Cutting Down RTi150s
mijotu
Posts: 19
I'm currently using a pair of RTi150s as mains for my home theater. However, given that I'll have kids in and out of there, I'm limited in their placement.
I'd like to wall mount them, but, given their mass and their being so close to the wall, I feel that isn't ideal. Tethering to the wall also presents the latter issue.
What if I cut the speaker into their two "halves," mounting the upper two-way section to the wall and standing the lower woofer section away from the wall? I would have to add another panel to the affected section and play with the wiring, but it seems like it could be feasible.
Of course, I'd like to get some feedback on this before I begin loading up the Sawzall...thanks to all in advance!
—Michael
I'd like to wall mount them, but, given their mass and their being so close to the wall, I feel that isn't ideal. Tethering to the wall also presents the latter issue.
What if I cut the speaker into their two "halves," mounting the upper two-way section to the wall and standing the lower woofer section away from the wall? I would have to add another panel to the affected section and play with the wiring, but it seems like it could be feasible.
Of course, I'd like to get some feedback on this before I begin loading up the Sawzall...thanks to all in advance!
—Michael
City House: B&W DM302 (mains) and CC3 (center) | Polk PSW10 sub | Arcam AVR300 receiver | Arcam DiVA DV135 CD player | Apple TV | Sony BRAVIA 40" LCD TV | Canare 4S11 speaker cable
Country House: Polk RTi150 (mains) and CS400i (center) | Cerwin Vega D-5 (surrounds) | Definitive Technology BP-2X (single, rear surround) | Pioneer Elite VSX-72TXV receiver | Pioneer Elite BPD-05FD Blu-ray player | Sony VPL-VW100 projector | Silver Ticket 120" Grey Screen | LilWrecker folded horn subwoofer (coming soon...)
Country House: Polk RTi150 (mains) and CS400i (center) | Cerwin Vega D-5 (surrounds) | Definitive Technology BP-2X (single, rear surround) | Pioneer Elite VSX-72TXV receiver | Pioneer Elite BPD-05FD Blu-ray player | Sony VPL-VW100 projector | Silver Ticket 120" Grey Screen | LilWrecker folded horn subwoofer (coming soon...)
Comments
Crossovers, ports, binding posts etc. All the characteristics will change
Get a different pair of speakers for your application
Desktop rig: LSi7, Polk 110sub, Dayens Ampino amp, W4S DAC/pre, Sonos, JRiver
Gear on standby: Melody 101 tube pre, Unison Research Simply Italy Integrated
Gone to new homes: (Matt Polk's)Threshold Stasis SA12e monoblocks, Pass XA30.5 amp, Usher MD2 speakers, Dynaudio C4 platinum speakers, Modwright LS100 (voltz), Simaudio 780D DAC
overall, nice idea, but I don't think its gonna work.
Micah
KEF Q150s, NAD 1152 preamp and 4452 tuner courtesy of DaddyJT, NAD C352 playing power amp, BJC Belden cables, Technics SL3200, Marantz CD6004 courtesy of Clipdat, Salamander Archetype rack, Millenium Falcon
Resident Child of Club Polk
Pass Aleph 30 | EE Avant Pre | EE Mini Max Plus DAC | MIT Shotgun S3 | MIT Z P/C's | updated SDA 1C| SQ Box Touch/Welbourne Labs P/S- Tubes add soul!
The lower woofers are designed with the whole cabinet volume in the equation. Making that volume smaller will seriously negatively affect the speaker sound. BIGTIME !
sell them and by some bookshelf speakers or better go to in-wall speakers
But yes, unfortunately that will NOT work. You would basically need to build two (four) new cabinets with new crossovers, etc. At that point you may as well either 1. buy new (or used) speakers or 2. buy a kit from parts express and build them that way.
You can probably get a couple hundred bucks for those speakers on craigslist. Then purchase either something like the rt55i or rt35i or the new S20 bookshelf speakers, and one or two nice little subs. Lots of subs on the used market that would give you good bang for your buck, or if you want new most of us recommend SVS or HSU for subs.
Denon AVR-X4200w; Peachtree Audio NovaPre; B&K TX4430; Bryson BPD-1; Mains: Dynaudio Excite x18; Center - Polk cs400i; Heights, Center Surround - Klipsch KHC - 6 In-Ceiling; Surrounds - Monoprice in-ceiling; Sub - HSU VTF-2 MK5; LG UP870 4K BDP; NVidia ShieldTV
;
Master Bedroom
Cambridge Azur 551r; Definitive Technology SM45, NHT Super One CI surrounds, Martin Logan Dynamo (original), Squeezebox Touch
Lumin X1
Sony XA-5400ES SACD
Pass XP-22 pre, X600.5 amps
Magico S5 MKII Mcast Rose speakers, SPOD spikes
Shunyata Triton v3/Typhon QR on preamp, Denali 2000 (2) on amps
Shunyata Sigma XLR analog ICs, Sigma speaker cables
Shunyata Sigma HC (2), Sigma Analog, Sigma Digital, Z Anaconda (3) power cables
Mapleshade Samson V.3 four shelf solid maple rack, Micropoint brass footers
Three 20 amp circuits.
I dunno man, serious questions in audio related topics usually don't include sawing speakers in half.....just sayin'. If a tweeter was too harsh and someone wanted to "turn it around", so that it faces in ward, should we also entertain that as serious questioning ? We've had one dude building a subwoofer out of a cardboard box, wanted to know what size and where to put the port hole. You can imagine the responses he got.
Anyway, