TSi 500 or RTi A5

dcmartinpc

Can't wait to join the club!!!

I am looking at these 2 speakers for my first set of polk speakers! I am actually looking at 2 sets, one for 2 channel music and some movie watching that will be driven by a older Sony 110 wpc receiver (Non ES). The other set will be used for 2 channel music and as the front pair in a 7.1 setup driven by a Yamaha RX-V2400.

The home theater setup has a sub and the sony system does not. I am wanting clean sound without a over bearing high end.

I might even consider some monitor 70's if someone can talk me in to them

Will the Sony be enough to drive the 500's? or the A5's?

The room is roughly 12 x 18 with the speakers on the short wall. I think the Yamaha should be able to drive most anything I throw at it short of maybe the A9's or something of that caliber... The Yamaha is driving my home theater system in my basement, about the worst acoustics possible, but I will be moving in a year or so and will be building a dedicated home theater room, so keep that in mind.

I have dug all around the site, but I am just not sure for my situation what will be the best fit.

Any and ALL opinions welcome!

Don

SlyFoxMan7

I'm new to this site but from what I've gathered so far, the monitor line is very similar to the TSi line so you could probable save money taking the Monitor 70 over the TSi 500.

leroyjr1

Both a5's and TSI 500 are both fairly easy to push.

dcmartinpc

Am I better off getting a set for my 2 channel setup and waiting until I can get some A9's for my home theater? Does anyone have an opinion on whether the RX-V2400 would drive those well? It is rated at 120 wpc full range...

Should I get the TSi 500's or Monitor 70's if I don't plan to run a sub on the 2 channel system? Would the RTi A5's provide decent bass response?


Keep the opinions and ideas coming!


Thanks!

danz1906

WElcome to the Club!

The RTiA series are easy to drive,but the more clean power the better they will sound:)

dorokusai

The Sony can drive any of those loudspeakers just fine. I'd probably choose the TSi500 based on cost...if that's a factor. I wouldn't go with the Monitor series over the TSi or RTiA.

dcmartinpc

I think I can get the Monitor 70's for less than $300, the TSi 500's for around 350 and I can get the RTi A5's for $379 from Polk Direct...


If the Monitor 70's are close enough to the TSi's, they might be worth it, but between the TSi's and RTi A5's, the difference in price is negligible. I just want the best speaker in roughly that price range....


Don

wutadumsn23

I have Monitor 70's and have been nothing but impressed by their performance. For the prices they are going for these days (Newegg routinely has them on sale for around $170 ea.) they can't be beat IMHO. I haven't heard the TSi's, but hopefully soon I will get my ears on them and be able to put this issue to rest (atleast for me anyway, lol) All the speakers you are looking at are fairly easy enough to push, so that shouldn't be an issue for you. I have never heard the RTiA line either, but from what I have heard they may have an edge over the others in HT use. Welcome to Club Polk.

-Jeff

cnh

I can't tell you! Doro has an interesting take though! I own both Tsi-300s and M70s. Now that's not a fair comparison, of course but the M70s trounce the 300s in just about every category including its tweeter which it happens to share with the Tsi-500.

Of course...the TSIs look a hell of a lot better.....but the 500s although they have a larger volume and a bottom port are actually, somehow, lighter in weight? than the M70s? Design can be a factor of course.

Perhaps Tsi-500s are better than M70s...they might play a bit deeper for example. The best thing to do is give a listen to both. I've heard the 400s and the 300s and I still prefer my M70s. Go figure.

cnh

dcmartinpc

So..... I am trying to setup a deal on a LSi package now They are the non powered "bookshelf" versions, but I will be running a epik sentinel sub so I am not worried about the low end at all. I will post here when I find out!

Don

samonkey

I'm sort of in the same boat...

Debating between two RTi A5s and CSi a4, or two TSi500s and CS10 for front. I just bought the tsi500 and cs10, but I haven't been blown away. I can pick up the RTi series setup for LESS online! Just wondering if the sound is remarkably better, or just a step up.

To me, the CS10 sounds "boxy". If I close my eyes, it sounds like everything is coming from a speaker box right below my tv... (I know it is, but I was hoping for better dispersion). Anyone have experience with RTi setups?

dcmartinpc

Well, I got my LSi's!!!! A pair of LSi 9's for the front, LSi 7's for the rear, and the LSi Center Channel. I don't have my sub yet, but I was SHOCKED at the bass response from the 9's!!! I have my receiver set flat in 2 channel mode and I am driving them with a Parasound HCA-2205A. I am BLOWN away!!! These things are clean and everything scales well even into higher volumes!! Can't wait to get the rear surrounds hooked up and get my sub next week and watch some movies!!!


Don

cnh

Great choice...that's a nice set up and the Parasound should provide good clean power for them....You'll need more power for the back and center...as well....

Enjoy...LSI-9s are one of my favorite bookshelves...the good thing about them is that they sound good with a variety of equipment, they're not picky as long as they have enough power.

cnh