RT3000ps worth it?

ChrisD06

Hey polkies,

I have an opportunity to buy some Polk Audio RT3000ps and a CS400i for $1,000 CAD. Is this worth it? The description says they're in mint condition and hardly used and they look awesome. I know the plate amps go bad so should I spend this much money and would it be better then my RT800s and CSi3? Should I just buy an HTS 12 for $450 CAD used? Should I just hold off until a better deal comes up? Do I haggle the price down? They guy lives 1.5 hours away from me but he said he'd throw in some amps for free.

What are your guy's thoughts? Mainly with the plate amp problems.

Any advice is greatly appreciated!

Tony M

We have no idea when these amps will fail. Do you have a spare amp or two to power the woofers if they fail?

I bought my RT3000P's some years after they were released. One sub didn't have an amp at all. I paid 500.00 for mine. I quickly ordered (2) new amps since I was told there were only 21 or 51 amps left. They were 350.00 each. So mine still work since before 2012. So ten years probably.

I sold the one original working one to a member here on the Forum ( Angelo on 12-4-2012 ) but I had put the new ones in some time before that. I don't remember the time span. I might have the receipt somewhere...but I don't think it was more than 2 years.

There's the Definitive Technology Powered Towers speaker amps failing everywhere. 10 years + or - for those but people play those speakers quite a bit and some 8 hrs. a day for background music and such. Some probably play them LOUD too. Maybe some are getting 15 years or more from them. We only hear from the people whose amps have failed.

Tony M

I think that's fair if those are newer amps in them.

What state do you live in?

ChrisD06

@Tony M I live in Canada like I said, Im not too comfortable giving away my location sorry. I think the amps are original.

Tony M

I fully understand.

If you were in NC and close to me, you could come hear a set in action. Maybe even buy mine. I have extra base amps that came with the extra tops. They need repair though. Plus see and hear a C1000P center in action too.

I had this set-up for a few years, long ago. I still have the extra tops.

ChrisD06

@Tony M But how often do the bass amps go bad? Is it worth 1 grand for those speakers?

mantis

The RT5000 package was a pretty killer system back in the day. Everyone who liked the RT series loved the RT5000 which included the RT3000p's and the CS1000P Center channel along with a set of FX/1000's for surround which where Bi Polar in design.

I forget how much that intire system retailed for Maybe $5000.00? I think the Rt3000p's retailed for $3000.00 and the CS400i was $399.

So thinking about your ideal, everything working, excellent condition its not horrible. I would probably offer $800.00 for the package and see what they say.

On a side not they are remarkable. The CS400i is a newer version Tweeter and Blue Driver Center Channel which still matches damn near perfectly. It's not that different where you couldn't use it.It's not the correct match but I don't think many would even notice any difference.
Do you have pic's ?

mantis

Tony M wrote: »

I fully understand.

If you were in NC and close to me, you could come hear a set in action. Maybe even buy mine. I have extra base amps that came with the extra tops. They need repair though. Plus see and hear a C1000P center in action too.

I had this set-up for a few years, long ago. I still have the extra tops.

I wish people wouldn't post things like that. I don't want my wheels turning and start offering you a deal for them. But just for the hell of it do you have the FX1000 surrounds as well? Sheer curiosity at this point

Tony M

mantis wrote: »

Tony M wrote: »

I fully understand.

If you were in NC and close to me, you could come hear a set in action. Maybe even buy mine. I have extra base amps that came with the extra tops. They need repair though. Plus see and hear a C1000P center in action too.

I had this set-up for a few years, long ago. I still have the extra tops.

I wish people wouldn't post things like that. I don't want my wheels turning and start offering you a deal for them. But just for the hell of it do you have the FX1000 surrounds as well? Sheer curiosity at this point

I've never owned a set of those awesome surrounds..

I've seen like 2 sets up for sale in 20 years and I couldn't afford them. I haven't searched for them in the last 5 years though. Maybe now I should since I think I can afford them now. Wink, wink.

I have only used my RT3000P's and the Center for maybe 50 hours total since I bought them. I'm using a BOSE C100 for the moment since I re-arranged a lot. I can surely hear the difference but I'm not too OCD about stuff. I definitely want the C1000P back under the TV.

I don't think I've owned a CS400/i but my old friend Paul has one or two. And I've heard it/them in action and I agree, they are very nice centers. Mr. Paul has quite a few Polk speakers too. Towers and bookies.
I just remembered, another old friend has one too. He uses his with a set of powered Mirage's. It blended with the Mirage's very well.

Does "little use" prolong power amps in reg. subs or these in the Polk RT powered series? I swapped a guy some speakers for these RT1000P's 8 months ago and the subs worked then. I just re-hooked them up to check them again and they are still sounding fantastic. I've heard both ways prolong the life of amps.

I've been using a set of FX300 surrounds.


You just reminded me, I need to see why the surrounds volume level is so low coming from my awesome Yamaha amp.

mantis

I think all sub amps kinda suck, even external ones that die over time. Usually normal power amps last decades with no worries unless they get hit by an electrical storm.

Hard to say if not using or using or on and off kills the amps quicker or longer. I just have seen all walks of life brands fail with little or heavy use.

[Deleted User]

It depends on who made it. I've used my Janis Interphase 1-A almost daily for close to 50 years without a problem. This photo is for a model 3, but very similar.

vmaxer

I have 2 pair of the F/X 1000’s packed away. They are great surrounds.

Tony M

I'm sure they are.

Maybe one day I'll hear the complete set out in my cottage as it was meant to sound.

I still like having 2-12" Klipsch subs to augment the bass along with the RT3000P's 4-8" subs and I almost forgot...The center's 2-61/2" subs.

ChrisD06

@mantis So should I worry about the amps? Also the prices are in Canadian buckaroos so should I still go for 800? Im going to make sure he tests them in front of me when I get there of course I just want to know if I can at least get 5 years out of them before I move out.

ChrisD06

@mantis I read by using the way back machine that when the RT3000ps were sold they were I think $3199 CAD PER speaker.

ChrisD06

@Tony M So are RT3000ps notorious for bad amps? Or am I just paranoid about making such a hefty purchase? I'm assuming all amps fail and Polk didn't flaw the RT3000p amps they just die like every other amp but since they're older you see more posts and since I'm searching for posts, I'm assuming that's why I see so much.

I'll get him to test them, make sure everything works properly, and get them if they do.

ChrisD06

@Tony M Also I don't have spare amps. I need to repair them if they go.

Tony M

I wish I had the skill to diagnose cross-overs.