Best RT 12, 10, 8 for HT

stubro

All I am about to pull the trigger on a set of speakers for my HT. I am looking at the Polks and I am getting a little confused. If I am mainly going to do Home Theather( HT) listening and I have a powered SW (Klipsh) then should I go with the RT8? I plan to move this into a bigger room in my next house. Seems to me the 8 doesnt have the woofer and if I am going to set the speakers on small for the HT that would make sense and save the money. Thoughts? Thanks

disneyjoe7

If you just want HT then I would say RT8, if you want duel duty Stereo 2 channel and HT then I would say RT12.

stubro

Steve - thanks. I am in Tampa and want to make sure I get the right ones. So for HT the 12s work ok? Any issues if i am not pushing an amp to them right away? I am thinking a 140 w avr in the begining. Thanks

BTW - Go UCF.

disneyjoe7

Stubro,

What is your AVR model?

RT12 will work ok with must AVR but will sound really sweet with an AMP, so if you're going forward then just make sure the AVR as pre amp outputs for future.

stubro

disneyjoe7 wrote:

Stubro,

What is your AVR model?

RT12 will work ok with must AVR but will sound really sweet with an AMP, so if you're going forward then just make sure the AVR as pre amp outputs for future.

I have a Denon 4806 on hold tweeter has a great price on it this week $2100. Other then that I have an older Yamaha DSP-A3090 but it will be replaced with either a Denon or a Yamaha.

Some people tell me only get the RT8 and if the majority of my listening is HT. But i am thinking for the price I should go for the RT12s.

disneyjoe7

If HT listening only then yes RT8 is fine, there's no harm is using a larger speaker also. I think you may be listening to some nice 2 channel music with the larger RT12's.

Any reason you're sticking with the RT line over the LSi line?

BTW no I don't own the LSi line but a older RTi150's as fronts.

Holydoc

Stubro,

I am using RTi12's for both HT and two channel. They are wonderful. If you are just worried about Home theatre and you have a nice subwoofer, there is no reason to get the RTi12's. However if you are also going to use it to listen to 2-channel stereo, then the RTi12's excel since they have the full sound spectrum you need. Mine sound great in both HT and 2-channel.

Good luck!

stubro

No no reason I havent gone with the LSi line to be honest. You know how it is stand in Tweeter and look at a lot of speakers. Are the LSi the ones I should be looking at? What are the advantages for the extra $s?
Thanks.

disneyjoe7

Stubro,

If just starting out I would see if you like and can afford the LSi line for Stereo and HT. I know if you don't you will hear about the LSi being the best Bah Bah Bah.... So stick around listen to both so you will have opinion your self.

ronnie

I own RTi12's and have heard the LSi's and there is a major difference in the upper range. i should have spent the extra dough, but i really like my setup.....it works for me so far.....if your gonna spend the money go all the way......its always better to have more than not enough

stubro

Thanks all for the info this is very heplful. I will go and look at the LSi if not I will go with the RT12s. I think I am going to get the Dennon 4806 that pushes 140W do you all recomend a AMP or can I get on without one for a year or so. I am willing to spend the money on the right speakers if they will grow with me.

EDIT: So would the LSi15 be that much better then the RTi12s?

Holydoc

Stubro,

Both the LSi15 and the RTi12's are going to suck down your AVR's power. If you are using your AVR for HT use, then these speakers will suck all the power and leave your other speakers with very little. This is a very unsatisfying sound. However if you have not heard the difference between your AVR with and without an amplifier, you may be able to live with it for a year. *shrug* Check it and see.

If you are set on getting the LSi15 or RTi12, then I would recommend purchasing a cheaper AVR (or even preamp) and get an amplifier to go with your system. Just make sure your AVR has preouts so that you can add an amplifier in the future. Both the LSi15 and the RTi12's will eat up as much power as you can spare them.

univera

If I may ask a related question to this thread, does using an AVR solely as a pre/pro and amping it seperately really make that much difference in terms of sound quality/improvement? Obviously, a more powerful external amp will help the situation. But in terms of seperating the power supply from the pre/pro, is that the biggest difference one will notice in terms of sound improvement? It seems today's mid-fi AVR's are generally well regarded.

