RTi A1 or RTi A3 for surrounds

Alkaar

Still agonizing over RTi A5 or RTi A7 for my fronts but was just wondering is there any benefit to getting the RTi A3 over the RTi A1 for the surrounds?

Fronts: RTi A5 or RTi A7
Center: CSi A4 or CSi A6
Surrounds: RTi A1 or RTi A3
Subwoofer: eD A2-300

Bah I thought I had a setup down pat but the more I read now the more I want to change my setup lol.

leroyjr1

Alkaar wrote: »

Still agonizing over RTi A5 or RTi A7 for my fronts but was just wondering is there any benefit to getting the RTi A3 over the RTi A1 for the surrounds?

Fronts: RTi A5 or RTi A7
Center: CSi A4 or CSi A6
Surrounds: RTi A1 or RTi A3
Subwoofer: eD A2-300

Bah I thought I had a setup down pat but the more I read now the more I want to change my setup lol.

For surrounds both are great, but I would got with the RTI A3's or FXI A6's.

leroyjr1

Since your going to be running a good sub your setup should be

RTI A5
CSI A6
RTI A3/FXI A6

You'll like the rti a5's better for HT and since your running a sub you don't have to worry about the lack of bass from the 5's. Now if you were doing just 2 channel listening without a sub then the rti a7's may be a better fit.

There's a lot of RTI a5's VS a7's VS a9 threads. So do a search and go from there.

comfortablycurt

leroyjr1 wrote: »

Since your going to be running a good sub your setup should be

RTI A5
CSI A6
RTI A3/FXI A6

You'll like the rti a5's better for HT and since your running a sub you don't have to worry about the lack of bass from the 5's. Now if you were doing just 2 channel listening without a sub then the rti a7's may be a better fit.

There's a lot of RTI a5's VS a7's VS a9 threads. So do a search and go from there.

I'm gonna have to agree on this one. That'd probably be about the best bet for a HT setup with those choices.

metal83

I bought the A1's first, but ended up returning them for the A3's because it was eating me alive lol. I'm happy i did, i love my A3's!

Alkaar

I don't know if you guys saw my other thread but been agonizing over the A5's and A7's all day. Mostly because when I gave them a listen at J&R the A7's sound better but both were run without a sub.

Think I'll make another trip over there again and give them a listen again but I'd rather have to replace the sub (or get another one) if I need more oomph than replace my towers because I'm lacking in the mid range.

When everyone suggested the CSi A6 I figure why not up the A1's to A3's as well then? Any chance I can nab all these from polkdirect? Will I have to wait an eternity for these? Will probably run them with the Onkyo 806 as well. Pushing my budget but I'm feeling I'll be happier this way.

leroyjr1

Alkaar wrote: »

I don't know if you guys saw my other thread but been agonizing over the A5's and A7's all day. Mostly because when I gave them a listen at J&R the A7's sound better but both were run without a sub.

Think I'll make another trip over there again and give them a listen again but I'd rather have to replace the sub (or get another one) if I need more oomph than replace my towers because I'm lacking in the mid range.

When everyone suggested the CSi A6 I figure why not up the A1's to A3's as well then? Any chance I can nab all these from polkdirect? Will I have to wait an eternity for these? Will probably run them with the Onkyo 806 as well. Pushing my budget but I'm feeling I'll be happier this way.

The hardest part is waiting. My thing is if the RTIa5's lack low end you could always add a sub (easy fix). Now if the rti a7's lack midrange...........ugh................ugh.............ugh.......... not so easy fix.

comfortablycurt

I personally would take the A5's over the A7's...but many people would disagree with that. I, along with quite a few other people, feel that the A7's are a bit lacking in the midrange department. They only have one midrange to the A5's two mid's. If you were setting up a 2 channel system, the A7's would probably be the way to go, but the lack of real low end response in the A5's isn't really a big deal if you're running a sub. In a home theater setup the sub is taking care of the majority of the bass output anyway.

You'd be able to pick them all up at Polk Direct...but it may not all be at one time. Their stock is constantly changing, so you've just got to keep watching it.

Alkaar

Slightly off topic but is there anything wrong with getting slightly bigger speakers than for the room they're intended for? Say my going from a A1 to an A3.

leroyjr1

Nope nothing wrong with it unless your trying to put a big concert speaker in a 8x8 room.

comfortablycurt

leroyjr1 wrote: »

Nope nothing wrong with it unless your trying to put a big concert speaker in a 8x8 room.

I was thinking about setting up a pair of 1.2TL's in my closet. It's roughly 4x5 feet. Think this will work? I'd be sitting directly in front of the speakers of course...lol

Alkaar

Figured I'd post an update. Finally decided on the following.

Fronts: RTi A5
Center: CSi A6
Surround: RTi A3
Subwoofer: eD A3-300
AVR: Denon AVR-2809CI

I went to J&R for one last listen and yea the midrange on the A5 is better but you really gotta pay attention and the bass ain't so bad honestly so decided to go the A5. Upped the surrounds and center and subwoofer. Also didn't like how the Onkyo 706 and 806 were having blue dot issues and the Onkyo 876 was butt expensive. Found the Denon AVR-2809CI for $861 shipped with some PMing. Now's the waiting game for the speakers to show up on polkdirect! Man pushing my budget but rather buy something I like than to have buyer's remorse!

comfortablycurt

That should be a real nice setup once you get it all together.

Let us know how you like it when you get it all set up.