Speaker for a lifetime only $100 more? A5 vs A7?

packetjones

I am currently looking to upgrade to some RTiA towers and would like some opinions on which ones I should select. These will be the only speakers that I will purchase for probably the next 20 years, so I want to make sure that I am making the right choice now. I have a lot of other things going on right now, buying a house as well as changing jobs and raising a 2 year old, so buying/upgrading the fronts again is very very unlikely. I am not an audiophile by any means, in fact i suffer from mild hearing loss. This is really the first non-HTIB system I have ever had so I do not really have a good comparison that I can make to see what I would be missing. I look forward to any advice that everyone can provide.

Current system:

HK 254 - 50w/ch (I have read/asked around and HK underrates power/channel)
RtiA3's - front
CsiA4 - center
OWM3's - rear
PSW110 – sub

Future system:

HK 254 – 50w/ch
RtiA5/RTiA7 – front?
CsiA4 – center
RtiA3 – rear
PSW110 - sub


Samsung DLP 50” - 720p
Wii - component
Xbox360 - component
HD-DVD player – HDMI got it for $40 lol
Dish network DVR - HDMI
Apple power book - (i-tunes) DVI/RCA for now


This system is used for roughly 60% TV, 25% music, and 15% movies. I have found that since my original purchase that I am listening to more music and do not normally listen to 2 channel at all. This may be due to the A3's not really being able to fill out the music with out a sub. I either listen to 5 channel stereo or one of the other surround formats built into the HK. I will also be watching more movies once I get a BD player. I am selling the OWM3's to finance the purchase of the new towers and will be moving the A3's to the rear for a 5.1 setup. It is unlikely that I will ever go 7.1 as well. I would more likely create a zone 2 with some outdoor speakers.

Now on to the questions at hand. I am looking at either the A5's or the A7's. I have read that most people prefer the A5's with a good sub. I have the money to get the 5's and have been set on those for while, but now realized that I can get the 7's for only $100 more. For $100, would you get the 7's? Or should I get the 5's and use the $100 towards the distant future upgrade of either a better sub or a 2 channel amp? For $100 I thought that it may be a good idea to go ahead get the 7's since they are a larger/better speaker. If I could not get them for such a good price it would not be a hard decision at all. I would just hate to look back and wish i would have spent the $100.

I had asked around previously regarding my HK's ability to push the 5's and was told it would be ok but an amp would help(the HK has pre-outs). Will it be the same with the 7's, do I have to have an amp right away to enjoy them? I know the amp will help a lot but can not afford it at this time. Even if I get the 5's the amp will have to wait until later. This system will be going an a room approx 16x16 with standard ceilings.


I appreciate anyone taking time to read all of this and helping me make a good decision. Like I said before this will probably be the last speakers that I purchase, if they last 20 years. Thanks again.

Toolfan66

I say call polk and ask about a pair of Refurb RTi A9's and be done.;)


Just my .02 cents.

Larry.

Edit: not sure if your HK will power the A9's, so it might be best to go with the A5's. still call polk about refurbs.

Unless you want to upgrade your receiver as well..

nooshinjohn

get the 9's and if the HK has pre-outs, get an external amp to push them. If you are not interested in an external amp, stay with the 5's

packetjones

Thanks for the quick reponses.

I more thing i wanted to add. I work at a major electronics retailer and am able to get these new at about 1/3 of retail. The 9's are to big and i can get the 7's for about 1/2 of the cost of refurb 9's.

More opinions are welcomed. Thanks again.

nooshinjohn

I prefer the sound of the 5's over the 7's, but have only heard them in a crappy soundroom, so I would not give much weight to that assesment. With the 5's or 7's, a more powerful amp will make them come alive.

Toolfan66

packetjones wrote: »

Thanks for the quick reponses.

I more thing i wanted to add. I work at a major electronics retailer and am able to get these new at about 1/3 of retail. The 9's are to big and i can get the 7's for about 1/2 of the cost of refurb 9's.

More opinions are welcomed. Thanks again.

Well for that price count me in on a set of A5's:p, the 9's are just a little taller "6.375 inch's"

gtu2004

i think packetjones should just open an online shop over here on the forum and make some dough for himself.

superjunior

packetjones wrote: »

Thanks for the quick reponses.

I more thing i wanted to add. I work at a major electronics retailer and am able to get these new at about 1/3 of retail. The 9's are to big and i can get the 7's for about 1/2 of the cost of refurb 9's.

More opinions are welcomed. Thanks again.

for the extra 100$ I'd get the 7's. just don't turn it up too loud till you make use of those hk pre-outs.
jr

leroyjr1

There's no such think as not upgrading for another 20 years. You'll get hooked and be back for more.:D

comfortablycurt

leroyjr1 wrote: »

There's no such think as not upgrading for another 20 years. You'll get hooked and be back for more.:D

+1 You'll be back for LSi's...maybe some SDA's or vintage Monitors.;)


I'd take the 5's over the 7's. I've found the 5's to have a much warmer, more natural sounding mid-range. The 7's are also a touch brighter, due to the reduced mid-range.

The 7's win on the low end department, but the 5's are still quite respectable in those respects. When used with a decent sub, the extra low end of the 7's wouldn't even make a difference anyway.

Plenty of people love their 7's...but I prefer the 5's.

Just my $.02

packetjones

Once again I appreciate the opinions.

gtu2004 wrote: »

i think packetjones should just open an online shop over here on the forum and make some dough for himself.

i am only able to get this discount once a year.

leroyjr1 wrote: »

There's no such think as not upgrading for another 20 years. You'll get hooked and be back for more.:D

The RTi's are the top of the line speaker that i can get the employee discount on. If I come back for LSi's or vintage i will be paying retail for them. I have never been big on stereo/HT but i could not pass up the deal that i can get. I just know that i will be focused on the kid as well as my computer interest and will probably invest all my $ in them as long as the speakers still work. i have seen the upgraditis bug bite already hence i am looking at towers now to replace the A3's i thought would be good enough. lol


So the general opinion is that the 7" woofers will not be used much since there will be a sub in place at all times and I would be better off with more midrange drivers than addding in the 7" drivers?

nguyendot

Sounds like a Best Buy employee....

mhardy6647

We're not talking about Altec A5 and A7 speakers here, are we? ;-)

A5


A7



Those are speakers for a lifetime! Can you really think of better speakers for a home theatre than the Voice of the Theatre? (plus a subwoofer, of course)

nguyendot

A friend of mine has two sets of those sitting in his garage.

mhardy6647

Let me git my truck :-)

(They are really excellent loudspeakers; I have their little domesticated brothers -- 846-A Valencias -- in my living room)

Sorry for the quasi-hijack, but I saw A5 and A7 in the thread title and couldn't resist.

I'll leave y'all alone, now...

ctrulock

Honestly I would get a full range sub woofer and get the a5's. They have 2 mid range drivers vs 1 on the a7. If you keep the psw110 sub get the a7's as they go lower with probably (never heard) less detail in the mid range. Although I do not know how much detail duel 6.5 inch drivers are going to give in the mids/woofer. The a9's look yummy though.

danz1906

Go for the A5s, its a very nice speaker at a good price!

packetjones

As of right now I am leaning more towards the A5's.

I like the idea of better midrange sound as well as the smaller price/size. Since i will not be using these for 2 channel and will cross them over at 80hz, i dont think that the 7" woofers will really be much of a benefit when using a sub. Also the lesser chance of needing an amp to get satisfactory sound out of them is a benefit. Are my opinions on these factors correct? When they are crossed over will the 7's lose some of the benefits that they have?

A seperate questions as well since i have laid out my entre setup in this thread. What do you think i could get for my PSW110 if I sold it? Not looking to sell it here but get an idea of what would be a reasonable price. I bought it new at christmas last year. If i could sell it and add the extra $100 i could get a better sub overall to compliment the 5's. Any opinions on this as well would be appreciated.

Thanks again for the feedback. Any other opinions are still welcome as I will not be placing the order till next week and still may change my mind.

maximillian

packetjones wrote: »

The RTi's are the top of the line speaker that i can get the employee discount on. If I come back for LSi's or vintage i will be paying retail for them. I have never been big on stereo/HT but i could not pass up the deal that i can get.

Don't discount upgraditis. I started with those R50's at Fry's. Moved to RTi stuff then went to LSi's. I am also considering some SDA's or vintage Monitors. I wish I hadn't "wasted" my time with my first speakers. I can't find anyone local to take the R50's, so they are just hanging around.

If you are patient, you can get some good deals in the flea market. I got my LSi9's for $500 shipped. Then months later I got an LSiC at a good price too. Sure they are used and don't come with a warranty. However, if you buy from a reputable person they will be in great condition and you probably won't have problems with them.

Don't discount what comfortablycurt is saying. Vintage speakers are coveted by some people over the newer stuff.

nooshinjohn

maximillian wrote: »

Don't discount what comfortablycurt is saying. Vintage speakers are coveted by some people over the newer stuff.

Hoarded even!:D

If I had a bigger place I would have SDA's in every room.

kcoc321

So is your "once yearly discount" each calendar year? You could have that new sub in Jan...:)

packetjones

I don't know if it is a calendar year or 12 months from the last purchase. Unfortunately i can not get any of the DSW subs with it. The best sub i can get a discount on is the PSW125 which is not much of an upgrade from what i have now. If i can sell my PSW110 then i would be looking at like a Hsu, ED, SVS, or similar.

nguyendot

So.. who do you work for?

packetjones

you called it earlier. i work at best buy.

I am still down for more opinions on the tower question as well as the new question regarding the PSW110. Thanks again everyone.

bklynNupe

You may want to forget the a7's if this is a "purchase of a lifetime."
I've owned the a5's and I thought they were pretty sweet, but lacking some mid-bass. Perhaps excellent for a smaller room?
I have to admit that I have not heard The a7’s but there are a number of folks who on this forum who have heard/owned all and it always comes down to the a5’s or a9’s.
The a9’s are solid, many rave about them for HT, I love them for 2-channel music as well.
I also think they will do exceptionally well on the used market for years to come if I ever get upgrade fever with some future Rti line.

bklynNupe

packetjones wrote: »

This system is used for roughly 60% TV, 25% music, and 15% movies.

You may also want to up the center channel the a5 or a6 when your ready.

renowilliams

bklynNupe wrote: »

You may also want to up the center channel the a5 or a6 when your ready.

+1 on the larger center channel as it make a huge difference. As you can see from my signature,I have the A5's as fronts and RTI 6's for rears. This H/T set up has worked great for me. I have been very pleased overall,especially for H/T. Eventually, I will purchase another set of speakers and a power amp for two channel set up. I didn't like the A7"s sound, which once again is a subjective thing.

Good Luck

Tim

packetjones

Thanks for the replies.

I would love to upgrade the center as well but the CSiA6 will not fit in the stand that i have, where the A4 fits perfectly. I would have to buy a new cabinet or wall mount and the wife does not want to do either. I tried believe me.

Looks like the 5's are the clear winner based on the opinions here. Everyone likes the 9's but they are bit much for both the budget that i have as well as the space they will be going in. i guess the 7's just look really nice and i was lured in by the dual 7" drivers.

maximillian

Can't you listen to both at work and decide that way? As others have already said, some prefer the 5's and some prefer the 7's. The 5's have a better mid-response whereas the 7's have a better bass response. Ultimately your ears are the deciding factor. Hookup both sometime when it's slow and choose accordingly. Alternately find a dealer or a fellow polkie in your area where you can get a listen.

+1 to the A6. Can you mod the cabinet?

Graboid

I absolutely love my A7s. I have an HSU sub with them and the systems sounds incredible.

packetjones

We only carry the TSI line at work so i am not able to hear any of the RTi's, that is why i am asking here for opinions. I have removed a drawer in the cabinet i have now and the A4 fits there perfectly. The A6 would not work since i have a DLP and it takes up the entire stand that i have now.

Would a good sub complement the A5's and the mid-base better than the A7's with the psw110 that i have now? Just looking for the best overall mid-range/mid-base that i can get. Thanks again for the info everyone i really appreciate it.