RTi70's upgrade help! New to the forum too.

radkrisdoc

Hi everyone! Im a graduate student at the University of Louisville. Started with Polk RTi70's 6 months ago and am looking for upgrade options, more specifically to the LSi9. Please help me "take the plunge" so to speak cos I have no way of auditioning the LSi 9's. I'd like to know how much different they are from the 70's, both highs and lows. I also plan to upgrade my receiver, so upgrading to the 9's wont be a problem. At present I have a JVC RX8000; was a first year grad student when i bought it Thank you all in advance for your help.
And yes Im new to the forum, been "lurking" around for a while though. Its a very nice place, this. Kris

organ

Welcome to the forum. If I were you, I'd upgrade the receiver first. I assume this system will be used for music? If so, seperates is your best bet. Your 70's will benifit from seperates. After that you should decide if you need to upgrade to the LSi or not.

I own both the RT800i (replaced by the 70) and LSi9. The LSi is more dynamic, smoother and warmer. The sound is more laid back than the RTi line.

Maurice

radkrisdoc

Yes, Ive been looking into that too. Have narrowed choices to Sony es and H/k. My reason for upgrading is that I feel that the 70 does not have enough treble extension. Maybe its the receiver, but I have heard one of these receivers with vintage (British) speakers from Fane Acoustics (Of course they were really efficient speakers, had a 98 db SPL). Thats why the decision to upgrade.
You said "dynamic, smoother and warmer" does that mean lots of mid bass punch and a slightly lower tweeter (treble) output? Have you ever felt like increasing the treble up a notch even on a good recording?
You also said the sound was laid back. What did you mean, im sorry, Im kinda new to this kinda description, please bear with me. Thats all I have to ask you for now.....Thank you! Kris

organ

I sent a response to your PM regarding the 'laid back' sound. The treble in the LSi have more extension and is a little more relaxed sounding (less spitty) than the RTi but you won't feel the need to raise your treble. The warmth is in the mids and upper bass. Vocals sounds 'fuller' and yes the LSi9 have more mid bass punch.

Did you really enjoy those efficiet British speakers? You won't get as much punch or dynamics from lower eff speakers. That's the strength of high efficiency speakers. If it's the punch and dynamics you're really interested in, look for a Klipsch dealer near you and demo the Reference line. I moved from the LSi9 to the RF-35 for more dynamics. But horns are not for everybody. However, if you're ever planning to use a good SS amp or tube amplification, they're amazing.

Maurice

radkrisdoc

Fane acoustics made em long long ago, these are my Dad's speakers, he still swears by them and he's 70+ years old. He has not sold them and had/has no plans to. That speaks for itself. These days Fane just makes PA systems, which is a sad thing.

I did audition the Klipsch's and I found they were very harsh, esp in the mid-high range. Maybe they needed some burn in....so I really do not know how they sound like. And I checked the new RTi's out, they have the same "body" (the sound, that is) of the previous versions but are brighter. Im waiting for more suggestions and advice on here. Kris

organ

That's too bad. Maybe you can find some on ebay or audiogon.

I'm surprised no one else is responding here. Yeah, the Klipsch WILL sound harsh on cheap sources, amplification, etc. The more efficient the speaker, the more sensitive they are to the equipmens they're connected to. The slightest bit of trash will clearly be heard.

Do you have a lot of good dealers around you? More brands to consider demoing are PSB, Paradigm, B&W, Monitor Audio, etc.

Maurice

dorokusai

If you are looking for a stronger and more accurate high-end, then the LSi line is the choice from Polk Audio. It however would be diminished by the JVC receiver, as it needs some nice high current power to unfold. If you are going LSi, you need to start there.

The LSi9 is a great speaker choice and coupled with a reference subwoofer....would be my choice for another 2CH rig.

I would suggest HK out of the two choices you mentioned. It has a high current power supply, honest power rating and a solid build. The new line is sharp looking.

The current ES lineup is not up to the task IMO, and I am a ES fan.

Polkmaniac has some great views on direct comparisons of these two brands, he will be here in a few.

radkrisdoc

I am seriously looking out for AVR7000's. They seem to be a good choice. I was also thinking of some vintage amps like the Sansui AU919 or 717 or the AUX1. The sony rec that you have (the 4es) is also a good choice....what do you think doro?

dorokusai

I would go prior series ES, STR-DAxES or STR-DAxxxES before anything in the current ES lineup.

Early B.

I agree with organ. You really haven't experienced what your 70's can do yet, so no need to be too anxious to upgrade speakers. You already have a pair of awesome speakers. Your weak spot is definitely the receiver, so if you go for the HK, for instance, your 70's will really open up for you. After that upgrade, you may want to try a separate amp to power the 70's and you'll hear an even better improvement.

