New Polk RTiA series - CES 2007

dorokusai

More to come later this afternoon, but wanted you all to have some RTiA to chew on. Drivers and crossovers are updated, and the cabinet is UNREAL. It's curved, but it wasn't crosscut or notched to achieve it. Each new RTiA series cabinet is FIVE layers of MDF, glued and compression welded.

Another update, the RTi8 replacement, RTiA5 now has the 'see through' Power Port Plus as the larger models do.

The new models are (small to large) RTiA 1, 3, 5, 7, 9. CSi4, 6. FXi4, 6.

Cheers,
Russ

Sorry the pics came out a little soft, I'll get them re-shot - but didn't want you all to have to wait longer to get a peak. Off to the Venetian, we'll do a post on the new subs this afternoon.

Toka78

Ooooh...very purdy! Bet they sound as good as they look. Thanks for posting!

ohskigod

sweet lookin cabs

sickicw

I read a while back they were going to come out with the new lsi series around 2007. i wonder if we are gonna see that later this week.

dorokusai

No, you won't see new LSi until next year, they are still 12 months out.

Cheers,
Russ

steveinaz

Nice! There you go POLK, thank god they're are ditching the cheesy HT look.

polkatese

Those are beaut! Now I am really looking forward to the new LSis! I sense a hint of Sonus' curvy philosophy at work.

jcaut

Are the big models still passive? No powered woofers?

Maurice

Yes!!!! I'm sooooo gettin' some. Glad they replaced those crappy grills and went back to a more sophisticated look.:D

cfrizz

Those are beautiful.

Danny Tse

I like what I see. Like that wood finish...

disneyjoe7

Very Nice

TroyD

Looks GOOD. DAMN good.

Well, it would appear that the buyout by DEI really didn't impair Polk's mission.

You guys should listen to me more often.

BDT

Emlyn

Looks great, sort of like the cabinet maker borrowed the basic structure of the Wharfedale Diamond series or similar speakers and adapted and upgraded the design to meet Polk requirements.

mwaarna

dorokusai wrote:

No, you won't see new LSi until next year, they are still 12 months out.

Cheers,
Russ

I am just a few weeks off on purchasing some LSi's, how sure are you that the new series of LSI is off by that much, and would it be worth it to wait till the new model comes out and the current LSI series goes on clearance?

tommyboy

mwaarna wrote:

I am just a few weeks off on purchasing some LSi's, how sure are you that the new series of LSI is off by that much, and would it be worth it to wait till the new model comes out and the current LSI series goes on clearance?

Buddy

There is no way anyone could answer that for you because no one has seen or heard them. If you are planning on buying them, then get them. The only reason I would wait is to get the older LSIs cheaper.

TroyD wrote:

Well, it would appear that the buyout by DEI really didn't impair Polk's mission.

You guys should listen to me more often.

If I were you, I wouldn't be bragging yet until we all take a listen to them;)

I definitely like the new look. Am I blind though or do these speaks not have spikes?

Last question doro, are these the final design or are they still making a few final touches?

later
tommyboy

Mjr7531

Augh, I'm feeling my upgraditis kicking in!

mark g. nelson

I like!! But we Need a current version of the RT55i !!! Please Polk!!!

Nelson57

These look great! Any info on what drivers changes have been made, and what models are shown in the pictures?

Also any ideas on availability? I remember seeing pictures of new Polk subs, but haven't seen or heard much about those since then. [Edit] Sorry, missed the mention of the new subs. Got to excited looking at the pictures!

I must say though, even with those questions unanswered, I am excited!

Ricardo

Those look gorgeous; updated drivers? Sounds great....I see though the tweeter looks the same as the current....I would have thought they'd bring something a bit different to tame just a little bit those high frequencies...but then again, if they did this no one would buy the LSi line

P.S. Do you think I could swap the karma RTi6's for a pair of the new ones???? :eek: :eek: :eek:

Emlyn

HTrookie wrote:

Those look gorgeous; updated drivers? Sounds great....I see though the tweeter looks the same as the current....I would have thought they'd bring something a bit different to tame just a little bit those high frequencies...but then again, if they did this no one would buy the LSi line

There's a very good chance the new RT line will be better than the current LSi line in a number of areas. The curved cabinet should help reduce internal standing waves and improve imaging from the current RT line, and make the box sound less "boxy". The LSi line doesn't have this advance--it used to be too expensive to pull off. The bass response of the larger RTi's has always sounded much better integrated to me than the LSi15's, and the driver layout seems to replicate everything that's good about the last couple of RT series of tower speakers for bass. As a home theater speaker line, I doubt the frequency response characteristics of the tweeter have been changed much.

Looking forward to auditioning these.

DollarDave

They are worthy of going naked, without their grills. I have looked at these off and on all day and think I actually get somewhat aroused each time... they are beautiful enough to post them in the "Tasteful Babe" thread.

dorokusai

Do you think these should be in that thread

Mike Reeter

I just went down downstairs and told my RTi12's that they might be finding a new home one day...cus these babies are starting to give me MAJOR wood...

Me likey,me likey a lot:D

civilian

Those are darn nice looking speakers, a definate step up!

Mike Reeter

dorokusai wrote:

Do you think these should be in that thread

I have to say that the new model under Marks right arm has a nice pair of tweeters...

civilian

Mike Reeter wrote:

I have to say that the new model under Marks right arm has a nice pair of tweeters...

More like woofers!;)

VR3

Mark me unimpressed -

Nice new look, same ol trick...

dorokusai

Same old trick? How so?

You need to understand, Polk has engineers, and you have to STOP engineers - or you'll never get a product released. The new RTiA line, is just an extension of development, of ideas that were already in place, and can now be realized.

The driver and crossover tweaks are just that. Small refinements. The BIG deal here is the cabinet, and it's construction. FIVE layers of MDF - and the compression welding, and the curve WITHOUT crosscuts? You of all people should know how a cabinet can change a speakers sound. IMO, the cabinet density and construction are substantial enough to warrant a new release - not even mention the other refinements.

Cheers,
Russ

VR3

I think the cabinet structure... is amazing - and taking 5 layers of MDF, assuming they are .25" thick to give you some rediculously thick sides is great...

But while the cabinets are an excellent upgrade over the cheap looking series from last time...

I was expecting... more...particularly in the region of driver array and drivers used...

To me they just look like reclothed speakers from the last series, even the driver baskets are still silver... lol - but like I said, Im not discounting the cabinet upgrade, I just expected.....more

dkg999

I think as soon as these get into the distribution channel it may be time to update my RTi70/CSi40 front of the HT system. Hopefully the new RTIA's will still work well with my FXi5/3 surrounds. Very nice job based on the pictures, and hopefully a little more balanced sound and taming of the tweeter.