Four Polk R50's or a Pair of Rti4's?

KrazyMofo24
KrazyMofo24 Posts: 1,210
edited August 2005 in Speakers
Fry's has the R50's on sale $120 a pair what would sound better four R50's or a pair of Rti4's? I have the Csi3 as a center.
Setup:

2 Channel: Vienna Acoustics Mozart Grand, T+A P 1230R, Primare SPA21, Oppo BDP-105
PC: Vienna Acoustics Haydn Grand, Cambridge Azure 650A v2 , Peachtree iDAC, Denon DVD-3800BDCI

Post edited by KrazyMofo24 on
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  • MacLeod
    MacLeod Posts: 14,358
    edited August 2005
    The RTi4's will sound better as theyre a much better speaker.

    The R50's will have better low frequency response though.

    If youre just wanting a good home theater, then get yourself 2 R50's and a pair of R15's for surrounds and youll be set. But if you want the best SQ you can get especially for listening to music, snag you a set of RTi4's.
    polkaudio sound quality competitor since 2005
    MECA SQ Rookie of the Year 06 ~ MECA State Champ 06,07,08,11 ~ MECA World Finals 2nd place 06,07,08,09
    08 Car Audio Nationals 1st ~ 07 N Georgia Nationals 1st ~ 06 Carl Casper Nationals 1st ~ USACi 05 Southeast AutumnFest 1st

    polkaudio SR6500 --- polkaudio MM1040 x2 -- Pioneer P99 -- Rockford Fosgate P1000X5D
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  • KrazyMofo24
    KrazyMofo24 Posts: 1,210
    edited August 2005
    Yeah, but if I get the R50's I'll have fronts and surrounds to go with my center. With the Rti4's I would have to use two cheap Onkyo surrounds. Wouldn't two 6.5 woofers bring out clearer sound? I listen to music 75% and movies about 25% of the time and I usually dont have the speakers on real loud.
    Setup:

    2 Channel: Vienna Acoustics Mozart Grand, T+A P 1230R, Primare SPA21, Oppo BDP-105
    PC: Vienna Acoustics Haydn Grand, Cambridge Azure 650A v2 , Peachtree iDAC, Denon DVD-3800BDCI

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  • VR3
    VR3 Posts: 28,776
    edited August 2005
    There is more to quality sound than the size of the drivers. But the quality.

    That should be all the answer you need.

    The RTi4 is your ticket for music in other words. Surrounds are not that big of a part of a set up, especially if you don't watch alot of movies.

    Mac, Good job! Your catching on! ;)
    - Not Tom ::::::: Any system can play Diana Krall. Only the best can play Limp Bizkit.
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  • MacLeod
    MacLeod Posts: 14,358
    edited August 2005
    Agreed. The smaller 5.25 mids of the LSi series will sound 10 times better than some cheap 6.5 mid.

    You could get a pair of R15's for surrounds. They are stil good speakers and unless youre going to get into 5.1 music, theyll work just fine with the RTi4's as mains.
    Mac, Good job! Your catching on!
    Y'all taught me well! :D
    polkaudio sound quality competitor since 2005
    MECA SQ Rookie of the Year 06 ~ MECA State Champ 06,07,08,11 ~ MECA World Finals 2nd place 06,07,08,09
    08 Car Audio Nationals 1st ~ 07 N Georgia Nationals 1st ~ 06 Carl Casper Nationals 1st ~ USACi 05 Southeast AutumnFest 1st

    polkaudio SR6500 --- polkaudio MM1040 x2 -- Pioneer P99 -- Rockford Fosgate P1000X5D
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  • KrazyMofo24
    KrazyMofo24 Posts: 1,210
    edited August 2005
    I think you guys are right, but its just so tempting to have four floor speakers for the price two bookshelfs. I know the R50's were close $500 a pair not too long ago I think the Rti4's started off as $319/pr. I am going to Fry's and I hope they have them hooked up so I can demo them. I listen to just mp3's for music, and use pro logic II.
    Setup:

    2 Channel: Vienna Acoustics Mozart Grand, T+A P 1230R, Primare SPA21, Oppo BDP-105
    PC: Vienna Acoustics Haydn Grand, Cambridge Azure 650A v2 , Peachtree iDAC, Denon DVD-3800BDCI

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  • Schris22
    Schris22 Posts: 983
    edited August 2005
    towers are cool and all...but my next upgrade will be from r50's to paradigm studio's 20 or 40s....

    which are bookshelves...so depends if looks are an issue and sound quality...

