RTi8 vs Monitor 70 ??

Schwingding

Help me please.

I have a pair of Monitor 70's that are currently bi-amped via a Yamaha 5990, serving as my mains, with a CS2 center and a vintage pair of Monitor 5Bs as my surrounds. I also have a Velodyne minivee 1000w sub. I use the system for multichannel music and movies.

An opportunity has arisen where I may be able to purchase a pair of new rti/8s for a very good price.

I have heard from several sources that the rti line, even a lower priced/spec'd one in the line, is a better performer than the comparable monitor of higher price/higher up the line.

At worst, I could use the lesser performer for my surrounds. That would be sweet, I'd imagine. However, I'd appreciate some informed opinions on the differences between the Monitor 70's and RTi8s please, aside from the specs. I don't have anywhere I can make a valid comparison of the two.

Thank you.

zombie boy 2000

Welcome to the Forum Shcwing!

Will you be using your speakers mostly for HT or music (or a combination of both...)?

Schwingding

Thank you. I listen to a great deal of multichannel music, but this is also my home theater setup. Currently I have my setup for the mains set to "small" with a crossover of 60Hz on the AV receiver, sending anything below that to the sub despite the fact that I've bi-amped the 70's. My minivee is much better at producing the lows than the 70s are. I would anticipate the same to be true for the RTi8's, and am really considering them for their mid-hi abilities vs the low end. Any info/advice appreciated.

zombie boy 2000

IMO the Rti8's run laps around the 70's for any HT applications. But for music, you might find 'em to have a slightly hyperactive top-end (i.e "too bright"). Bass management will become more of an issue, as well -- as the 70's tend to not only dig a little deeper into the lower frequencies, but blend a little better with a sub.

All that being said, the Rti8's are the better speaker in terms of parts and build. And whereas you can expect a massive improvement when watching movies, don't expect anything earth-shattering when listening to your CD's.

Just my 2 cents

ohskigod

while I think the Monitor line is a great entry level product, if you have the means to go RTi, then do so.

while Zombie is relating his experience, I have experienced the oppsite (on certain gear, like Yammie recivers, the Monitor line sounds much brighter than the RTi to me. results to vary though.

you can build upon the RTi better than the monitors though either way. rewards for improvements up the chain (source, amplification etc) will be more apparent with the RTi line over the monitors.

zombie boy 2000

ohskigod wrote:

you can build upon the RTi better than the monitors though either way. rewards for improvements up the chain (source, amplification etc) will be more apparent with the RTi line over the monitors.

I completely agree with this.... and you'll be less like to experience "buyer's remorse" with the Rti speaks. I was just trying to provide what may be perceived differences between the two offerings. Different folks, different ears.

Just out of curiousity, how much are you getting the Rti8's for?

edit: I also have found the 70's to be much more laid back than anything else in the Monitor line-up.

Schwingding

Thanks. I just committed to buying them a few minutes ago. $400/pair, unopened boxes. Don't know, didn't ask.

zombie boy 2000

At $400 and "new", you would have been crazy not to jump....

congrats on your purchase! I believe at that pricepoint you have chosen wisely Indiana:)




Unless the Feds come looking:D

ronnie

zombie boy 2000 wrote:

At $400 and "new", you would have been crazy not to jump....
Unless the Feds come looking:D

hell of a price...the 8's are really diffrent caliber speaker than the monitors and need more (or love) more power...great buy on that one for sure:)

Ern Dog

Congrats! I would have done the same. Please be sure to give us your opinion about the differences between them.

Schwingding

Well I installed them today. They (the RTi8s) are much brighter and much more clear than the Monitor 70s. To make a valid comparison, I installed them with the same bi-amp config that I had the 70s running under. I was easily able to discern things in musical selections that I had not heard before, such as background traffic sounds on Sting's "Englishmen in New York". I had heard cabs/traffic before, but now I can hear wheels rolling and people talking. (This is in the DVD-A/DTS version, I can't hear those things in the CD tracks)

On a straight CD - Cypress Hill, I could discern people talking in the background on my favorite track "Hits From The Bong", that I had not heard before with the 70's or in my vehicle.

