Polk Audio RTA8T

BlueMDPicker

After listening to the 8Ts I bought from Mark (doro), I really began to scrutinize my single driver Cain & Cain Abbys. The Abbys have fantastic imaging, respectable bass, and mids out of this world. But, after listening to the same material on both the Abbys and 8Ts, it's pretty obvious the Abbys can't match the HF and LF extension.

So, I rigged-up a pair of super tweeters, rear-firing, with a simple external crossover on the Abbys. The SQ across the FR was so close to the 8Ts (with the exception of bass extension, so I added a small sub) you would swear they're the same enclosures. The 8Ts are ever so slightly less "open" than the Abbys -- but, I'm driving them with a 75 wpc, push-pull amp, versus 4 wpc (bridged mono blocks) SET amps. These are also, BTW, the absolute best sounding speakers I've ever driven with my Dynaco ST-70.

I guess what really amazes me is the single point source imaging effect coming from an enclosure with two drivers, a front-firing tweeter, and front-ported bass. Polk did this little speaker right! After all my experimenting, I laughed out loud at all the components and wiring I had to string together to get close to a match with these jewels.

If your using moderate powered tube amplification (35-75 wpc nominal), and looking for a speaker you can listen to and enjoy for hours on end, this is the ticket IMO.

ND13

I put my RTA 8TLs in the tube rig the other night, in place of the Monitor 7As and was pleasantly surprised with the mids and bass, but they weren't QUITE as smooth all around as the 7As, but they are definitely an underrated model for sure. I'm glad to see them getting their due props. When those you have were hooked up in the tube room at Doro's, they blew away the Monitor 10As when running off the same Wave 20s I have. The 10As only bested them in the bass department, but not by much.

I highly recommend the 8T or 8TLs to anyone looking for a great all around set that does well on tubes or ss, but I think the tubes really made them sound better overall. I've run mine on all ss, tube pre/ss amp combo, and all tube. The all tube was the sweetest sound, imo.

hoosier21

I was suprised by those RTA 8s at Mark's, nice speaker.

HBombToo

I am glad I'm not alone with regard to my respect for the 8T.

Glad your having fun Blue!

HBomb

RuSsMaN

We ran them at the Maryland PF on 8w push pull, plenty of juice. I think that is the biggest difference, single ended amps are 'mid range' amps, push pull almost always have a better top and bottom end.

Cheers,
Russ

cfrizz

No Henry you aren't alone. The 2 of us have been listening to everyone else put OUR speakers down for quite some time. We were the only ones who know what a treasure they are & are worth holding onto!

No respect! I tell ya we get no respect!

HBombToo wrote:

I am glad I'm not alone with regard to my respect for the 8T.

Glad your having fun Blue!

HBomb

reeltrouble1

Thats because the 10A kick butt on any RTA cept the RTA12. Well somebody had to say it. :rolleyes:


RT1

BlueMDPicker

Noel,

I don't have 10's, but my Monitor 11s (Peerless tweets) can come close on the HF. Where the 8Ts win against them (my ears, my gear) is subtle and natural note decay (HF) and tighter, lower bass than a PR (LF). If you drive these to house filling SPL, they do have some noticable bass resonance. But, if I want the neighbors involved, I fire-up the SRS rig downstairs.

Russ A,

Wish I could have been there, for a number of reasons. I probably would have gone home with them in the car that night!

Henry and Cathy,

I love being surprised by things audio. These little guys can make my ears twitch like a dog. To date, anything (gear or music) that can do that finds a home around here.

Russ G,

My flea SET OTLs just don't have enough OOMPH to drive these nicely. The 8Ts really shine through on the mids with the Manley amp. Very smooth without being laid-back, no boundary glare transitioning to HF. I think this is the best match in my stable for that amp.

Ted,

What can I say? I've never heard the 12s. If they kick these little guys butts, it's definitely a speaker I need to hear. How many drivers/tweeters do the 12s have? I'm afraid a larger array would spoil it for me. These guys blow me away with their source point imaging, openness and range.

reeltrouble1

Mike,

Well, it was a bit tongue in cheek to Noel, since I like 10A with the peerless over the 8's. But here is a shot of some for sale in the FM with pics of the drivers. I (my son) got ours frm Mark, they are awesome and arguably the only true RTA of the series. As always the ones we got from Mark were mint.

Ted

http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?t=33773&highlight=rta12c

BlueMDPicker

Thanks, Ted! I have seen those, but never heard them. So the tweeter plane offset makes them true RTAs in your book? The tinkerer in me wonders what they'd sound like with the tweeters rear-fired but kept horizontal to the floor and a slight amount of lean back on the cabinets?

cfrizz

Quote #1=WAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!

Quote #2= & headache! Have fun tinkering!

BlueMDPicker wrote:

Henry and Cathy,

I love being surprised by things audio. These little guys can make my ears twitch like a dog. To date, anything (gear or music) that can do that finds a home around here.QUOTE]

BlueMDPicker wrote:

Thanks, Ted! I have seen those, but never heard them. So the tweeter plane offset makes them true RTAs in your book? The tinkerer in me wonders what they'd sound like with the tweeters rear-fired but kept horizontal to the floor and a slight amount of lean back on the cabinets? QUOTE]

reeltrouble1

BlueMDPicker wrote:

So the tweeter plane offset makes them true RTAs in your book?

Yepper.

Tink away.

RT1


Psst...............hey lady, you wanna see some tubes?????

cfrizz

Umm lets see last time I checked the answer is still NO!!!!!! ROFLOL!!!!

reeltrouble1 wrote:

RT1
Psst...............hey lady, you wanna see some tubes?????