RTi 12's and RTi A9's

Toolfan66
Toolfan66 Posts: 17,349
edited March 2010 in Speakers
Is there really a difference between the two other then the cabnet?

Are the tweeters and drivers the same?

Is one really better then the other?


Just wondering here.
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  • DaveHCYJ
    DaveHCYJ Posts: 89
    edited March 2010
    I spent alot of time in Fry's last weekend comparing the RTi 4's vs RTi A1's and I could hear a difference, but it was very minimal. In a blind test I might not be able to tell which was which.

    I took the RTi4's home because they were half the price, and nearly the same sound. After having them at home for a week I think I've changed my mind though -- I don't like the look of the silver front. The all wood of the A series looks nicer, even though the grill hides most of the silver its still there.
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  • Mike LoManaco
    Mike LoManaco Posts: 974
    edited March 2010
    TOOLFORLIFEFAN wrote: »
    Is there really a difference between the two other then the cabnet?

    Are the tweeters and drivers the same?

    Is one really better then the other?


    Just wondering here.

    Tool,

    Weren't you one of the major peeps on here that was guiding me in selecting and getting info on these speakers? It seemed as if you knew a great deal about 'em...
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  • leroyjr1
    leroyjr1 Posts: 8,785
    edited March 2010
    Mike LoManaco wrote: »
    Tool,

    Weren't you one of the major peeps on here that was guiding me in selecting and getting info on these speakers? It seemed as if you knew a great deal about 'em...

    He's now a 2 channel SDA ****. He's out of the loop when it comes to HT.:D
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  • Mike LoManaco
    Mike LoManaco Posts: 974
    edited March 2010
    leroyjr1 wrote: »
    He's now a 2 channel SDA ****. He's out of the loop when it comes to HT.:D

    Ahhh...thanx Leroy...;) :D
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  • Toolfan66
    Toolfan66 Posts: 17,349
    edited March 2010
    Mike LoManaco wrote: »
    Tool,

    Weren't you one of the major peeps on here that was guiding me in selecting and getting info on these speakers? It seemed as if you knew a great deal about 'em...


    I do on the A9's as I own them, and have read that the 12's are just as good. I would have no problem in having the 12's as I know they are close to the 9's. but was just wondering if there really is a difference between the two.

    You can get a refurb set of 12's right now on polk direct for $599 as a set of refurb 9's would be $899 so if there is really not that much of a difference then the 12's would be a bargain..

    I was guiding you as I know they are a great speaker for the money. I don't need my ears on them to know that as I have a set of 9's in my HT.

    I know the 5's 8's 7's and 10's are great speakers for the money as well I can judge that.

    If you want a awesome set of book shelfs from polk the RT55i's and RT35I's for the money Kick ****, and I kick my self in the **** for selling mine..:rolleyes:
    Polk Audio SDA 2.3tl Fully Hot Rodded. 😎

    SVS SB16 X2

    Cary SLP-05/Ultimate Upgrade.
    Cary SA-500.1 ES Amps
    Cary DMS 800PV Network
    OPPO UDP 205/ModWright Modification
    VPI Scout TT / Dynavector 20x2
    Jolida JD9 Fully Modified

    VPI MW-1 Cyclone RCM

    MIT Shotgun 3 cables throughout / Except TT, and PC’s
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  • Toolfan66
    Toolfan66 Posts: 17,349
    edited March 2010
    leroyjr1 wrote: »
    he's now a 2 channel sda ****. He's out of the loop when it comes to ht.:d

    Yep!!!!;) LOL
    Polk Audio SDA 2.3tl Fully Hot Rodded. 😎

    SVS SB16 X2

    Cary SLP-05/Ultimate Upgrade.
    Cary SA-500.1 ES Amps
    Cary DMS 800PV Network
    OPPO UDP 205/ModWright Modification
    VPI Scout TT / Dynavector 20x2
    Jolida JD9 Fully Modified

    VPI MW-1 Cyclone RCM

    MIT Shotgun 3 cables throughout / Except TT, and PC’s
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  • cnh
    cnh Posts: 13,284
    edited March 2010
    I remember both of you before the Rtis and SDAs....remember the 'early' days?

    Things move fast around here Mike! Before you know it you'll have 2 Epik subs, some Maggies, and McIntosh pre and amp....some vintage powered home theater seating with butt-kicking abilities......a large Projection screen and the best HD projector money can buy. And maybe the new Marantz Universal Blu-ray player?

    Or you'll be like tool (Larry) and you'll have the biggest baddest SDAs you can find and the best Adcom pre ever made, etc.!

    Watch out....as for me...I'm still on my first set of SDA 2Bs and my wife is still trying to figure out why we need speakers that are so big and heavy!

    lol

    cnh
    Currently orbiting Bowie's Blackstar.!

    Polk Lsi-7s, Def Tech 8" sub, HK 3490, HK HD 990 (CDP/DAC), AKG Q701s
    [sig. changed on a monthly basis as I rotate in and out of my stash]
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  • danz1906
    danz1906 Posts: 5,144
    edited March 2010
    The A9s may be a Lil smoother than the 12s.
    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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  • mdaudioguy
    mdaudioguy Posts: 5,165
    edited March 2010
    DaveHCYJ wrote: »
    I spent alot of time in Fry's last weekend comparing the RTi 4's vs RTi A1's and I could hear a difference, but it was very minimal. In a blind test I might not be able to tell which was which.

    I took the RTi4's home because they were half the price, and nearly the same sound. After having them at home for a week I think I've changed my mind though -- I don't like the look of the silver front. The all wood of the A series looks nicer, even though the grill hides most of the silver its still there.

