suggest a good bookshelf speaker setup

AeR0
AeR0 Posts: 102
edited January 2010 in Speakers
looking for input on a bookshelf speaker setup...
Post edited by AeR0 on
· Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Comments

  • coolsax
    coolsax Posts: 1,825
    edited January 2010
    what's your budget.. 2 channel? HT use? are you going to use an AVR or a separate amp? know these will help the people on this board help you :)
    Main 2ch -
    BlueSound Node->Ethereal optical cable->Peachtree Audio Nova 150->GoldenEar Triton 2+
    TT - Pro-ject Classic SB with Sumiko Bluepoint.

    TV 3.1 system -
    Denon 3500 -> Dynaudio Excite 32/22
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • danz1906
    danz1906 Posts: 5,144
    edited January 2010
    RTiA3 speakers
    Linn AV5140 fronts
    Linn AV5120 Center
    Linn AV5140 Rears
    M&K MX-70 Sub for Music
    Odyssey Mono-Blocs
    SVS Ultra-13 Gloss Black:D
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • AeR0
    AeR0 Posts: 102
    edited January 2010
    danz1906 wrote: »
    RTiA3 speakers

    ive got a pair of rti4's right now ...

    i was considering on getting another pair .


    is that a good setup?

    how do they compare to the rtia3?



    should i run 2 8" subs in that ?

    andwhat would i use for a centre chanel?



    also i will be using a AV reciever... prob a yamaha,pioneer,sony or HK.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • keeneyrm01
    keeneyrm01 Posts: 80
    edited January 2010
    I have the RTi A3's as fronts and like them a lot. I also have a pair of RTi4's for surrounds. I did a A, B comparison with the two of them and they both sound pretty good. The A3's could definitely go a bit lower witch I like for 2 channel music and no sub on. If you're gunna be doing a lot of HT listening over music then you might be very happy just going with the RTi4's and saving some money. I use the CSi3 for a center and that matches well, its from the same RTi family. I have one 8" sub, the PSW-111 and that also goes well with them but it is a smaller room in a basement so 2 subs might be better if its a larger room.
    HT basement room:
    TV- 42in Panasonic S1 Plasma
    A/V Receiver- Onkyo NR807
    Blu-Ray- 80GB Sony PS3
    Power Supply- Monster HTS-1600
    5 Disc Sony CD/DVD Changer
    Time Warner HD Cable Box
    Speakers:
    Front- Polk RTi A3
    Center- Polk CSi3
    Side Surround- Polk RTi4
    Back Surround- Polk RM6750
    Sub- Outlaw Audio LFM-1 EX
    Bedroom:
    32in Visio LCD, Sony STR-DE685 AVR, MTX Monitor 12, Sony 5 disc DVD changer
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • ben62670
    ben62670 Posts: 15,969
    edited January 2010
    coolsax wrote: »
    what's your budget.. 2 channel? HT use? are you going to use an AVR or a separate amp? know these will help the people on this board help you :)

    Yep.
    Please. Please contact me a ben62670 @ yahoo.com. Make sure to include who you are, and you are from Polk so I don't delete your email. Also I am now physically unable to work on any projects. If you need help let these guys know. There are many people who will help if you let them know where you are.
    Thanks
    Ben
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Erik Tracy
    Erik Tracy Posts: 4,673
    edited January 2010
    keeneyrm01 wrote: »
    I have the RTi A3's as fronts and like them a lot. I also have a pair of RTi4's for surrounds. I did a A, B comparison with the two of them and they both sound pretty good. The A3's could definitely go a bit lower witch I like for 2 channel music and no sub on. If you're gunna be doing a lot of HT listening over music then you might be very happy just going with the RTi4's and saving some money. I use the CSi3 for a center and that matches well, its from the same RTi family. I have one 8" sub, the PSW-111 and that also goes well with them but it is a smaller room in a basement so 2 subs might be better if its a larger room.

    Nice setup "bro"! :D

    H9: If you don't trust what you are hearing, then maybe you need to be less invested in a hobby which all the pleasure comes from listening to music.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • AeR0
    AeR0 Posts: 102
    edited January 2010
    hmm . interesting if im just using it for mostly movies and some music..

    usin the rti4 all around would that sound pretty good?

    or should i look at a pair of rtia3's for up front and keep the rti4's for the rear?
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Erik Tracy
    Erik Tracy Posts: 4,673
    edited January 2010
    AeR0 wrote: »
    hmm . interesting if im just using it for mostly movies and some music..

    usin the rti4 all around would that sound pretty good?

    or should i look at a pair of rtia3's for up front and keep the rti4's for the rear?

    Yes, RTi4s all around will sound pretty darn good! That's how I started.

    Then upgraded the fronts to RTiA3s - the RTiA3s will paint a bigger sound stage w/ improved imaging over the RTi4s - not surprising cuz of the larger drivers.

    I did the upgrade because there was a heck of a deal on Polk's ebay site on the RTiA3s that I couldn't pass up. At full retail price though the upgrade from the RTi4s to the RTiA3s is what I would consider a marginal 'lateral' upgrade (meaning within the same 'family' of speaker for slightly better performance).

    Going all RTi4s would be a very pleasing setup. Just beware though - once that upgrade 'bug' bites - its all over!! :D

    Or - going all RTiA1s (keep your eye open for some good deals on Polks ebay site).

    I got 'bit' by the upgrade bug - and -well - there's this pair of B&Ws CDM-1nts that I'm going to jump at....enjoy the journey.... :p

    H9: If you don't trust what you are hearing, then maybe you need to be less invested in a hobby which all the pleasure comes from listening to music.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • keeneyrm01
    keeneyrm01 Posts: 80
    edited January 2010
    I would of probably have gone with just the RTi4's all around except i got a package deal with my two pairs and got the sub for free. If I was looking for just a single pair and using it mostly for movies i would go with the RTi4's and save some cash. The RTi4's are going for 150 on crutchfield compared to the RTi A3's for 450. But if the money difference isn't a big deal the A3's are real nice, especially if they're powered by a nice amp.
    HT basement room:
    TV- 42in Panasonic S1 Plasma
    A/V Receiver- Onkyo NR807
    Blu-Ray- 80GB Sony PS3
    Power Supply- Monster HTS-1600
    5 Disc Sony CD/DVD Changer
    Time Warner HD Cable Box
    Speakers:
    Front- Polk RTi A3
    Center- Polk CSi3
    Side Surround- Polk RTi4
    Back Surround- Polk RM6750
    Sub- Outlaw Audio LFM-1 EX
    Bedroom:
    32in Visio LCD, Sony STR-DE685 AVR, MTX Monitor 12, Sony 5 disc DVD changer
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Erik Tracy
    Erik Tracy Posts: 4,673
    edited January 2010
    keeneyrm01 wrote: »
    I would of probably have gone with just the RTi4's all around except i got a package deal with my two pairs and got the sub for free. If I was looking for just a single pair and using it mostly for movies i would go with the RTi4's and save some cash. The RTi4's are going for 150 on crutchfield compared to the RTi A3's for 450. But if the money difference isn't a big deal the A3's are real nice, especially if they're powered by a nice amp.

    With patience, you can pick up RTiA3s on Polk's ebay store for $219/pr.

    That's what I got mine for (and if they run an auction you can sometimes get them for even cheaper - I picked up a pair of LSi7s for $225/pr!)

    H9: If you don't trust what you are hearing, then maybe you need to be less invested in a hobby which all the pleasure comes from listening to music.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Erik Tracy
    Erik Tracy Posts: 4,673
    edited January 2010
    xcapri79 wrote: »
    That is sweet!

    Tell me.

    At one time there was a veritable 'glut' of LSi7s on Polk's ebay site, so I hung out on the back pages and let the current auctions run their course - my fingers took over the keyboard one day and I made a bid on a pair - and won.

    Sometimes you get lucky...:D

    H9: If you don't trust what you are hearing, then maybe you need to be less invested in a hobby which all the pleasure comes from listening to music.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • AeR0
    AeR0 Posts: 102
    edited January 2010
    well i think im going to stick with the rti4 plan for now and see how they go...

    im not still really sure why the rtia3's sound better its only a 6 1/2 speaker compared o 5 1/4" in the rti4's?????

    plus the room im using them in i dont hav alot of space so the bookshelves will not take as much room.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • keeneyrm01
    keeneyrm01 Posts: 80
    edited January 2010
    AeR0 wrote: »
    well i think im going to stick with the rti4 plan for now and see how they go...

    im not still really sure why the rtia3's sound better its only a 6 1/2 speaker compared o 5 1/4" in the rti4's?????

    plus the room im using them in i dont hav alot of space so the bookshelves will not take as much room.


    If your looking to save space the RTi A3's are huge compared to the RTi4's, mine barely fit on the cabinets they're on top of. As for the sound difference, they tweaked a few things in the newer series, such as bringing down the brightness on the lower end of the high frequency range but not a very noticeably difference. The bigger 6 1/2 in can go a bit lower but a lot of people have said the smaller speaker actually has a tighter more accurate sound, especially if a sub is taking care of the low end.
    HT basement room:
    TV- 42in Panasonic S1 Plasma
    A/V Receiver- Onkyo NR807
    Blu-Ray- 80GB Sony PS3
    Power Supply- Monster HTS-1600
    5 Disc Sony CD/DVD Changer
    Time Warner HD Cable Box
    Speakers:
    Front- Polk RTi A3
    Center- Polk CSi3
    Side Surround- Polk RTi4
    Back Surround- Polk RM6750
    Sub- Outlaw Audio LFM-1 EX
    Bedroom:
    32in Visio LCD, Sony STR-DE685 AVR, MTX Monitor 12, Sony 5 disc DVD changer
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • AeR0
    AeR0 Posts: 102
    edited January 2010
    keeneyrm01 wrote: »
    If your looking to save space the RTi A3's are huge compared to the RTi4's, mine barely fit on the cabinets they're on top of. As for the sound difference, they tweaked a few things in the newer series, such as bringing down the brightness on the lower end of the high frequency range but not a very noticeably difference. The bigger 6 1/2 in can go a bit lower but a lot of people have said the smaller speaker actually has a tighter more accurate sound, especially if a sub is taking care of the low end.



    awesome thanks for the info!
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter