What newer speakers are better than Polk RT3000p Towers?

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I bought a set of Polk RT3000p towers last winter($200 for both) with both plate amps not working. After sending them to Polk for repair, which was an absolute nightmare, they finally came back working and sound fantastic. After dealing with Polk(in CA) I wasn’t keen on keeping these in case something else broke and I would be forced to work with them again. Also, the spare parts are sooo expensive! I began to look for newer speakers that compared to the rt3000’s but nothing seems to even come close. I believe I lucked out and only have about $550 into these so my expectations on spending that much (or even double) for new speakers with similar quality in audio is probably totally off. I was wondering if I could pick yalls brains on this topic. If I’ve broken any forum rules, I apologize. I am new to the forum. Thank you!

Best Answers

  • F1nut
    F1nut Posts: 49,787
    edited July 2018 Answer ✓
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    If you're looking for higher fidelity in the current Polk lineup, the LSiM 705 is your huckleberry.

    You didn't state what gear you're using now, if it's consumer grade the 705's need better.
    Political Correctness'.........defined

    "A doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a t-u-r-d by the clean end."


    President of Club Polk

  • mantis
    mantis Posts: 17,056
    Answer ✓
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    Welcome to the forum,
    Listen for $550 the RT3000p's can't be beat. There is no new speaker you can pick up that will even come close. I think you need to check out the retail price and learn you got a steal even if you have to repair them again. The RT3000p's where the very best version of the RT series by a long shot.
    Now with that being said they are not the best sounding under $4000.00 speaker you can buy today. I know you said spending double on what you paid is out of the question but understand you will need to spend at least $2000.00 for a main pair of powered tower speakers to compete or better them. Definitive Technology would be what I would replace them with despite your budget. The BP9060's would be the cheapest pair that would better them for all kinds of reasons. They retail for around $2200.00 a pair. The high end of the 9060 is smoother and more detailed. Clearer mid range and tighter bass. They completely out perform the RT3000p's in my opinion in all ways.
    So as you can see the RT3000p's are a mad deal at $550 and the dealing with polk which usually is a excellent experience. Many of us in here have been here and used polk's for decades and had very good customer service. Your dealing with a way out of production speaker and the fact polk can still repair them in my opinion is outstanding.
    I don't think you would have any issues flipping the RT3000p's for $550.00 or more depending on condition. The entire RT5000 series home theater package is one of polks best ever. Do you have the center and surrounds?
    Dan
    My personal quest is to save to world of bad audio, one thread at a time.
  • cfrizz
    cfrizz Posts: 13,415
    edited July 2018 Answer ✓
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    Welcome to Club Polk. If you still want to get Polk speakers, I would strongly recommend any of the tower speakers in the Signature Series.

    https://www.polkaudio.com/collections/home-audio/signature-series

    They are an excellent all around speaker that does great with both movies and music.
    Best of all, they won't bankrupt you to get them.

    So I think you should start putting money away, and slowly start upgrading your system as funds allow.

    Start with your front speakers, then get a better receiver, one that has preouts so that you can add separate amplification later on down the line and all the bells and whistles you want it to have.

    And if you are willing to buy used gear, Audiogon will give you lots of choices to pick from.

    As for whether or not they will sound better? That is in the ear of the beholder. What I can tell you is that they will have Polk's distinct sound which will make it an easy switchover.

    I love my Signature S60s. I replaced 27 year old Polk RTA-8Ts, and I couldn't be happier.
    Marantz AV-7705 PrePro, Classé 5 channel 200wpc Amp, Oppo 103 BluRay, Rotel RCD-1072 CDP, Sony XBR-49X800E TV, Polk S60 Main Speakers, Polk ES30 Center Channel, Polk S15 Surround Speakers SVS SB12-NSD x2
  • tonyb
    tonyb Posts: 32,906
    Answer ✓
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    That receiver is an 8o watt per channel into 8 ohm....with 2 channels driven. Kinda light on the power source.

    The lsim's are better speakers, but you'd need a better power source to get the most out of them. The Signature series may be better in bringing forth more detail, tighter mids, but a subwoofer would help the lower regions.
    HT SYSTEM-
    Sony 850c 4k
    Pioneer elite vhx 21
    Sony 4k BRP
    SVS SB-2000
    Polk Sig. 20's
    Polk FX500 surrounds

    Cables-
    Acoustic zen Satori speaker cables
    Acoustic zen Matrix 2 IC's
    Wireworld eclipse 7 ic's
    Audio metallurgy ga-o digital cable

    Kitchen

    Sonos zp90
    Grant Fidelity tube dac
    B&k 1420
    lsi 9's

Answers

  • sdouglas
    sdouglas Posts: 8
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    F1nut wrote: »
    If you're looking for higher fidelity in the current Polk lineup, the LSiM 705 is your huckleberry.

    You didn't state what gear you're using now, if it's consumer grade the 705's need better.

    Thank you for your suggestion. By “gear”, I am guessing what receiver am I using? I’m using a lower end Onkyo SR 353 with 140 watts per channel.
  • sdouglas
    sdouglas Posts: 8
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    mantis wrote: »
    Welcome to the forum,
    Listen for $550 the RT3000p's can't be beat. There is no new speaker you can pick up that will even come close. I think you need to check out the retail price and learn you got a steal even if you have to repair them again. The RT3000p's where the very best version of the RT series by a long shot.

    So as you can see the RT3000p's are a mad deal at $550 and the dealing with polk which usually is a excellent experience. Many of us in here have been here and used polk's for decades and had very good customer service. Your dealing with a way out of production speaker and the fact polk can still repair them in my opinion is outstanding.
    I don't think you would have any issues flipping the RT3000p's for $550.00 or more depending on condition. The entire RT5000 series home theater package is one of polks best ever. Do you have the center and surrounds?

    That is exactly the info I was trying to get. Thank you so much for explaining it in detail. I definitely don’t have the budget to replace the Polk RT3000’s then! I had hoped my less than favorable dealings with Polk was a one time deal. Glad to hear it’s not the norm. I am very much a beginner when it comes to “hi-if” or what I believe hi-fi to be lol. Thanks again for the words of wisdom. I will enjoy what I have and try to learn more about this never ending quest for the next best speaker;) take care
  • FestYboy
    FestYboy Posts: 3,861
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    sdouglas wrote: »
    F1nut wrote: »
    If you're looking for higher fidelity in the current Polk lineup, the LSiM 705 is your huckleberry.

    You didn't state what gear you're using now, if it's consumer grade the 705's need better.

    Thank you for your suggestion. By “gear”, I am guessing what receiver am I using? I’m using a lower end Onkyo SR 353 with 140 watts per channel.

    Need to step up the game on your power source, Polks are hungry for current. Look into getting external amplification for the front 3 channels of your HT, using the Onkyo as a preamp.
  • sdouglas
    sdouglas Posts: 8
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    Thank you all for the answers. It’s great to draw from the wealth of knowledge here. I am quite restricted in the way of a budget and what I have far exceeds my expectations. I don’t have the matching surrounds(I have some Polk OWB3’s) but I am not at the point where I could appreciate a matching set. I hope you don’t scoff at me but when I tell you I am a beginner, I really mean it. Please don’t think you’re wasting your time on me because I appreciate yalls input. Thanks again.
  • mantis
    mantis Posts: 17,056
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    We all start somewhere and most f us didn't start with 3000p's, they are a killer score.
    Dan
    My personal quest is to save to world of bad audio, one thread at a time.
  • K_M
    K_M Posts: 1,627
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    http://www.onhifi.com/product/polk_rt3000p.htm

    You got a great deal on them. Hard to quantify, used prices on speakers with new speaker prices.
  • F1nut
    F1nut Posts: 49,787
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    DtxBigRed wrote: »
    I have a pair of RT3000 that are in mint condition if your still looking for them

    Normally I would report your posts for trying to skirt the selling rules here, but I no longer care.
    Political Correctness'.........defined

    "A doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a t-u-r-d by the clean end."


    President of Club Polk

  • honestaquarian
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    @DtxBigRed you are not allowed to se on this forum until you have reached 100 posts. Helps to weed out the crooks and such.
  • DtxBigRed
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    Ok dude, so first I'm getting really tired of you guys and this crap. I didnt list them for sale or even put a price on them. I simply said I have a set available in response to this discussion. There is absolutely nothing wrong with throwing a comment and a few pic out there on a discussion about the exact speakers I have. Which is not a set that you can find very often. Especially in such great condition. You people need to chill out. It's not like I just made this account the other day just to sell speakers
  • pitdogg2
    pitdogg2 Posts: 24,553
    edited January 2019
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    DtxBigRed wrote: »
    Ok dude, so first I'm getting really tired of you guys and this crap. I didnt list them for sale or even put a price on them. I simply said I have a set available in response to this discussion. There is absolutely nothing wrong with throwing a comment and a few pic out there on a discussion about the exact speakers I have. Which is not a set that you can find very often. Especially in such great condition. You people need to chill out. It's not like I just made this account the other day just to sell speakers

    you have a set available? For what?

    We have had a slew of folks dragging up old threads and trying to sell by stating there are "available" and "shoot me your best offer" regardless how long you have been a member you must have 100 posts to sell. By not putting a price and saying they were available you looked as if you were trying to ignore the rules.

    not to mention it was removed by the mods so they as well came to the same conclusion.
    stick around get in on the conversations it a fun place.



    https://forum.polkaudio.com/discussion/98162/before-you-post-read-this#latest
  • trentbreeding
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    Looking for Rt3000p powered subwoofer bases