AsSiMiLaTeD

Originally posted by dorokusai
Polkmaniac has some great views on direct comparisons of these two brands, he will be here in a few.

First I'll say I agree with Mark on the ES stuff...if you're gonna go that route then don't get the new stuff. The DA4ES is an excellent receiver, as well as it's little brother DA2ES. I had the DA2ES for a while and loved it (in fact I think there's still a pic of it in my showcase stuff).

Only reason I got rid of it is I was still in the process of deciding which brand I was gonna go with (I've since abandoned the receiver idea and am going separates in the near future, funny how that works)

Anyway, after much listening to many brands, I narrowed it down to two brands, HK and Denon. I didn't really listen to anything that sounded bad, those two just gave me what I was looking for the most...

Anyway, I started a thread going about the comparison...LOCATED HERE.

Hope that helps a bit. In the end it all depends on the sound you're looking for...

radkrisdoc

Thank you all for the excellent advice. The reason why I was looking at LSi9's was that they are available these days for 500 bucks (used) and it would be the right time for me to upgrade the 70's. I do not want the 70's to depreciate more than they have, though I got them from CC only this January.

As for upgrading the receiver, I will have to invest money into it anyway I look at it cos the JVC is not going to sell for more than say 150 to 200 bucks. And I can do that whenever I save up enough dough for it. Im on ebay most times and am almost addicted to it :P There sure are some good deals on there. Just need to be lucky and wait for the right moment. Cheers! Kris

Early B.

Don't make the mistake of comparing a bookshelf speaker to a floorstanding speaker and referring to it as an "upgrade." One of the main reasons people buy floorstanding speakers is for lower bass. The Lsi9's have excellent bass extension for a bookshelf speaker, but they can't come close to going as low as the 70's. The Lsi9's are also more laid back, so it's a different sound, not necessarily a "better" sound. In fact, I prefer the RTi38's over the Lsi9's for the kind of music I listen to.

A better "upgrade" to your 70's would be the Lsi15's or 25's. Keep in mind that if you go the Lsi route, you'll have to upgrade all of your other equipment to really hear what they can do. So don't worry about upgrading your speakers at this point.

radkrisdoc

Yes, I agree with you about bookshelves and florstanders. I have a PSW202 and am thinking of upgrading it too. So bass wont be a problem, esp with me living in an apartment! What kind of music makes you go to the 38's? I mostly listen to classic rock, a little of smooth jazz and classical music too.
Upgrading everything else I have is also a goal. Im sure I can realize that by the time I graduate
I sometimes tend to crank it up as high as I can withstand it (esp with rock music ). Are the LSi9's capable of playin' LOUD with the right amp to drive em?
How I wish I could audition these speakers. Nearest dealer is in Nashville!

radkrisdoc

I was checkin the Polk store locator feature....sometimes I tend to go to the same sites and check em, just to make sure and guess what I found! There's a new dealer here in Louisville for the LSi's! I called him and he said that he had just opened the store and the speakers were not in yet and that he is expecting them by next week. I feel good about it now, thank you Polk!
I am gonna audition the LSi9's next week and then decide. What a relief!

Early B.

For a proper comparison, you'll need to audition the Lsi9's in your own home on your own gear. Otherwise, you could be highly impressed with the Lsi9's during an in-store demo, fork over the dough, and be disappointed once you get them home.

Dennis Gardner

Kris,

I went through the upgrade path that you are looking at just this past fall.

I had the JVC RX9010 with RT55s and RTi70s. I liked both about equally. The 9010 would shutdown when playing 5 channel music at loud levels. (+100dbs) I upgraded to the HK 7200AVR and it just made my Polks come alive! The 70s are now my fronts, I run RT/FXs for sides, and the 55s are now used for rears.

The HK was simply the biggest improvement that I made and would truly suggest this route to anyone, instead of jumping up to the next speaker level.

I can't imagine a great improvement over the RT line for home theater, unless major cash is spent.

I just had 25 people over this past Sunday for my son's HS graduation that had never seen a front projection setup with decent sound. The wives all hated me, since all their men were in awe of what around $4000 has done for my basement. Every one of them is trying to convince her that they really need a setup like this.

The HK 7200AVR with the the Polk RT line really kicks!

If you decide to go with the Lsi line, you will need great amps anyway, so get the amp upgrade first and see if you don't find new life from your RTis.

Dennis

AsSiMiLaTeD

Originally posted by radkrisdoc
Thank you all for the excellent advice. The reason why I was looking at LSi9's was that they are available these days for 500 bucks (used) and it would be the right time for me to upgrade the 70's. I do not want the 70's to depreciate more than they have, though I got them from CC only this January.

