Jumping to 7.1, need help with speaker matching

woofvov

Haven't been messing with my A/V stuff for a while....finally going to try 7.1. Wondering if I can use a pair of old RTA 11t for rears. Here is what I currently have.

Denon 3808ci
Parasound amp
Polk RTi12 fronts
Polk CSi5 center
Polk FXi5 rears

I got a pair of RTA 11t that was initally too large for the room, but will now fit in a bigger room.

I want to use them as rears and move the FXi5s as the two 'side' speakers.

I am worried about matching the RTA 11t to my setup, especially when playing SACD.

Thanks for any help / advise.

comfortablycurt

The RTA 11T's will work as rear surrounds, but they won't be a proper timbre match.

Timbre matching the rear soundstage isn't as crucial as timbre matching the front, but it still definitely makes a big difference. From the sounds of it, you listen to multi-channel SACD...in that case, timbre matching all around is a bit more crucial.

That being said, the RTA11T's will work, but you'd be best off with another pair of FXi5's or a pair of RTi6's.

leroyjr1

The RTA11's will work but that's major overkill. I'd say sell them and grab a second pair of FXI 5's or grab some RTI 6's/4's

woofvov

Thanks for the input!

Where would I buy the bookshelves speakers?

Also want to clarify that the RTAs would work, just would be 'under-utilized'....

I forgot to mention that I have two polk subs as well for HT. I think they are 5PSW 505 and 650. The 650 set to drive the deep stuff.

comfortablycurt

The RTA's would work. I'm not sure how good of a timbre match they'd be though. I've never heard the RTA11T's before myself, so I can't say whether they'd blend well with RTi's or not.

Plus, like Lee said, they really would be overkill for surround backs. The surround back channels carry a very small amount of information most of the time, so the RTA11T's really wouldn't be getting utilized that much. You'd probably be better off with some bookshelves.

If you're trying to do it on the cheap, check out Polk Directs ebay store. They always have a bunch of different refurb units at great prices. If you don't see what you need, keep checking back. Their stock changes on a day to day basis.

http://stores.shop.ebay.com/Polk-Audio-Direct__W0QQ_armrsZ1

Right now they have a bunch of FXiA4's and FXiA6's in stock. They're white though, if that's a concern. Those would be a great match for your current setup.

One minor point if you did go that route...If you got a pair of FXiA4's, I'd use them as surround backs. If you decided to go with the FXiA6's, I'd use them as "side" surrounds and move the FXi5's to the back.

The FXiA6 is basically the newer version of the FXi5. They're timbre matched, but there are slight differences that are supposed to make the FXiA's sound a bit better. It's probably an insignificant point really...but I figured I'd chime in with it anyway.

danz1906

The FXiA series will work best for your set-up.

woofvov

Thanks all! I will look for a pair of FXi a6s.

woofvov

Hello,

What about a pair of TSi400s? Found some for cheap in black, have not been able to find a good deal on FXi A6s yet....

Thanks in advance for the input!!

comfortablycurt

They aren't a proper timbre match. They'd still work, but they'd have a distinctly different sound.

The highs of the RTi series is fairly forward and bright sounding, the TSi's are a lot more mellow and laid back.

vijayl

Since u already have RTA11, why don't u try those in ur setup and see how it sounds as rears. After that try FXi5 as rears moving the RTAs as side.. If u hear a big difference, u can sell ur RTAs and get FXiAs.
I wudn't go for TSi, as they sound different than RTi series just as CC said..

woofvov

Vijayl, that is a great suggestion. But my RTA11s are stored and i will have to get them. Not a big problem, just don't want to move things back and forth if I don't have to....don't want to alert/piss off the wife any more than necessary....:p

I will keep looking for the FXi A6s since they seem to be the most recommended ones.

Thanks much!