    Chris
    Receiver: Onkyo TX-SR502-S
    DVD Player: Pioneer DV-578A-S
    Left and Right: R50
    Center: CS1
    Rear Center: R15
    Surrounds: R30
    Subwoofer: 10'' Dayton 100 Watt
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  • Ron Temple
    Ron Temple Posts: 3,212
    edited August 2005
    I'm more of a bang for the buck type of guy. I'm very pleased with how the R50s/15s/Csi3 sound for music. I've heard the RTi10s and 4s at Frys and yes they sound very detailed, but not $1000 better to my ears. For the price, I'd take them all home and then decide. I wouldn't bother with 50s as surrounds either, the 15s match and are easier to place.

    The Rs don't get alot of love around here, perhaps justifiably in comparison to the RTis, but for Frys prices, they are tremendous values.

    $.02 :)

    Combo rig:

    Onkyo NR1007 pre-pro, Carver TFM 45(fronts), Carver TFM 35 (surrounds)
    SDA 1C, CS400i, SDA 2B
    PB13Ultra RO
    BW Silvers
    Oppo BDP-83SE
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  • ode
    ode Posts: 58
    edited August 2005
    I use 4 R50's and a CS1 center channel and I'm very happy with them. Of course happiness is a relative thing :D
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  • MacLeod
    MacLeod Posts: 14,358
    edited August 2005
    The R's dont suck by any means and for the price you cant really go wrong so go for it. Its all relative to how much you can spend. The $250 RTi's would sound better and the $700 LSi7's would sound better still but it all boils down to what you want, need and will fit in your budget.

    Plus, you can always upgrade later! :D
    polkaudio sound quality competitor since 2005
    MECA SQ Rookie of the Year 06 ~ MECA State Champ 06,07,08,11 ~ MECA World Finals 2nd place 06,07,08,09
    08 Car Audio Nationals 1st ~ 07 N Georgia Nationals 1st ~ 06 Carl Casper Nationals 1st ~ USACi 05 Southeast AutumnFest 1st

    polkaudio SR6500 --- polkaudio MM1040 x2 -- Pioneer P99 -- Rockford Fosgate P1000X5D
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  • KrazyMofo24
    KrazyMofo24 Posts: 1,210
    edited August 2005
    I plan to upgrade I just turned 20 this is my first decent home theater set up I dont have enough to buy 2 pairs of Rti4's, but I do have the Csi3, these have better bass which is good, because my sub is pretty cheap. I heard them at Fry's and sounded really good, but ofcourse they were using a much better receiver and using dvd audio. The R15's are actually more expensive for a pair now since thier sale is over. I dont care how it looks in my room as long as it sounds good and its in my very slim budget.
    Setup:

    2 Channel: Vienna Acoustics Mozart Grand, T+A P 1230R, Primare SPA21, Oppo BDP-105
    PC: Vienna Acoustics Haydn Grand, Cambridge Azure 650A v2 , Peachtree iDAC, Denon DVD-3800BDCI

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  • Ron Temple
    Ron Temple Posts: 3,212
    edited August 2005
    If you've got room for 4 R50s, go for it. You can always sell a pair for $180 on fleabay later. The 15s go on sale at least once a month if you want to give them a try. I really like my CSi3 with the Rs too.

    Combo rig:

    Onkyo NR1007 pre-pro, Carver TFM 45(fronts), Carver TFM 35 (surrounds)
    SDA 1C, CS400i, SDA 2B
    PB13Ultra RO
    BW Silvers
    Oppo BDP-83SE
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  • hljones821
    hljones821 Posts: 35
    edited August 2005
    The R30s are very cheap at Fry's and make great rear surrounds, no stands needed.
    2 Channel: Adcom GTP-450,Adcom GFA-555II,Denon DVD-1920,Denon DCD-610,Pro-ject Phono Box E, Music Hall MMF-2.3 SE with Music Hall Spirit, Klipsch RP-250f, Velodyne F-1200 sub

    HT Rig: Mitsubishi WD-73642,HK AVR-2600, Sony BDP-S580, Polk RTi100, Polk R50s,CSi25 Center,SVS 25-31 PCi Sub NSD Upgrade
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