RTi A7's Arrived!

135

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  • leroyjr1
    leroyjr1 Posts: 8,785
    edited January 2009
    metal83 wrote: »
    Thanks, i'm definetly excited.
    And thanks for the initial recommendation on the MIT's from Greg.

    I only charge 10%.:)
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  • metal83
    metal83 Posts: 1,219
    edited January 2009
    leroyjr1 wrote: »
    I only charge 10%.:)

    Alright, is paypal ok? :p
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  • leroyjr1
    leroyjr1 Posts: 8,785
    edited January 2009
    Keiko wrote: »
    You really are doing those A7's and your gear justice metal. Heads-up, in case it wasn't explained to you. The long end of the IC's is the source side. The speaker cables are clearly marked as to the signal direction. Just something to keep in mind when you go to install them. Initially, they sound pretty good when you first hook em' up, but after a few days they will open up and that's when you're really going to appreciate them. I've had mine installed a little over a week now and they just keep getting better. My sound stage has improved as well as imaging, depth and detail. I'm hearing all kinds of little nuances now I never heard before. I'm eager to hear your impressions also, so please post once you've got them in and have had some time to listen. :)

    Aloha,

    Mike



    What kind of IC's & wires did you have before the swap?
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  • leroyjr1
    leroyjr1 Posts: 8,785
    edited January 2009
    Keiko wrote: »

    Hint: Starts with an ~M~. :p

    Hope you put them where they belong. THE TRASH.:D
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  • metal83
    metal83 Posts: 1,219
    edited January 2009
    Keiko wrote: »
    You really are doing those A7's and your gear justice metal. Heads-up, in case it wasn't explained to you. The long end of the IC's is the source side. The speaker cables are clearly marked as to the signal direction. Just something to keep in mind when you go to install them. Initially, they sound pretty good when you first hook em' up, but after a few days they will open up and that's when you're really going to appreciate them. I've had mine installed a little over a week now and they just keep getting better. My sound stage has improved as well as imaging, depth and detail. I'm hearing all kinds of little nuances now I never heard before. I'm eager to hear your impressions also, so please post once you've got them in and have had some time to listen. :)

    Aloha,

    Mike

    Thanks for the info Mike.
    I'll definetly post my impressions...:)


    I'm pretty much done for now, except i need some new speaker wire for my rears. Currently i'm using 16guage walmart cable, so i'd like to replace that with something. But i need 50' for each speaker, so there is no way i can buy 100' of MIT's or the like lol.
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  • leroyjr1
    leroyjr1 Posts: 8,785
    edited January 2009
    metal83 wrote: »
    Thanks for the info Mike.
    I'll definetly post my impressions...:)


    I'm pretty much done for now, except i need some new speaker wire for my rears. Currently i'm using 16guage walmart cable, so i'd like to replace that with something. But i need 50' for each speaker, so there is now way i can buy 100' of MIT's or the like lol.

    You could always get M-O-N-S-T-E-R..........:eek:
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  • metal83
    metal83 Posts: 1,219
    edited January 2009
    leroyjr1 wrote: »
    You could always get M-O-N-S-T-E-R..........:eek:

    Yeah, that is an awesome idea leroy.:p
    I think i'll go to Best Buy in the morning and pick up a whole bunch of Moster Cable, might as well get some HDMI cables while i'm there as well, i'll just get rid of the Audioquest HDMI's i have lol.

    MONSTER it is!!! HAHA, yeah right lol.
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  • bartimus
    bartimus Posts: 65
    edited January 2009
    Dang it...you guys are gonna make me ditch my monster cables so I can spend even more money....JK. You know, my entire system is wired with monster, as you can see in my sig. and I have to say that I am satisfied with them, and since I got them at a reduced price, I cant really knock them. I wasnt really aware of some of their "scare" tactics of suing everyone who uses the word " monster" in their name. Their M Series cables in my system seem to be very well made and I was able to get them for around $75.00 for the 10 foot pair from a local store that was going out of business. I know audioquest makes some nice stuff, but from what I have seen, it's just as pricey as monster. I guess it really all boils down to what you like.
    Main System:
    Sony DA6400ES Receiver, Sony BDPS500ES Blu-Ray
    Denon DRS810 3 Head Cassette Deck, Sony KDA60ES3000 60" HDTV ,Emotiva XPA 2 Powering the A9's, Monster Power HDP 2550, Monster Power AVS 2000 SS Voltage Stabilizer, Direct TV HDTV Receiver,Polk RTIA9 Towers:D, Polk CSIA4 Center:D, Klipsch RC51 Surrounds, SVS PB13 Ultra Sub, Monster Cables HDMI 1000 Cables, Monster Cables M Series Speaker Cables
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  • metal83
    metal83 Posts: 1,219
    edited January 2009
    Keiko wrote: »
    This will fit the bill perfectly and won't break the bank either.

