Tri-amped CSI A6

gp4jesus

Finished & reassembled as of 4p today, Jan 2nd, 2017!

Blends better now w/ Tri-amped LR*. Sibilance is a memory!
* http://forum.polkaudio.com/discussion/174880/tri-amped-rti-a7

Build notes:
1. A nod to Jesse (F1nut) - mids held in by hurricane nuts & the requisite machine screws
2. Same DC blocking cap on tweeter - ClarityCap PX 68uf
3. Canare 14 soldered to tweeter
4. BJC 10 gauge soldered to mids
5. Same binding post upgrades
Only one pic...

gp4jesus

Omitted Build Notes:
6. five coats of Flex Seal* applied to interior - something different & untried
7. Armaflex on mid magnets, frames, & closure walls - as w/the other speakers
8. mineral wool gently tucked in between Power Port tubes & closure walls
* does, by its self, help to reduce closure ringing

maingey

Crazy.

gp4jesus

One person's reality may be another's "Holy...!"

lightman1

Tony goes for broke! Keep us posted on further results when everythings cooks for a couple hunert hours. Interesting project.

gp4jesus

Update. Everything XO'd @ ~2K, 4th order. I expect some heat for this.

Did a bunch of listening w/the XOs set as closely to Polk's specs as possible. Then I reset them to the above. Seemed cleaner, w/ the same FR. Makes sense given that those mids will beam above 2.3K.

Polk specs their filtering, all 2nd order, as follows:
tweeter: 2.2kHz
mids @ 1.5kHz & 3.8kHz, -6dB

Side note 1: triamping my center increases available power to 100 watts per driver. Added a real 100+ watts across my front.

Side note 2: discovered my pre/pro allows English or metric distance settings - increments either 6" or .1 meter = ~4".

Enjoy.

gp4jesus

Watching "Days of Thunder" on Blu-Ray @ -11... ...priceless!

K_M

What happened to the built in crossover?

gp4jesus

K_M wrote: »

What happened to the built in crossover?

Its in a box along w/ 2 RTi A7 XOs

gp4jesus

Long story short: the next (rare) chance I get the house to my self I’m swapping in a 981 for the 985. I give up some power but I’ll PU some fidelity.

The Rotel community considers the 981, a near-baby 991, that series flagship. Whereas some consider the 985, essentially a 5 X 100 watt version of the 980*. Unfortunately “shoehorning” that much technology into a chassis only slightly taller than a 980/1 demands some compromises.
*the 981’s predecessor.

Until then... Tony

gp4jesus

“...then...” arrived today!

Swap out the 985 for a 981. Cleaner, softer treble.

Side note: about a month ago, the tweeter’s lower frequency range “quit.” Sounded REALLY thin. Swapped it for one of my un-used RTi A1 tweeters. Slightly different bezel but otherwise a drop-in - same tweeter.

I have my eye on this...

https://www.parts-express.com/Peerless-OC25SC65-04-1-Textile-Dome-Tweeter-264-1018

... as an inexpensive replacement. Polk wants $65 - too much for that tweeter. Removing the old one from the bezel took some effort - held in by a rubbery glue. Could be an inexpensive upgrade for any RTi/RTi A series speakers.

Until next time..

la2vegas

gp4jesus wrote: »

“...then...” arrived today!

Swap out the 985 for a 981. Cleaner, softer treble.

Side note: about a month ago, the tweeter’s lower frequency range “quit.” Sounded REALLY thin. Swapped it for one of my un-used RTi A1 tweeters. Slightly different bezel but otherwise a drop-in - same tweeter.

I have my eye on this...

https://www.parts-express.com/Peerless-OC25SC65-04-1-Textile-Dome-Tweeter-264-1018

... as an inexpensive replacement. Polk wants $65 - too much for that tweeter. Removing the old one from the bezel took some effort - held in by a rubbery glue. Could be an inexpensive upgrade for any RTi/RTi A series speakers.

Until next time..

Less than 8 bucks! If it works, that's a heck of a deal.

gp4jesus

We’ll see.

