RTA-8T - Any Good

aljoseph
aljoseph Posts: 39
edited May 2009 in Vintage Speakers
Hi all, a newbie here and 1st post. I have a new 60" LG plasma tv and a Bose Lifestyle 38. I'm looking to upgrade the audio primarily for home theater use. Many moons ago I purchased a pair of Polk RTA-8T speakers for my Son. He still has them and are not in use. Hint; I can get them for free. Would these make satisfactory front (L & R) speakers for me? I know I need everything else, center speaker, sub-woofer, surrounds, amp, preamp, etc. I need to start somewhere and one can never look a gift horse in the mouth. I hear the new Polk speakers are made in China and are not as good as the older series. Are the RTA-8's too old? Looking for some help and ideas on getting started.
Pioneer SC-07
DVD - Pioneer BDP-51FD
Mains - Polk Audio RTA-8T's
Center - Polk Audio CSi 30
Surrounds - Polk Audio FXi 3's
Sub - Polk Audio PSW 450
Post edited by aljoseph on
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  • bluecomet
    bluecomet Posts: 1,118
    edited April 2009
    They are a nice starting point. I would take them and go from there. I am sure a lot of members will chime in and help you pick the matching surround and rear speakers for a great system.
    Polk HT system 1: LSIC, LSI25 mains, LSI F/X rears, Lsi F/X rear centers,
    Yamaha RX-V2500 System, Carver A753 3 channel amp.

    Polk HT system 2: , SRT system with f/x 1,000's rear speakers on 7.1 system currently using Onkyo TX-RZ820 receiver, powered by Sunfire Grand Theater amp

    Polk Speaker collection: SDA SRS 1.2tl x 2, SRT system, SDA SRS 2 P/B, SDA 2A, SDA 1C Studio, SDA CRS+, Monitor 7B & 4, SRS 3.1tl, RTA 15tl, LS90, LSI 9
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  • skrol
    skrol Posts: 3,393
    edited April 2009
    I have their bigger sister, the RTA11TL, and really love them. Don't let the age deter you. Vintage Polks stand up well to newer offerings. I just picked up a pair of Model (Monitor) 5's from 1983 that really sound sweet.

    FREE! Go for it or get them and give them to one of us.
    Stan

    Main 2ch:
    Polk LSi15 (DB840 upgrade), Parasound: P/LD-1100, HCA-1000A; Denon: DVD-2910, DRM-800A; Benchmark DAC1, Monster HTS3600-MKII, Grado SR-225i; Technics SL-J2, Parasound PPH-100.

    HT:
    Marantz SR7010, Polk: RTA11TL (RDO198-1, XO and Damping Upgrades), S4, CS250, PSW110 , Marantz UD5005, Pioneer PL-530, Panasonic TC-P42S60

    Other stuff:
    Denon: DRA-835R, AVR-888, DCD-660, DRM-700A, DRR-780; Polk: S8, Monitor 5A, 5B, TSi100, RM7, PSW10 (DXi104 upgrade); Pioneer: CT-6R; Onkyo CP-1046F; Ortofon OM5E, Marantz: PM5004, CD5004, CDR-615; Parasound C/PT-600, HCA-800ii, Sony CDP-650ESD, Technics SA 5070, B&W DM601
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  • cfrizz
    cfrizz Posts: 13,415
    edited April 2009
    Hello Al. My 19 year old RTA-8T's are the anchor of my system down below in my signature. They sound as good now as they did 19 years ago. Actually they sound better since I'm feeding them with a 405wpc amp as opposed to a 50wpc amp.

    So get those speakers, sit back & enjoy! And welcome to Club Polk!
    Marantz AV-7705 PrePro, Classé 5 channel 200wpc Amp, Oppo 103 BluRay, Rotel RCD-1072 CDP, Sony XBR-49X800E TV, Polk S60 Main Speakers, Polk ES30 Center Channel, Polk S15 Surround Speakers SVS SB12-NSD x2
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  • aljoseph
    aljoseph Posts: 39
    edited April 2009
    Thank you all. Now I'm anxious to get them and since I'll not be able to use them immediately, I'll give some thought to maybe refinishing the wood housing. They're a little drab. Thanks again for the encouragement.
    Pioneer SC-07
    DVD - Pioneer BDP-51FD
    Mains - Polk Audio RTA-8T's
    Center - Polk Audio CSi 30
    Surrounds - Polk Audio FXi 3's
    Sub - Polk Audio PSW 450
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  • cfrizz
    cfrizz Posts: 13,415
    edited April 2009
    They simply might need a good wipe down. I put some Murphys Oil Soap Squirt & Mop on a towel and wipe mine down every couple of months & it makes the wood shine like new.

    You can also gently wipe down the drivers to clean them up. I've only done that once in the 19 years that I have had them & they were'nt very dirty since I keep the grills on them all the time.
    Marantz AV-7705 PrePro, Classé 5 channel 200wpc Amp, Oppo 103 BluRay, Rotel RCD-1072 CDP, Sony XBR-49X800E TV, Polk S60 Main Speakers, Polk ES30 Center Channel, Polk S15 Surround Speakers SVS SB12-NSD x2
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  • aljoseph
    aljoseph Posts: 39
    edited April 2009
    That's a good point. My new TV and cabinet are black and the RTA-8T's are either cherry or an oiled walnut type finish. I wonder how they might look if I were to somehow refinish the cabinets in black. Would I paint or is there a black stain? Any thoughts if I were to go this route?
    Pioneer SC-07
    DVD - Pioneer BDP-51FD
    Mains - Polk Audio RTA-8T's
    Center - Polk Audio CSi 30
    Surrounds - Polk Audio FXi 3's
    Sub - Polk Audio PSW 450
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  • cfrizz
    cfrizz Posts: 13,415
    edited April 2009
    I would leave them natural. It will give a little contrast to all that black. Mine are the walnut finish.
    Marantz AV-7705 PrePro, Classé 5 channel 200wpc Amp, Oppo 103 BluRay, Rotel RCD-1072 CDP, Sony XBR-49X800E TV, Polk S60 Main Speakers, Polk ES30 Center Channel, Polk S15 Surround Speakers SVS SB12-NSD x2
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  • lightman1
    lightman1 Posts: 10,794
    edited April 2009
    I use my set of RTA-8T's on the front stage of HT and they blend nicely with the ...eerrr..ahhhh (klipch)(said in a whisper) ss-5. They do dig the good clean power.
    ....and they are Cathy approved!:D
    Good choice and enjoy them!
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  • ND13
    ND13 Posts: 7,601
    edited April 2009
    I have 8TLs and have heard 8Ts on 25 wpc tube amps and they are a very under rated set of speakers.
    "SOME PEOPLE CALL ME MAURICE,
    CAUSE I SPEAK OF THE POMPITIOUS OF LOVE"
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  • Ron Temple
    Ron Temple Posts: 3,212
    edited April 2009
    Polk65 lent me a pair of 8Ts for a couple of months. They were the black oak vinyl version I believe...not the prettiest speaker. For a small tower, these put out excellent bass and were a timbre match for SDA 1Cs. I really couldn't believe how good they sounded...impressive little guys. I'm not sure which I prefer 8Ts or LS50s as I had them here at 2 different times, but they both impressed me more than any other conventional Polk speaker (meaning no PR or SDA).

    Combo rig:

    Onkyo NR1007 pre-pro, Carver TFM 45(fronts), Carver TFM 35 (surrounds)
    SDA 1C, CS400i, SDA 2B
    PB13Ultra RO
    BW Silvers
    Oppo BDP-83SE
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  • MNmike
    MNmike Posts: 41
    edited April 2009
    I have a pair used for my rears in HT.

    I like them alot.
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  • PW47
    PW47 Posts: 76
    edited May 2009
    How good are the rta 8 comparing to klipsch kg4 ? Rta8 is high end speakers ? Ifind an sda 2 withouth the cable for interconection, can i find the proper cable .
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  • cfrizz
    cfrizz Posts: 13,415
    edited May 2009
    Polk & Klipsch are apples & oranges with TOTALLY different sounds!

    It depends on what you consider high end. I bought my for about $650 brand new in 1990. If you base it just on cost alone then they probably aren't high end.

    But they can hold their own with other high end of their period and beyond.

    Someone on here could probably tell you how to make an interconnect cable if you went with the SDA's.
    Marantz AV-7705 PrePro, Classé 5 channel 200wpc Amp, Oppo 103 BluRay, Rotel RCD-1072 CDP, Sony XBR-49X800E TV, Polk S60 Main Speakers, Polk ES30 Center Channel, Polk S15 Surround Speakers SVS SB12-NSD x2
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  • PW47
    PW47 Posts: 76
    edited May 2009
    Thanks , i apreciated two diferents sounds . Yes imay buy sda for 69us looks pretty good deal . Thanks mr cfrizz .
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  • seeclear
    seeclear Posts: 1,243
    edited May 2009
    PW, that's MS. CFrizz.

    And welcome to the club.
    "Don't forget to change your politician. They are like diapers they need to be changed regularly, and for the same reason."
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  • seeclear
    seeclear Posts: 1,243
    edited May 2009
    BTW, what is the difference between the 8T and the 8TL? Thanks.

    And what would you consider a good price for the 8TL, if in good condition, not mint?
    "Don't forget to change your politician. They are like diapers they need to be changed regularly, and for the same reason."
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