Need help on what Polk's to replace my Boston's with

jdcurry · January 2002

I'm selling my Boston Acoustics Lynnfield VR-950's and VR12 center channel only because my cat is wripping the heck out of the stupid cloth socks on the outside of them. $40 to repair the 2.

Although, I'm already running the Polk f/x500i surrounds and am trying to decide what I should get for the fronts and the center. I've heard talks go back and forth about active subwoofers in the fronts and I'm thinking I want to keep the two separate.

Is there ANY reason why a pair of rt1000's or rt2000i's, without a subwoofer, would be better than a pair of rt800i's with a sub? What's the real difference between the 1000's and the 2000's - just the subs? I'm also looking at the new lsi15's too, but I haven't heard them yet.

Any recommendations on a setup would be extremely helpful.

Here's my current component setup:
Pioneer SD532HD5 53" TV
Sony DB930 receiver
Toshiba 5109 progressive scan DVD
Sony Smartfile VCR
Higher end Monster cables throughout

presidan · January 2002

Well i have the 2000's and if your room aint that big you wont have to get a sub if you also get them. Believe me, i really pushed these babies.

jdcurry · January 2002

Thanks for your input. I should have stated before that I would like to take "available space" out of consideration for this thread and simply focus on total sound.

Basically, if I "can" add a sub, does it benefit me at all to get the rt1000's or the rt2000's over the 800's or lsi15's? I've seen threads that really promote the 800's over the 1000's, but then at the bottom of the thread, it says something like "but, if you have the money, go for the 1000's"???????

Thanks again

danger boy · January 2002

I would say.. i tried both the 800i's and the 1000i's with a sub. if you have the money, yeah go with the 1000i's. if you don't.. like I did go for the 800i's. not much difference in the two anyway.. other than the subs... and the 800i's have two mid's. both will work well..
if you go with the 1000i's it will give you more options later down the road.. keep that in mind.. your needs may change.. and this way you would have the flexibility to change too.
good luck

ntculenuff · January 2002

my cat is wripping the heck out of the stupid cloth socks on the outside of them.

keep a spray bottle or squirt gun close buy , when that cat goes up to your speaks give him a squirt. A few blows with water the cat will stop. dated a girl with a cat, the cat thought that i purchased my speaks for it too scratch on but the squirt gun stopped that with only a few snags in the grills

jdcurry · January 2002

Outside of the "cat" (who does the scratching while I'm not there), cost and space issues, what's the best "sound quality" mix:

rt800i's w/a sub
rt1000i's wo/a sub
rt2000i's wo/a sub
lsi15's w/a sub

It's just hard for me to believe that the rt1000i's, with one less mid, running without a sub is better than 800's with a sub.

OrangeToupee · January 2002

Sell that farken cat while you're at it.

I have the 800i's matched with a 12" Velodyne sub, and it sounds fabo. This is more costly than getting just the mains with built-in sub, but it's going to sound better. I've never heard the 1000i's, but many seem to feel that the 800's (with sub) outperform them. That would be my suggestion based on what I've gleaned over the past 7 or 8 months of monitoring this board.

rnoseworthy · January 2002

I had 1000's with a sub. the mid range isn't there. I replaced them with RT55i's and my home theater sounds alot better. I think you would have better results with the 800's. They have the dual 61/2's like the RT55's.

rnoseworthy · January 2002

That is if RT55's are out of the question.

juice21 · January 2002

go with the 800's and a good sub, paired with the cs400i for your center. you will be very happy with this set-up. personally, i prefer the sound of the 800's to the 1000's, put the extra savings into a good sub...

schumach · January 2002

I have the 1000's and really enjoy them. You really need to listen to the two of them with music you like and make your own choice. I don't think you will be unhappy either way you go.

jdcurry · January 2002

Anyone have any comments on the 2000i's or the lsi15's over the 800i's and the 1000i's??????

juice21 · January 2002

if you have the money, go with the 2000's, for that price though, you could probably put together a better 800/sub combo though. of course, some good deals can be found on the rt2000's now, asw an open box pair for only $449 each at my local CC. if i were you, demo the 800's, 1000's, and 2000's and see which you like best...

unfortunately, i haven't heard the LSi15's....

OrangeToupee · January 2002

Anyone seen any reviews on the LSi series? I'd very much like to read them if they're out there.

michaelbedford · January 2002

Any of the Polks should do. Personally I get as much as you can afford. Speakers are the most important part of any audio setup. Get the LSi's. Just make sure everything is VOICE MATCHED thats the most important thing. A lot of people make the mistake of not voice matching and they pay for it in sound quality.

PStahle · January 2002

Personally I think you should go with the RT3000p. You can afford it!!!!!!

jdcurry · January 2002

Being that the last 2 posters have a biased opinion, please disregard their remarks (I know them).

I will check out the lsi15's soon. I compared the 800's with a Velodyne sub today versus the 1000's without a sub. Overall, I liked the presence of the 800's with the separate sub the best. The 1000's did sound good, but to me, were flatter over the 800's and, in some movies, overpowered the cs400i center channel.

Need help on what Polk's to replace my Boston's with

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