RTi10/Rti8 Combination

zengel442

My question is for a surround system:
Is it feasible or even wise to use RT10's as front speakers and the RTi8's as rears and an older Infinity (SM85) for surrounds.. My Receiver is an Onkyo TX-NR901.. I have the RTi10's, the Infinity SM85's, and Monitor Audio One's (small) now and am contemplating another purchase... I'm considering the RTi12's as fronts also with the 10's in the rear.. To complicate this further, Would the LSi15's be a better choice for the system? Thankx Arial

Dennis Gardner

Matching timbre (voicing or tone) on speakers is the objective in surround sound. This happens easiest when using speakers that possess the same tweeter brand or type.

Your 8s and 10s carry the same tweet. The Infinity would be a crap shoot about how they might match, and the LSi models do sound somewhat different with the Vifa ring radiator they use.

Look into more of the RTi line for solid matches. 4s, 6s, 8s, 10s,
FXi3s, and 5s will do nicely. I would buy FXi5s to match your 8s and 10s. The 12s may be too much speaker for your receiver to drive easily, the 10s are a better match for fronts.

Others have mixed and matched brands and type of speakers without worrying about matching unless they play multichannel music alot. Movies just hardly ever put the same sound into all channels.

To each his own,

DG

TheReaper

Originally posted by zengel442
...Is it feasible or even wise to use RT10's as front speakers and the RTi8's as rears...

If you have a large enough room, and can add more amplification to your system. I say go for it, and as mentioned with the other good advice above, stay in the RTI line.

My system is similar in idea, full range all around, but on a smaller scale (13'x15' room, R50s L/R/C, R30s SL/SR/RL/RR, HK AVR630). I can't comment on all channel music, as I don't own any DVDA or SACD. I can comment on Home Theater, I have around 500 DVDs.

99% of the time, there is very little differance between having small surround speakers and full range surround speakers. But there are times where you can really hear a differance. Thunder, flyovers and other similar sound effects with bass are just better sounding with larger speakers. Also, more subtly, when sounds are intensified by bringing up the volume on all speakers, larger speakers make a differance.

If you are going full range all around, I recommend using the same speaker for your surrounds and rears.

zengel442

Thank you both for your help.. There are certainly some nuances that I'm not aware of that have been enlightening..
So, really I could use RTi12's for the front (If my receiver could handle them or purchase more power), RTi10's for the rear, and RTi8's for the surrounds, if I wanted to really overkill? And believe me, I have no problems overkilling... (you should see the go cart I once built) besides, the slim RTi's are more easily placed in the room than the bulkier speakers... Thankx again for the assistance, Frank

Dennis Gardner

Good luck with it Frank, and let us know how it sounds when you get it up and going!

Dennis

Early B.

What center channel speaker are you using? I hope it's a Csi5. If so, 10's and 8's will be a smokin' set up. Timbre matching is most important for the front three speakers. If you get into the 12's and the Lsi series, you're talking separate amplification. That's a whole 'nother ball game. I'd still suggest a separate amp for your fronts if you choose the 10's.

coolfishy101

Why don't you just get 10's all the way around. Exact same speakers is the best match possible. To me, the 10's have awsome full range to them. That would be one very nice setup.

zengel442

Thankx again for all the GREAT advise..

I see speakers and they LOOK good but you guys know how they respond.. I'm hearing that the RTi10's are great fronts.. I believe that at this point, I do not want to have to amp up the Onkyo for the RTi12's.. Also I hear there are some nice differences that the RTi8's have to offer...

What do you think of RTi8's for the rear and surrounds? That way I'll have full range speakers all around.. 10's in the front and 8's the rest of the way.. My center speaker now is an Infinity CC-1 but I believe that I will go with EarlyB's suggestion of the CSi5. Now what sub should I go with? I'm thinking of the Velodyne DPS-12...???
(also, My onkyo will put out 145 watts with a 6 ohm speaker, and 120 with an 8 ohm .. I should invite all of you over for the Premier...That should be in about a week... Thankx again for all the GREAT advise..

Dennis Gardner

If there is any $$$ concerns about putting your system together, let me add this to your thoughts. You don't have to go with towers to have great sound. The RTi 6 makes a great speaker for your mains and surrounds if a nice sub is used.

I and alot of others here on CP run towers like the 8s, 10s, or 12s, but don't run them full range. Many have found that the best sound may come from setting all channels to small and letting a great sub like the Velodyne handle the sub frequencies alone.
Taking the low bass off from these allows the speakers to actually produce mids and highs better when the bass is removed. It takes a muddiness out of the speaker. Your Onkyo receiver will have alot more headroom for really loud screeming mids and highs if the bass is removed. It is a cleaner sound (in my opinion).

