VM 30 VS RTi A9 Floorstanding speakers

CaligulaPolk

VM 30 SPECS

Subwoofer 4 - 4" Diameter (10.16cm)
Planar bass radiator

Mid/Woofer 4 - 4" Diameter (10.16cm)
Dynamic Balance mineral filled polymer composite cone drivers, shielded

Midrange 2 - 4" Diameter (10.16cm)

Tweeter 1 - 1" Diameter (2.54cm)
Ferro-magnetic fluid-cooled Aluminum Dome Tweeter

RTi A9 SPECS

Subwoofer 3 - 7" Diameter (17.78cm)
Polymer Composite with Rubber Surround

Mid/Woofer (NONE)

Midrange 2 - 5-1/4" Diameter (13.34cm)
Polymer Composite Dynamic Balance with rubber surround

Tweeter 1 - 1" Diameter (2.54cm)
Silk Polymer Composite Dome

Which specs are better and please explain why. I would like to learn and research on my soon purchases. Which speakers will I benefit as punchy speakers for 90 % HT? (mainly interested about subwoofer built in speakers)

Also, whats difference between Subwoofer / Mid woofer?

comfortablycurt

The A9's are going to give you a lot more of that low end that you're looking for compared to the VM30's

The A9's rated frequency response 18hz to 27khz, compared to a rating of 50hz to 26khz on the VM30's. I've never compared the two of them, so I can't really compared their sound quality.

The "subwoofers" in the VM30's aren't powered, they're passive radiators. They run off of the back pressure of the four 4" woofers. They're a bass port in essence, but much more complex. They aren't going to give you the low end of the three 7" woofers on the A9's though.

MikeC78

Don't go on the just the specs alone, let your ears decide. Hell, even Bose will tell you that!;)

Are you looking for aesthetics more than speaker size? They are both going to be great speakers for HT, however, I'd have to give the nod to the A9's. The tweeter is going to be something I'd have to get use to, go audition the difference between an aluminum and a silk dome tweeter, they are quit different.

BTW, for HT use I would not call any of those specs "subwoofers".

CaligulaPolk

I quote Polk VM page.
"VM30 use Planar Bass Radiators- technology from our top of the line DSW microPRO series subwoofers. The VM30 features four of them. You'll be surprised how warm and full sounding such a slim speaker is. "

I know few of you polkies recommend DSW Micropro subs, from my understanding becuz its good sub. I dont see or know why RTi a9 would be best punchy speaker choice? Please explain why Rti a9 is not planar bass radiators subwoofer and yet it is popular speakers out there.

What make rti a9 better choice?

comfortablycurt

MikeC78 wrote: »

Don't go on the just the specs alone, let your ears decide. Hell, even Bose will tell you that!;)

Are you looking for aesthetics more than speaker size? They are both going to be great speakers for HT, however, I'd have to give the nod to the A9's. The tweeter is going to be something I'd have to get use to, go audition the difference between an aluminum and a silk dome tweeter, they are quit different.

BTW, for HT use I would not call any of those specs "subwoofers".

Just in case you didn't know, Jeff here is deaf, so he won't really be able to tell the difference between the tweeters. Low end is what he's looking for.

CaligulaPolk wrote: »

I quote Polk VM page.
"VM30 use Planar Bass Radiators- technology from our top of the line DSW microPRO series subwoofers. The VM30 features four of them. You'll be surprised how warm and full sounding such a slim speaker is. "

I know few of you polkies recommend DSW Micropro subs, from my understanding becuz its good sub. I dont see or know why RTi a9 would be best punchy speaker choice? Please explain why Rti a9 is not planar bass radiators subwoofer and yet it is popular speakers out there.

What make rti a9 better choice?

That quote is referring to how great it sounds given it's size. Those passive radiators aren't subwoofers in the sense you're thinking of, and don't create bass of their own. Speakers radiate sound in both directions, front and back, in this case, the mid-woofers back pressure is what runs the passive radiators on the back, which essentially act as a complex bass port. I'm sure they still do have great bass output...but they aren't going to have the impact that the A9's have. They simply don't hit anywhere near as low as the A9's will.

MikeC78

The price for starters, along with the physical size, hard to beat physics.

MikeC78

comfortablycurt wrote: »

Just in case you didn't know, Jeff here is deaf

:oYou are right, I didn't know. Thanks. My point is mute then.

CaligulaPolk

MikeC78 wrote: »

:oYou are right, I didn't know. Thanks. My point is mute then.

its allright no need to be

CRESCENDOPOWER

My guess is the A9’s will be much more dynamic in nature, be able to be played louder, and do a better job of covering the frequency extremes. I would bet my life however that the VM30’s would throw a much better image.

CaligulaPolk

CRESCENDOPOWER wrote: »

My guess is the A9’s will be much more dynamic in nature, be able to be played louder, and do a better job of covering the frequency extremes. I would bet my life however that the VM30’s would throw a much better image.

what image?

comfortablycurt

He's referring to stereo imaging, or the ability to detect where on the "stage" individual sound effects are coming from.

leroyjr1

Rti a9's all day

MADGSF

I voted RTi A9s but they need a decent two channel amp driving them. I am thinking a ~500.00 B&K would do the job nicely.

RyanJoz

A9's for sure. You simply can't move the air with the small drivers in the VM series. The A9 will cover most frequencies in HT and 2 ch. well and the sub won't have to do all of the work with the low frequencies.

comfortablycurt

Are you planning on running your front channels at full band, or are you going to cross them over at a higher frequency? If you're planning on crossing them over at 80hz or so, the additional low end of the A9's isn't going to make a huge difference, and your sub will be handling most of the low end.

Looking for the bass output like you are, I'm guessing you'll be running your fronts at full band, so that they're putting out low end as well. In that case, the A9's are the clear winner, because they have a lot more bass output.

If you were planning on crossing them over at a higher point though, either one would do the job just as well.

The crossover point you're planning on for the fronts could make a big difference in this decision.