rti vs monitor

gabeC

hi,

with all the talk of the new monitor series coming out, does anyone know that the key differences are between the 2 series?

i recently purchased a pair of rti/8's and am wondering how these stack up compared to the monitors.

i know that polk has a blurb on what market the monitors are targeting, but something like a spec sheet or a product comparion would be extremely helpful.

thanks!
gabe.

Airplay355

the monitors arent coming out anytime soon, they arent listed in the 2004 products page so im guessing ull have to wait a while to figure out ho they sound

VR3

They hit stores sometime in July I believe...

I dunno, after seeing the pics...

I'm just not expecting much

Early B.

I expect them to sound just as good as the RTi line, just may not go as low. In fact, they look very similar to the RTi series, and I'm sure that was done quite intentionally.

What happened to the R line (R50 & R30)? Has that been phased out or will a new line of them to be sold at CC, too?

VR3

The monitor line is the R line replacement..

Man I just dont see it...

Bilaminate Woofers...
Cloth dome tweeters
One gigantic port...

@_@

These things better just slam...especially at 900 a pair (the Monitor 70)

gabeC

I guess that's where I'm confused.

The Monitor 70's are slated to cost $900 a pair. That's a bit more than the list price of the RTI/8's. What justifies the cost of these speakers? The R50's were the best R series speakers you could buy, and those are cheaper than the RTI/8's, making it clear where you should look based on your budget.

With the prices being similar for the Monitor 70's (and I'm guessing the Monitor 60's), I'm left wondering what the key differences are with the "top of the line" Monitor series and the lower end RTI series. <-- hope that wasn't too confusing.

Are you paying for tweeter quality in the RTI series and more midrange with the monitor series (looking at all those woofers)? What about the cabinet construction?

When I did a comparison of the R50's and RTI/8's, the differences in sound quality were very obvious.

Sorry for all the questions. I know the Monitor's aren't out yet, so maybe no one has the answers. Maybe someone from Polk can chime in?

Definitely looking forward to hearing what these speakers sound like...

Shizelbs

Okay, as far as the R series speakers go, we can all say together in unison, 'they suck.' I would know, I own five of them. However, I still really like them, I think they are great for the price, and because of them, I am now totally into HT and music as a new hobby. If not for their low price/good value, I would not be into this hobby, nor have the plans that I have now of upgrading in the not-too-distant future.

I guess my point is I would hate to see some potential enthusiasts be detered by a higher entry price by Polk dropping its entry models.

HBombToo

Originally posted by Shizelbs


I guess my point is I would hate to see some potential enthusiasts be detered by a higher entry price by Polk dropping its entry models.

I need a few beers to understand this 1:p

HBomb

VR3

The Monitor line goes from very low price to 900 MSRP**** (Could be alot less)

The monitor 7 uses 2 midbass/midrange drivers, and 2 woofer/subwoofers.

This is where I don't like the series, or any of the RT totl towers...

I have a SVS, and it produces more bass than I will ever need...

I do *NOT* need a tower with subwoofers. With that fact on the table, it makes NO sense to me to go out and purchase a speaker with the SAME midbass drivers....and SUBS??? WHAT IS THE POINT?

I dunno, I was just expecting something different...

Not that I dont think they'll sound good...I'm just dissapointed in what they keep putting out. FORGET THE SUBWOOFERS *FOR GODS SAKES*

If you high pass your speakers (which most everyone does) -- subwoofers in a tower are useless -- I know some people use them as full range stereo pair, but they arnt even full range...so...I dunno

I stack my speakers, RT5 on top of the RTi70 - with the RTi70 tweeter unplugged. This gives me 3 midbass drivers, and one tweeter. I wouldnt have it any other way...

RuSsMaN

So don't buy them then you shitbird.

I like the way they look, and I will own a pair or two THEN pass judgement after I've had them for a few months.

Definate step in the right direction.

Sid, you're an idiot.

-Russ

gmorris

Originally posted by Shizelbs
Okay, as far as the R series speakers go, we can all say together in unison, 'they suck.' I would know, I own five of them. However, I still really like them...

I disagree. I owned a pair of R30's for just under a year before I ugraded them to RTi70's. They certainly do not suck. The R30's imaged wonderfully, and always threw a very wide soundstage. The only complaint I had was very little soundstage depth. They were always clear and sweet sounding.

Sure, they didn't make much bass, but that should come as no surprise. I still use R20's as my side surrounds, and they also do not suck.

I-SIG

Can someone post a link to check these out? Thanks!

