Why no professional reviews for RTi's?

MSkeezer

I've looked everywhere and can't find any. There was one review for the previous generation RTi's at Home Theater & Sound, and a couple for the RT__i's. No reviews for their current lineup, though. Anyone know why?

unbridled_id

Stereophile did a review of the rti-4's...

mantis

I bet you can find alot of reviews in here . Try a search.

Dan

MacLeod

Stereophile review.

BIZILL

fear of down-selling their own line of lsi's.

MSkeezer

The Sterophile review was pretty positive. Almost a rave. The reviewer even purchased the review samples, which to me, says a lot. Polk really should submit whole systems to reviewers. I bet they'd sell a lot more speakers.

aaharvel

one more.

http://www.audioreview.com/POLKRTI4crx.aspx

Early B.

Different market? Generally, the folks shopping for audio gear at Best Buy ain't reading Stereophile.

Also, it may be that professional reviews are more appropriate for the Lsi line. Keep in mind that many of these reviews come with a steep price tag for the manufacturer.

StopherJJ1980

Honestly, and this is just my OPINION but... I think the RTi line sounds better than the LSi's. Polk's own website seems to confirm this as the RTi's seem to get higher average reviews than the LSi's. Perhaps I havent heard the LSi's enough and perhaps the demo setups I have heard didnt give enough power to them or whatever... I could be wrong. And I do like the ring tweeter and this has gotten many good reviews. Maybe most reviewers just go straight for the 'flagship' models, maybe Polk makes more money by not having professional reviews that say "RTi's are a better buy..." or something. I was wondering the same thing too when doing research before buying the RTi's. I definitely trust anything from the 'secrets' reviewers more than the average joe shmoe review so it would be nice to have more reviewers doing articles like these.

F1nut

"I did notice, however, a slight prominence in the lower highs with all recordings. This was not a brightness per se, but added a touch of emphasis to sibilants on female vocals"

And there in lies the problem for me with the RTi line. Good HT speakers, not good music speakers.

MSkeezer

From Eric LoBue's review regarding the Polk PSW404:

And like the old Ford Model T, it is available in any color you want so long as it is black.

lol I love that line.

This "Eric LoBue" seems to be a pretty competent a/v reviewer. Why isn't he working for a major publication, whether it's magazine or online? His reviews are wordy, but to the point, and he does provide some nice pictures. His review of the RTi's made me look forward to getting my mine even more. Only one more month

Polk knows they make great products. We know they make great products. Now wouldn't it just make sense to let everyone else know it, too?

shack

StopherJJ1980 wrote:

Honestly, and this is just my OPINION but... Perhaps I havent heard the LSi's enough and perhaps the demo setups I have heard didnt give enough power to them or whatever...

Therein lies your problem.... Places like Tweeter tend to hook the LSIs with a mid level Yamaha or Sony AVR. Definitely not the best setup.

StopherJJ1980 wrote:

Polk's own website seems to confirm this as the RTi's seem to get higher average reviews than the LSi's.

This doesn't surprise me at all....and means very little. It is all about frame of reference and what one is comparing them to.

The purchaser of the RTi is more than likely moving up from an entry level speaker or a HTIB system. In comparison the RTi sounds great. Chances are they have never really heard a better speaker because they are not into "audio".

On the other hand, the purchaser of the LSi is probably a more seasoned buyer of audio gear and rates their speakers with a more discriminating ear. They may be comparing them to speakers of equal or greater quality. They may also be more demanding of their speakers and rate accordingly.

I know these are very broad generalizations, but I would be willing to bet they are pretty accurate.

ohskigod

StopherJJ1980 wrote:

Honestly, and this is just my OPINION but... I think the RTi line sounds better than the LSi's. .

not so out of the ordinary. these 2 speaker lines sound so different. Its not like the LSi has the same sound charactheristics as the RTi just a little better. They just have 2 very different distinct sounds. hence, there has to be at least some out there who might like one over the other.

from what little I heard of the LSi, I could easily see how they are a fantastic music speaker, but too laid back for some people's taste for home theater.

In terms of professional reviews. I look at them for fun, but I put more stock in the everyday user's opinion over the professionals any day.

mlhm5

Just picked up a pair of the RT25i's for $100 including shipping.

The bedroom is happy now.

aaharvel

The LSI's an RTi's do sound completely different. I prefer the warm, laid back sound. I can't stand bright sound. That's what might woo the listeners in Circuit City and Tweeter showrooms but it's not what gives me everyday satisfaction with musical playback. For movies it doesn't really matter as long as i'm not listening to horn tweeters.

So you're probably wondering why the hell i have what i have? Prob. b/c I'm not willing to spend $800 on a pair of LSi monitors- regardless of the jump in sound quality (which is definitely there btw). If I had room for a dedicated 2ch. setup I defintely would- but I don't.

In fact the only way I can stand my RTi's for musical playback at all is b/c of the gear that I have them hooked up too. Combined with an old Sony ES receiver and older style Adcoms I used to own my speaker setup sounded freaking horrible. Now it's acceptable, if not pleasant/neutral- sometimes laidback/warm and that I can handle, especially at the pricepoint.

As much as LSi's depend on good power/current to get them to perform at their best, imo it matters just as much the kind of receivers/amplifiers & their tonal characteristics that you use for a cheaper speaker like the RTi.

mantis

BIZILL wrote:

fear of down-selling their own line of lsi's.

Ummm no. The rti series speakers cannot, will not can't be compared to the Lsi series. The Lsi series is superior in every way.

A better sounding musical speakers IS a better sound home theater. Detail is detail.

the Rti's are what they are. There nice speakers. the Lsi's are fantastic speakers.

Dan