issue now is that my receiver is missing Dolby Atmos.