New RTi system vs junkyard dog from eBay store

Overkill

Gang,
I'd appreciate your thoughts on speakers I'm considering. First, this is for about 85% HT use and 15% music (and maybe a tiny bit of gaming thrown in). The room is a living room with an attached kitchen, with overall dimensions of about 15' x 33' with an angled, vaulted ceiling in the living room that maxes out around 15' at the highest point.

I'm considering the RTi A3 system (RTi A3, CSi A4, FXi A4) minus the sub (because I already have a sub).

I also took a look at the Polk eBay store and I could save $50 overall by putting together the following "junkyard dog" system of refurb'ed speakers: LSi 7 front, LSi C or RM 302 center, and VM10 rears.

How do these two systems compare? Which is the better value? Would the latter system be less timbre-matched than the RTi A3 system? Or would it be imperceptible to non-audiophiles like myself? Would the latter system be better suited to larger rooms or are they similar in capacity? Or rather than using all of those eBay items, would you substitute just one or two of them into the RTi A3 system to save some $ but still have a great system?

We're in a condo and can't blast the sound without riling up the neighbors, but I would like modest quality and a system that will still please me should we ever move to a detached house where I can get away with some more SPL

TIA!
Dennis

Montoya

Lsi-7 front and surround and lsi-c for center all timber matched this setup would trump the rti-a set period. If you have a solid unit to push the 4ohm load. A purchase from Polk will pretty much get you a like new set.

Overkill wrote: »

Gang,
I'd appreciate your thoughts on speakers I'm considering. First, this is for about 85% HT use and 15% music (and maybe a tiny bit of gaming thrown in). The room is a living room with an attached kitchen, with overall dimensions of about 15' x 33' with an angled, vaulted ceiling in the living room that maxes out around 15' at the highest point.

I'm considering the RTi A3 system (RTi A3, CSi A4, FXi A4) minus the sub (because I already have a sub).

I also took a look at the Polk eBay store and I could save $50 overall by putting together the following "junkyard dog" system of refurb'ed speakers: LSi 7 front, LSi C or RM 302 center, and VM10 rears.

How do these two systems compare? Which is the better value? Would the latter system be less timbre-matched than the RTi A3 system? Or would it be imperceptible to non-audiophiles like myself? Would the latter system be better suited to larger rooms or are they similar in capacity? Or rather than using all of those eBay items, would you substitute just one or two of them into the RTi A3 system to save some $ but still have a great system?

We're in a condo and can't blast the sound without riling up the neighbors, but I would like modest quality and a system that will still please me should we ever move to a detached house where I can get away with some more SPL

TIA!
Dennis

Overkill

Montoya wrote: »

Lsi-7 front and surround and lsi-c for center all timber matched this setup would trump the rti-a set period. If you have a solid unit to push the 4ohm load. A purchase from Polk will pretty much get you a like new set.

Ahh, I didn't realize that some of those were 4-ohm speakers. I don't have a receiver yet but I need to keep that priced within reason too (was looking at the Yammie 863) and not sure if it or others in that price range will have enough oomph.

Erik Tracy

Overkill wrote: »

Gang,
I'd appreciate your thoughts on speakers I'm considering. First, this is for about 85% HT use and 15% music (and maybe a tiny bit of gaming thrown in). The room is a living room with an attached kitchen, with overall dimensions of about 15' x 33' with an angled, vaulted ceiling in the living room that maxes out around 15' at the highest point.

I'm considering the RTi A3 system (RTi A3, CSi A4, FXi A4) minus the sub (because I already have a sub).

I also took a look at the Polk eBay store and I could save $50 overall by putting together the following "junkyard dog" system of refurb'ed speakers: LSi 7 front, LSi C or RM 302 center, and VM10 rears.

How do these two systems compare? Which is the better value? Would the latter system be less timbre-matched than the RTi A3 system? Or would it be imperceptible to non-audiophiles like myself? Would the latter system be better suited to larger rooms or are they similar in capacity? Or rather than using all of those eBay items, would you substitute just one or two of them into the RTi A3 system to save some $ but still have a great system?

We're in a condo and can't blast the sound without riling up the neighbors, but I would like modest quality and a system that will still please me should we ever move to a detached house where I can get away with some more SPL

TIA!
Dennis

One piece of info that may tip the balance one way or the other is what primary mode do you plan for the HT configuration you are considering? Music or Movies?

If it's "music", then yes, the LSi setup maybe the way to go - although as others have pointed out (here and in many other LSi related threads), you do need some good quality power behind the LSi7s to 'wake them up'.

If you primarily watch movies, then the RTiA3 setup maybe the preferred way to go.

I'll be the first to admit that I may have a 'tin ear', but I tried the LSi7s and for me they were too "sleepy" and laid back at lower to mid volumes whereas the RTiA3s that I still have did much better for movies (and yes, I had the amp to back both).

The LSi7s are sonically different than the RTiA3s - most love them, but I'm probably one of maybe two people on the planet that actually preferred the 'airier' detailing of the RTiA3s.

Just my deflated .02 cents worth....:p

Motzart

Overkill wrote: »

I'm considering the RTi A3 system (RTi A3, CSi A4, FXi A4) minus the sub (because I already have a sub).

GOSH this sounds pretty damn good to me!

Ok least it would be for me. :rolleyes:

Overkill

Overkill wrote: »

Ahh, I didn't realize that some of those were 4-ohm speakers. I don't have a receiver yet but I need to keep that priced within reason too (was looking at the Yammie 863) and not sure if it or others in that price range will have enough oomph.

Err, I meant to type Yammie *663*, not 863... although the 863 seems to be the next step up from the 663. I'm just not sure if I want to limit myself to 2 HDMI inputs and upscaling only to 480, which I believe are the 663 biggest limitations.

Fongolio

On the Yamaha (I own the same unit just different model #) the 480 upscaling is only an issue if your source is equal to or lower than 480 such as a VCR. Most dvd players sold in the last couple of years have built in upconversion to at least 1080i/720P. As for the two inputs, I got around that by buying an HDMI hub. It works perfectly and adds 4 more inputs. I went from a Pioneer Elite VSX-52TXi receiver to the Yamaha and I am very pleased. One downside would be the inability to properly push the LSi's but it would be great with RTiA's.

Overkill

Thanks, gang. It's looking like the new RTi system is going to be just the ticket. And, yeah, the only thing I need to upscale would be my VCR. I am using a PS3 for playing my DVDs and BluRay disks, and I know that brings them up to 1080p.

Has anyone here actually watched old VHS tapes that have been upscaled to 1080? Is it worth it or do they look strange? (I hate to threadjack my own thread, but since it's going this way anyway ... ;-))

thanks!

Erik Tracy

Overkill wrote: »

Thanks, gang. It's looking like the new RTi system is going to be just the ticket. And, yeah, the only thing I need to upscale would be my VCR. I am using a PS3 for playing my DVDs and BluRay disks, and I know that brings them up to 1080p.

Has anyone here actually watched old VHS tapes that have been upscaled to 1080? Is it worth it or do they look strange? (I hate to threadjack my own thread, but since it's going this way anyway ... ;-))

thanks!

Yes - it looks like viewing a movie thru a fog....

Depending on the quality of the original VHS tape and player...and of course the quality of the upconversion (whether done by your avr or the hdtv) - you experience maybe better than mine.

Once you get used to it - it isn't too distracting assuming the movie is a good one.

I have lots of VHS boxed movies that are not out on BD yet and have watched a couple. It is a bit jarring at first once you start a VHS, but - you get into the movie and put up with the 'fog'.