Still in need of advice....sorry, I am not getting it.

james vaughan

I know this has been discussed in length already to some degree, but I am still torn between the Polk rti 10’s and 12’s. I am running separate amps off a denon 3805 and have a room that is roughly 20 by 20 with vaulted ceilings the sub is the svs pb12plus2. I am more of a high volume guy with more HT interest for my system. I do not want to buy the 12 just because my inner urgings want the bigger badder speaker, but I want what will sound the best and enjoy that bone crunching high volume at times from my system.
The only place that caries Polk around here is fry’s and they have only the rti 12’s to demo so I am relying on you guys here to give me input once again on the two. And I am still baffled buy what I have read regarding the two speaker choices in that one does not need the extra speakers offered by the rti 12 and that the 10’s will do. Do you not need either more speakers or bigger ones to create more volume and impact? Or maybe its that I am a little insane by the amounts of volume I want to produce. My rti 55i’s just are not cutting it in the front. Why is polk getting nixed from all the retailers? They need to go online.
Thanks in advance for any and all help and sorry about the rehash.

VR3

I know of a pair of speakers that would fit your needs...and then some...

But the catch is they arnt Polks... dun dun dun

See... the difference between the speakers I am thinking of and the RTi12 is the fact the ones I am thinking utilize just midbasses (four per speaker) instead of two midbasses and bass drivers... and it has the same bass response and wattage response. So unlike the RTi12... in a HT setup crossed over at 80hz - you arnt cutting the speaker in half in theory and you are utilizing more speaker. But it isnt Polk and they are discontinued.

But according to your thread... I would go with the RTi10 - although they arnt as large...they would be easier to drive and therefore be louder.

james vaughan

Vr3MxStyler2k3 wrote:

I know of a pair of speakers that would fit your needs...and then some...

But the catch is they arnt Polks... dun dun dun

But according to your thread... I would go with the RTi10 - although they arnt as large...they would be easier to drive and therefore be louder.

I can run 700 watts a side to the fronts (qsc plx 3402) so power is not my issue. Would you still say the rti 10's over the 12's and if so why?
And thank you for responding.

VR3

With 700 watts... Id say get the RTi12...

Definitely... no reason NOT to.

james vaughan

Vr3MxStyler2k3 wrote:

With 700 watts... Id say get the RTi12...

Definitely... no reason NOT to.

I have read throughout this forum everything I could find out about the rti series of the new line so I did not have to bug anyone with repeat post questions. I have read conflicting debates about which one of the two sound better or rather that more folks prefer the rti 10's sound over the 12. If they both have the same sound quality and its just that the 12's will go louder cleaner than that is what I wanted to know. Would not ask if I had not read here before somthing different.
Thanks again

james vaughan

Vr3MxStyler2k3 wrote:

I know of a pair of speakers that would fit your needs...and then some...

But the catch is they arnt Polks... dun dun dun

See... the difference between the speakers I am thinking of and the RTi12 is the fact the ones I am thinking utilize just midbasses (four per speaker) instead of two midbasses and bass drivers... and it has the same bass response and wattage response. So unlike the RTi12... in a HT setup crossed over at 80hz - you arnt cutting the speaker in half in theory and you are utilizing more speaker. But it isnt Polk and they are discontinued.

But according to your thread... I would go with the RTi10 - although they arnt as large...they would be easier to drive and therefore be louder.

What speaker was it?

VR3

Its no problem...

Personally I think if you have the POWER to push the RTi12... get it - it will be the better speaker. Alot of the time the RTi12 is ignored since most are only carrying 200-250 watts with them - AT MOST.

VR3

Well there are two you can choose from...

Definitive Tech BP20 (older...not as good)
Definitive Tech BP30 (GREAT speaker - you CANT bottom those midbasses..period)

The BP30 has a quasi transmission line which makes it have earth shattering bass response... being capable of handling 500 watts - it can move things and you have the power to utilize the power it is capable of...

It is a bipolar design so it is a bit harder to place. But it utilizes dual midbasses front and back (four total) with a tweeter front and back (two total) - this also allows for a more linear response since there is no volume lost from the rear reflection of the front drivers...

To me the BP30 is a better speaker than the RTi12... and its definitely a better HT speaker... and it can be had for 800 shipped... slipping in costing less than the RTi12...

