Older RT series I's vs Non I's

Skynut

I have noticed a lot of people like the "I" series speakers. RT55i, f/x500i, cs400i ect.
My questions are

1. What is the difference between the blue "I" series and the black non i series?

2. Other than the driver is there any difference? like the crossover or the tweeter?
Are the drivers interchangeable between say the rt55's and the rt55i's or the rt2000p and the 2000i

3. I am also wondering if they offered an RT5000i package.

I am just curious.
Thanks.

billbillw

The drivers and the crossovers were tweaked for an improved sound. It seems that the tweeters are the same though.
Physically, the drivers are interchangeable, but mixing would not be recommended due to differing T/S parameters with the different drivers.

Skynut

I was not thinking about mixing but just changing all drivers at the same time. Switching all to the blue or all to the black.

billbillw

Originally posted by Skynut
I was not thinking about mixing but just changing all drivers at the same time. Switching all to the blue or all to the black.

Due to differences in the crossovers, the sound would probably still be off.

AsSiMiLaTeD

Yeah, if you're going to change drivers, make sure you grab the correct xovers for those drivers.

How much of a difference this will make is somewhat subjective, but there is a difference.

marker

I remember reading about someone here taking a pair of RT55 and turning them into RT55i by switching the drivers and crossovers, but they said there was very little if no difference at all.

Skynut

The crossover is different, that is what I was wondering about.
I have a pair of 2000p's and was considering adding a driver.
I was basically going to take a pair of RT55i's and install all the components into the 2000p box.
I hate to go through all that trouble and have them sound bad.
I would basically have to sacrifice the 55's. I would end up with an empty box and a couple of extra speakers.
I think the 2000's would sound alot better with the extra driver configuration like the 55 has.

marker

Don't do that man! Don't mess up a perfectly good set of RT55i.

Skynut

Originally posted by marker
Don't do that man! Don't mess up a perfectly good set of RT55i.

I am hoping to find a set with jacked up boxes.

marker

Oh, ok then. I was about to have a stroke!

aaharvel

the "i" monikor stands for improved (according to the polk website) tweaked crossovers and something no one else mentioned- the i's are made of wood, not vinyl wrap. I've never actually came across rt's without the "I" label, but i'm not a polk speaker vet either.

Skynut

Originally posted by aaharvel
the "i" monikor stands for improved (according to the polk website) tweaked crossovers and something no one else mentioned- the i's are made of wood, not vinyl wrap.

So the company considers the "i" to be a better quality speaker than the non "i"?
Does anyone consider that true?
Does the RT5000i system exist??
Thanks for the info, no I must dig further for the answer.:D

faster100

NO, id keep them how they are.... I non I, whats the freakin difference? Not worth the change over and the cost of drivers.. Polk went from the regular to the ' I " series in a very short time... they basically went to real wood instead of plastic, and they needed another upgrade which was the I series... I don't doubt something was changed, but it wasnt drastic... IMO and FWIW that is

bvette94

i agree the rt2000s need another driver but i wouldnt try to modify either speakers. the i seems to be brighter. i had both i series and p series speakers and i personally like the non i series better. the only way to tell is to have both and swap them out. it seems to me you just cannot find the sound you are looking for. you might want to reconsider your source the onkyo. also fyi polk usually has crossovers in stock as well ad the drivers if you wanted to change out a pair of rt55is to rt55s and vise versa. good luck. i never heard of a rt5000i series either.

Skynut

Originally posted by bvette94
i agree the rt2000s need another driver but i wouldnt try to modify either speakers. the i seems to be brighter. i had both i series and p series speakers and i personally like the non i series better. the only way to tell is to have both and swap them out. it seems to me you just cannot find the sound you are looking for. you might want to reconsider your source the onkyo. also fyi polk usually has crossovers in stock as well ad the drivers if you wanted to change out a pair of rt55is to rt55s and vise versa. good luck. i never heard of a rt5000i series either.

I havn't heard of the 5000i either, I want the 2000's to stay as non i's but was just curious about the rest.
I want to get some 800's and see how they sound and I just bought the 55's. they have not arrived yet.
My next system upgrade will be an amp, I am pretty sure I want to get the Sherbourn 7/2100 and I think I will be happy for awile.
In the mean time I am just looking into possibilities.