RT5000p Vs RTi setup...Just how awesome is it??

Inspector 24 · June 2012

A complete RT5000p with a PSW-650 just popped up for a stupid good price. Talking to the owner they're apparently in excellent condition, says everything works, all drivers, all amps and I've always read how unbelieveable, how amazing the 5000p system is. Thing is they're 4.5hrs away...9hrs round trip. Even with the cost of gas they're still less than I've seen complete systems go for. But still a bit of a commitment to spend a day and gas in the truck getting them.

Current setup is RTiA9, CSiA6, FXiA6, Marantz SR7002, Parasound HCA-2003 driving the fronts, and soon a Parasound HCA-1206 for the rears, PSW-505 and a PSW300. While the A9's lack a little for two channel music (not much) I'm very satisfied with this setup for movies. It gives me great size, dynamics and impact for movies and leaves little to be desired.

I've had RT800i, CS400i, RT35i surrounds, and the RTi setup is definitely better in almost all ways for movies and music, but is the 5000p something special? Is it better than the current RTi setup, better enough to be worth getting??

Thanks in advance!
Ryan

EndersShadow · June 2012

Inspector 24 wrote: »

Is it better than the current RTi setup, better enough to be worth getting??

Only one way to really know for sure :biggrin:. I say pick em up, A/B em for a bit and sell the set you dont like. You seem to indicate they are at a very low price which means you should at min be able to get your money back if you dont like the RT setup as much as the RTi one.

Hell I am picking up a vintage Onkyo integrated to use as a headphone amp just because the layout and looks intrigue me, I don't even need it.... you gotta hear things for yourself and trying out new things is part of it.

Inspector 24 · June 2012

Yeah, unfortunately I know asking opinions about how something sounds is the same as asking how something smells or tastes...totally different for everybody!

Believe me, if these puppies were local I wouldn't be asking questions, I'd be saying 'Hey, check out what I got!' I told the guy if he was closer I'd be at his house now with the cash! Re-selling either set wouldn't be a problem, even at a loss...Loosing a full day of house work is much worse!

That said, I'm hoping someone has some comparison of the two?

Inspector 24 · June 2012

DSkip wrote: »

At that price, go get them. The one thing you need to look into is the plate amps. Even at that price, you can't go wrong since you could probably get them fixed and still be under market value for total out of pocket. All three plate amps I have had bad power caps; it would be worth looking at those if you do get them to make sure they aren't bulging. If you get them and want to replace them, let me know and I'll send you info on where I got mine from.

I'm looking into transportation now...I've read about the amp issues...is there anything else that goes bad inside them?

I'd take the RT5000 setup over the current RTiA lineup any day. That is a spectacular system and is well worth the price of entry.

Strong recommendation! So how would you say they compare in listening to them?

leroyjr1 · June 2012

I wouldn't call the rt5000 a step up from the RTI a9's but just a sideways move. For the asking price it's worth a listen.

Inspector 24 · June 2012

Worth a listen...and 9 hrs of driving to buy them nearly unseen? :razz:

I suppose I should mention the listed asking price for the whole setup is $800....does that make it more worth the drive?

Inspector 24 · June 2012

That's the kind of info I like to hear! I've owned RT1000i, RT800i, RT35i, RT25i (awesome little speakers) CS400i and a couple others and I agree about the brightness of the RTi line. While they are much more revealing of many of the subtleties and nuances the RT series misses they do so at a cost of being a bit too forward and bright leading to fatigue after extended listening. To combat this I played with the eq and was able to relax their forward sound. Still, I really enjoy their much bigger sound and more revealing nature than my other favorite, the RT800i. Still own a pair of those and love em. Their smoother laid back personality is like a warm blanket.

Do you think the satellites crisper sound Is because of the different crossover settings compared to the RT55i?

And I would definitely sell the 650. Doesn't look like it can do anything current subs 505 or the 300 are already doing!

mantis · July 2012

No brainer buy em. As said you can resell if you don't like them which I can't see that being the case. They where the best sounding of their day by far. They where tighter , cleaner and more detailed then any other speaker in that line.

It's a remarkable achievement on polks part then and still stands today. For 800 bucks I'd buy em allday

Inspector 24 · July 2012

DSkip wrote: »

The RT55's are ported whereas the 3000 satellites are sealed. The enclosures are also VERY solid compared to the rest of the RT lineup; the satellites are quite a bit smaller than the 55's and have every bit as much heft to them. A knock test on both also reveals a big difference in cabinet structure. The satellites are almost dead silent whilst the 55's (and every other speaker in the RT line) has a hollow sound to it.

Aaaaaah.....That would explain a bit of the sound difference!

I haven't heard those subs you have, but if they sound like people say they do, you might be sending those out the door too. I became accustomed to the SR104 in my car and its incredible musicality. I've tried a few in-home subs from polk and none of them did it for me, so I was running the SR104 off an integrated amp for my sub. After getting the 3000's, the SR104 was quickly moved out of the system as it just wasn't needed anymore. The 505/300 should sound bloated compared to what the modules will provide.

I've never been overly impressed with either sub. The 505 is punchy but lacks depth, the 300 has depth but no punch. Together they make a decent combo and give explosions some much nice boom and rumble, but I rarely use them for music unless it's heavy techno/electronic. Last night for example was the most I'd used them for music while listening to Daft Punk for a couple hours, but then I put in NIN The Fragile and suddenly the subs were annoying, so off they went and the A9's carried the music wonderfully.

If the stars align, I'll have these by next weekend...I'm becoming more curious about how they sound!

Inspector 24 · January 2015

Dragging this back from the dead, properly amplified RTiA9's win over RT3000. You can get a LOT more ultimate bass from the 3000's but when properly level matched to the uppers they are not quite as fast, textured or musical as the A9's in the lower regions. Then throw in a couple of VTF-15 Mk2's and the A9's easily win with their broader sound stage, more accurate vocals, and overall more detailed presentation.

That said, the 3000's have that classic smooth, warm RTxxx series sound that's always inviting and easy to enjoy, even if not the most revealing sound, and if you're short on amplifier power are the better option over the A9's.

As such, my RT5000 system has a new home at a friend's house powered by a brandy new Yamaha RX-A2030. After a few hours of helping him set up and level match the bass modules to the mid/upper modules and doing the same for the center subwoofer section he's in movie and musical heaven. I'm not sure he ever though he could enjoy his music this much!

Inspector 24 · January 2015

This is his first system outside of a car, and he'll likely be purchasing a HSU to go along with it all very soon...really jumping both feet in!

dpowell · January 2015

My RT5000 system was the gateway to a set of SRT's which were the gateway to the SDA's I currently own. Once I tasted the musicality and warmth of the SDA's, I was done listening to any of the RT series. The RT5000's are great but I'm not sure they are a step up for you. Honestly, when I had them, I wished for a set of towers without powered subs. The surrounds are fantastic. I wish I could have kept them. The CS1000P center is definitely a step up but really huge. I was always adjusting the sub volume controls on the RT3000 mains depending on the source. Like others have said, at that price you can resell and make some money.

dpowell · January 2015

One other thing. If the current owner has not replaced the power caps on the sub amps, be prepared to be pulling those out and shipping them to Polk for repair unless you are comfortable doing the repairs yourself. It's not a matter of if but when those will fail.

WLDock · January 2015

I remember salivating over the set in the Crutchfield catalog and at Circuit City back in the day. Here recent, it took an active effort watching Craigslist to put my used set together. The RT3000 I picked up in Ohio, the f/x1000's in Michigan, and the CS1000p I found in Colorado.

The set is really easy to listen to mated with the Onkyo. The Pioneer SC unit produced a more edgy sound that was good for movies but did not sound quite as nice for music. I plan to get an amp and see what that brings to the show. However, the next year will determine if I sell them and move on ...or if they will stay for HT as I build a second 2 ch sys. If I have to run a single system for music and movies I will be after more detail and they will be sold. The f/x surrounds will be hard to part with as I got them at a super price and they are great speakers.

mantis · January 2015

Ahh Yes I remember this thread. I also remember the RT5000 system pretty well.
I enjoyed all my listenings with such system. The RTIA series IMO is absolutely more refined system. But the 5000 was special and always will be.

Glad it's still kicking somewhere.

beatcpl · January 2015

rt5000 is just beast. hard to beat them.

isaact · February 2015

Go for it! It'll be a fun learning experience if nothing else

Inspector 24 · February 2015

I did. And it was fun. New owner is enjoying them now.

EndersShadow · February 2015

Inspector 24 wrote: »

I did. And it was fun. New owner is enjoying them now.

Enjoying which set the RT5000p's or the RTi's?

Inspector 24 · February 2015

Inspector 24 wrote: »

Dragging this back from the dead, properly amplified RTiA9's win over RT3000. You can get a LOT more ultimate bass from the 3000's but when properly level matched to the uppers they are not quite as fast, textured or musical as the A9's in the lower regions. Then throw in a couple of VTF-15 Mk2's and the A9's easily win with their broader sound stage, more accurate vocals, and overall more detailed presentation.

That said, the 3000's have that classic smooth, warm RTxxx series sound that's always inviting and easy to enjoy, even if not the most revealing sound, and if you're short on amplifier power are the better option over the A9's.

As such, my RT5000 system has a new home at a friend's house powered by a brandy new Yamaha RX-A2030. After a few hours of helping him set up and level match the bass modules to the mid/upper modules and doing the same for the center subwoofer section he's in movie and musical heaven. I'm not sure he ever though he could enjoy his music this much!

RT5000p Vs RTi setup...Just how awesome is it??

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