Polk RTi8 VS RTi12

Systems · May 2005

I cant decide if the RTi12 is worth twice as much as the RTi8. I know I would need a seperate amp to power the RTi12 but thats ok. Right now I have a HK AVR635.

I looked EVERYWHERE and I cant demo the speakers before I buy them. Just wondering If people that have gotten to demo them can give me some input. Im not looking at the RTi10 just because it only has one midrange.

Also for the people with the RTi12 what two channel amp are you guys using with it?

AsSiMiLaTeD · May 2005

If you own or are going to buy a good sub, then go with the 8s. If you don't have room for a sub, then go with the 12s.

If you don't already have a sub, then I'd get the 8s and use the extra coin you'll save on the extra speaker and amp and invest in a good sub...

Check out SVS and HSU for good subs...

If you're building a 2 channel music system, then the 12s may be a better option for you

Willow · May 2005

don't forget space, the 12's are huge !! I have the 8s in the showroom they look smaller, when I got them home even I was taken back on the size.

Early B. · May 2005

Ditto what Polkmaniac said. Buy the 8's or 10's and a sub.

Im not looking at the RTi10 just because it only has one midrange.

That's irrelevant. The only thing that matters is how they sound. My front speakers have a tweeter and a single 8" driver. They replaced my Rti10's because they sounded better, IMO. A lot more bass, too.

GaryZ06 · May 2005

I have the RTi12's and power them each with an Outlaw M200 monoblock......Huge difference than with the Pio 1014 alone.

aaharvel · May 2005

if you're leaning towards the rti-12... spend $100 bucks more and get the lsi15's.

Either one will need separate amplification to sound their best...
jmo

GaryZ06 · May 2005

Originally posted by aaharvel
if you're leaning towards the rti-12... spend $100 bucks more and get the lsi15's.

I really wouldn't respectfully agree.You have to really listen to them and decide.I listened to them and to me the RTi12's sounded better to me....plus I like to way the RTi's look.

Systems · May 2005

Well I am a college student and dont have much money so Im sticking with brands I can get a discount on. Those brands are Polk,Infinity, and Velodyne.

The best sub I could get from Velodyne was the DPS-12. Im happy with it becasue I got it for $218 and I would have to spend 4 times that for an SVS. I really want an SVS but cant spend the money right now.

I can get the Polk RTi8 for $180 per speaker and the RTi12 for $390 per speaker. Even though im getting such a great discount Im making $8.50 an hour and working part time so the jump for the RTi12 is pretty big to me.

The only place within a 100 mile radius that carries polk is Circuit City and they carry the Monitor series now so the only Polks I have to go by are the Monitor 40,50, and 70. Those are the only ones I can actually listen to. : (

Im really liking the input so far. Thanks guys.

bertram · May 2005

I was pleasantly surprised that my RTi8s measured flat down to 40Hz in my living room. Below that my sub fills in the remaining octave, when necessary. I'm very happy with the 8s.

gregure · May 2005

In my opinion the 8's are brighter than the 10's and 12's, and I already think Polk is on the bright side for music. Great for movies.
Personally, I think the 10's are awesome speakers. Nice, balanced sound, not too much bass, and excellent mid-range, despite all the hoopla about them lacking mids. I've never found that to be the case, and I've had them in 3 rooms, and only the current room has been big enough to allow for proper setup. In other words, I found the mids to be good even without "careful placement."
If you are ok with the 8's go for it. The HK will power them fine, and the sub will fill out the lows. No reason to overkill on the 12's when you have a nice sub. A good sub will have better bass than the Rti woofers anyway, even three of them. I really think you should give the 10's a shot, though.

marker · May 2005

If you can get the RTi12 pair for only an additional $420 total, and if you can swing the price difference, I say go for it. To quote what a fellow CPer here once told me, "I see it as a no brainer".

Even if you run them crossed over to a sub at 80 hz until you can get a powerful enough amp for them to be full range, they still sound better than the RTi8 set IMO. If 2 mids are superior to 1 as most people seem to think, then surely 5 drivers are superior to 2 across the same frequency spectrum.

Mjr7531 · May 2005

I would say, balance your priorities, if it's out of your budget, it's out of your budget, and chances are either way you'll enjoy whichever one you choose, I would lean towards the RTi12s, and save up and get them a little later, but if you want to get them now RTi8 is the answer. doesn't your receiver have bass management that can cross em' at 40 Hz?

aaharvel · May 2005

"The best sub I could get from Velodyne was the DPS-12. Im happy with it becasue I got it for $218 and I would have to spend 4 times that for an SVS. I really want an SVS but cant spend the money right now."

don't sweat it. I still think Velodyne is the best for music- and that's much more important than how a sub sounds for movies.
I'll keep my CHT-10 until the day I die.

Airplay355 · May 2005

I vote for the Rti8's. Save your cash and buy a nice sub later, or just stick with the velodyne you have. Sure your Rti12's have the potential to be bass monsters, but not without an amp that has some serious balls. Amps with serious balls aren't always cheap, so since you are on a budget, I'd stick with the Rti8's.