I compared the dimensions of the two tweeters and, also, mine w/the pictures of the Peerless. They are remarkably similar, if not the same. So much so, coloring aside, the only obvious difference is a heat sink screwed and glued to the back! So it should fit w/little issue. We’ll see...

Kinda makes me wonder if Peerless made the original for Polk. Polk has used several different model Peerless tweeters in many of their products over the years. We’ll see...

A few folks on the forum know one has several choices if they’re displeased w/their RTi/RTi A series speakers’ infamous upper frequency response or SQ:
a. upgrade the XO components w/particular attention to tweeter filtering
b. like me, go electronic and, as appropriate, either bi or tri-amp them*
c. Buy something else
d. Live w/them though some really their sound as is.
*https://forum.polkaudio.com/discussion/174880/tri-amped-rti-a7#latest

In closing when they get here, I’ll use a pair of RTi A3s* as a test, swapping a Peerless into one and do a bunch of listening. Then I’ll upgrade my system starting w/the ‘A6. What will make doing 5 channels easier for me is a pair of idle RTi A3s* and have a couple of blown tweeters’ bezals w/which to install the Peerless. This will reduce any channels’ speaker’s down time to a few minutes.
*in reserve to, one day, expand to 7 channels

We’ll see... Tony

gp4jesus

In my March 30th post I neglected to make it clear my ‘A6 is now bi amped.

Yeah the mid/woofers share a channel. I’m OK w/that though as they are two 4 ohm drivers in series - easier load, cooler running amp, plenty of available power.

gp4jesus

The “mounted*” CSi A6 diffraction pad** from Trey.

*prior to Velcro, I relied upon the grill to hold it in place.

No SQ eval comments with & w/out grill as I haven’t watched any movies since applying Velcro. For that matter I haven’t done any with & w/out DP** listening as I’m overwhelmed w/the “honey doo” list

F1nut

Well, get that list done and get back to work

gp4jesus

F1nut wrote: »

Well, get that list done and get back to work

😅 I appreciate your boot to my backside!

My 13 year old son is game CRAZY using my system!

gp4jesus

A few pics of this thread’s focal point’s mid ranges…
Obviously, very close to how it came save for the Armacell on its exterior, mostly to dampen magnet shield ringing.



The next few display Xschop’s* machining savvy and patience to Plug them. In addition, I finished the invisible to the eye but “visible the ear” - Garden Stater Cone side “Foam” treatment providing near-complete coverage of their basket’s shiny reflective surfaces
*he is presently moving




…and finally…




Tomorrow, I plan to give my LCR a long overdue tweak

xschop

6. five coats of Flex Seal* applied to interior - something different & untried

Awesome. Just read your previous post...
I did 4 coats Black Flex Seal to the last set of B&O drivers that I did. Saved alot of time and had about same heft as butyl mat, plus every part of the steel frame was covered.

gp4jesus

xschop wrote: »

6. five coats of Flex Seal applied to the closure interior - something different & untried

Awesome. Just read your previous post...
I did 4 coats Black Flex Seal to the last set of B&O drivers* that I did. Saved alot of time and had about same heft as butyl mat, plus every part of the steel frame was covered.

*That’s equally different. I had not considered school of thought. Perhaps using the Flex Seal as glue for the Armaflex would provide a 1-2 to dampen ringing AND reduce reflection.

As I mentioned elsewhere, my Behringer RTA died since the last time I used it😢😢. TrueAudio to the rescue

xschop

Hopefully you'll get to hear them before F1 magically does and lol's your experience...lol

F1nut

While I might not agree with everything Tony does I do respect how he presents what he does. That is, he doesn't jump on every new guy and try to shove it down their throat like 2 others here do.

xschop

You mean like the derogatory amp "suggestions" that someone usually spouts off?

F1nut

xschop wrote: »

You mean like the derogatory amp "suggestions" that someone usually spouts off?

I'm sure I'm not the only that has no idea what heck you're going on about. In fact, I'm not sure you do either...lol

gp4jesus

C’mon guys, play nice