Does anyone remember how the RTA 15TL sounds?

bronxer

I saw it listed on ebay and was wondering. I currently own the RTA 11T and am in love with them, but was wondering if the 15TL is any better.

What's missing from the 11T's is the base. With the passive radiators the lows aren't as clear as I'd like, and the radiator sometimes bottoms out. "BBrrraaaatttt"

The 15TL has a passive radiator as well as a small subwoofer.

And if they are better than the 11T's (which I'm sure they are), how do they compare to the LSI 9's?

Thanks for your input.

polksda

IMHO the 15TLs are quite a step above the 11Ts. Better bass, better punch, deeper soundstage.

dorokusai

LSi9 vs RTA15TL? They are two completely different speakers.

The LSi9 is way more accurate, refined, and controlled but does not have the bass presence of the 15TL. It can be a little directional in the soundstage creation, due to the VIFA tweeters. It will however suprise you with the bass extension it DOES have.

The RTA15TL is a bass monster, but it's just a little overdone. The soundstage is as expected, and at least the SL3000 is a nice tweeter. This speaker does sound real good with high power, but the bass is still lacking in accuracy, and gets a little bloated.

Both of these speakers require, IMO, good power to break out of being ordinary.

Save your money, get a real subwoofer.

F1nut

Originally posted by bronxer
What's missing from the 11T's is the base. With the passive radiators the lows aren't as clear as I'd like, and the radiator sometimes bottoms out. "BBrrraaaatttt"

The 15TL has a passive radiator as well as a small subwoofer.

I seriously doubt that the radiator is bottoming out, it's much more likely that it's your mid drivers. The cause of which is your receiver or amp is under powered and can not control the bass response. While the RTA 15TL is a much better speaker, that isn't going to solve your problem alone, you will need to upgrade your power source any way you look at it. FYI, the 15TL has 2 PR's, there is no small subwoofer.

bronxer

I doubt if it's my receiver being under powered causing the bottoming out. I own a Yamaha RX V1. But thanks for the response. I'm very happy with my 11T's and was curious about the 15TL's .

By the way, the rest of my system includes:
Polk Monitor 7's - rear channel
Polk Monitor 10 - center channel
Polk PSW 650
Pioneer Elite DV45A
Yamaha EQ550

Also, the room has curved walls (attic room) and carpeting, so sound is awesome.

F1nut

Originally posted by bronxer
I doubt if it's my receiver being under powered causing the bottoming out. I own a Yamaha RX V1.

Excuse me, but woopie-do it's still a receiver. You have a lot to learn my friend. What's the current rating on that unit? At what volume level (1/4, 1/2, 3/4) does this happen?

VR3

Thats like a 3-4,000 dollar receiver. (If I'm not mistaken)

F1nut

SO!?!

F1nut

I took a look at Yamaha's site, the specs don't list the output current (amps), but show 110 wpc @ 8 ohms. If Yamaha rates their products like some other companies rate their receivers the actual wpc is probably half that. Either way I'd lay odds that a nice high current 2 channel amp rated at 60 wpc would out perform this Yammie, hand down. If you can, try the RTA's on a nice pre amp/amp set up, maybe at your local hifi shop or a friends and see (hear) for yourself.

I also noticed the receiver has more bells and whistles than you can shake a stick at. Do you have all the DSP modes and any other tone controls set to flat?

bronxer

I'm using the Yamaha EQ550, so the DSP's aren't involved. As for the rating on the receiver, all I know is 110 watts/channel, but I must admit, I was really cranking it up before I heard any bottoming out.

In response to Vr3MxStyler2k3, no, I don't drive a harley. In fact, I don't drive. That's why I live in the Bronx. And I don't have a big dog. I've got 3 cats and my wife (don't ask me why) bought a miniature pinscher. That's not a good combination - 3 cats and a min pin. But I have to live with them. Back to the speakers, though, I'd like to thank all of you for your pertinant responses regarding the RTA 15TL's and my (awesome) 11T's.

F1nut

Ok, get rid of the EQ, does more harm than good and really adds noise to the system. Cranked up, eh? Whether it's your 110 wpc Yammie or a 500 wpc monster anything more than halfway on the volume and you're into the clipping zone which will bottom out active drivers and fry tweeters. Get the 15TL's, you'll love them.

BTW, Sid's little phrases are part of his sig and not directed at you or anyone else for that matter.

cfrizz

Hi Bronxer. I have the RTA-8T's and there was a huge difference once I added my Parasound amp to run them. I immediately noticed an improvement in the bass.

My Denon also is 110 watts, but it's nothing like the 200 watts that my speakers are now getting.

So do yourself a favor, and get either a 2 channel or multi channel amp to hook up to that fine receiver of yours and enjoy the difference more power can make.

Cathy

bronxer

An equalizer really does help. It adjusts the sound paramaters for the room acoustics, and to assist the speakers' shortfalls. It does add a tiny amount of distortion, but compared to the advantages it's a no-brainer.

As for getting a stonger amp, no way. I'm broke. I over spent on what I've got now so I'll just have to wait on that. When my kid's out of college (I'll probably be retired by then anyway and on a major budget) then I might think about it, it I'm not deaf by then.

dorokusai

If the EQ worked for you, then roll with it. You can always work out an amp later, or just be on the prowl for a good deal.

Keep in mind that it's not exactly that the speaker isn't able to perform, as your room and associated gear all have an equal stake in the performance of any speaker. It's simply not able to perform to your expectations, and after the use of an EQ, the perceived benefit exists.

The boost or cut of one frequency affects more than just that frequency, and that can be negative or positive on an actual sweep.

RuSsMaN

EQ? That's funny.

freshthreat

I own a pair or rta-15t's and I love em to death!! Quite an intimidating speaker with the grills off.

ESavinon

Hey bronxer, i'm in the bronx too. I can let you listen in to my rta-15tl with a good amp if interested.

F1nut

Ed, he hasn't posted since '05. I guess he couldn't handle the truth.

ESavinon

Too bad, I would have shown him the difference between a receiver and a 250 wpc amplifier.

heiney9

bronxer wrote: »

What's missing from the 11T's is the base. With the passive radiators the lows aren't as clear as I'd like, and the radiator sometimes bottoms out. "BBrrraaaatttt"

If that's the case you have other issue mainly not enough power. I had 11T's for 20 years ran them very loud w/o the "BBrraaaattttt". Not the speaker but the electronics driving the speaker

bronxer wrote: »

The 15TL has a passive radiator as well as a small subwoofer.

They are all passive radiators tuned at different freq. The 15's sound good but are hard to place because they can get real boomy. Plus if you are having the above issue with the 11's you will have it with the 15's as well.

bronxer wrote: »

And if they are better than the 11T's (which I'm sure they are), how do they compare to the LSI 9's?

Thanks for your input.

LSI's are in another category. I had 9's also; the Vifa tweeter is to die for (smooth as butter) as well as the vocal reproduction of the 9's. I personally felt the 11's had a cleaner less heavy midbass peak and dug deeper w/ more extension. But they should as they have more cabinet volume and an extra passive radiator.

H9

P.S. Damn nothing like taking time to post in a 3 year old thread.

Ron Temple

heiney9 wrote: »

H9

P.S. Damn nothing like taking time to post in a 3 year old thread.

It's never too late for good information :eek: