What are the best towers for my setup?

runkpocker

Hey Everyone,

I am new to home audio - been running cheap crappy HTIB's for years and finally bit the bullet and decided to upgrade.

Im running a Yamaha 6190 receiver right now, with TSi200's and a CS20. I also picked up a PSW505 sub as well.

My second phase was to complete my 5.1 setup so I thought I would use the TSi200's as rears and grab a good pair of towers. Someone suggested keeping it in the TSi family and going for TSi 500's, but the salesman says I should be getting the RTi A7's or 9's.

Given my setup, and since Ill be using the Tsi200's as rears, what would be the best towers to pair with my other components?

Cheers
Runk

hearingimpared

Welcome to Club Polk runkpocker. Hang in there I'm sure you will get your questions answered. I am running two RT2000Ps with a CS350LS and love it.

concealer404

The rears aren't TERRIBLY important to timbre-match, not a ton of info should be going through them all the time, but i'd still keep it in the family.

danger boy

the RTiA 9's would be killer for towers. they would keep you happy for a very long time. certainly a pair of speaker that you could build your home theater around for many years to come.

spending money wisely now will prevent several upgrades along the way.. buy the biggest best pair of front tower speakers you pocketbook can handle. rears, center, subs those come and go, but main towers usually stay with a person for many, many years.

good luck with the new system you are building.

and welcome to club Polk.

wutadumsn23

I would suggest keeping it in the family too, with the 500's. I have heard nothing but good things about them. However, as danger boy suggested they are a long term investment, and will probably be around awhile and I have heard nothing but good things about the RTi line as well. Looks like you may have to try to demo them first and see where you are at. Good luck and welcome to Club Polk.

-Jeff

comfortablycurt

wutadumsn23 wrote: »

I would suggest keeping it in the family too, with the 500's. I have heard nothing but good things about them. However, as danger boy suggested they are a long term investment, and will probably be around awhile and I have heard nothing but good things about the RTi line as well. Looks like you may have to try to demo them first and see where you are at. Good luck and welcome to Club Polk.

-Jeff

+1 Good advice Jeff.






Do you plan on eventually upgrading your speakers again down the road?

You've already got a good thing going with the TSi200's and the CS20. If you were to go with the RTiA7/A9's for the front towers, you'd definitely be wanting to change your center channel too. The TSi series and the RTi series have VERY different sounding tweeters.

You could get away with running RTi A9's up front with a CSi A6 center, and still use the TSi200's for surrounds and it wouldn't be too noticeable, but having the front soundstage timbre matched is pretty crucial.

The RTi's have a rather bright, detailed sounding tweeter. The TSi's are a lot mellower...warmer sounding. Depending on personal taste, some people actually prefer the TSi's to the RTi's, despite that fact that the TSi's are lower down in the food chain.

Personally, I like a laid back tweeter for music. Brighter sounding tweeters are great for HT usage though.



My suggestion would be to pick up a pair of TSi towers, since the rest of your speakers are already TSi's anyway. The TSi's are some excellent sounding speakers, and don't really have much to envy from the RTi line. I wouldn't say that either line is better than the other...they're just very different sounding.


Good choice on the sub! The PSW505 is a damn fine sub, and can be had for great prices these days.



As others have said, the only way to find out which line you will prefer is to listen to them both. I realize that's not always a possibility though.

wutadumsn23

Good catch on the center Curt, I forgot all about that in my post. The guys have given you some good advice on this runk and looks like if a demo is possible that may be the best way of making your decision. Good luck.

-Jeff

runkpocker

Thanks for all of your advice - and fast responses WOW!

I am hoping to have this system last me for at least a couple years, until I do another upgrade on my TV.

I have heard the TSi500's with the 200's and C20 and they sounded great - but I hear that the RTi A9's will be on sale in town for under $1000 / pair so maybe I will head down and demo them.

Thanks for the warm welcomes - I appreciate it!

Cheers,
Runk

danz1906

Welcome to the Club!

The RTiA5 witsh a CSiA6 would work for you.

superjunior

Plan on getting an amp. the rti a9's are going to need an externaal amp to really open them up. I agree with Danz if staying with your current receiver. IMO, get the a9's and shop around for an amp. Than of course the csi a6 to match. The tsi's will be a little less power hungry but would still bennefit from an amp. enjoy the ride
jr

ls7z06

I auditioned both the RTiA7 and A9 towers and ended up getting the A7's. I have had them for about a year and could not be more pleased. I think the decision between these 2 boiled down to 3 things....
1. I really did not want to add an external amp for the A9's and I think my Onkyo 806 drives the A7's just fine.
2. I thought the A9's would only really be necessary for an extra large room or a room with high 18 to 20 ft ceilings.
3. When I went shopping, I simply thought the A7's had a more authentic/ realistic sound. (but that could have been due to the way the store had them set up)

In any event, I am thrilled with my A7's, as well as my CSiA6 center and FXiA6 surrounds. Good luck!

BlueFox

concealer404 wrote: »

The rears aren't TERRIBLY important to timbre-match, not a ton of info should be going through them all the time, but i'd still keep it in the family.

One thing I have really noticed with my recent move into Bluray with the Oppo BD83 is that the rear (5.1 setup) speakers are more used than with regular DVDs. Whether this is because BR has better sound, or the mixing is different, I do not know, but I do know that I am glad I did not try and save a few dollars by scrimping on the rears. My advice is get the best rears you can if you expect to use BR.

runkpocker

I am leaning towards the 500's now, but perhaps the A7's will fit my room better since I do have cathedral ceilings (almost 20').

Funny thing now is it appears that most of the electronic shops in town do not have any TSI 500's anymore. Are these being phased out already?