Reversing the position of RTA 12s

geppy1
geppy1 Posts: 3,075
edited August 2009 in Vintage Speakers
I have seen people mention they have reversed the position of their RTA 12s and like it better. In others words swapping left for right and right for left. I guess I thought Polk would have thought of that but did not go that route.. Has anyone tried this and what did you notice.? I am to burned out from tweeter swaps to even try hence the question.
Post edited by geppy1 on
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  • danger boy
    danger boy Posts: 15,722
    edited August 2009
    do it... they are not like the SDA's which have to be placed correct left and right.
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  • comfortablycurt
    comfortablycurt Posts: 6,745
    edited August 2009
    It shouldn't really make any difference...there aren't specific left or right versions of the RTA's to the best of my knowledge.
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  • jon s
    jon s Posts: 905
    edited August 2009
    comfortablycurt wrote: »
    It shouldn't really make any difference...there aren't specific left or right versions of the RTA's to the best of my knowledge.

    that is incorrect... the RTA-12s are mirror-imaged. The outside mid-woofers crosses as 600Hz and the inside drivers crosses at 2kHz. Reversing the placement gives a slightly more expanded soundstage.

    The problem with side-by-side drivers is that it tends to blur the image as two vertical points are detected by your ears. I also wondered how the Polks would sound if all the drivers were in-line vertically. It should give you a more accurate lateral image and also better depth perception...
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  • geppy1
    geppy1 Posts: 3,075
    edited August 2009
    Hey Jon, so you tried this?? There must be a downside?? He is correct. The drivers do not cover the same range. I do not think people realize the R and D that went into the RTA 12s. They were around for 8 years in one form or another and twice CES Design and Engineering award winners. 1979 and 1981. A very impressive speaker by any measure.
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  • jon s
    jon s Posts: 905
    edited August 2009
    Yes... it made an improvement in the imaging a bit.... kinda liked it at first but I put it back to the original after a while. I think the polk would be better if the tweeter was aligned to the inside midwoofer but that's just my opinion...
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