This is especially true for movies, since the lows are so low that even full range speakers with 6 inch drivers struggle to get that low. Music does lend itself to full range better and towers shine in this role set to run full range.

I run Polk towers, (small for movies, large for 2 channel music)because they look the best (My personal opinion again) on either side of my 8 foot projection screen.

I know this may add to the confusion, but speakers are a very personal part of the sound equation, much more than the electronics. Most of us can't tell when electronics are swapped out, but all notice speaker changes.


I'm outta here, sorry if this confuses you any more,

DG

gregure

I totally agree that smaller surrounds should be used along w/ a kickass sub. Pour some money into a great sub, and it doesn't matter where the bass is coming from.
Furthermore, surrounds sound better higher up on the wall, and towers all around would be exactly ear level, which isn't the best sound dispursion for fly-by's and rain, and other surround effects.
Go for a SVS PB-12 Plus/2 or a PB-12 Ultra/2 and get some decent surrounds like FXi 5/Rti 6. That would be a better system, and would be more than adequate for the low end effects.

landry_p2000

A friend of mine has the following set-up and has great sound.

Reciever: Onkyo TX-NR801
Center: CSi5
Fronts: RTi10s
Surrounds: RTi8s
Rears: RTi70s
Sub: PSW505

I thought it was overkill at first, but when I heard it I couldn't stop smiling.


Whatever you decide to go with, it should turn out okay either way. I personally like small wall mounted speakers for my rear and surround speakers. These set to "small", would put alot less strain on that Onkyo. Now don't get me wrong, the 901 will do fine with either type of speakers. If you got the space and money, what the hell! Do it! The guys are right about the sub. That sub should be somethin' serious. SVS is the sub of choice on the Polk Audio forum.

Just my thoughts on it! Good luck!

zengel442

OK,
I now have received the RTi10's and the RTi8's, so far that's all... Now I need to get a subwoofer.. I had intended to get a Velodyne DPS-12, but I'm hearing the SVS PB12 plus/2 is far superior. The SVS 12 Ultra is out of my price range.. What say ye to the SVS? SVS sounds like they make better subs than Velodyne, but it's hard to get info off of a salespitch and my technical expertise in this area is limited to Watts...
Watt's the consenus on the sub? I believe I'll use the RTi8's as my rears and get the Fxi5's for my surrounds (and place them higher than the RTi's) .. I may have to use my Infinity CC-1 until I can afford a CSi5 for the Center speaker.. Oh what the hell, I may as well get it all for a Christmas present, for my wife!!! ha ha. Frank
I really appreciate your input: D.G., TR, EB, CF010, GGr, Lp2000
Oh, my room size is 20x15 and is a Combo living room/TV room...

Dennis Gardner

Ask for Eric at SVS and be assured that you won't receive a sales pitch, only an analysis of your needs.

They won't sell you more than you need, and sometimes even talk you into a cheaper sub based on whether you want impact or super deep response.

They have yet to suggest a B12 plus 4 for a closet.

landry_p2000

Originally posted by zengel442

Watt's the consenus on the sub? I believe I'll use the RTi8's as my rears and get the Fxi5's for my surrounds (and place them higher than the RTi's) .. I may have to use my Infinity CC-1 until I can afford a CSi5 for the Center speaker.. [/B]

---

Both excellent choices! I wish that I had the CSi5 instead of the CSi3. I am good with the FXi3s as surrounds. You will have superior sound with that set-up, and I promise you that you won't regret your choices. I may get that CSi5 and an SVS after I purchase a new TV. The route you're taking is the way most guys on the forum would do it, I think. Congrats, and welcome to the forum!

zengel442

Erik says the SVS PB12 Plus /2 will do just fine.. Now all I need to do is order it...
Also, I emailed Polk technical and they said that the Onkyo TX-NR901 will drive the Polk RTi12's... Have a great weekend...

zengel442

OK guys, I now have the SVS PB12Plus/2.
Using these with the Rti10's in front with the Rti8's in rear, and my old Infinity SM85's as surrounds.
THE SVS IS AWESOME.. The 10's and 8's are fantastic
This is the "BEST CHRISTMAS EVER"
I got tired of my wife playing Christmas music and put a ZZ cd in - didn't realize that my finger was still on the receiver's volume control.. Well, when those drums started up.......all hell broke loose.. Thought I'd been shot.. Wife's in kitchen - said her feet left the floor.. All I need now are the CSI5's may - may get those later in the year - after Christmas is paid for.. Thankx again, Frank

landry_p2000

You lucky dog! Congrats!:D