But it is discontinued...

dkg999

As you have a good sub, I would opt for the 10's. With an 80 or 60 hz cross-over for the LFE, the sub is going to handle all the amplifier power robbing low bass. I would then put the money saved into making sure I had good side surrounds and center channel with plenty of power driving them. In casual listening in the store I always found the 10's to have a better mid-range. Just my humble opinion, your mileage may vary, all stunts by professional driver do not attempt at home.

james vaughan

Vr3MxStyler2k3 wrote:

Its no problem...

Personally I think if you have the POWER to push the RTi12... get it - it will be the better speaker. Alot of the time the RTi12 is ignored since most are only carrying 200-250 watts with them - AT MOST.

Will polk start selling thier speakers in more stores like they uysed to or are they phasing out the middle man? They have slowly crept out of this state. excxept for one store.

VR3

Well Polk pulled the RTi line out of CC... and just in Tweeter - so I imagine unless its Frys... or small stores - they wont be entering into anymore big mainstream stores with that line

PolkThug

Sounds like you've made up your mind already. Get the damn 12's already!

james vaughan

dkg999 wrote:

As you have a good sub, I would opt for the 10's. With an 80 or 60 hz cross-over for the LFE, the sub is going to handle all the amplifier power robbing low bass. I would then put the money saved into making sure I had good side surrounds and center channel with plenty of power driving them. In casual listening in the store I always found the 10's to have a better mid-range. Just my humble opinion, your mileage may vary, all stunts by professional driver do not attempt at home.

I already have the csi 3 for the back center and the csi5 for front and the older polk fx 500i for surrounds.

james vaughan

PolkThug wrote:

Sounds like you've made up your mind already. Get the damn 12's already!

BIG SEXY! Take it easy! That is alot of money for me to throw around or rather sneak around the wife. So its a big decision got the amps and all the other stuff figured out but have always had dilemma when choosing speakers.Actually reading the posts here about the two choices have made me more confused to some degree.
But your right am leaning towards the 12 Just looking for expert advice and also realizing that if we all had somthing better to do tonight like save the world we wouldnt be sitting in front of this screen typing around. Reading advice and getting input from others is just as fun as watching movies on that killer sound system we snuck around the wife.........nearly!

Tour2ma

I am very aware of the bigger is badder syndrome, but in the RTi line I'd take the 10's everyday of the week and x2 on Sunday... Much more well-mannered, musical speaker IMO. The 12's bass sounded bloated to my ear.

While my audition was not on a powerhouse amp (which should increase control of the 12's, as pointed out above you do not need the 12's added bass extention with the SVS. So why go the 12's...

And output-wise, about 2 dB more "persuassion" is all it took to have the 10's match the 12's output.

james vaughan

Tour2ma wrote:

I am very aware of the bigger is badder syndrome, but in the RTi line I'd take the 10's everyday of the week and x2 on Sunday... Much more well-mannered, musical speaker IMO. The 12's bass sounded bloated to my ear.

While my audition was not on a powerhouse amp (which should increase control of the 12's, as pointed out above you do not need the 12's added bass extention with the SVS. So why go the 12's...

And output-wise, about 2 dB more "persuassion" is all it took to have the 10's match the 12's output.

Appreciate everyones advice and I will look into the 10 if frys gets them in stock to demo, hopefully soon.
Thanks again everyone.

brettw22

There's no one way to answer your question James since everyone has different tastes. Benefits for both, sure, but it more depends on YOUR ears and equipment situation than it does what someone else thinks.

I have the 12's and love them. I'm also in an apartment and don't always have the option of running my sub, so it's nice to have the option to still have a bass presence whether I have the sub on or not.

Equipment-wise, i don't know if the 3805 has the ability to be crossed over at different modes based on whether you're watching a DVD, listening to a CD, playing your PC through your HT setup, etc....If you have the ability to have multiple crossover points, I'd get the 12's for the versatility of not HAVING to rely on a sub if you don't want a sub playing some of the time.

Tour2ma

james vaughan wrote:

... I will look into the 10 if frys gets them in stock to demo, hopefully soon.

Really is the only way to go. Somehow I got the sense that this couldn't happen for some reason and that's the only reason I came on so strong...

