Mix RTi8 with RM6901?

moho_mc

Polk fans,

I am a newby to polk, (somewhat) and currently shopping for new home stereo / theater speakers.

I like what I have learned on the RTi8s and the RM series. However, with the way I have my room set up, I need tall and thin speakers like the RTi8 (or monitor 60 series) and moderately small rear surround sound speakers. The FXi3 series are not ideal for the location I have intensions to place the rear speakers. Plus, bookshelf type speakers (RTi3) are not ideal where I am placing them. I am eye-balling the RM6901s due to how small they are and I think they would look and fit nicer in the location I want.

I plan to place the rear speakers in the upper corner of the ceiling and one sided wall. Mount the speak on the wall just under the crown molding. The ceiling height is 10 feet and plan to angle the speakers 45degrees down. The constraint is my other "better half", the wife. She says keep them out of her way and she is happy. Hence, the 10 foot high wall location.

So my question is ....
Are the RTi and RM speakers voice matched to one another? I know all the family series are matched among one another (all RTi's with one another). But what about voice matching of the RTis and the RM series, or the Monitor series? Is it wise NOT to mix up these families on in the same room driven from the same HT receiver?

Thank you for your support.

William

moho_mc

Any comments directly related to this inquiry would be greatly appreciated:)

MADGSF

First, welcome to the club William!

Next I will answer your questions the best I can. The wife approval factor (WAF) drives a lot of the placement decisions around here.

1. The RM and RTi series are not voice matched, I don't think the RM and Monitor are either.
2. In a perfect world you would keep all speakers from the same family, i.e. RTi. At the very least the front three should be of the same family.
3. When placing the surround speakers you go for a "diffused" sound so I would avoid pointing them directly at the seating position if possible.
4. The RM 6901 has a -3dB frequency of 130Hz so it seems like it would be hard to blend them with the RTi-8 which has a -3dB of 40Hz. Since you will most likely set your receiver crossover to 80Hz I would look for a surround that can go at least to 80Hz.

Are in-wall or in-ceiling speakers an option? I use in-ceiling for my surrounds and am happy with them. It may allow you more flexibility in placement and they will be invisible to the casual observer. You can also get them from the RTi family. Hope this helps.

moho_mc

Thank you MADGSF. What you are saying is exactly in line with what the "Tweeter store" guy said. I paid a visit with them today to listen to the polk systems and love it all.

The limitation I have in the rears is 7 inches in hieght. I have LARGE windows that cover the entire rear back wall that faces a sun room. Each window surely has added support that is narrower than the typical 16in stud spacing. I can not even put in a TC60i in-wall speaker in that area. The wife will NOT allow me to change anything on the sun room or back wall.

So what other surround sound speaker would work best for me with only a 7in height limit? Maybe the CSi3 for surrond sound along with the center channel?

MADGSF

Are you planning on a 5.1 or 7.1 system? How high is the ceiling in the back and can speakers be mounted there? At this point more information about your room is needed. Dimensions including ceiling height, where will you sit in relation to the back wall and screen and while we’re at it what are you using to power the system.

Putting the rears in the ceiling while not ideal will work fine. My surrounds are in the ceiling and as my couch is against the back wall I pointed them at the wall to diffuse the sound. The idea of using center channels for surround duty has come up here before but I have never heard that setup and am not sure how it would sound. If the wall is the only place to mount them I will have to think about it some more.

moho_mc

MADGSF

You ask good questions and unfortunately I am ashamed to answer one of them. Here are the easy answers:

*9 ft ceiling.
*couch is 4 ft offset from the back wall
*ceiling mount not an option. Just too darn hard to run wire from side wall to ceiling without ripping molding apart. Did this 1 time and swore never again.

And the embarrasing moment ..
Pionier VSX-D1S, 1991 model, only Dolby Pro Logic.

I am working slightly backwards here I realize that. I do plan on getting a nice Yamaha HT receiver soon. But all I have the OK on is the speakers from the WAF.

I did a search and found the Klipsh S-2 models would JUST fit in my 7in spacing I have from the top lip window molding to the ceiling trim molding.

I know they are NOT Polk, but I have very little choices here and Polk just does not offer the options for this space limit unless I change to a totally smaller system. (If I just did not love those RTi8s so much)

So your thoughts from the info I have offered?

MADGSF

Understand your situation and don't worry about old equipment. I was using a 1987 Yamaha with 4 channel surround until I got my Pioneer a couple of years ago. For me running speaker wires was easy as I have a one story and used the attic space.

As for Klipsch speakers. They are good speakers and I gave the RF-5 and RF-7 a listen before getting my Polk’s. I don't know if I would mix RTi-8s and the Klipsch, if possible give that setup a listen first. I think you know this but before you buy anything you should listen to it.

I find the Klipsch a little bright, sounds like too much treble, and I would suggest you listen to them first and choose your receiver carefully. The newer Yamaha receivers are a little bright too and might not be the best match for Klipsch speaker. I would suggest you try a Harmon Kardon, NAD or Marantz instead.

You can find pretty good deals for refurbs on the HK web site. The 645 is nice and don't worry about HK showing lower wattage than other manufacturers. They deliver what they spec and are high current to boot. They have a warmer sound that should work well with the Klipsch.

At any rate let us know what you decide on.