Toxis · May 2005

the 8's don't have any midbass to me and seem way to bright. I'm a fan of the 10's. The 12's are just to damn big and the 8's leave me wanting more. The 10's are by far the best value in their range. Only one midrange does not mean it's a flaw. In that case, the 8's only have one midrange as well (seeing the other 6.5" is more of a midbass driver).

Airplay355 · May 2005

Actually the Rti8's are a 2 way speaker, not a 2.5 way. Both 6.5" drivers receive the same crossover point of 2.2khz. Sometimes it sounds as though the lower driver is producing lower frequencies, but this is usually because people try this with the tweeter still connected. If you remove the binding post jumpers, disconnecting the tweeter, and only listen to the woofers, it is more apparent that both woofers are playing the same frequency.

gregure · May 2005

Sonus Faber Grand Piano
Sonus Faber Cremona
Vienna Acoustics Beethoven Grand
Vienna Acoustics Beethoven Baby Grand
B&W 803

What are all of the above, you might ask? Excellent speakers, with incredible vocal playback and superb imaging. And all with only one midrange driver.

The Rti 12 may seem to have more mid because of the two mini-mid drivers, but the design is nowhere near favored by the majority of speaker manufacturers. Don't let yourself be swayed by the design. It's really too bad you can't listen before buying. Honestly, when I first purchased, I heard no difference in highs/mids between the 10's and 12's. Granted, they were both being run off lesser receivers, but the qualities were similar. The 8's are decent, but the 10's are better, and on the more efficient side of the equation compared to the 12's. Not to say even the 10's would not benefit from a separate amp, of course they would, but your receiver watts will go farther w/ the 10's over the 12's. Honestly, the 12's would make sense if you had a lot of amperage and a large room. For a smaller room with a smaller budget, the 10's would best fit your needs I think. Those that would tell you to "go big" simply because you can may not be considering the best solution or best fit for your system. Look beyond the envy and consider the practical advice many have offered.

Willow · May 2005

Now if all three use the same tweeter, how can one seem brighter than the other ?

I am with the other that say go with the 8's. I have mine hook up to a low-mid receiver yammie 540. They receive plenty of power for my room and set. (this is not to say in the future, I plan on buying a better receiver with a sep.amp) (but that's only on the quest for better sound) My 8's are set to small on the receiver and I let my sub, which is not svs or hsu, but an energy with plenty of juice to take care of the bass. All this to say I find the sound quit delightful.

bigsexy1 · May 2005

Originally posted by zachwhite0
I looked EVERYWHERE and I cant demo the speakers before I buy them. Just wondering If people that have gotten to demo them can give me some input. Im not looking at the RTi10 just because it only has one midrange.

Also for the people with the RTi12 what two channel amp are you guys using with it?

As a few here have already pointed out, I wouldn't automatically exclude the 10 just cause it has only 1 mid range driver.

However, with that said, the 12 does indeed have the best of both worlds. It can't be argued that the 8 has better mids, and it for sure can't be argued that the 10 has better bass. With the 12 you get it all.

As for amps, someone posted a link here recently to where Ubid had either Audiosource or AMC amps dirt cheap. They were bridgable into 300 or 400 watt monoblocks.

marcpam · May 2005

rti12's all the way.

AsSiMiLaTeD · May 2005

Everyone is going to reccomend to you what they think...ultimately buy whatever sounds better to you and you can afford.

With you already having a sub and tight on money, I say grab the 8s.

AsSiMiLaTeD · May 2005

the 8's only have one midrange as well (seeing the other 6.5" is more of a midbass driver

WTF?!?

marker · May 2005

Originally posted by Polkmaniac
Everyone is going to reccomend to you what they think...ultimately buy whatever sounds better to you and you can afford.

With you already having a sub and tight on money, I say grab the 8s.

He made it very clear in the very first post he CAN'T audition them first.

Systems · June 2005

Man would this be easier if I could hear them. Buying speakers without hearing them.

:mad: I cant pass up a 60% discount on Polk Monitor and RTi though. I heard some NHT that sounded fantastic but I cant jsutify buying them when I can get the RTi series for so cheap.

LiquidSound · June 2005

I've listened to the 8/10/12 series on several different receivers. I picked my fave long ago but I wanted to see what my customers would pick without my input. I'm not kidding, 95 percent of the time, everyone would gravitate towards the 10's.
I love them. They are sweet, smooth, and detailed. It was like polk took the best of the 8's and the best of the 12's and put it all in the 10's. They don't have the brightness of the 8's, and not the bass presence of the 12's..but they're impressive. I was actually looking at two to three sets of the 10's for my theater while I was able to get the accomodations..until I quit. Now I'm looking at doing the same with Paradigm Reference Studio 100's. My how things change.:D

chunk · June 2005

fwiw... i have the 10's and i am very happy with them.

KLD2246 · June 2005

I have the 10s and love them. I just had to say it.

landry_p2000 · June 2005

10's for me as well. I have an Onkyo 601 model rated at 85w per channel, and it does fine for me. The sound for movies is excellent, and great for music as well. (Just my 2 cents.)