The one thing these RTi8's do not have that the 70s do is presence. They do not fill the room quite the same. While the music is more crisp and detailed, the ambience and warmth of the Monitor 70s is not there. Some of that may change as they are broken in. I have a very good sub that fills in the lows below 60Hz. Without a sub I think these RTi8's would suffer compared to the 70s. With a good sub, the point is moot.

For my next trick, I replaced my monitor 5B surrounds with the Monitor 70s! The 5Bs were on floor stands with the tweeters at ear height when sitting, and the 70s put them there by default.

The 70's overpower the RTi8s in surround mode, even though they are only being run by one amp. I have not been able to find a configuration that mellows them enough to perform as decent surrounds, and may go back to the 5Bs for now. The source from which I bought these RTi8s has another pair for the same price and I may get them and put them into duty as the surrounds and sell the 70s.

I have not yet watched any movies, but I am certain that if I find music to be improved, I will find it doubly so with movies.

Ern Dog

That's good to know. Thanks for the comparison. This gets me more pumped to make the transition into the Rti line. I have to admit that I love the warmth and presence of the Monitor 70's that you also commented on. I'm hoping the Rti 10's can deliver both a fuller presence and clarity.

Schwingding

So here's an update. I now have a pair of Monitor 70's for sale, and a CS2 as well. Instead of moving forward with that 2nd pair of RTi6s (BTW, if anyone is interested in them send me a note I'll put you in touch with the guy who has them).

I went and bought a pair of RTi10's and installed them as my fronts and put the RTi6s into duty as surrounds. Replaced the CS2 with the CSi5 as well.

TREMENDOUS solution! The 10s are amazing, and the 8s are perfect in surround duty. But the most astonishing difference was the difference between the CS2 and CSi5. The 5 made me go "holy cow, the voices sound so real!". The CSi5 is really amazing compared to the CS2, which I had liked before, didn't know what I was missing.

I now have a complete HT speaker solution that I'm going to be putting up for sale - includes a pair of Monitor 70's, Monitor 5Bs, and a CS2.

And to think all of this started last year as simply a replacement for my ailing Kenwood receiver...

AndyGwis

Schwingding,

I may have interest in your CS2. PM me and maybe we can work something out.

Andygwis

jhermance

What are you looking to get for the 70's?

Willow

Congrats on the new speaks.

I'm wondering if you are truely bi-amping and not just bi-wiring? Have you removed the brass jumpers ?
When I replaced my Yammy with my HK I found the sound to be more full and less bright on my 8's. Mine are xover @ 60.

Lowell_M

Schwing,

With the 8's in the front, did you try brining your crossover settup up at all (maybe around 80hz)? With my 70's I found that 80hz was a good crossover setting for both music and HT.

You are progressing through this addiction very quickly!!! ....In fact...you know those 10's are very power hungry....you probably need a 2 channel amp for them and free the Yammy up for your 8's in the rear.

Schwingding

Willow wrote:

Congrats on the new speaks.

I'm wondering if you are truely bi-amping and not just bi-wiring? Have you removed the brass jumpers ?
When I replaced my Yammy with my HK I found the sound to be more full and less bright on my 8's. Mine are xover @ 60.

Yes, they are truly bi-amped. The bridge bars have been removed. On the Yamaha 5990 the rear surround amp can be reassigned to support the fronts in bi-amp fashion. The same xover logic is applied to it, though, so it isn't really bi-amping in its utmost fashion. However, one of the internal xovers is bypassed, and twice as much wattage is sent to the speakers.

earkemerson

the highlight of this thread to me was cypress hill

Schwingding

earkemerson wrote:

the highlight of this thread to me was cypress hill

Can I get a.....hit! :cool:

AndyGwis

Maybe someone should put Cypress Hill "Black Sunday" on the perfect albums thread. Honestly, there's not a bad song on that album, especially if you are in the right "sonic environment."