As for upgrading the receiver, I will have to invest money into it anyway I look at it cos the JVC is not going to sell for more than say 150 to 200 bucks. And I can do that whenever I save up enough dough for it. Im on ebay most times and am almost addicted to it :P There sure are some good deals on there. Just need to be lucky and wait for the right moment. Cheers! Kris

Couple of things:

First, when upgrading, I believe the best approach is to always start with the weakest link in your system. Upgrading there is what is going to see you the most benefit. IMO, the receiver is by far the weakest link in your system. The RTi70s are a fine set of speakers...I really think it's a bad idea to start with the speakers in your situation. The RTi70 may be the perfect speaker for you, but you'll never know until you replace the receiver and see.

Second, we all do what we have to do when it comes to money, When we buy a house or car, we have to think about resale value and stuff like that. IMO, that does not spill over into the audio world. Again, do what you have to in terms of money, but I wouldn't figure depreciation into the picture if i were you...speakers and receivers do NOT depreciate at the same rate anyway, so any logic there is based on an apples to oranges comparison. I understand about wanting to get rid of the 70s before they become worth nothing, but I doubt they'll depreciate much more anyway...

Third, the LSi is a fine speaker, but is somewhat of an acquired taste. I think it's been mentioned here already, but it has a ladi back, just different sound. For whatever reason, the LSi stuf doesn't do it for me...and it may nto do it for you either. Although it may sound good in the store, that's on different gear and in a different room. You'd hate to grab the LSi and it not be the right speaker for you...

Finally, that JVC won't run those LSi speakers. Not much else I can say here, just won't work well...

Sorry if I come across as an ****, just hate to see anyone make a decision without all the factors considered...I'd 86 the idea of new speakers and start with the receiver, then go from there...

Sami

Originally posted by Dennis Gardner

The HK 7200AVR with the the Polk RT line really kicks!

That's what I have for my RTi70's. As of now the sound setup is:

AVR: H/K AVR7200
DVD: Denon DVD-1600
FL+R: Polk RTi70
C: Polk RTi70
SR+L: Polk LSi7
Sub: SVS 16-46PCi

Considering how much I paid for that setup ($2300), I'm extremely happy with the sound. I have another pair of LSi7's if I ever decide to hook up rear surround channels. They might be an overkill for surrounds but can't beat the price ($215 a pair, refurbs).

Wifes, I'd take one but I'd have to find someone that lets me keep the CRT on the ceiling. I don't mind running the wires through walls but I have to be able to keep my toys, I'm an engineer for christ sake! I'll have to settle for weekend wifes...

radkrisdoc

Yes that is the "ideal" way to upgrade. In my situation, Im just tryin to spend smart. I have a CC one year upgrade plan which I can take advantage of. If I like the LSi9's I'll buy em for 500 bucks. And upgrade to RTi8's and sell em new in box from CC with warranty (cos I'll get a better deal on the 8's than the 70's). I also plan to wait till CC reduces the price on RTi8's, if it ever happens.
The reason why I wanna do this is, is that I think I will get stuck with CC's upgrade plan; its quite easy to upgrade and reach their most expensive system (RTi10 or 12, my CC doesnt carry 12's). But then, what next? I'd rather bail out of the upgrade plan with a deal that buys me a 900 dollar speaker system for 500 bucks. And if you look at it this way, the 500 bucks which I would have spent extra for the RTi10's at CC (if I went on upgrading) will be available to me to spend on a receiver!
You are entitled to your opinion as much as anyone here is, I will never feel that your opinion was harsh or something. Cheers! Kris

radkrisdoc

Yup, I plan to buy a h/k receiver. I think that is the way to go. And Im auditioning the LSi9's next week. Kris

Dennis Gardner

Kris,

Good luck trying out the LSi's.

Just remember, Polk speakers have always been a great bang for the buck speaker at any standard or discounted pricing you will find.

Assuming that you will always want or need to upgrade is sometimes a self fulfilling prophecy if you don't ever get a balanced, calibrated system that matches in quality at each turn of a knob, cable connection or wire. We here on the forum feel that much of the enjoyment of our systems is based on our sense of good value that we get from Polk speakers.

With that said, the value that I speak of, pales in comparison to the thrill of really hearing how great your setup sounds once you get it dialed in with the proper balance that can be heard. Don't get all wrapped up in how much you spent, saved, invested, or bargain down the price of your system.

Good sound is meant to be enjoyed, and speakers are rarely on the lists of great investment vehicles.;)

Cheers,

Dennis

Sami

Originally posted by radkrisdoc
Yup, I plan to buy a h/k receiver. I think that is the way to go. And Im auditioning the LSi9's next week. Kris

While you're at it, compare them to LSi7's. 7's can be had real cheap atm, around $220-250 for factory refurbished pair.