New stereo setup with future additions

jb33

Good evening (if you are on the East Coast, anyway), I am new to the forum and would like some advice if anyone could spare it.

I recently purchased an Onkyo SR505 receiver and have yet to decide on speakers. I've narrowed my selection down to Polk speakers due to my listening experiences with them, the name itself, and the devotion many people have for them. Due to size constraints and convenience, I've also narrowed my selection down to bookshelf speakers.

I would like to start out with just a stereo set up, eventually upgrading to a 5.1 surround sound system. My budget for a pair of speakers is ~$150, preferably less, although I may be a little flexible if necessary. I saw a pair of used RT15is on ebay, but should I be hesitant to buy used? Or should I go with something new from the monitor line? I've heard the monitor line at Circuit City, but have not heard any RTis. Oh, the room in question is roughly 14x14, with an open space to one side.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks.

jb33

I don't think I can go with the Rti6 right now...$ 200+ is more than I can spend at the moment.

As I said before, this is my first system and is the beginning of a larger system (eventually). Would Monitor or Rt15i speakers be a bad investment if I was to eventually make them surrounds? Thinking of the big picture, if I got the lower tier speakers now, would they match better speakers, for instance, Rti4s or Rti6s, in a larger set up?

Thanks for your help.

janmike

Welcome. I think you are on the right track, buy what you can budget for today. I never owned the Rti4's, but did own the Rti6's and liked them. Starting out I think you will be happy with the 4's. Did you go have a listen? Stick with gut feeling. Good luck.

jb33

Thanks for your help. I have not yet listened to the Rti series because I haven't been to any dedicated audio stores and all Circuit City has are Monitors.

I still have some time to decide whether I will buy the Rti4s or the Rt15is since the auction on the Rt15is has one more day to go. How big a difference is there between the Rti4s and the RT15is? I know the Rt15is are an older model, correct? This will be my first real audio system and I am just indecisive.

janmike

Buy the new ones, it's your first.

jb33

I finally had enough time to buy the Rti4s. I ordered them off OneCall and they should arrive at my house early next week. Thanks for your advice, I really look forward to hooking some real speakers up to my new receiver. If I have any problems setting them up, I know where to turn!

Joe