RTi4 or FXi3 surrounds

stringman57
stringman57 Posts: 27
edited March 2005 in Speakers
I have RTi8's front and a CSi5 center. My couch backs right up to the wall so I'm having trouble deciding on surrounds. I now have FXi3's on 29" speaker stands beside the couch set on dipole. They sound fine to me, but my wife doesn't like the looks of these speakers. I'm going to try a pair of RTi4's on the same stands tomorrow. I think she will like the cherry finish better. I'm going to have to face these speakers toward the front of the room, I guess. A last choice that I'm trying to avoid is TC60i's in the wall because I'll have to put holes in the wood panel walls. With no room behind me, what would be my best choice? The installer says installing in the ceiling(my first choice) can't be done because there is a second story above this room. Any advice will be appreciated.
Stringman57

Sony 50WE610
Yamaha RX-V 2500
Denon DVD 2200
RTi 8's front
CSi 5 center
RTi4's surround
Martin Logan Dynamo Sub
Universal MX-850 remote
Post edited by stringman57 on
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Comments

  • unc2701
    unc2701 Posts: 3,587
    edited March 2005
    have you thought about laminating the speakers?
    Gallo Ref 3.1 : Bryston 4b SST : Musical fidelity CD Pre : VPI HW-19
    Gallo Ref AV, Frankengallo Ref 3, LC60i : Bryston 9b SST : Meridian 565
    Jordan JX92s : MF X-T100 : Xray v8
    Backburner:Krell KAV-300i
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  • stringman57
    stringman57 Posts: 27
    edited March 2005
    unc2701, I'm not sure what you mean by laminating the speakers. Do you mean staining the in walls?
    Stringman57

    Sony 50WE610
    Yamaha RX-V 2500
    Denon DVD 2200
    RTi 8's front
    CSi 5 center
    RTi4's surround
    Martin Logan Dynamo Sub
    Universal MX-850 remote
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  • unc2701
    unc2701 Posts: 3,587
    edited March 2005
    you can get cherry laminate- just remove the drivers, glue on the laminate, pop the drivers back in and there you've got cherry FXi3's. It's a lot easier than you might imagine.... although it might kill the resale on them.
    Gallo Ref 3.1 : Bryston 4b SST : Musical fidelity CD Pre : VPI HW-19
    Gallo Ref AV, Frankengallo Ref 3, LC60i : Bryston 9b SST : Meridian 565
    Jordan JX92s : MF X-T100 : Xray v8
    Backburner:Krell KAV-300i
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  • VR3
    VR3 Posts: 28,813
    edited March 2005
    man don't do that....

    Dont go from a veneer to a vinyl...just sell them, pick up the RTi4...or get your neighbor to make noises in the background during movies...wrap him/her in vinyl!
    - Not Tom ::::::: Any system can play Diana Krall. Only the best can play Limp Bizkit.
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  • stringman57
    stringman57 Posts: 27
    edited March 2005
    Well I still haven't heard whether the RTi4' would be better than the FXi3's. Help me guys.
    Stringman57

    Sony 50WE610
    Yamaha RX-V 2500
    Denon DVD 2200
    RTi 8's front
    CSi 5 center
    RTi4's surround
    Martin Logan Dynamo Sub
    Universal MX-850 remote
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  • unc2701
    unc2701 Posts: 3,587
    edited March 2005
    Depends on your preference... The RTi4 be more imposing/discrete. you'll be watching a movie and something will come from the back right surround and you'll think, "hey, that sound just came out of that speaker"

    Whereas with a FXi3, you'll think "Hey, something just happened back there" Also, when something shifts from the left surround to the right, you'll hear more of a hop with the Rti4, rather than a blend.

