RT55 vs RT55i differences

ascienzo
ascienzo Posts: 48
edited May 2004 in Speakers
Hello everyone:

Will someone be kind enough to explain the differences between the RT55 and the RT55i speakers/components...

I can't find any specs on the RT55 speaker on the Polk site,

just curious :confused:
H/K525avr
Fronts–RT55i [bi-wired]
Center–CSi40 [bi-wired]
Rears–RT38i
Sub–PSW404
Post edited by ascienzo on
· Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Comments

  • RuSsMaN
    RuSsMaN Posts: 17,986
    edited May 2004
    Different color cone on the midbass drivers, and small crossover and tweeter modifications.

    The 55i's do sound different, but it's a subtle difference.
    Check your lips at the door woman. Shake your hips like battleships. Yeah, all the white girls trip when I sing at Sunday service.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Ron-P
    Ron-P Posts: 8,520
    edited May 2004
    I have the older RT55s, I do have the specs at home but for some reason there is almost no information on the net about them. Nothing on the Polk site and doing google and yahoo searches come up empty....strange.
    If...
    Ron dislikes a film = go out and buy it.
    Ron loves a film = don't even rent.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • ascienzo
    ascienzo Posts: 48
    edited May 2004
    russman:

    Have you heard both?

    I have the 55i's and I was trying to find out the spec differences--I assume same wattage, cabinet, etc. ...I'm sure my newbie ears would not be capable of hearing the difference.

    Thanks :)
    H/K525avr
    Fronts–RT55i [bi-wired]
    Center–CSi40 [bi-wired]
    Rears–RT38i
    Sub–PSW404
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • ascienzo
    ascienzo Posts: 48
    edited May 2004
    ron-p:

    Yeh, I can't find anything either, and I'm usually pretty good at digging up information on the net...

    Thanks for your help :)
    H/K525avr
    Fronts–RT55i [bi-wired]
    Center–CSi40 [bi-wired]
    Rears–RT38i
    Sub–PSW404
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • RuSsMaN
    RuSsMaN Posts: 17,986
    edited May 2004
    I think for all intents and purposes, the specs are identical.

    The main thing Polk did with the intial RTi release, was to 'mellow' ot 'tame' the tweeter a little bit. Apparently enough complained about 'brightness' or 'shrill' (to varying degrees) in the top end of the RT versions, that they thought a change was in order.

    I like the both the originals and the intial 'i' release, when driven properly of course.
    Check your lips at the door woman. Shake your hips like battleships. Yeah, all the white girls trip when I sing at Sunday service.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • PolkThug
    PolkThug Posts: 7,532
    edited May 2004
    Originally posted by RuSsMaN
    I think for all intents and purposes, the specs are identical.

    The main thing Polk did with the intial RTi release, was to 'mellow' ot 'tame' the tweeter a little bit.

    I like the both the originals and the intial 'i' release, when driven properly of course.

    agreed and I will also echo the difference were very subtle.

    HBomb
    Never Forget
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • HBombToo
    HBombToo Posts: 5,256
    edited May 2004
    My machine bounced last night due to intense thunder/lightning stormes and I restarted under my profile and Polkthugs user name was in memory I guess... I logged him out then logged myself in which seems to have worked.

    Henry
    ***WAREMTAE***
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • brody05
    brody05 Posts: 329
    edited May 2004
    From memory I am pretty sure the biggest difference was they changed the crossover frequency from 3khz (55) to 2.5khz (55i) which actually made quite a big improvement, I had some of both at home trying them out and the 55i's were much better musically, they were more vocal and going back to the 55's they sounded quite 'muddy' in comparison, if your looking at making a purchase I would reccomend the 55i's but at the end of the day it's what your ears like the most. Hope this helps.
    Brody
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • RuSsMaN
    RuSsMaN Posts: 17,986
    edited May 2004
    No Polk RT series speaker has been crossed at 3k, not that I know of anyway.

    2K to 2.5K is the norm.

    Cheers,
    Russ
    Check your lips at the door woman. Shake your hips like battleships. Yeah, all the white girls trip when I sing at Sunday service.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • brody05
    brody05 Posts: 329
    edited May 2004
    The exact number of freq crossover may not be right but the theory behind it is (I am only going from memory and remember clearly the reason why they sounded so much better although the number/freq may be a touch out), when they brought it down it really 'opened' the sound and imaging right up. Maybe someone with some RT55's can read the specs in the book and see what the crossover frequency is?
    Brody
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Ron-P
    Ron-P Posts: 8,520
    edited May 2004
    Maybe someone with some RT55's can read the specs in the book and see what the crossover frequency is?
    Unless someone chimes in today with that info I will check my RT55 book tonight and post the specs.
    If...
    Ron dislikes a film = go out and buy it.
    Ron loves a film = don't even rent.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • brody05
    brody05 Posts: 329
    edited May 2004
    Hi, Have you had a chance to find the specs on the rt 55's yet? I would be curious to compare with the 55i's . Thanks
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter