TSi vs RTiA. Do I just go for it?

Fawd
Fawd Posts: 6
edited February 2009 in Speakers
Hello everyone. First time poster here!!! I am looking to upgrade my old Logitech system (yes I know) in a new big way. Been doing my research and I have chosen Polk as my next audio purchase. Now, I simply cannot decide between the TSi500, RTi A5, or RTi A7 floor standing speakers.

Will I hear a reasonable difference between the TSi series and the RTi series? If the RTi series is the way to go, should I throw down the extra dough and get the A7 over the A5? Or is it better to just save the money and get the A5.

One final question... What would be a good receiver for such a speaker system? Preferably something in the 300-600 dollar range.

Thanks so much guys!
Post edited by Fawd on
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Comments

  • Fawd
    Fawd Posts: 6
    edited January 2009
    Also: I have about a $2000 budget on the speakers. If I go with the TSi series, I can get the full 5.1. If I purchase the RTi, I will have to stick with the floor standings, center, and sub woofer...

    just something else to think about.

    thanks again.
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  • leroyjr1
    leroyjr1 Posts: 8,785
    edited January 2009
    Go with the RTI series. You can get a complete 5.1 RTI system if you do a little shopping around.
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  • leroyjr1
    leroyjr1 Posts: 8,785
    edited January 2009
    Is buying used or refurbished a option?
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  • Fawd
    Fawd Posts: 6
    edited January 2009
    Would prefer buying new... I always get nervous when buying refurbished. But if the deal is good enough, I would seriously consider it.
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  • leroyjr1
    leroyjr1 Posts: 8,785
    edited January 2009
    Fawd wrote: »
    Would prefer buying new... I always get nervous when buying refurbished. But if the deal is good enough, I would seriously consider it.

    Keep an eye on Polk Direct eBay store. They sell refurbs very cheap and in excellent condition. Looks brand new. They don't have much on there now but these are some of there prices.

    Rti a5-$379
    Rti a7-$499
    Rti a9-$899
    Rti a3-$219
    Rti a1-$170ish
    Csi a4- under $200
    Csi a 6- under $300

    Also take a look at the LSI series.

    Welcome to the UNDERWORLD.
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  • Fawd
    Fawd Posts: 6
    edited January 2009
    leroyjr1 wrote: »
    Keep an eye on Polk Direct eBay store. They sell refurbs very cheap and in excellent condition. Looks brand new. They don't have much on there now but these are some of there prices.

    Rti a5-$379
    Rti a7-$499
    Rti a9-$899
    Rti a3-$219
    Rti a1-$170ish
    Csi a4- under $200
    Csi a 6- under $300

    Also take a look at the LSI series.

    Welcome to the UNDERWORLD.



    is this after shipping and such????
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  • CaligulaPolk
    CaligulaPolk Posts: 1,650
    edited January 2009
    Fawd wrote: »
    is this after shipping and such????

    Nope :( if you want to buy brand new, i suggest amazon.com
    I am 100% BORN DEAF and No I am not kidding! :D Why am I here? My wife's hearing! :p

    My Home Theater Rig || Television: 58" Panasonic TH-58PZ800U Viera Plasma || Power Conditioner: Power Monster HTS 3600 MKII || Receiver: Onkyo TX-SR805 || Blu-Ray/Gaming: 60 Gigabytes Playstation 3 || Amplifier: Emotiva XPA-5 || Fronts: Polk Audio RT800i || Center: Polk Audio CS245i || Surrounds: TBA|| Subwoofer: TBA
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  • bevo
    bevo Posts: 306
    edited January 2009
    As far as the receiver goes. Make sure you get one with pre outs to connect an external amp. I made the mistake of buying one without them. It doesn't sound like a big deal, and you might not even want an external amp now. But if you want one later and don't have the pre outs you're screwed. This home theater thing is addictive, so keep in mind, that an amp will probably be something you will want. Especially if you get the A7's.
    Also look on the digital mega store site for a receiver. I got a great deal on mine there.
    Denon 1909, want to upgrade for pre outs
    Fronts-polk RTi A5
    center-polk CSi A4
    Sides Polk FXi A6
    rears- polk rm8's
    sub-SVS pb-13 ultra
    Blue ray-ps3
    Panasonic plasma 50 inch
    Buttkicker(don't use or need it anymore since getting the Ultra)
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  • dorokusai
    dorokusai Posts: 25,577
    edited January 2009
    TSi500.
    CTC BBQ Amplifier, Sonic Frontiers Line3 Pre-Amplifier and Wadia 581 SACD player. Speakers? Always changing but for now, Mission Argonauts I picked up for $50 bucks, mint.
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  • Upstatemax
    Upstatemax Posts: 2,685
    edited January 2009
    I would not worry about buying refurb from Polk... The stuff is in GREAT (new) condition and they carry the full 5-year warranty.
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  • Fawd
    Fawd Posts: 6
    edited February 2009
    Another question.... If I purchase the A9s... will they go "boom" without an amp? I was thinking about this reciever: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16882120107

    Thanks again guys! I wish I knew more about this stuff!
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  • metal83
    metal83 Posts: 1,219
    edited February 2009
    RTi A...all the way! :D

    The A9's definetly need an external amp to really shine, at least that's what i've heard from many here at Club Polk.
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  • Norm Apter
    Norm Apter Posts: 1,036
    edited February 2009
    Fawd wrote: »
    Another question.... If I purchase the A9s... will they go "boom" without an amp? I was thinking about this reciever: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16882120107

    Thanks again guys! I wish I knew more about this stuff!

    +1 on the Rti A series.

    Are you in a rush?

    If not you may find some deals by, as others have stated, waiting for stuff to appear on Polk's Ebay store.

    I got a pair of Rtia1s for my rears for $160 ($190 including tax & shipping)
    as well as a CsiA6 for $130, I believe, ($160 incl. tax & shipping). As others have stated, these items appear as if they are brand spanking new.

    But you should also keep your eye on Amazon. In particular, Electronics Expo is an authorized Polk Dealer and Amazon merchant; they run fairly good deals on Polks from time to time. I got a new pair of RtiA5s from them in Dec. for $498 shipped (no tax). I also got a pair of Lsi9s a year from them for a good price.

    If you go with the A5s for your fronts, I think that Onkyo should be fine. Just make sure it has pre-outs so that you can add an external amplifier later if you want more power. I'm running my 5 speakers off of a Denon 2808 AVR and though its only rated at 110 wpc, it delivers plenty for now. But it does have pre-outs so if I decide to add more more in the future, I've got my bases covered.

    Good luck!

    Norm
    2 Ch.
    Parasound Halo A23 Amp
    Parasound Halo P3 Preamp
    Parasound Halo T3 Tuner
    Bada HD22SE tube CD Player
    Magnum Dynalab Signal Sleuth
    Magnum Dynalab ST-2 antenna
    polkaudio Lsi9s (upgraded cross-overs)
    MIT Shotgun S-3 Bi-wire Interface Speaker Cables
    MIT Shotgun S-3 Interconnects (3)
    IegO L70530 Power cords (3)

    HT
    Denon 2808ci AVR
    polkaudio RTi A5s (fronts)
    polkaudio RTi A1s (rears)
    polkaudio Csi A6 (center)
    Signal Cable Ultra Speaker Cables
    Signal Cable Analog II Interconnects
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  • kneedragger37
    kneedragger37 Posts: 108
    edited February 2009
    Upstatemax wrote: »
    I would not worry about buying refurb from Polk... The stuff is in GREAT (new) condition and they carry the full 5-year warranty.

    +1 on the Polk refurbs -- I just bought refurb A3's for $199 and $249 for an A6 -- they look NIB to me! I actually bought NIB A3's before I got the great deal on the refurbs -- I'm selling them off because they were almost twice the price of the refurbs and the refurbs look and sound as good as new!
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  • kneedragger37
    kneedragger37 Posts: 108
    edited February 2009
    oops -- double posted, sorry...
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