sda-1C vs. RTi-A9

bluecomet

I was just wondering if anyone has these speakers. Does anyone think the new RTi-A9's would be better than the old SDA-1C's. I am in the process of buying SDA SRS 2's. I was lucky enough to find a near mint set locally. Would these speakers be more in line with the RTi-A9's. Thanks.

ben62670

I love the SDA's. I would rather have SDA's over nearly new. With the money you save buying SDA's you can upgrade the XO's, and tweeters. They will be better than new;)
Ben

bluecomet

Thanks Ben. I got my SDA-1C rockin with the help of the cable I bought from you. Do you like the SDA's better than even the LSI series. Both seem excellent with nothing but great reviews.

ben62670

The SDA's are there own speaker. They are different animals. For a conventional speaker I do like the LSI's. For the price point there isn't much compatition out there, and Polk's CS is second top notch. I would however do the mod on the LSI's if I had a pair. I would love a set of nines, or even 15's. I will always have some form of SDA's;)

heiney9

No...................not chance.

Enuff said

Keep in mind the LSi's are alot better than the RTiA's so if you like the 1C's over the LSi's...................no contest on the RTiA's

zingo

+1 to Heiney

leroyjr1

heiney9 wrote: »

No...................not chance.

Enuff said

Keep in mind the LSi's are alot better than the RTiA's so if you like the 1C's over the LSi's...................no contest on the RTiA's

Could you tell why you think the LSI series is a lot better.

Thanks

heiney9

leroyjr1 wrote: »

Could you tell why you think the LSI series is a lot better.

Thanks

The Vifa tweeter is better than any other tweeter Polk has used in their speakers. I'm also talking strictly from a 2 ch POV. Now the LSi's aren't without a few little nagging flaws but the overall presentation makes up for those flaws which is mostly in the bass region for the 15's and the midbass region on the 9's.

Vocals and upper frequencies are superb on the LSi's. You have to work a bit with the 15's to get the bass right. The 9's have a bit too much of a mid bass hump than I like but I understand a modest x-over mod can fix that.

RTiA's are a nice looking speaker but have a few bass issues as I don't really care for any "ported" type speaker. The tweeter can be bright and forward and vocals are better than most in their price range but not nearly as good as the LSi's. The RTiA series continues to be primarily a HT speaker first and a music speaker 2nd.

The LSi's are superb with vocal, jazz, and acoustic music and can pull HT duty if necessary but are primarily for music listening.

YMMV

H9

P.s. LSi's do need to be properly powered to get the full potential from them.

bluecomet

Most memebers talk about the LSi 15's. There doesn't seem to be a lot of love for the LSi 25's. I would think they would be better than the 15's. I have not heard either one of them but I do have the LSi center speaker matched with some older RTi's. It sounds good for HT but I know it is not a sonic match for music. I have a Yamaha 6.1 receiver with a CSi 400 rear center. The system is great for movies and is very good for music. I am getting into SDA's for music, they are something else.

bluecomet

My 6.1 HT I should say are RT800i's mains, LSi center, RT400i rear center and F/X30i's rear's. It rocks.

fossy

The RtiA9's never get any love. Leroy , do you use yours for HT only ?? Seems like they would be good for music also with some good current & wattage fed to them. Maybe a tweak or 2 on the XO's would make them "open up" like the lsi's.

Maybe I'm just taken with the size cause they sure look like they could put some good tunes out. OOOOO NO I sound like a size queen.:D:D

fossy

heiney9 wrote: »

The Vifa tweeter is better than any other tweeter Polk has used in their speakers.

Vocals and upper frequencies are superb on the LSi's. RTiA's are a nice looking speaker but have a few bass issues as I don't really care for any "ported" type speaker.

Do not most current Polk speaks have some sort of "port" ??

bsoko2

How about a set of Monitor 10's with upgraded crossovers?

Bill

ben62670

fossy wrote: »

Do not most current Polk speaks have some sort of "port" ??

Not the ones with PR's;)

megasat16

bluecomet wrote: »

Most memebers talk about the LSi 15's. There doesn't seem to be a lot of love for the LSi 25's. I would think they would be better than the 15's. I have not heard either one of them but I do have the LSi center speaker matched with some older RTi's. It sounds good for HT but I know it is not a sonic match for music. I have a Yamaha 6.1 receiver with a CSi 400 rear center. The system is great for movies and is very good for music. I am getting into SDA's for music, they are something else.

Well, LSi25s basically a little larger than LSi15s with 10" Subwoofer and Powered Amp to drive the sub.

Sonic signature is almost the same throughout the entire LSi series from my hands on experiences. The 25s have a tad batter control with the lows if you don't have a powerful external amp but LSi15s definitely a powerful amp to begin with. But I think owning an external amp with enough juice (200W and upwards) is pretty much a MUST HAVE if you own a LSi speaker.

I also played around with different amps (Rotel, Adcom, HK Citation 7.1, Denon, Parasound, Pioneer) and found the amp is the deciding factor for how your LSi will sound. Polk really shouldn't let Fry's pair the LSi speakers with AVR and it sounds terrible to me.

leroyjr1

fossy wrote: »

The RtiA9's never get any love. Leroy , do you use yours for HT only ?? Seems like they would be good for music also with some good current & wattage fed to them. Maybe a tweak or 2 on the XO's would make them "open up" like the lsi's.

Maybe I'm just taken with the size cause they sure look like they could put some good tunes out. OOOOO NO I sound like a size queen.:D:D

I use the A5's and A9's in the same room. A5's are used for HT and A9's are being used for music only. If I'm going to crank the music I listen to my LSI 9's. Sounds much better than the A9's when cranked.
(not as harsh)

Ron Temple

bsoko2 wrote: »

How about a set of Monitor 10's with upgraded crossovers?

Bill

Not exactly sure what you're asking, but they would have more similarities to the 1Cs than eithers A9s or LSis.