Add pair of mains to rm7600 - what to get?

ncstatesman
ncstatesman Posts: 145
edited February 2002 in Technical/Setup
Hi, I need some advice here . . .

I have a Polk RM7600 w/650 sub, and eventually, I'd like to to move the 2 front l/r sat speakers to the back (for the full 360 degree surround sound effect) and place a pair of Polk l/r standing mains in their place - given the eqp set up I have, can some one suggest some options for me that would blend in well with my system? Obviously, I would use the proposed mains for music and movies,

I was thinking about these (w/out price being a factor given that the 1000i's or 800i's are being phased out:

RT1000i or RT800i

or, the newly released . . . .

RT100i or


Any opinions would be greatly appreciated,
Thankyou!
Onkyo 898 7.1 @110watts/channel
RM7600
PSW650 sub
SVS-16-PC sub
Post edited by ncstatesman on
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Comments

  • trubluluc
    trubluluc Posts: 2,067
    edited February 2002
    Nc-

    You have plenty of highs, and with a psw650
    I doubt that you're lacking lows.
    What most satelite systems have the greatest difficulty achieving is:
    good mids, and lower mids.
    I would vote for the rt800i's.
    With their dual 6.5 drivers,
    they deliver clean sustained midrange
    and lower midrange.

    -luc
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  • juice21
    juice21 Posts: 1,866
    edited February 2002
    i'll second the rt800i's with the 650, the added bass you'll get out of the 1000's won't be as noticible as the improved mid-range presence you will get with the 800's...
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  • RuSsMaN
    RuSsMaN Posts: 17,987
    edited February 2002
    ....or does anyone else think luc's post look like limericks?

    Everytime I read them, I start reading them like they are a limerick.

    Man, I need some cold suds.

    Cheers,
    Russ
    Check your lips at the door woman. Shake your hips like battleships. Yeah, all the white girls trip when I sing at Sunday service.
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  • ncstatesman
    ncstatesman Posts: 145
    edited February 2002
    last week I went by my local CC and they did not have any 800i's left (I could try E-bay, Crutchfield, or BB). By the way, while I was at CC I bought 2 pairs of 602a Polk 2-way speakers to replace the Bose door speakers on my new Acura TL-S, and WOW!, it made a great improvemnt on my car's sound. This was my first experience w/Bose, and they sounded horrible. Now I know that much of the web's bashing of Bose is

    Anyway, your right, a pair of mains w/out built in sub makes good sense as I have plenty of low end w/the 650 sub and the SVS sub. But , what do y'all think about the new RTi70, that one is a new model

    Would either the the 800i or the new RTi70 blend in well with my current system? Also, what would be the correct way to wire either to my system? I was thinking that: rvcr==>800i or i70 (via spkr level 12 awg), and then the 2 subs to the LFE channel - wowuld hat work well?
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  • juice21
    juice21 Posts: 1,866
    edited February 2002
    i think with proper set-up either the rt800i or rti70 would blend with your current system. if you can find the rt800i's now, it would be the way to go, to save yourself alot of $. 12AWG straight from the reciever would work great! you could also wire through the sub, but that is just an option. also, you could consider bi-wiring the rt800i's as well. i recently did this, read here...on bi-wiring, my .02...(long)
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  • ncstatesman
    ncstatesman Posts: 145
    edited February 2002
    Juice,

    Thanks for the input . . .

    1. sonically, how much of a diff is there between the RTi70 and the phased out RTi800?

    2. I think I'd like to wire the 800i (or 70i) to the rcvr and then hook up my two subs (the 650 and the SVS) to the rcvr's LFE output -
    a. would this be ok? Would this blend in well with my 7600 sats?
    b. if so, do I set my 2 new mains to LARGE or SMALL?
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  • juice21
    juice21 Posts: 1,866
    edited February 2002
    1. sonically, i haven't heard the new rti70, but i wouldn't imagine that the change from the tri-lam tweeter in the rt800i to the silk/plymer dome in the rti70 is going to be leaps and bounds different, i think there will be changes, but not great ones...

    2.a. yes,this would be ok, and i think with the proper adjusments it would blend well with your sats in the rear.
    b.i have mine sub currently wired via the LFE out, and i have my rt800i's set to large. in this configuration, you can experiment with both large or small settings for your fronts, i just prefer the large...
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  • ncstatesman
    ncstatesman Posts: 145
    edited February 2002
    Hey Juice,

    -preciate it! now I'll have to go hunting for some good prices on the 800i's and make sure my fiancee doesn't mind
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  • juice21
    juice21 Posts: 1,866
    edited February 2002
    hehe, good luck! CC had them for like $270 a peice this past weekend...
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  • ncstatesman
    ncstatesman Posts: 145
    edited February 2002
    just saw them for $299 a pair on CC's web site - not bad
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  • juice21
    juice21 Posts: 1,866
    edited February 2002
    not bad at all, that's what i paid. actually paid $700 for the pair, then had to go back an price match when they dropped them to $600 on a weekend sale. for the money, you are going to be impressed! be sure to let us know what you think once you get them set up...
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  • RuSsMaN
    RuSsMaN Posts: 17,987
    edited February 2002
    299 each on the web....