    When I bought my RTi10s 2 years ago, I could hear only a very, very subtle difference when I demo'ed them vs the RTiA7s, BUT they were in two different rooms connected to two different amps. No doubt the RTiAs are a prettier speaker - especially in the cherry finish. At the time, the older line was selling for less than half the price of the new, so for me, it was a no-brainer. Between the silver trim, the straight box design, and the odd looking outrigger feet, the RTi towers are somewhat quirky, however, they've grown on me. I keep my grills on, 'cause I agree that the silver fronts look cheap. If only that silver area at the bottom and the outriggers were black... Oddly enough, I ended up finding some cabinets from Ikea for my components that closely resemble the style of the RTis, so now I'm hooked on the look!
    rti10.jpg
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  • rcrook317
    rcrook317 Posts: 280
    edited March 2010
    got a demo pair for 600 w/ only 1 small nick on the back corner.....couldnt be happier as far as bang for buck goes.

    rti12s are great for ht and music plus the cherry finish looks killer !
    fronts=rti12s(cherry)
    center=csi3(cherry)
    sub=psw125(cherry)
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    "It doesnt mean that much to me,to mean that much to you"
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  • rcrook317
    rcrook317 Posts: 280
    edited March 2010
    although the wood face and curved body is very appealing but not worth the amount it would have cost me.
    imagine both sound pretty similiar although i only heard the a9s in a demo room
    fronts=rti12s(cherry)
    center=csi3(cherry)
    sub=psw125(cherry)
    emotiva xpa-2
    harmon kardon 354
    sony cdp
    ipod 8gb
    audioquest diamondback 1m
    "Maesto" straightwire cables
    pangea ac-9
    playstation3/120gb=blu-ray/media server
    monitor=lg 55inch lcd(1080p)
    TT Set-up=Pro-Ject RM 1.3
    Kenwood Phono
    bren1 Clamp
    Herbies Slipmat

    "It doesnt mean that much to me,to mean that much to you"
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  • RyanJoz
    RyanJoz Posts: 116
    edited March 2010
    The 9's weren't nearly as bright as the 12's in my experience. I have owned both. The 9's were more musical while both are excellent for HT. I do not know about the driver information between the two models, just that they are different colors.
    Ryan Jozwiak

    "Because music was meant to be felt and heard"

    polkaudio RTiA9
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  • Toolfan66
    Toolfan66 Posts: 17,349
    edited March 2010
    I still find the 12's mean looking and just as sexy as the 9's..
    Polk Audio SDA 2.3tl Fully Hot Rodded. 😎

    SVS SB16 X2

    Cary SLP-05/Ultimate Upgrade.
    Cary SA-500.1 ES Amps
    Cary DMS 800PV Network
    OPPO UDP 205/ModWright Modification
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    Jolida JD9 Fully Modified

    VPI MW-1 Cyclone RCM

    MIT Shotgun 3 cables throughout / Except TT, and PC’s
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  • RyanJoz
    RyanJoz Posts: 116
    edited March 2010
    While I like the looks of the 12's, the 9's look better to me. The cabinet being the same color and one piece just set it apart to me. I really don't care either way if the cabinets are curved or rectangular but the wife thought the curved cabinet was more "modern". The spikes from both speakers leave a lot to be desired. I have a carpeted floor, and was not a big fan of the plastic spikes on the 12's. They did not come to a sharp point (isn't that the point of spikes?). The 9's came with spikes that are way too short IMO for use on carpet. The carpet in my house is very thick and the spikes were still about a half inch shy of hitting the subfloor.

    I had the 12's in a a/b comparison with my father's monitor 10's with peerless tweets and the 12's seemed like someone cranked the treble knob. For music the 12's were almost unbearable when comparing them to the monitor 10's. It could be that we were both used to the 10's, but the highs from the 12's seemed to overpower the rest of the music being played. The 9's sounded much more similar to the original monitors as a whole but exhibited more bass slam (my guess is due to the smaller drivers and greater number of them). The highs were a little more detailed when compared to the 10's (possibly a little brightness brought out more details), but not overdone.

    The grilles from the 9's also seemed to be much more durable. The pegs go into rubber pieces in the cabinet on the 9's vs. the rubber grip pieces being in the grille with metal pegs on the 12's.

    Both speakers were tested with a HK AVR 7000 as a pre with an Adcom 5500
    Ryan Jozwiak

    "Because music was meant to be felt and heard"

    polkaudio RTiA9
    polkaudio RT35i
    polkaudio PSW 404
    HK 3370
    HK FL8380
    HK DVD 22
    Adcom GFA 5500
    Samsung 40" LCD 120 Hz
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  • danz1906
    danz1906 Posts: 5,144
    edited March 2010
    TOOLFORLIFEFAN wrote: »
    I still find the 12's mean looking and just as sexy as the 9's..

    Agreed, the A9s are great looking 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
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  • Toolfan66
    Toolfan66 Posts: 17,349
    edited March 2010
    danz1906 wrote: »
    Agreed, the A9s are great looking speakers.

    But they are no SDA's:D
    Polk Audio SDA 2.3tl Fully Hot Rodded. 😎

    SVS SB16 X2

    Cary SLP-05/Ultimate Upgrade.
    Cary SA-500.1 ES Amps
    Cary DMS 800PV Network
    OPPO UDP 205/ModWright Modification
    VPI Scout TT / Dynavector 20x2
    Jolida JD9 Fully Modified

    VPI MW-1 Cyclone RCM

    MIT Shotgun 3 cables throughout / Except TT, and PC’s
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  • leroyjr1
    leroyjr1 Posts: 8,785
    edited March 2010
    TOOLFORLIFEFAN wrote: »
    But they are no SDA's:D

    Sda's suck big time.
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  • curved
    curved Posts: 664
    edited March 2010
    leroyjr1 wrote: »
    Sda's suck big time.

    Always a wise guy Lee ;)
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