RTI A7 or RTI A9?

mikejl46
mikejl46 Posts: 63
edited February 2010 in Speakers
RTI A7 or RTI A9?

I'm having a hard time making a decision. I listen 100 % music. I have a pioneer 53TX, Carver A-400x 200 wpc for the fronts, living room size 20'x 15'.

Which one would be better for music? Am I going to need a sub if I go with the RTI A7's? Does the carver A-400x have enough power for the RTI A9's?

Thanks,

Mike
Post edited by mikejl46 on
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Comments

  • MADGSF
    MADGSF Posts: 603
    edited January 2010
    If I have to choose between those two and since you have an amp I would go with the RTiA9. They will have plenty of bass and I don't think a sub will be needed unless you like organ music. You will get a lot of responses saying to get the LSi-X series speaker and I would recommend you take a look at them as well since you are 100% music.
    AVR: Elite VSX-21TXH
    Amplifier: B&K 7250 Series ii
    Misc: Velodyne SMS-1
    Mains: RTi-10
    Center: CSi-5
    Rear: Boston DSi460
    Sub: SVS PC-Ultra
    TV: Panasonic TC-P58V10
    DVD: Panasonic DMP-BD60K
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  • Ron Temple
    Ron Temple Posts: 3,212
    edited January 2010
    mikejl46 wrote: »
    RTI A7 or RTI A9?

    Does the carver A-400x have enough power for the RTI A9's?

    Thanks,

    Mike
    Yep...plenty.

    Combo rig:

    Onkyo NR1007 pre-pro, Carver TFM 45(fronts), Carver TFM 35 (surrounds)
    SDA 1C, CS400i, SDA 2B
    PB13Ultra RO
    BW Silvers
    Oppo BDP-83SE
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  • mikejl46
    mikejl46 Posts: 63
    edited January 2010
    I did take a look at the LSi15 and read the reviews, sounds like a good speaker for music.

    I see there is a speaker that comes out the side on the bottom. I was wonder how much space these speakers need to work properly. I have very little space on both side of my entertainment center 20" on one side 30" on the other.

    room.jpg

    Thanks again for the help

    Mike
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  • wutadumsn23
    wutadumsn23 Posts: 3,702
    edited January 2010
    That speaker on the sides is a self powered subwoofer, and I'm not too sure on how much room it will need on the sides to operate well. Looks like according to the specs the 15 is just under 9" wide, so with 20" I think you might be ok? Not sure how well it would perform pointed directly at a wall, but I'm sure someone will be able to help you more. Welcome to Club Polk.


    -Jeff
    HT Rig
    Receiver- Onkyo TX-SR806
    Mains- Polk Audio Monitor 70
    Center- Polk Audio CS2
    Surrounds- Polk Audio TSi 500's :D
    Sub- Polk Audio PSW125
    Retired- Polk Audio Monitor 40's
    T.V.- 60" Sony SXRD KDS-60A2000 LCoS
    Blu-Ray- 80 GB PS3


    2 CH rig (in progress)
    Polk Audio Monitor 10A's :cool:

    It's not that I'm insensitive, I just don't care.. :D
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  • kcoc321
    kcoc321 Posts: 1,788
    edited January 2010
    Well since you are going for 100%, and since you are considering the LSi15 even, you might also consider these as well. Polk has recon LSi9's for $699 ie only $100 more that the A7's....and much more musical based on what everyone says

    http://cgi.ebay.com/PAIR-LSi9-Ebony-Bookshelf-Loudspeakers-from-Polk_W0QQitemZ230423844206QQcmdZViewItemQQptZSpeakers_Subwoofers?hash=item35a654d56e
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  • engage
    engage Posts: 10
    edited January 2010
    I just purchased the Lsi15s and I think they are awesome speakers for music and for the money.

    I think the side with 30" will be OK. I don't know about the 20" side. However, the woofer on my left Lsi15 is only 5 or 6 inches away from the side of my sub and sounds fine.

    The woofers on the Lsi15 are not powered, like the Lsi25, but they go down pretty low and the mid-bass they produce is incredible. A sub will get you a bit more bottom end, but to be honest, even thou I have a Rythmik sub, I often listen to music in pure direct mode, meaning the sub is not active.

