Help with picking speakers

drusburn

Hello everyone, I am really excited about this new purchase of mine and cant wait to hear everyones opinions.

I am going to be purchasing a new HT system in about 2 weeks. Im going with the Sammy ln52b750 and have decided on a Pioneer VSX-1019-AH-K for my receiver. Now im down to speakers... Im not looking for surrounds at the moment, I have some that will do for the mean time, as well as a sub, so I just need the mains and a center, all matching of course. I probably wont be upgrading for a little while so I want to get it right the first time. I want something that is both good in HT and music, not really looking for one extreme or the other. Ive heard some Polks, being the RTI A5 and the TSI500. There seems to be an increase in sound quality with the jump to the RTIs, but im on a budget and really dont want to spend more than 800 for the towers and frys has them for 450 each while the TSIs are 400 each. NOW the wrench in my thoughts are the RTI8. Frys has the pair for 400, but I really dont like the way they look, and that is a big factor for me. Should I suck it up for the RTI8s and deal until I upgrade in a few years? Or pay twice the price for something that is basically the same components in a much nicer box. The other problem is that I was going to finance all this equipment at once, so it makes it difficult to find what I like when im limited to BB and FRYS. I think im leaning towards the A5s, they are the most aesthetically pleasing in my eyes. Are they really worth the price difference over the TSI500s or the RTI8s--this is whats eating me up.

The other question I had was that I heard that the Polks will be really bright with the Pioneer receiver, anyone have this combo and can speak on it? I like highs so this may be a good thing for me? Im just not sure, there are so many choices out there. If I could I would love to find some energy RC50s or MA RS6s but they are most likely out of my price range as I could not get financing on them.

Also, what about Klipsch? I have a set of their speakers for my computer and love them, but hear that they are really bright and overpowering. I was looking into the Reference RF62 or RF52. Anyone have this combo with the Pioneer receiver?

I think im leaning towards one of the Polks because I can easily get them from either BB or FRYS, whomever has the best no interest financing--That is the only way I convinced the GF to allow this haha.

Thanks for all your help and opinions everyone. Oh and this will be going into an apartment for now, not really worried about buying for the room, will make the room work with my HT haha.

cnh

Welcome to Club Polk!

Well this is just an opinion...but I feel that the 500s are more 'musical' than the RTi entry towers period and that the Rti-8 and A5s are BEST suited for HT. Unless you like brighter tweeters? In which case go Rti....I don't.

But the best thing to do is to 'listen'. Go out and see what you like..because we're all different. I, for example would always buy 500s over entry Rtis..but I like the Rti-A9s a lot--of course they are the flagship speaker and too pricey for you.

Whichever speaker you go with you'd be wise to go with the LARGEST center for that series....in this way....you'll be good for a long time.

Of the Polk subs you can't go wrong with the DSW-600 lots of bang for the price and pretty good with music too..

What kind of AVR are you running....?

cnh

MANSKITO

You really should try new egg. They are running great deals on the monitor line of speakers. (which are almost the same compared to the TSI) It sounds like your on a budget and when it comes down too it the monitor 70s or even the 60s are the best bang for the buck speaker on there is.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16882290015

As to the Klipsch speakers, IMO I think they sound like **** on any receiver.
Stick to the Polk brand for bang for the buck, I know I have and they have treated me well for the past few months even on **** equipment.

Peaceman

I have some will shoot me but, B&W 805 for L and R.
Klipsch center, Polk sub and Polk satellites for rears.
AVR- a Yamaha VSX and love the sound.

cnh

Hi Peaceman,

What's your point? Are you suggesting he buy B&Ws for fronts and Klipsch center? Just curious! It is best to match those three front speakers. I can't imagine B&Ws operating seamlessly with a Klipsch center?

cnh

everpress

Wow. That's a lot of completely unrelated product.

If I were OP, I'd go and listen to the speakers first hand.
Remember though, placement and room-size will have a profound effect on your sound; so don't just buy a bunch of seperate speakers from all over the spectrum and expect them to sound right for you just because they sound right for someone else.

Peaceman wrote: »

I have some will shoot me but, B&W 805 for L and R.
Klipsch center, Polk sub and Polk satellites for rears.
AVR- a Yamaha VSX and love the sound.

Peaceman

cnh,

I wasn't trying to make any point. I was just mentioning what works for me.
Yes, the center is a little overpowering, and I need to tweek it down a bit.
But, this is all i have at the moment, until I can invest in upgrading.

cnh

No harm, no foul....that's what I thought. Hey if it works....for you that's all that matters!


cnh

drusburn

Thanks for all the replys. I went and heard the 500s and the A5s and for the most part I couldnt hear a big difference, then again that was my first time out demoing home audio speakers and wasnt sure what to look for. The demo was on 2ch stereo with some acoustic version of Dave Matthews Band from a blue ray, which sounded good on both to me. Next time I go ill just have to be more critical. The sales guy at FRYS was cool and he seemed to make HT a hobby so he knew what he was talking about. He was trying to sell me on the A5s saying they were fuller in the highs and mids and not as "pingy" if I recall. He was really trying to sell me that the RTI8s were internally the same speaker as the A5, just with a different cabinet, but I just dont know if I can hang with the style of that cabinet, even at that price of 400 for the set. I had budgeted 800 but it would be nice to save that money.

The annoying part is that if I go with the RTI8s at frys then I have to get the A4 or the A6 for a center because they dont stock the matching center to the older RTI8s, and I want to be able to take the grills off and have everything match, as stupid as that sounds...or am I just being ridiculously picky??

To be honest these would more often be used to movies, tv and video games as opposed to straight music. Ill definitely go hear them again, I just wanted to know more of what to look and listen for. I keep flip flopping back and forth, just as I did with the TV decision haha.

domflane

Too bad you want to finance them through FRYS, because Polk Direct on Ebay has the RTiA5's for about $475 shipped for the pair. I ran mine on a Harman Kardon AVR before I got my Carver amp and they sounded great. The warmth of the HK balanced really well with the somewhat bright tweeters. Keep in mind that the A5's aren't Klipsch bright, they're just bright for Polks. Also, I love the looks of the A series, way better than the TSi's or the older RTi's. If I were you, I would apply for a new no interest credit card and pick up some awsome discounted refurb products from factory direct Ebay stores and forget retail centers. You'll get better gear way cheaper and still have a warranty. All IMHO of course. Either way, welcome to the club and enjoy your new rig.

drusburn

Well if I can keep the price down enough then I might be able to pay for just the speakers in cash or a credit card. Ive always been ok with refurbished products, but Im kinda leary buying speakers refurbished, not so much other electronics, but I dont want to get a pair that someone has abused badly, and polk just fixed the problem and still left in drivers that were abused. What kind of condition do they come in most of the time? Obviously not new, but I dont want a big ding or scratch in them. Also is there shipping or do they include it? If I can get new ones from a store for like 100 or 150 bucks more I might as well get the new ones with long term financing and not worry so much about the cash now.

Anyone else dealt with Polk Direct, tell me your stories.

domflane

Polk direct is awesome, everyone here will attest to that. My A5's came in the original box and there was no way to tell that they weren't brand new. They do charge for shipping, but the prices are so low that its still worth it. I think that I paid like $380 for the pair for my A5's and they charged $100 to ship them. In the crutchfield magazine, they list for $449.99 each. Plus Polk customer service backs them 100%.

CRESCENDOPOWER

drusburn wrote: »

Anyone else dealt with Polk Direct, tell me your stories.

Nothing, but positive experiences for me, and every individual I have made recommendations for. Be patient, and wait for what you are looking for, and buy it from Polk Direct.

GTB

CRESCENDOPOWER wrote: »

Nothing, but positive experiences for me, and every individual I have made recommendations for. Be patient, and wait for what you are looking for, and buy it from Polk Direct.

+1 on that.

Not only is Polk Direct great, every contact I've had with any Polk employee has been super.

By the way, the exact match both sonically and in appearance for the center speaker for a RTi8 system is the CSi5. They are still for sale "out there", and are a great performing speaker.

danz1906

Polk direct is the best place to get Polk speakers-Go for the RTiA5!

cfrizz

Always bring a cd with a mix of your own music that you know very well to check out speakers.

bevo

You could get the RTi A9's on polk direct for a little more then A5's new. Polk direct is a great bargain for someone on a budget. I've bought all my rti a speakers form there.

drusburn

I think im going to end up with the A5s from polk direct.

Hey bevo, how does the A4 sound with the A5s? Are you happy with it?? I was looking at them and most people with them keep wondering if they shouldve went with the A6 and I dont want to be one of those haha, want to get it right the first time. I hear the A6 is a BIG speaker, its like 24" wide, and the A4 is like 20" wide. Is the A6 really worth almost twice the price of the A4? Or should I save some room for an upgrade later and get the A4 and save some money?