sell or not sell, what would you do?

burdette

Assume we're sitting around a table in a bar, throwing back some foams, and I ask you to ponder this....

Here is the situation. In our living room (no TV), we have a 2ch rig that is primarily for background music, talk radio, etc. We have 3 young kids including a 16 month old, so speaker placement is an afterthought. Up and out of the way is mandatory. Currently I am using a single upgraded RT55 sitting on top of a bookshelf for the living room, and the same receiver is driving a pair of Polk RM3s in the kitchen.

What I'd LIKE to have is a small pair of speakers like the RT4i or 6i (and Russman recommended a pair of small KEF) for the LR to have some placement options. But even if I could convince my wife we should spend $150 or less on speakers, even *I* can't justify spending the money without selling something. Another pair of speakers means a pair goes to storage.

What I have...
1. A pair of RT55s that I bought from Hbomb. He upgraded all the drivers and the crossovers to RT55i components. Sonically, they're perfect. The cabinets are black and in used condition; one grill has something on it.. a stain? wax? a couple of snags. I'm missing one set of the copper connectors on the bi-wiring posts.

2. A pair of Monitor 5Jr+ that are absolutey mint. My wife bought these new when we were dating. These are currently surrounds in the basement HT. I *could* part with these, but I think my wife would balk or at least ask whether a going dollar value matches their sonic value to us.

3. A pair of Monitor 7Cs that are almost absolutely mint (a corner or two might have a very minor 'lift' in the vinyl). I bought these new in 1990. These are HT mains. I'd have a very hard time parting with these. They are my first Polks, bought right after college.

4. All the components (no cabinets) for a pair of RT8s (four 6.5" drivers; two SL2000s; crossovers). I was using one set of components as a home-built center channel up until we bought a new entertainment center. I haven't built a new center channel cabinet yet.

5. A small Advent center that I bought from a forum member. Great shape, works fine, sounds decent with Polks. I'm using it now, but as often as not I set the system to "no center"; just depends on my mood.

What I'd *like* (but don't NEED) is more placement options in the LR, and I'd like an actual Polk center. I know I can't sell one pair and buy both a new small pair and a center - but I think I could sell a pair and add a little cash and make it work. I saw RT4is go for $130 (?) and centers go for less than $150.

One day (one hour?) I'm ready to sell the 55s or try to trade them. Then I flip-flop and think I should hold on to them until the day comes that I can really set them up properly and enjoy them. But who knows when that day will come? (could be YEARS) Some hours I think I should sell the 5jr+ and use the 55s and 7Cs for HT. Some hours I think I should swap the 5jr+ to the LR (at least they're a little bit smaller) and put the 55s downstairs as either mains or surrounds for now. Always, I'm wondering if I can really sell ANY of these for a price that matches their "sonic" value, and wonder if I'll just be disappointed if I sell/buy or trade for smaller (but probably newer) speakers.

Getting a pair of small speakers (combined with getting a center or not) *requires* selling something I have. I just can't decide what to sell and whether the sonic trade-offs are worth it? Is a less-than-ideally placed RT55 (or even two) actually better than better-placed small speakers?

Thanks for taking the time to read this, and thanks for any insight or opinions.

Obviously I haven't posted any 'for sale' ads on the flea market and "fishing' posts are frowned upon. So, this is my 'opinions/fishing' thread.

Thanks.

On rereading this.. if it isn't clear, I know that any 'new' pair of small speakers or a center would be used. Just 'new' to me.

ohskigod

all great speaks, I can see how parting with any of them would be hard. I think you would get the most money for the RT55's. My humble opinion? Its a toss up between the 55's and the 5jr's. I say DO NOT part with the Mon 7

jcaut

Hi Mark,

Is that the little Advent center you got from me, way back?


IMO the 55's would be easiest to sell and net you some decent cash. The Monitors probably both have some sentimental value and likely wouldn't sell for as much. (Well, I don't know. The 7's might, but I'm not up on prices)

I really like RT55's though. And they'd be the most logical set to try and build a HT with, if that's your goal. I think you'd have more available options for matching centers (CS 400i, but a 245i, or even a 175i works).

Guess that didn't help much.

Jason

Tour2ma

Nice 7's will fetch $100 to $150. Mint 5jr's $75 to $100. I have no RT55 data.

Money aside, it's clear that the 55's are the only ones with no real family history, so bye-bye 55's.

reeltrouble1

I feel ya. It is hard to let go. Once you do though, you'll see its ok. The RT55 seems to be the logical choice as far as that goes.

RT1

burdette

jcaut wrote:

Hi Mark,

Is that the little Advent center you got from me, way back?

It is. I used it until I built "frankencenter" in my old TV cart from the RT8 components. Then we got a new entertainment center and the old cart and frankencenter sit in the storeroom awaiting their fate (or rebirth).

I'm using the Advent again now. It doesn't have quite the fullness, but it sounds fine.

I agree with everyone, the RT55s are the logical choice... if I come to terms with selling anything, I suppose they'd be the ones.

Thanks for reading the long post and for the suggestions.