    I considered the Lsi9's as well, but decided that the additional headroom on the Lsi15's (the two 5.25" speakers are crossed at 150 Hz - on the Lsi9's, they are allowed to go down to 38 Hz) would be worth it. In all fairness, however, I have not listened to the Lsi9s.

    I'm 50 years old and have been listening to music most of that time and have heard, and auditioned, some nice systems, but my Lsi15s are right at the top of the list.
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  • sTiLlLeArNiNg
    sTiLlLeArNiNg Posts: 805
    edited January 2010
    For 100% music i would look at the LSi line if you wish to stay with Polk
    Media Room 7.1
    Sharp lc37d64u | Sanus vmsab-03 | Sonax ZX8680 | Yamaha htr-6290b | Emotiva xpa1 x 2 & xpa5 | RTiA 9 & 7 | CSiA 6 | FXiA 6 | Sanus NF30B-03 | Velodyne dls-3750r | Dual 505-3 m97xe | Monster avs2000/hts5100

    HTPC
    Intel e5300 | Asus p5q DLX | LG ch08 BD | OCZ 4g reaper2 | WD 1TB | Sapphire 4890 VaporX 1g | Asus Xonar HDAV 1.3 | OCZ modXtreme 700w | Antec Fusion remote MAX

    A fool and his money are easily parted
    I don't drink Koolaid

    Need some cable's? Just ask :)
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  • Wazenstein
    Wazenstein Posts: 1
    edited February 2010
    I am also looking the RT ia7 speakers and im wondering whether they would need a subwoofer.
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  • superjunior
    superjunior Posts: 1,632
    edited February 2010
    Wazenstein wrote: »
    I am also looking the RT ia7 speakers and im wondering whether they would need a subwoofer.

    not neccesarilly for music but for ht both the a7 and a9 will sound better with a sub than without
    panasonic th-50pz85u
    pioneer elite vsx-92txh
    pioneer elite bdp-05fd
    emotiva xpa-3
    monster power hdp 2550
    sa 8300 hd dvr
    sda 2b's
    fronts - rti a9's
    center - csi a6
    surrounds - fxi a6's
    sub - polk dsw pro 600
    harmony one
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  • danz1906
    danz1906 Posts: 5,144
    edited February 2010
    The LSi series are more Musical than the RTia series.
    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
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  • dorourke07
    dorourke07 Posts: 298
    edited February 2010
    The LIS9's have not dissappointed me with music. I usually run them in pure audio mode and keep the sub off like "engage". I think the smoothness of the tweeter in the Lsi series really lets music find its warm sound.
    Mains - LSi9's
    Center - LSiC
    Surround - pair of TL3's
    Amplification - Parasound 2125
    AVR - Onkyo 706
    CD/SACD - Onkyo DV-SP506
    SUB - MartinLogan Abyss
    55" Panasonic Viera TC-P55GT30 3D
    Bluray - DMP-BDT310 Panasonic
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  • Canadian12
    Canadian12 Posts: 16
    edited February 2010
    I've got the RTI12's (Predecessor of the a9's) and they absolutely wail! I used to have the PSW125 and at about 'half throttle' I could unplug the sub, without any difference in bass.

    I thought of removing the sub altogether, but decided to upgrade to the MicroPro 4000! The sub doesn't overpower the RTI12's but 'complete's' it.

    Either way you go, you're on the high end and will enjoy what you get.
    Vision: Sony Bravia 52" XBR
    Power: Onkyo TX-SR876
    More Power: Onkyo M-282
    Front's: Polk Audio Rti12's ;)
    Sub: Polk Audio DSW Micropro 4000 :eek:
    Source: PS3 80GB
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  • DeusExa
    DeusExa Posts: 491
    edited February 2010
    Canadian12 wrote: »
    I've got the RTI12's (Predecessor of the a9's) and they absolutely wail!

    You mean punch =0
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  • dorokusai
    dorokusai Posts: 25,577
    edited February 2010
    Wazenstein wrote: »
    I am also looking the RT ia7 speakers and im wondering whether they would need a subwoofer.

    If you're just listening to music sure but for HT you'll need a subwoofer. I'd add a subwoofer anyways.
    CTC BBQ Amplifier, Sonic Frontiers Line3 Pre-Amplifier and Wadia 581 SACD player. Speakers? Always changing but for now, Mission Argonauts I picked up for $50 bucks, mint.
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