Polk RTi A line and the KEF IQ

TheWind

Hi!

The clearance prices for the old Kef IQ line have gotten my attention, but there’s nowhere around here for me to audition them.

I was hoping some of you with experience can try to characterize the different sonic qualities of the “Polk RTi A” line and the “KEF IQ” line of speakers. I’ve read that they have very different sonic personalities, but haven’t read “how they are different”. I’ve also read that many think that both have a somewhat bright and forward presentation. – If so, is one more bright/forward than the other?

I’m most interested in how the floorstanding models (polk RTi A7 versus the KEF IQ7 or 9) sound for “music” rather than “HT” and am not too concerned with deep bass because I’ll be using a sub with dual 10’ drivers.

Can some of you knowledgeable people try to characterize the differences in sonic attributes for these speakers?

Thanks,
Dave

Menasor

For starters, I would say that the RTi A7, if given enough power, would have better bass based on specs compared to the IQ9 (also has a lower frequency of response).

I don't know what the KEF IQ9 sounds like, but am definitely curious to know. Very good looking speaker btw, as is the A7.

Face

The newer KEF's that I've heard have to be paired with the right gear or they're excessively bright.

Menasor

I've heard many people say these KEF's have lots of detail, so that's probably due to the brightness. People call the RTi series bright as well. I wonder how much brighter these are...

Fongolio

With good power the RTiA7's have great bass. No subs required. Unless you are playing mainly rap, trance, or drum and bass the A7's have very well defined deep and articulate bass given a good amp and source. I have demoed the IQ9's and was very impressed with them as well. I think you need to listen to them both and decide. I've owned my A7's just over a year and love them. Best speaker for the money I've ever heard. That being said the IQ9's price has fallen so much it may be a good bang for buck contender. One thing to consider is the A7's have a 5 year warranty.

TheWind

Thanks for the good input!

Well, it appears to me that this KEF (older IQ line) clearance is fast approaching a close. The only KEF IQ9s I can find now are black and many other models have run out of multiple finishes too.

I know you shouldn’t even think about buying speakers that you haven’t heard. (And I’ve never even seen these speakers!) However, price; reviews; smallish footprint; ticking clock……………. I am thinking about it.

Are there any IQ7 owners out there who could give me a nudge one way or the other? – I have a subwoofer to handle the deep bass.

Thanks Again,
Dave

Face

Let me add a little more to above.

I really enjoyed listening to them, they do sound very nice, but I can see them being fatiguing for extended listening.

Doc99

Well I owned the IQ3's for a while. I would say sound wise, they are a very open sounding, spacious, and slightly bright, but not offendingly bright speaker. Build quality I was not really impressed with. They were very light and did not seem a very solidly built speaker. My RTi4's were built much better. They also did not handle high volume well, of course this is the bookshelfs. The Rti4's to me beat them out clearly in both sound and
build. If I had to choose, I would go with the polks. .