FXi-A6 or RTi-A3 for rears?

Drunkcaballo
Drunkcaballo Posts: 24
edited January 2009 in Speakers
I have a pretty open room that is about 24x18 with vaulted ceilings and a large opening to the kitchen, entry way, and hallway. I have RTi-A7s for fronts, CSi-A6 for a center and am trying to figure out what to get for a rear channel. I will be getting FXi-A6s for sides on my 7.1 setup. The rears will be mounted about 10' off the ground and about 6' behind the listening area. The system is used about 60% for music 40% for HT. Right now Im listening to the system mainly in 2.1 for music, but I would like the ability to get a good sound when I turn it to all channel stero for music. Below are a few pics. Let me know what you all think.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3080/3172027315_6a078969e2.jpg?v=0
Rears will be located in the cutouts in the back of the room (where the surfboard and plant is).

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1281/3172027653_1e33e30645.jpg?v=0
Front of room (50" plasma arrives tomorrow...Samsung PN50A450 for under 1k!)

3172860196_00032c270c.jpg?v=0
Another angle of the back of the room

Home Theater
RTi A7: Front Channels
CSi A6: Center Channel
FXi A6: 4 Surround speakers
JL Audio Fathom 212 Sub
Onkyo 706: Receiver/Pre-Amp
XPA-3: Front Channel Amp
Samsung 50" Plasma: PN50A450
Samsung Blu-Ray

2 Channel
Pre-Amp: Rogue Magnum 99
Amp: B&K Reference 200.2
B&W 805D
DSW Pro 400 Sub
Pro-Ject RPM 1.3 Genie Record Player

Pictures: http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showcase/view.php?userid=94116
Post edited by Drunkcaballo on
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Comments

  • Cochise
    Cochise Posts: 52
    edited January 2009
    Get the RTI A3s. The rear channels in a 7.1 setup should be direct firing.
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  • Drunkcaballo
    Drunkcaballo Posts: 24
    edited January 2009
    Cochise wrote: »
    Get the RTI A3s. The rear channels in a 7.1 setup should be direct firing.

    And cherry looks nicer! :);) I think that was all the convincing I needed. Thanks!

    Home Theater
    RTi A7: Front Channels
    CSi A6: Center Channel
    FXi A6: 4 Surround speakers
    JL Audio Fathom 212 Sub
    Onkyo 706: Receiver/Pre-Amp
    XPA-3: Front Channel Amp
    Samsung 50" Plasma: PN50A450
    Samsung Blu-Ray

    2 Channel
    Pre-Amp: Rogue Magnum 99
    Amp: B&K Reference 200.2
    B&W 805D
    DSW Pro 400 Sub
    Pro-Ject RPM 1.3 Genie Record Player

    Pictures: http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showcase/view.php?userid=94116
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  • manman
    manman Posts: 256
    edited January 2009
    Cochise wrote: »
    Get the RTI A3s. The rear channels in a 7.1 setup should be direct firing.

    Why is that? I always thought that the rear surrounds should be less pin-pointable to give that feeling of surrounding you.

    BTW- DrunkCaballo, how do you like your XPA-3? I have the a5's and csi A6 center and I was thinking about going with the xpa-3 to give them some extra power but I hadn't seen many reviews. Very interested to know what people who own one think.
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  • comfortablycurt
    comfortablycurt Posts: 6,745
    edited January 2009
    Cochise wrote: »
    Get the RTI A3s. The rear channels in a 7.1 setup should be direct firing.

    I don't think it's really necessary for them to be direct firing. If anything you'd be better off with the FXi's I'd think...especially if your side surrounds are already FXi's.

    Like manman said...the dipole/bipole config. makes it harder to pinpoint the exact source of the sound, and gives you an all around wider soundfield.


    I will agree that the RTi A3's look much better though...they need to start making the FXi's in cherry.

    manman-I don't own an Emotiva myself...but I've never heard anything but good about them. There are several satisfied XPA-3 owners around here IIRC.
    The nirvana inducer-
    APC H10 Power Conditioner
    Marantz UD5005 universal player
    Parasound Halo P5 preamp
    Parasound HCA-1200II power amp
    PolkAudio LSi9's/PolkAudio SDA 2A's/PolkAudio Monitor 7A's
    Audioquest Speaker Cables and IC's
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  • leroyjr1
    leroyjr1 Posts: 8,785
    edited January 2009
    Both will work fine.
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  • nm4710
    nm4710 Posts: 97
    edited January 2009
    Drunkcaballo,

    Like your system so far...love your dogs. I think you'd be fine with either the bipoles or the direct radiators. That said, if you are buying the FXis, please make sure you look at the A6 before you buy. They are bloody enormous. I can't figure that they'd look good in anything but a dedicated home theater. I don't think you give up much in sound anyway - not much low frequency is mixed into the surround channels.

    Good luck with your setup. Emotiva and the RTis sound great together!
    NM
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