Good counterbalncing, brett. He said above he has 700 wpc available for his "mains to be named".

sickicw

For me this would be a no brainer. really. and i think you already know the answer. Get the 12s. If you invest in the 10's you will always wonder why you didn't upgrade to the 12s. Your amp has plendy of power for em. Some people that demoed the 12s are doing so with very much underpowered amps and therefore come to a unreliable conclusion. The 12s have better mids (duel 5.25") and of course better base (3 x 7"). Even if you cross them over at 60hz, you will have much, much, more impact than the rti10. I would also talk with polk tech support and im sure they would tell you the same thing.

brettw22

Tour, even though he does have the monster amp, it's however he's going to choose to cross the things over (in the pre-3805), and if he has multiple crossover settings based on the application du jour that he should consider. The 10's REQUIRE a sub, whereas the 12's dont, and I like the option of either turning the sub on or or but still having that bass presence that made me choose the 12's over the 10's.

Tour2ma

That's where musical taste comes into play. As I recall you're into a little more bass heavy genre's than I am, i.e., you're younger... and the "heavy bass" 12's fit your bill.

Comes down to the audition...

sickicw,
In a calibrated HT that includes a sub crossed to at 60 Hz, the 12's shouldn't stand out anymore than the 10's.

jv,
Don't know 'bout yours, but most Fry's A/V areas are not real audition friendly. See if they will let you audition at home. Rack a pair of each up on the CC and return the loser... Can't get any better than an in-home audition.

VR3

Tour... if your ever in the area... you need to stop by and hear my bass... LOL... *sigh*

Its not that bad... I swear... (or do I)

I dunno bout yall... but my system has plenty of bass with no subs on... or subs in the mains... - midbasses rule...

Tour2ma

Someday, little bro... someday... Pretty sure I could handle it these days. Could not have said the same thing a couple years ago..

VR3

Well let me put it like this.......

My system is loud... not in an unbalanced sense - but in a sense that its about 5 times to big for my room (which it is)... once your sitting in the sweet spot... you are getting hammered by everything and the more you turn it up... the more it hammers you...

The subwoofer is no exception... it moves mountains and the BP10B stands toe to toe with it in volume... I think LiquidSound would attest that its pretty balanced...

I just dont see the need for subs in the towers... especially if you're in a position to have a nice seperate sub. Situations like Bretts in an apartment... sure - but still... plenty of speakers that can produce bass without subs... (SDA... etc)

cfrizz

Sid I hope you can still hear by the time you're 50! LOL

VR3

I listen within Osha DB/Hour standards.

Mike Reeter

I've had our RTi12's for over a year now,bi-amped with around 325 wpc...For HT they are very good,I can't say as much about 2-channel playback...The tweets are just too bright for my tastes...

Of course,this will hold true with the 8's and 10's also...

trevize

First, I heard the RTi10's playing Jefferson Airplane's Greatest Hits, and I thought: "Oh My God, these sound spectacular." A very clean, clear, vibrant, transparent, airy sound with nothing sounding compressed, muffled or distorted. Then I listened to the same songs with the RTi12's adjusted to play at equivalent volume, given the sensitivity differences. And I was blown away at how much fuller and richer the music sounded.

But the biggest difference was in the sound stage and how much broader and more realistic it sounded. The sounds of the different instruments were to my mind better localized and created an ethereal quality/ a gestalt that much more resembled being at a live concert. The bass was of course louder and "better" which made the highs sound a little less prominent than with the 10's, but more natural. In other words, having heard the 12's, it sounded to me like something was missing with the 10's. Not that the 10's sounded bad. If I had never heard the 12's, I would have been perfectly happy with the 10's. Since I found the 12's at a cheaper price than the 10's, it made my decision a no-brainer.

I'm sure most people would love either set of speakers. I've listened to the top of the line Bostons and to my ears, there's no comparison.

Tour2ma

You just can't beat a good gestalt...

james vaughan

I really do appreciate everyones input very much! I have read and will continue to read EVERYONES replys and give them much thought. I am leaning towards the 12 though just because I believe in the more speaker you have the more clean volume you will get, correct me if I am wrong, at louder volumes. And I assume that with the extra drivers in the 12 that is what I hope I may get. Would consider the lsi line but after tasting the real truth about buying online and not paying the middle man I am leary of springing that much for the rti retail. With the purchase of my SVS sub it was made easy and I got way more for my money than I would have if they were sold through Magnolia hifi or cc or fry's. HT speakers on the other hand am finding not so simple and with the outrages markups on those things makes me really wish polk would sell online. Its not as if no one knows who they are. I think they would do well, if not better.

Dennis Gardner

They won't go louder, but they will go deeper.

Good luck, Vaughan..............James Vaughan

I just couldn't resist.