In this scenario just using an AVR as the processor, would one be getting nearly the same sonic benefits as using a seperate, dedicated pre/pro and amp? Good AVR's are well built and I assume the sound degradation comes mainly from housing the power supplies in the same unit. Since one is eliminating the internal power supplies and associated drawbacks, is the pre-pro section nearly on par with stand alone pre-pro units? I have a well built NAD T-773 which has a very well regarded pre-pro section. The main thing I am trying to ascertain is whether the main goal is to seperate the power supply to eliminate things introduced into the signal or is it just to get a beefier external amp since most AVR's are limited in power supply. I realize movies are very dynamic and need a good deal of headroom. Hope this makes sense.

jdhdiggs

Go with 8's unless you have tons of power for HT. As for LSi's, go with what you like. If this is going to be a primarily HT rig, buy the RTi's and use the extra $$$ to upgrade your sub and/or electronics.

Universa: In a word, yes! Most AVR's do not put out the power they are spec'd at and don't have a lot of damping (read: control). Most seperate amps have the control and can produce the rated power.

marker

^^^ I agree. For strictly HT, get the Rti8 and put the money in the sub instead.

disneyjoe7

I can't see anyone who will do a nice HT, that won't wake up and feel good about 2 channel Stereo. Maybe I wrong

stubro

I have to say I have been going back and forth on this one. I havent looked at the LSi's yet but I am leaning towards the RT12s to be able to get some 2 channel stereo as well. I know I said mostly HT which is true but that is today and I think in the future with a high end media center I might be listening to more music but this is still mainly HT. I can get the RT12s for $600 each which seems like a good deal. I am getting the Dennon 4806 to push them and I will upgrade with a good amp down the line. The Dennon has a good real power output per channel, real terms around 120W(rated 140W).

Keep the comments coming I still have not commited. One other question can I use the FXi5 for 7.1 surround? i.e. get 4 of them with the RTs?
Thanks again guys.

frodaddy

In my 5.1 setup I have RT800's for front and surrounds; the RT8's are the newer version of this line for polk. I think the RT800's for front L/R duty are JUST good enough for me. They just aren't wow'ing me anymore.

A future upgrade for me would be the RT12s for L/R, so hopefully this helps you some!

disneyjoe7

Wait into you give RT12's about 400w each channel

Holydoc

stubro wrote:

Keep the comments coming I still have not commited. One other question can I use the FXi5 for 7.1 surround? i.e. get 4 of them with the RTs?
Thanks again guys.

Stubro,

I am using the FXi3's for my surround and back speakers. They work great. I cannot see why the FXi5's would not serve you fine.

If you need to save some money, I would recommend the FXi3's over the FXi5's unless you have a very large area to fill with sound. Your surrounds and backs do not get enough sound to warrant the extra money for the FXi5's in a small to medium size room.

josh_parsons626

I would go ahead and get the RTi8 and an SVS PB10-NSD subwoofer. SVS is regarded as one of the best subs out there. I think very highly of Denon as AVR, but I think with an amp you'll be in a whole different "area" of heaven LOL. Normally I would recommend the LSi series to anybody and everybody, but you HAVE to have an amp to power them. Even the $6,000 AVR-5805 rated at 170 watts x 10 channels will be no match for them. And you'd probably think they sound like **** when they're not properly powered. I think the RTi8 is the best choice for you. I think you'd still be in the same boat about HAVING to have external power if you would go with the RTi12's.

stubro

OK I am back on the fence with the RT8 vs the RT12. How much power is right for the RT12s? If I got a outlaw AMP 7x125 on top of the denon is that enough or will it still be best to go with the RT8s? Is disneyjoes post about 400W actually more on the money? I am ok going with the RT8s but I am afraid I am leaving something behind by not getting the 12s or even the 10s. I just dropped good money on an amp and a new TV and I want to make sure I can scale up. IF you guys think the RT8 with the fxi5 or fxi3 will do it then I am good with that. I currently have a Klipsh sub. I might wait to see what is sounds like before spending on the SVS. Though if I dont have to spend on an amp right now that would help. Ithink eventually my wife is going to ask how much this all costs. Thanks for the info keep it coming.