    R
    Check your lips at the door woman. Shake your hips like battleships. Yeah, all the white girls trip when I sing at Sunday service.
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  • shack
    shack Posts: 11,154
    edited February 2002
    ncstatesman - just saw them for $299 a pair on CC's web site - not bad

    Right now they have better prices in store than on the web. All of the polks are a little cheaper in the store.
    "Just because you’re offended doesn’t mean you’re right." - Ricky Gervais

    "For those who believe, no proof is necessary. For those who don't believe, no proof is possible." - Stuart Chase

    "Consistency requires you to be as ignorant today as you were a year ago." - Bernard Berenson
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  • Billm57
    Billm57 Posts: 689
    edited February 2002
    Im confused-why would you move the 2 front sats to the rear? Arent there already 2 rears in that system? are you eliminating a set or actually having 4 speakers in the rear?
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  • johnnyamerika
    johnnyamerika Posts: 382
    edited February 2002
    I you've already got the lows covered, you may want to consiter 55i's as opposed to the 800s. They are VERY cheap right now, I think CC had them for 170 a piece. They have basically all the components of the 800 without the woofer, and since you have a 650, sounds like you don't need that. It'll save you about 200-250 on the pair!

    john
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  • RuSsMaN
    RuSsMaN Posts: 17,987
    edited February 2002
    They have basically all the components of the 800 without the woofer

    Say again?

    R
    Check your lips at the door woman. Shake your hips like battleships. Yeah, all the white girls trip when I sing at Sunday service.
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  • johnnyamerika
    johnnyamerika Posts: 382
    edited February 2002
    Originally posted by RuSsMaN


    Say again?

    R

    er, the power port. :p
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  • RuSsMaN
    RuSsMaN Posts: 17,987
    edited February 2002
    The 55's don't have a power port?

    R
    Check your lips at the door woman. Shake your hips like battleships. Yeah, all the white girls trip when I sing at Sunday service.
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  • johnnyamerika
    johnnyamerika Posts: 382
    edited February 2002
    oh, damn, they do! I could have sworn they didn't. Well, even more reason to consiter them ;)
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  • ncstatesman
    ncstatesman Posts: 145
    edited February 2002
    Billm57,

    I've always wanted to have 4 surrounds (2 in the back, 2 to the sides of the listening pos), and a pair of new mains up front . I have an Onkyo 898 with 7.1 and I want to take advantage of this. Also, I'd to buy a player for when the dust settles on the SACD and DVD-A format issue, and a good pair of mains up front would be good for this (can't afford LSi's)

    as for the RTi-55, it's nice, but I like the look of a floor standing unit (either 800i or 70i)
    -it has some good specs (I know, specs are not everything, I need to let my ears judge :-):
    Lower -3dB Limit 47Hz
    Upper -3dB Limit 25kHz
    Efficiency 91 dB

    The 800i:
    Lower -3dB Limit 42Hz
    Upper -3dB Limit 25kHz
    Efficiency 90 dB
    Inputs Dual (bi-ampable) gold-plated 5-way binding post

    and the 70i . . . .
    Lower -3dB Limit 40Hz
    Upper -3dB Limit 26kHz
    Inputs Dual bi-amp 5-way binding posts

    Looks to me like the 800i is the more cost effective approach of the two floor standing units - nit much diff in the specs

    55i or 800i - not sure now???
    - choices, choices :-)
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  • shack
    shack Posts: 11,154
    edited February 2002
    I have the rt55is. They came from Crutchfield for $399.00/pr delivered. I think they are great. I listened to the 600s 800s and 1000s. Choice came down to the 55s or 800s. Since I was going with a sub and already had some stands I went with the 55s and I don't regret it. I may order a 2nd set while they are so cheap and still around (for possible use as rears when I build a dedicated HT room). If you are interested in ordering from Crutchfield I have a $25.00 coupon you can have. Just e-mail me.

    Shack
    "Just because you’re offended doesn’t mean you’re right." - Ricky Gervais

    "For those who believe, no proof is necessary. For those who don't believe, no proof is possible." - Stuart Chase

    "Consistency requires you to be as ignorant today as you were a year ago." - Bernard Berenson
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  • ncstatesman
    ncstatesman Posts: 145
    edited February 2002
    hey shack,

    Thank you very much - I might take you up on that! I'm going to swing by the local CC and see if i can listen to the 55i and 800i first - I haven't heard either spkr yet, so i hope I' really like them.

    the only spec diff's between the the 55i and the 800i is that the 800i goes 5 Hz lower @+/- 3dB (which is probably inaudible to me), but , the 55i is more efficient @ 91dB

    The only thing is that I like the look of the floor units
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  • johnnyamerika
    johnnyamerika Posts: 382
    edited February 2002
    I understand your dilema! I have the rt1000s, and they look great! floor units do look very nice, but the 55's look really sweet on some stands too!
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  • ncstatesman
    ncstatesman Posts: 145
    edited February 2002
    is timbre matching something to worry about whether I add 800I, 55i, or even 70i to my 7600 system?
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  • johnnyamerika
    johnnyamerika Posts: 382
    edited February 2002
    I would be most concerned about the center channel...it's most important you match them to your mains. The 7600 has 5.25" drivers, while the 800, 55 and 70 all have 6.5". I would guess that the timbre would be closer to the 800 and 55 than the new 70.
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  • juice21
    juice21 Posts: 1,866
    edited February 2002
    you could always replace your center with a cs400i down the road a bit too. get the fronts now, great for steroe applications and HT, then get the cs400i before it dissapears (your exisiting cneter will match for now, but for a seamless front soundstage, the cs400i would be perfect). the 4 rears is going to add a much more enveloping rear soundstage...
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  • ncstatesman
    ncstatesman Posts: 145
    edited February 2002
    great, CS400i - how much $ and where to buy? . . .

    ALso, please see my newly posted thread on my new 800i's - i decided to go w/these after all, should get them on wed/thu.
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  • juice21
    juice21 Posts: 1,866
    edited February 2002
    posted on your 800's in the bi-wiring thread. BTW, wise choice with the 800's! CC actually had the cs400i on sale for $360 this week, don't know if they will lower it even more on president's day (big sales you know?). it can also be had from brandnamez.com for $269 + shipping, click here:

    cs400i
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