RTI A5 or RT800i for front sound stage

luk2004

Hi folks I'm new to this board.
For several years I've been running a set of RTI A5s and a CSI A4 up front for a 5.1 HT system with a Yammy RX-1070 AVR. I also am currently using an SVS PB1000 Pro sub.
I recently picked up a set of RT800i's for a real good deal <$100/pair. and currently using them for my rear surrounds. But I got to thinking are the RT800is a higher end speaker than the RTI A5s? MSRP on the RT800is in 2000 was $800/pair and the RTI A5s sold for $600/pair in 2016.
Would the RT800is be timbre matched with the CSI A4?
I've got them all cross over at 80hz except the CSI A4 which I have at 90hz.
Just looking for some opinions from Polk gurus.

VR3

I would just try both and use your ears.

I wouldn't go by msrp for sure.

The rt series has always had a particular sound and should mesh well

billbillw

I had the RT800i in my first Polk surround setup (with a CS400i and two pairs of RTi25) along with an older SVS tube sub (which I still have). I wasn't all that satisfied with the 800i. I swapped them with some older Pinnacle Gold Reference with its matching center and kept the RT25i as surrounds. That was an improvement and used that arrangement for many years. Last year, I found a good deal on some RTiA7 with a CSiA6 and replaced the Pinnacles, which was again, a nice improvement.
So, I have not directly compared the RT800i with the RTiA5, but I'd be confident that the RTiA7 is an improvement over the 800i and with the A5 and 800i having similar driver arrangements, but with with improvements in cabinet design and quieter ports, I'd suspect the A5 would still sound better than the 800i. I would also bet the RTiA5 will match better with your CSiA4. As Trey said above, don't base anything on MSRP.