    http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?c_id=102&cp_id=10239&cs_id=1023901&p_id=2817&seq=1&format=2

    Will that place cut, and put terminations on the ends do you know?
    I was looking at BJC, and 100' of 12awg belden cable would be about $60, but doubles if you want it cut and terminated at 50'.
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  • metal83
    metal83 Posts: 1,219
    edited January 2009
    Keiko wrote: »
    I don't think so, but terminating is pretty easy. What will you be using, spade or banana? They sell those also.

    Bananas for the receiver end, and spades for the speaker end, since they are hanging on the wall.
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  • metal83
    metal83 Posts: 1,219
    edited January 2009
    Keiko wrote: »
    http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2103477

    Double check the width to make sure these fit your binding post. If it were me, I'd just use bare wire on the speaker side.

    That's cool.
    Personally i'm tired of bare wire, i'm just not comfortable with it for some reason. I always worry about the connection, even though i know it's fine.
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  • leroyjr1
    leroyjr1 Posts: 8,785
    edited January 2009
    Did you check out there connectors for bare wire?

    http://www.bluejeanscable.com/store/speaker/index.htm
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  • metal83
    metal83 Posts: 1,219
    edited January 2009
    leroyjr1 wrote: »
    Did you check out there connectors for bare wire?

    http://www.bluejeanscable.com/store/speaker/index.htm

    No, i actually didn't, i'll have to give that section a read.
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  • metal83
    metal83 Posts: 1,219
    edited January 2009
    Keiko wrote: »
    It's actually better, but I understand. Again, just make sure the spade is wide enough to fit around the binding post. Shoot Greg a PM, maybe he has some extras he could throw in with the AVt's for ya.

    Oh i'm well aware that a bare connection can be the best if done right without any stray wires, but for me it's more of a piece of mind thing.

    I'd actually do that (ask Greg to throw in some extra spades), but he shipped out my package pretty much almost right after i bought it...which is awesome by the way!!! :D

    I'm not overly concerned with the rears right now, just thinking of what i can do, and you guys have given me some good suggestions so i appreciate that very much. All though i do need to get rid of that 16ga cable, my runs are a little to long for that size i think.
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  • metal83
    metal83 Posts: 1,219
    edited January 2009
    Keiko wrote: »
    Cool. The monoprice should work good enough. IIRC, F1Nut posted somewhere awhile back that their cable is Belden, which is the same as the Blue Jeans Cable. I got lucky when I bought mine from Blue Jeans. At the time it was .32 a foot, about a week or so later the price went up to .61 a foot. Anyway, enjoy those new cables your getting from Greg.

    Oh nice, right place right time for you, that's pretty cool!
    Thanks for the suggestions, it's appreciated..:)
    I'll let ya know how i like these cables after hearing them for a bit.
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  • Igo
    Igo Posts: 411
    edited January 2009
    leroyjr1 wrote: »
    Did you check out there connectors for bare wire?

    http://www.bluejeanscable.com/store/speaker/index.htm

    Beldon 5000 for the rear surrounds. Terminate yourself.
    ...Link to my System Showcase...
    "ES - Kind'a simple but I like it"

    Sony ES STR-DA4300ES 7.1
    Sony ES SACD SCD-C2000ES
    Sony 400 Disc CD CDP-CX455
    Infinity BU-2 Sub-Woofer
    Polk Audio RT800i Towers
    Polk Audio CS400i Center
    Polk Audio FXiA6 Surrounds
    Sennheiser HD 280 Pro Headphones
    DH-Labs T-14 Speaker Cables
    Panamax Max 500 DBS Line Conditioner
    Panasonic TH-50PZ85U 50'-Plasma
    Play Station III - BluRay
    Logitech Harmony 550 Remote
    Logitech diNovo Mini Keyboard
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  • mdaudioguy
    mdaudioguy Posts: 5,165
    edited January 2009
    metal83 wrote: »
    That's cool.
    Personally i'm tired of bare wire, i'm just not comfortable with it for some reason. I always worry about the connection, even though i know it's fine.

