RTi4 hurt my ears!
So i recently ugpraded from the monitor series to the RTi setup in my signature. As you can see i have the 10's in the front. I love how they sound with music and HT. well, i have an extra pair of RTi4s that i was originally going to use as surrounds but replaced them with FXi3s. I was considering using the extra pair of RTi4's or maybe upgrade to a pair of RTi6's for an office setup, so i decided to test out the RTi4's just by themselves as the mains.
God, i swear they nearly made me go deaf. Maybe its unfair comparing them to the 10s, but to me they sounded terrible regardless! They work good as surrounds, but after about 5 minutes of listening to them in stereo i had to shut things down because i got a headache from listening to them! I guess they are just too bright to use for music. also they sound very limited in their range :mad:
God, i swear they nearly made me go deaf. Maybe its unfair comparing them to the 10s, but to me they sounded terrible regardless! They work good as surrounds, but after about 5 minutes of listening to them in stereo i had to shut things down because i got a headache from listening to them! I guess they are just too bright to use for music. also they sound very limited in their range :mad:
KEF Q150 | Rythmik F12 | Yamaha Aventage RX-A780
Post edited by BjornB17 on
Comments
-
Hmmm...different strokes I guess.
Did you re-run any auto-calibration on your emotiva before hooking in the RTI4s? Maybe your last run has the eq a tad bright?
What was your source and what music or movies did you use to audition them? And how LOUD did you go?
Personally I don't think the RTI4s are best matched as a loud metal speaker.
When driven loud with busy top end mixes with hard rock, I think that the sound stage collapses with the RTI4s and they can be fatiguing.
They are not forgiving when the source is not a good clean mix either.
But, for me, they really really shine with clean open sources (say like vibrant soft jazz) and a clean power source.
I've got mine singing right now....clean sweet imaging, balanced sound, and my Carver amp has the LEDs juusstttt starting to dance up and down with the power draw.
With a nice cold one, I can sit for hours just lost in the sonic goodness.
Sorry to hear about your headache!
H9: If you don't trust what you are hearing, then maybe you need to be less invested in a hobby which all the pleasure comes from listening to music. -
I didn't use an official calibration or anything, but i adjusted the EQ the best i could to sound like the 10s. I wasn't even listening very loud but they were just making my head hurt for some reason, it was really strange! I don't think the source is the issue as I used the same sources for my RTi10s. They speakers do sound great with acoustic guitar and other music that makes good use of the tweeter, but anything else just sounded off. I wonder what is going on. I would really like to be able to use these in my office!KEF Q150 | Rythmik F12 | Yamaha Aventage RX-A780
-
are they damaged? did you run them hard before, and now after you got the 10's you notice the damaged sound?Dodd - Battery Preamp
Monarchy Audio SE100 Delux - mono power amps
Sony DVP-NS999ES - SACD player
ADS 1230 - Polk SDA 2B
DIY Stereo Subwoofer towers w/(4) 12 drivers each
Crown K1 - Subwoofer amp
Outlaw ICBM - crossover
Beringher BFD - sub eq
Where is the remote? Where is the $%#$% remote!
"I've always been mad, I know I've been mad, like the most of us have...very hard to explain why you're mad, even if you're not mad..." -
I'm not familiar with the emotiva preamp or your HK amp - maybe they are both considered 'bright' and when coupled with the RTI4s that makes to overall setup 'blindingly bright'?
What do you plan on using to drive the RTI4s in your office? May want to audition them with that setup before your final verdict.
If you don't like them - send them back - its your wallet and your ears!
H9: If you don't trust what you are hearing, then maybe you need to be less invested in a hobby which all the pleasure comes from listening to music. -
Try using a sub with them and see if its still harsh.
-
I didn't use an official calibration or anything, but i adjusted the EQ the best i could to sound like the 10s.
Here's the first problem.CTC BBQ Amplifier, Sonic Frontiers Line3 Pre-Amplifier and Wadia 581 SACD player. Speakers? Always changing but for now, Mission Argonauts I picked up for $50 bucks, mint. -
I don't think they could be broken as i have two pairs of them and they sound the same, and i got them from an authorized dealer. I think dorokusai may have hit the nail on the head though. Although i tried a range of eq settings for the speakers, i just realized that i still had them set to "large" on the preamp for the RTi10. The speakers sound really strained and this is likely the reason. Also the crossover is set to 60 hz. Tomorrow i'll try to reset that to 80 and set the speakers to small and let you guys know how that turns out.KEF Q150 | Rythmik F12 | Yamaha Aventage RX-A780
-
leroyjr1 has a good point too.
Most everyone agrees that while the RTI4s have decent midbass 'for a bookshelf' - they do need a sub if you want a balanced top to bottom effect.
I run a sub with my setup and it does provide a bottom anchor to the sound to offset the....clarity....of the RTI4s
And if you are going to relegate them to surrounds, I think in the end, you'll be a happy owner.
Otherwise, send them back and try the RTIA1s.
H9: If you don't trust what you are hearing, then maybe you need to be less invested in a hobby which all the pleasure comes from listening to music. -
Erik Tracy wrote: »leroyjr1 has a good point too.
Most everyone agrees that while the RTI4s have decent midbass 'for a bookshelf' - they do need a sub if you want a balanced top to bottom effect.
I run a sub with my setup and it does provide a bottom anchor to the sound to offset the....clarity....of the RTI4s
And if you are going to relegate them to surrounds, I think in the end, you'll be a happy owner.
Otherwise, send them back and try the RTIA1s.
I tired them with my CHT-12 and although it helped a bit, it seemed like there was a hole in the sound. I guess it was probably the crossover set too low (60 hz) for the RTi4. I was considering sending them back to get a pair of RTi6. I think the larger drive might help. I have a CSi5 that i listened to on its one (with dual 6.5 drivers) and didnt seem to have the limitations that i feel the RTi4 does.KEF Q150 | Rythmik F12 | Yamaha Aventage RX-A780 -
I noticed a 'hole' in the sound of mine as well - turned out to be the phase setting on the sub that filled it all back in.
But - like I said - it should be your call: keep 'em or ship 'em back.
Listen to your ears and what your gut tells ya.
H9: If you don't trust what you are hearing, then maybe you need to be less invested in a hobby which all the pleasure comes from listening to music.
