Should I trade in my older RTIs?

andrewe77

I purchased my CSI40 and pairs of RTI38s and RTI28s last July. I've seen that CC is clearancing their RTIs out.

Should I try and upgrade to the CSI5, RTI6 and RTI4? Is there much of a difference between the newer RTIs and the older and will I notice any improvement?

Just wanted some opinions.

EricH

Subtle difference at best, and not necessarily better. Not worth the expense in my opinion unless you really like the new look.


HK AVR 630
RTi70 mains
CSi40 center
CSi30 surrounds
RTi38 rear surrounds
Velodyne CHT-15 sub

VR3

The difference, IMO, is HUGE from the old line.

Especially in the high end department...almost night and day in detail!

I would DEFINETELY check em out.

gregure

I think it depends on your rig. The new line is awfully bright with the wrong receiver. I've been happy with mine, but I'm beginning to see that my Onkyo 701 isn't really cutting it for music. Plus, the CSi center speakers have a lot of sibilance with dialogue. This could be from the receiver, although the sibilance wasn't any better when I tested out a Harman Kardon 630, which is supposedly smoother. Leads me to believe it's a speaker problem. Had this problem with both the 3 and the 5. Harsh S sounds, and some flutter when people scream.

TroyD

I'm willing to bet that in a true, honest comparison, the differences would be subtle. To make rash changes from year to year you would incur the risk of alienating those who purchased the previous lines. Polk is far to smart for that.

BDT

PolkThug

I'd take advatage of their speaker upgrade plan, unless you've owned them for more than a year.

Regards,
PolkThug

andrewe77

My receiver is a Harman Kardon AVR325 which most say is very smooth and warm.

Oldwriter

. . .you're interested in the RTi6s - I have a pair, which give me a lot of high-end distortion and sibilance on opera vocals - I have to turn down the treble 2 to 4 db to make them sound "normal." I'm using an Onkyo 701, which, to some people, sounds "bright," also. Don't know - but DO know that the RTi6s are just plain too bright on classical music. LR

hellotheworld

I would be interested in the upgrade program in CC. Could anyone give more information? How would they decide your speaker's value? Base on the current price and condition? Thanks in advance!

Emlyn

Originally posted by hellotheworld
I would be interested in the upgrade program in CC. Could anyone give more information? How would they decide your speaker's value? Base on the current price and condition? Thanks in advance!

For one year from your date of purchase, you are entitled to upgrade a pair of speakers to a more expensive pair. If the speakers are in about the same condition as when they were new you should have no problem trading up. You should have the manual and boxes if you still have them. Some stores vary on how strict they are with the turn-in conditions. Normally I haven't been able to trade up to a different center channel speaker because it is not a pair. If your speakers are still in good condition, the trade in value of your speaker pairs is exactly what you paid for them. If your speakers are significantly damaged, the store is not obligated to take them. The only catch to the upgrade plan is you have to spend more to upgrade. You can't upgrade to lower cost speakers.

To me, the sound of the previous RTi and current RTi lines is so different they seem like different speaker companies made them. I would use current RTis for movies and hard rock, and previous line RTis for all other kinds of music. The tweeter on the current line sounds very bright to me also, which works very well for action movies though. The previous RTis seem to me to be a better balanced speaker for multiple uses all around. If you're happy with your current speakers, I'd say stick with them.

spyderman

andrewe77,

Someone's got the upgrade bug...

IMO, if you're gonna upgrade to the new RTi's then go all the way up to the RTi12's. They are just amazing! You should also take a look at the LSi7's.

The RTi6's, 8's, and 10's are just way too bright for me.

Regards,
Spyder

landry_p2000

Do it! These are my first Polk speakers and I love the RTi line. I had an Rti38 for my rear surround and upgraded to an RTi4, and there was a very noticable difference. If you have not went over your year yet, I say go for it. Keep check on the store for sales. I was able to upgrade from the RTi8 towers to the Rti10 towers free of charge! You have to call or go by, because they don't usually run a sale like that in an ad. Another thing that you can do is bi-wire you speakers if you upgrade. I'm not sure, but I don't think you can bi-wire the ones you have now. Hurry before its too late. You won't be sorry!

brettw22

Originally posted by spyderman
IMO, if you're gonna upgrade to the new RTi's then go all the way up to the RTi12's. They are just amazing! You should also take a look at the LSi7's.

The RTi6's, 8's, and 10's are just way too bright for me.

The RTi line has the same tweeter all the way across......the brightness would be inherant in each model........

Airplay355

most stores are nice about the upgrade policy, but the policy varies depending on the store. so go to all the CC's in ur area until you get one you want because you can always buy something from one store at another if they dont have it in stock there. sorry if thats confusing but ill explain.

i had rti150's and was going to trade them in for a csi40, rti70's and fxi30's, however there wasn't a csi40 at the CC that was willing to let me do this, so i had to go to a different CC and there they were reluctant to let me do this, especially because i had already taken advantage of the upgrade plan and gone from rti100's to rti150's. after some persistance the manager gave in realizing that i would win anyway because i could just go back to the first CC and buy the center electronically from there and then pick it up at CC #2. in the end i got what i wanted.

if they wont let u trade in the center, look for a different sales person and see if he will let you. if that doesnt work go to a different store, and dont give in.

i haven't heard any of the new rti line bookshelves but i definitely don't like the new look. its really your opinion. no1 here can give you the right answer.

y don't u pack up your speakers and bring them to CC, then listen to the new rti line speakers there and decide if you like the new sound. if you do then you have your speakers in the car, ready to be upgraded. if you dont liek the new sound then drive home and setup your speakers again, no big deal.

good luck

dorokusai

I like the new line enough to like the trade up idea. If I had bought my speakers from CC, it's what I would have done allready.

I am not planning on doing it solely on the basis of being a pain in the ****.

Good luck in what you choose to do

hellotheworld

Thank you guys for the really valuable informations.

I bought a pair of RTi70 from Carlos a week ago to upgrade my R50. Now I set my R50 as surrounds. Previously I had R30 surrounds, which I sold for a good price. I want some samll speakers as surrounds. I think FXi30 would be perfect. But now it is hard to sell R50, so I think upgrade in CC will be a better idea...

thanks, I will check my local CC this weekend...

hellotheworld

headed to CC today. thay had RTi80 248 ea, RTi10 425 ea, nothing cheap tho they were on clearance.
The manage said I could trade in my R50's at my purchase price, but only trade in for foorstanding speakers...

It seems that I need to wait for some time for the price drop of RTi8...