    It seems to make sense (to me at least) that a bare wire, carefully stripped, inserted into your 5-way binding posts, and screwed down tightly, would provide the best connection, period. More metal contacting more metal. Connectors are just for convenience. (Which is why I use them too.)

    So you know it's fine... but you'd sit there worrying about it?:(
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  • Igo
    Igo Posts: 411
    edited January 2009
    I tinned my bare wire with silver solder but did not terminate with anything. Binding post that can bight into wire is a fine connection and tinned wire does not tanish as much.
    ...Link to my System Showcase...
    "ES - Kind'a simple but I like it"

    Sony ES STR-DA4300ES 7.1
    Sony ES SACD SCD-C2000ES
    Sony 400 Disc CD CDP-CX455
    Infinity BU-2 Sub-Woofer
    Polk Audio RT800i Towers
    Polk Audio CS400i Center
    Polk Audio FXiA6 Surrounds
    Sennheiser HD 280 Pro Headphones
    DH-Labs T-14 Speaker Cables
    Panamax Max 500 DBS Line Conditioner
    Panasonic TH-50PZ85U 50'-Plasma
    Play Station III - BluRay
    Logitech Harmony 550 Remote
    Logitech diNovo Mini Keyboard
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  • metal83
    metal83 Posts: 1,219
    edited January 2009
    mdaudioguy wrote: »
    It seems to make sense (to me at least) that a bare wire, carefully stripped, inserted into your 5-way binding posts, and screwed down tightly, would provide the best connection, period. More metal contacting more metal. Connectors are just for convenience. (Which is why I use them too.)

    So you know it's fine... but you'd sit there worrying about it?:(
    Igo wrote: »
    I tinned my bare wire with silver solder but did not terminate with anything. Binding post that can bight into wire is a fine connection and tinned wire does not tanish as much.

    That is one of the reasons i don't want bare wire, it seems to tarnish quickly. I don't have a soldering gun to do anything like tinning the wire, nor do i have any experience soldering. I'm sure it's easy, but i just don't have the ability at the moment to do that.

    And yeah, i know it's fine, as i've said in an above post i'm well aware that a bare connection can be the best type. I just personally don't want the bare connections anymore, i want to try something new....:p
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  • Igo
    Igo Posts: 411
    edited January 2009
    metal83 wrote: »
    That is one of the reasons i don't want bare wire, it seems to tarnish quickly. I don't have a soldering gun to do anything like tinning the wire, nor do i have any experience soldering. I'm sure it's easy, but i just don't have the ability at the moment to do that.

    And yeah, i know it's fine, as i've said in an above post i'm well aware that a bare connection can be the best type. I just personally don't want the bare connections anymore, i want to try something new....:p
    Well that's one of the great things about being an American, you can terminate your wires anyway ya see fit. LOL.
    ...Link to my System Showcase...
    "ES - Kind'a simple but I like it"

    Sony ES STR-DA4300ES 7.1
    Sony ES SACD SCD-C2000ES
    Sony 400 Disc CD CDP-CX455
    Infinity BU-2 Sub-Woofer
    Polk Audio RT800i Towers
    Polk Audio CS400i Center
    Polk Audio FXiA6 Surrounds
    Sennheiser HD 280 Pro Headphones
    DH-Labs T-14 Speaker Cables
    Panamax Max 500 DBS Line Conditioner
    Panasonic TH-50PZ85U 50'-Plasma
    Play Station III - BluRay
    Logitech Harmony 550 Remote
    Logitech diNovo Mini Keyboard
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  • metal83
    metal83 Posts: 1,219
    edited January 2009
    Igo wrote: »
    Well that's one of the great things about being an American, you can terminate your wires anyway ya see fit. LOL.

    That's right! ;) LOL
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  • metal83
    metal83 Posts: 1,219
    edited February 2009
    Ok, well these speaker are aweome, i definitely like them better than the RTi10's i had, and they are not even fully broken in yet. And no not just because of the incredibly sexy cabinets lol. Everything about the A7's is better, even if it's just a little bit (my opinion of course). I would of gladly paid full price for these speakers, luckily i didn't have to though.

    Anyways, i'm sure glad i didn't wait for Polk Direct to get some A9's, because they still don't have any, and i would of been climbing the walls without towers for this long. Plus i wouldn't have been able to get the XPA-3, and the MIT cables so soon if i had waited for the A9's. So it worked out well, and i'm extremely happy with my decisions.

    Thanks everyone! :)
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  • comfortablycurt
    comfortablycurt Posts: 6,745
    edited February 2009
    Good to hear you're happy with your purchase. You'll always have the option of upgrading to the A9's in the future too if you ever decide to.

    On another note...what's up with Polk Direct lately? They've barely had anything in stock lately except for some Monitor series speakers, and some VM's, amongst a few other things here and there. They need to get some new stuff in stock there...
    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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  • metal83
    metal83 Posts: 1,219
    edited February 2009
    comfortablycurt wrote: »
    Good to hear you're happy with your purchase. You'll always have the option of upgrading to the A9's in the future too if you ever decide to.

    On another note...what's up with Polk Direct lately? They've barely had anything in stock lately except for some Monitor series speakers, and some VM's, amongst a few other things here and there. They need to get some new stuff in stock there...

    Yeah, the A9's will come one day, i'm sure of that lol...:p

    Not sure what's up with Polk Direct right now though, i've noticed the same thing as you. Luckily i'm not in the market for any speakers at the moment, but i still look. It sucks for anyone who is though.
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  • comfortablycurt
    comfortablycurt Posts: 6,745
    edited February 2009
    metal83 wrote: »
    Yeah, the A9's will come one day, i'm sure of that lol...:p

    Not sure what's up with Polk Direct right now though, i've noticed the same thing as you. Luckily i'm not in the market for any speakers at the moment, but i still look. It sucks for anyone who is though.

    Yeah, the A9's are on my long term list. That's probably still a couple years off though. My direction has kinda changed as of recently.

    I was planning on going for a full blown home theater system, and upgrading my Onk' 606 to an 806, and getting an XPA-5 and an XPA-2, but I think I want to take it in a different direction now.

    I'm getting a pair of RTi8's and a pair of RTi6's here in another month or so...and then I'll be searching for a deal on a CSi5, and I'll probably pick up an SVS sub. I think I'm going to make myself be content with the HT setup for a while after that though.

    I want to focus more on my 2-channel setup. I've got my Monitor 7A's now, which are badass 2-channel speakers in my experience so far...so I think I'm going to start building a system around those. I'm in the middle of rehabbing a vintage Fisher Studio Standard receiver to use as a temporary pre-amp, and I'm going to be picking up an Adcom GFA545 to power them with. After that, I'm going to be in the market for a nice 2-channel pre. Then it's going to be time for an upgraded CDP of course.;)

    Once that's all done with though it'll be back to the HT setup. I'm thinking I'm going to skip the 806 now though, and jump right to a pre/pro and separate power amps. I'm thinking about the OnkyoPro PR-SC886p. I'll probably still end up going with the XPA-5/XPA-2 combo though as far as amps for the HT go. Then the A9's will be next on the list, along with possibly four RTiA5's for surround duty.

    I think this hobby's going to end up costing me a little bit in the long run...

    wow...I just realized how long that post was...lol Boring night I guess.:p
    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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  • metal83
    metal83 Posts: 1,219
    edited February 2009
    comfortablycurt wrote: »
    Yeah, the A9's are on my long term list. That's probably still a couple years off though. My direction has kinda changed as of recently.

    I was planning on going for a full blown home theater system, and upgrading my Onk' 606 to an 806, and getting an XPA-5 and an XPA-2, but I think I want to take it in a different direction now.

    I'm getting a pair of RTi8's and a pair of RTi6's here in another month or so...and then I'll be searching for a deal on a CSi5, and I'll probably pick up an SVS sub. I think I'm going to make myself be content with the HT setup for a while after that though.

    I want to focus more on my 2-channel setup. I've got my Monitor 7A's now, which are badass 2-channel speakers in my experience so far...so I think I'm going to start building a system around those. I'm in the middle of rehabbing a vintage Fisher Studio Standard receiver to use as a temporary pre-amp, and I'm going to be picking up an Adcom GFA545 to power them with. After that, I'm going to be in the market for a nice 2-channel pre. Then it's going to be time for an upgraded CDP of course.;)

    Once that's all done with though it'll be back to the HT setup. I'm thinking I'm going to skip the 806 now though, and jump right to a pre/pro and separate power amps. I'm thinking about the OnkyoPro PR-SC886p. I'll probably still end up going with the XPA-5/XPA-2 combo though as far as amps for the HT go. Then the A9's will be next on the list, along with possibly four RTiA5's for surround duty.

    I think this hobby's going to end up costing me a little bit in the long run...

    wow...I just realized how long that post was...lol Boring night I guess.:p

    It's quite the journey isn't it...:p
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  • comfortablycurt
    comfortablycurt Posts: 6,745
    edited February 2009
    metal83 wrote: »
    It's quite the journey isn't it...:p

    Very much so. I'm sure my mind will end up changing about every single piece I named before I get there too.:p That's just "tonight's plan for the next couple years"...lol It will probably be completely different by tomorrow.

    edit-I'm sure you've mentioned it somewhere before...Are you running a sub with those A7's? If so what kind?
    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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  • metal83
    metal83 Posts: 1,219
    edited February 2009
    comfortablycurt wrote: »
    Very much so. I'm sure my mind will end up changing about every single piece I named before I get there too.:p That's just "tonight's plan for the next couple years"...lol It will probably be completely different by tomorrow.

    edit-I'm sure you've mentioned it somewhere before...Are you running a sub with those A7's? If so what kind?

    No, no sub yet. That's the final piece of the puzzel, or should i say this current puzzel... lol :p

    I'm thinking about getting something from HSU Research, Epik, or Elemental Designs, not sure yet though, i need to do more research. I'm starting to look a little more frequently though, as im having that taste for a new sub to add to my system. Which ever i choose will be my first sub, except for some JL's i had a while back for a vehicle. I can't really afford one at the current moment though, but i do want one! :)
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  • comfortablycurt
    comfortablycurt Posts: 6,745
    edited February 2009
    metal83 wrote: »
    No, no sub yet. That's the final piece of the puzzel, or should i say this current puzzel... lol :p

    I'm thinking about getting something from HSU Research, Epik, or Elemental Designs, not sure yet though, i need to do more research. I'm starting to look a little more frequently though, as im having that taste for a new sub to add to my system. Which ever i choose will be my first sub, except for some JL's i had a while back for a vehicle. I can't really afford one at the current moment though, but i do want one! :)

    Ah...that's what I thought. I didn't remember you ever talking about a sub. How do the A7's do without the sub? Solid bass output on their own? I've been looking into the HSU's myself actually, though I'm kind of leaning towards an SVS PB-12NSD right now...I'm still undecided though.

    That's one of the things I've been diggin about my Monitor 7A's the most...you barely even need a sub with these. Granted, my sub is a crappy 75watt 8" Pioneer...but the 7A's overpower that thing and have plenty of breath to spare. I was shocked by how much bass output these things really have. The sub is off 90% of the time now.

    I was watching Iron Man the other night...and they were hitting so hard, that some stuff on the shelf behind my couch was rattling around...which is like 12-13 feet away from the speakers. That never happened with the Pio sub...lol

    Hm...A7's...7A's? Am I the only one that see's the similarity there?:p
    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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  • metal83
    metal83 Posts: 1,219
    edited February 2009
    comfortablycurt wrote: »
    Ah...that's what I thought. I didn't remember you ever talking about a sub. How do the A7's do without the sub? Solid bass output on their own?

    That's one of the things I've been diggin about my Monitor 7A's the most...you barely even need a sub with these. Granted, my sub is a crappy 75watt 8" Pioneer...but the 7A's overpower that thing and have plenty of breath to spare. I was shocked by how much bass output these things really have.

    I was watching Iron Man the other night...and they were hitting so hard, that some stuff on the shelf behind my couch was rattling around...which is like 12-13 feet away from the speakers. That never happened with the Pio sub...lol

    Hm...A7's...7A's? Am I the only one that see's the similarity there?:p

    The A7's, in my opinion ,do very well with bass. It's a nice clean tight bass, instead of sloppy and boomy. All though the bass will get better and better as time goes on and the woofers break in more. I remember with my RTi10's that even after 6months they were still getting better and better.

    But, i'd still like to get a sub, just to complete the 5.1 setup.

    Hmm...A7's...7A's....a little bit of a similarity name wise haha...i know nothing about the 7A's though, not even what the look like..:p
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