AsSiMiLaTeD

Here's my advice:

Pass on the expensive 48xx Denon. Get the 38xx receiver, same processing basically. Take the extra $1000 and buy yourself a good amp.

jdhdiggs

With a set budget of the range you're talking about, I would do:

RTi8 FR/FL
CSi5 Center
FXi5 SR/SL/RR/RL
Lowest level Denon with all the features you want
Seperate Amp for at least the FL/FR
As much SVS as you can buy up to the PB12+2 level (the klipsch sub isn't in the same league)

Any money left in the budget would go to adding more channels of matching amplification and better processing. This will kick but for HT and 2 channel.

I would strongly limit your choices to the 8 or 12, I have a srong dislike for the 10. Also, I would gravitate to spending a little more money on your amp and or sub. Once you have a "good" one of those, you won't be changing it out as you probably will your speakers.

aaharvel

Polkmaniac wrote:

Here's my advice:

Pass on the expensive 48xx Denon. Get the 38xx receiver, same processing basically. Take the extra $1000 and buy yourself a good amp.

Perhaps a step further?

Pass on the expensive 38xx receiver. Get the 28xx receiver, same processing & pre-outs. Even more money for a great amp.

zombie boy 2000

or.... you could get a CD or DVD player with a digital volume control.....
buy an even better amp


and ditch the Denon pre/amp idea all together:D

stubro

Polkmaniac good point. I can get the Denon 4806 for $2100 new which for the additional HDMI/DVI inputs seems good. Agree on the processing side. Might be a little off topic but what size is a good amp?

EDIT: I hear all of you it might make more sense for me to get a lower cost AVR and add a good AMP. I am ok with that but I am thinking about video inputs as well. I will have at least 3 HDMI/DVI inputs and I can run those to the TV driectly. So maybe it makes sense to get the 38XX or 28XX and get a good amp and sub. I thought the deal and the reviews on the 4806 were so good that I should take the plunge but I see that $1K could be spent better on an amp and a sub.

jdhdiggs

For that money, I would buy the outlaw 990 and 7125 Combo for about $2K shipped. The money you save on going with the 8's instead of 12's and 3's instead of 5's would put you in the 990/7200 range $2.7K

Or add that ~$700 saved to the Klipsch sub price and get the SVS PB12+2

I would definately take a 990/7125 and the PB12+2 over the Denon 4806 and Klipsch Sub

stubro

jdhdiggs wrote:

For that money, I would buy the outlaw 990 and 7125 Combo for about $2K shipped. The money you save on going with the 8's instead of 12's and 3's instead of 5's would put you in the 990/7200 range $2.7K

Or add that ~$700 saved to the Klipsch sub price and get the SVS PB12+2

I would definately take a 990/7125 and the PB12+2 over the Denon 4806 and Klipsch Sub

That is good to know i took at look at the outlaw amps but not their AVR. I will go out there and take a look.

disneyjoe7

Stubro,

Sorry I little late reply (I can't see this website at work )

I have a mid high AVR with 110x7 channels I only use 3 channels front / rear speakers. It only does this speakers so the AVR is somewhat nice, right now. The Front speakers are powered by 2 amps bridged for 400w each, people who I show this off there face are WOW ****. Some people knows where this is going, they will leave the room at times the house Honest.

So my input is 3XXX something or something else, 2 channel amp 250w x 2 8ohm. Or you can add an amp later like you said, if you didn't know what you're missing would you know you're missing something?

marker

The 4806 and 5805 are THX Ultra II, so they ARE specked to drive 4 Ohm loads FWIW.