    Now, some people prefer that sound- it certainly pops out more, but I find it to be less immersive.

    oh, and I wasn't wasn't talking about vinyl... although that would be easier, I was talking about adding a cherry veneer. It'd kill the resale, but you'd have the world's only cherry FXi3's
    Gallo Ref 3.1 : Bryston 4b SST : Musical fidelity CD Pre : VPI HW-19
    Gallo Ref AV, Frankengallo Ref 3, LC60i : Bryston 9b SST : Meridian 565
    Jordan JX92s : MF X-T100 : Xray v8
    Backburner:Krell KAV-300i
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  • stringman57
    stringman57 Posts: 27
    edited March 2005
    unc2701, thanks, I'll try out the RTi4's tonight.
    Stringman57

    Sony 50WE610
    Yamaha RX-V 2500
    Denon DVD 2200
    RTi 8's front
    CSi 5 center
    RTi4's surround
    Martin Logan Dynamo Sub
    Universal MX-850 remote
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  • landry_p2000
    landry_p2000 Posts: 1,313
    edited March 2005
    Do you have side walls? If so, keep the FXi3s. I changed from the RTi4s to the FXi3s and it was a great improvement to me. I'm not sure of how your room is set up, but I have a 6.1 set-up with an RTi4 for my rear surround. If stands are your only hope, then for your wife, get the RTi4s. They don't sound crappy or anything, but I like the FXi3s better. I rearranged my HT room, and now I have the FXi3s side firing and it was a tremendous improvement from having them rear wall mounted.

    Just my 2 cents. Hope I helped.;)
    Main Set-up: 55" 120 hz Samsung LN55B650, Onkyo TX-SR806, Emotiva XPA-5, Emotiva XPA-2, PS3 Slim, Sony BDP-S560, Apple TV (160g), Panamax M5300-PM, Polk Audio CSi5, RTi10's, FXi3's, RTi4's, and SVS PB12 Plus

    Bedroom: Panasonic 50" S2 Plasma and Panasonic BD65 blu-ray player, Onkyo TX-SR707, Emotiva XPA-3, Emotiva UPA-2, KEF IQ7's, IQc, IQ8Ds, and SVS PB10-ISD
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  • stringman57
    stringman57 Posts: 27
    edited March 2005
    Originally posted by landry_p2000
    Do you have side walls? If so, keep the FXi3s. I changed from the RTi4s to the FXi3s and it was a great improvement to me. I'm not sure of how your room is set up, but I have a 6.1 set-up with an RTi4 for my rear surround. If stands are your only hope, then for your wife, get the RTi4s. They don't sound crappy or anything, but I like the FXi3s better. I rearranged my HT room, and now I have the FXi3s side firing and it was a tremendous improvement from having them rear wall mounted.

    Just my 2 cents. Hope I helped.;)

    You have helped. Thanks. Unfortunately one of my sidewalls is a wet bar with a mirror on the wall, and the other wall has a door that opens against is, so sidewall mounting is out. The FX3's have been facing forward with the woofer side facing the listener. If the RTi4's don't work, the in wall TC60i's or TC80i's remain an option. I'll let you know how the RTi4's sound tomorrow.
    Stringman57

    Sony 50WE610
    Yamaha RX-V 2500
    Denon DVD 2200
    RTi 8's front
    CSi 5 center
    RTi4's surround
    Martin Logan Dynamo Sub
    Universal MX-850 remote
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  • stringman57
    stringman57 Posts: 27
    edited March 2005
    Here's the update. I got a pair of RTi4' tonight and we listened to them and the FXi3's. We didn't hear much difference in the different speakers. We are going with the RTi4's since they scored higher on the wife approval test. Being smaller and having the nice cherry finish sealed the deal on the RTi's. Thanks to all for the info.
    Stringman57

    Sony 50WE610
    Yamaha RX-V 2500
    Denon DVD 2200
    RTi 8's front
    CSi 5 center
    RTi4's surround
    Martin Logan Dynamo Sub
    Universal MX-850 remote
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  • landry_p2000
    landry_p2000 Posts: 1,313
    edited March 2005
    Good deal strings. I am glad to see that you were able to kill two birds with one stone. Enjoy!:D
    Main Set-up: 55" 120 hz Samsung LN55B650, Onkyo TX-SR806, Emotiva XPA-5, Emotiva XPA-2, PS3 Slim, Sony BDP-S560, Apple TV (160g), Panamax M5300-PM, Polk Audio CSi5, RTi10's, FXi3's, RTi4's, and SVS PB12 Plus

    Bedroom: Panasonic 50" S2 Plasma and Panasonic BD65 blu-ray player, Onkyo TX-SR707, Emotiva XPA-3, Emotiva UPA-2, KEF IQ7's, IQc, IQ8Ds, and SVS PB10-ISD
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