Lsi or Rti?

JWBurns

I currently have a pair of RTi8's, CSi5 center, and Fxi5's for surround. I am looking at upgrading the fronts to either the Rti12's or the Lsi15's but I just cant decide. Does anyone have any experiance with both? Would there be timbre issues between the Lsi's and Rti's if I went that route? I am looking for prodominant, movie theatre sound out of my upgrade as I'm about 90% HT.

The equipment will be driven by either the new Denon 3806 or Outlaw 990/755 amp. An SVS sub is also in the works.

Also considering an upgrade to the Lsi center... But I want to decide on the fronts before anything else.

Ricardo

Get the SVS and see if you still think you need an upgade for your mains...... I have the same front stage you have with the PB10 and it sounds GREAT for movies....

Tritonman

What is it you feel your current RTi8;s are lacking to make you want to replace them?

The RTi10's are much brighter sounding than the 8's and more midbass. The 12's imo would not benefit you as much as going from the 8's to the 10's would, specially since you are mostly a movie watcher unless you intend on powering the 12's all by their lonesome.

I would only go the lsi route if you intend on replacing your center.

Airplay355

Lsi. Definitely. You won't be disappointed.

PolkThug

You're 90% home theater, get the SVS first, you probably won't feel the need to upgrade the fronts after that.

JWBurns

As you can tell I'm in the early stages of my upgrades... Possibly once I implement a new amp the 8's will sound even better. What if I just kept the fronts and upgraded to the Lsi center?

Jury is still out on which SVS I will go with.. Box or Cylinder, 320 watt amp or 525? Geesh.. It's overwhelming.

Tritonman

JWBurns wrote:

Jury is still out on which SVS I will go with.. Box or Cylinder, 320 watt amp or 525? Geesh.. It's overwhelming.

How big is your room?

Ricardo

I don't think the Lsi center will go with your 8's; the CSi5 is an absolutely great center speaker. If you are really considering buying an SVS, as has been mentioned here already, do that and then decide if you still want to change your speakers.

JWBurns

The answer the question regarding the 8's - They just seem muddy to me. I like the bass response I get out of them, but I guess I'm looking for more.
Granted, my issues could be due to my cheap Kenwood receiver which I think is only rated at 65wpc which I'm sure the rating is quite inflated.

PolkThug

JWBurns wrote:

Jury is still out on which SVS I will go with.. Box or Cylinder, 320 watt amp or 525? Geesh.. It's overwhelming.

Contact SVS and describe your room and what you are looking for in a subwoofer. They won't try to oversell you. Ask for Ron Stimpson.

JWBurns

I live in an apartment, 15X15 living room and opens up into 8X8 dining room. I don't really want to buy a sub to match this apartment, as I want one that will be appropriate to my house once I move. I say, buy right, buy once.

PolkThug

JWBurns wrote:

The answer the question regarding the 8's - They just seem muddy to me. I like the bass response I get out of them, but I guess I'm looking for more.

That's because you are running them on 'large' with no sub. When you switch to 'small' setting with a sub, the muddiness goes away.

Willow

Plus the receiver you're using may not be providing the needed oumpff to your speakers. You can always turn the sub down....

Tritonman

Anyone of the pci series will suit you good...or if you like the box style then the PB10-ISD or the PB12-ISD

JWBurns

This was an HT in a box. The Kenwood sub is a joke. I get more bass response out of the 8's than the sub itself.

Upgrade time!

JWBurns

Thanks Triton. I emailed SVS and am sure they will say the same.

Been looking at the PB12 and the 20-39Pci.

Tritonman

Good luck! Just keep us updated. I love hearing updates etc.

Willow

It does sound like a receiver and sub are in your future

cfrizz

I think that you should upgrade to the Outlaw combo & get a sub. Your speakers are fine. Once that is done I think you will be ecstatic with the improvements.

JWBurns

Good deal, Thanks as always for the helpful informative replies guys. I'll keep you posted!

BIZILL

yes, rti8's sound splendid. even with my huge svs, i still get plenty of output from them.

MSkeezer

I agree with cfrizz. Get the Outlaw combo, and an SVS. Those RTi's are excellent speakers. All they need is a little power.

michael_w

JWBurns wrote:

The answer the question regarding the 8's - They just seem muddy to me. I like the bass response I get out of them, but I guess I'm looking for more.
Granted, my issues could be due to my cheap Kenwood receiver which I think is only rated at 65wpc which I'm sure the rating is quite inflated.

There's your problem. Once you get something a little better, like the outlaw combo, you'll see what your RTi8's can really do.

BIZILL

michael_w wrote:

There's your problem. Once you get something a little better, like the outlaw combo, you'll see what your RTi8's can really do.

'nuff said...........

Airplay355

Ok, definitely get the outlaw combo. I thought you already had it, I didn't know it was on ur to do list. Theres no way you are gonna power Lsi's with some **** Kenwood gear. Upgrade to Lsi's later. They kick Rti ****. You won't know what you've been missing.

sickicw

I think i was recently in your situation. I had a complete rti setup 5.1 set up, was thinking about upgrading. I first got me a seperate amp to power the front and center (csi5) rti speakers, and it sounded great....Except for two things. First the fully powered csi5 made people's voices too forward and with too much bass. Second the high and mid frequencies were not showing up like they should be. The bass overall, however was really good.....Then i went to tweeter and demoed their lsi line, and decided this was the upgrade i needed. I then went out and bought the outlaw combo (to fully power my speakers) and bought the lsi speakers from cruthfield. the lsi line takes a while to break in, but once you do and hook them up with some good 10 gauge cable and decent interconnects, they beat the rti line in every way. I dont think i would ever go back to any less. the lsi also puts out some good bass. the cross over system and the tweeter on the speakers is really what sets it apart from the rti line. anyhoo, i just ordered a svs sub yesterday and my upgrade is getting close to complete. the only thing left is the lsi surround speakers.

sickicw

oh and by the way, if you are looking at the rti12s, the outlaw combo will not "fully" power them to give them maximum performance (400+ watts). (but they will fully power the lsi15s).

shack

sickicw wrote:

oh and by the way, if you are looking at the rti12s, the outlaw combo will not "fully" power them to give them maximum performance (400+ watts). (but they will fully power the lsi15s).

The Outlaw 755 will drive the RTi12s loud enough to make your ears bleed with no distortion and no clipping.

shack

The maximum power handling capabilities of the RTi12 has nothing to do with how well any particular amp will drive them.

sickicw

Im sure the outlaw amp will drive them just fine; my point is that polk designed them to have "maximum" dymanic frequency responds at a very high input power.

shack

sickicw wrote:

Im sure the outlaw amp will drive them just fine; my point is that polk designed them to have "maximum" dymanic frequency responds at a very high input power.

No, they didn't.