Wes

RuSsMaN

http://www.polkaudio.com/home/partners/press/showimages.php?list=Home/NEW+Monitor+Series

VR3

Yeah Russ I'm an idiot...

I think instead of loading the speakers up with subs...they

1) Should use more mids and tweets
or
2) Use higher quality drivers and stop with the subs, keep the 2 mids and 1 tweet...

But hey...thats just me.

RuSsMaN

Yeah, that is just you.

All the speakers you've listened to and designed over the years, why not. Not like Polk has any clue about what sounds good, and what will sell.

VR3

I know they know what they are doing...

Ah well, dosnt matter.

burdette

Originally posted by Vr3MxStyler2k3
The Monitor line goes from very low price to 900 MSRP**** (Could be alot less)

I do *NOT* need a tower with subwoofers. With that fact on the table, it makes NO sense to me to go out and purchase a speaker with the SAME midbass drivers....and SUBS??? WHAT IS THE POINT?

What does "could be" mean? Sure, they *could* make a lot less of a top-of-the-line speaker... 'less' drivers or quality or ...

What is the point of built-in subs? The point is that MOST people do NOT own separate subs; the level of the 'average' system owned by guys on this forum is far above what the average NONenthusiast owns. You don't find $1000 receivers and huge subs and very expensive SACD players in the average home. Hanging out here taints your view of what the average person who walks into CC knows or wants. In my opinion, the "average" buyer of Polk from, say, CC, has never heard of SVS, doesn't have the budget for a separate sub (nor the need), and wants to walk out with a good *pair* of speakers for music that will serve as mains for HT without spending an additional $600-$1000 on a sub.

Hbomb and I went out for lunch a couple of months ago with a guy who (knowing that H is so into HT and music) joked that he'd finally broken down and got into HT. His purchase? He spent $99 on an all-in-one system at Walmart.

Willow

Burdette you make a valid point....as to the average consumer....then we need to know who is polk trying to sell the new series to the average joe or enthusiasts... i think the average consumer would like to own a good system with less gear and less speakers....saf !!! alot of peeps dont care to know how it works just to have it work

organ

C'mon Sid. You're judging speakers that you haven't heard. I don't know what a cloth tweeter is but I'm sure they're good or else Polk wouldn't put them on. You don't need a power port to make speakers put out a lot of bass. Many great speakers have normal ports and they sound fantastic.

If you think $900/pr is a rip off because you already have a sub, buy the smaller version (the one that looks like the RT55). Their sound signature should be the same but the larger and more expensive model will put out more bass. Some people don't want a sub and would rather buy a large tower with built in subs. Even the large towers will sound great in your system. You'll be able to lower the x-over on te SVS. As good as the SVS sub is I doubt it can do mid bass as good as those smaller woofers.

Maurice

organ

Polk Paul,
It's nice to see you back. I remember the old days when you used to post almost everyday. You recommended the PSW650 to me over te 1200 because I had a pair of RT5's back then and the 650 was friendlier with higher x-over settings.

Just one question...Will there be major changes to the next line of RTi speakers now that they're being sold in a higher end store?

Maurice

VR3

I'm looking forward to hearing them... - The Monitor 70 DOES look impressive. I would definetely take it over the RTi10 -- One more midbass, and same amount of subs (although slightly smaller) -- hmm, interesting.

WE SHALL SEE!

but as I said in another thread...I am was expecting something a tad different.

Yeah, will there be a model above the RTi12? And the LSi25?

A Hybrid SRT?

Are the monitor real wood?

AsSiMiLaTeD

Originally posted by Vr3MxStyler2k3
will there be a model above the RTi12? And the LSi25?

A Hybrid SRT?

Are the monitor real wood?

Doesn't look like it

Doubt it

Not at that price...doubt it

organ

They sure look nice. With proper amplification I bet their dynamics can punch you in the nuts. When I have the room and $, I'd love to have a Monitor multichannel system.

Maurice

Shizelbs

Originally posted by HBombToo
I need a few beers to understand this 1:p

HBomb

I'll use myself as an example and type nice and s l o w I had some money to spend, but not too much. With that money I got a pair of R40s which I still have and use regularly. Now, from that purchase I hang out here way too often, have developed a greater interest in HT as a hobby, and have since that initial purchase made plans on more expensive future upgrades.

To the best of my knowledge, the current R series is the cheapest speakers Polk has made (exlcuded the used market). If at the time I bought my R40s, say, the cheapest alternative had been RTi70s at $600-700 a pair, I would have taken my money elsewhere. Thats my point.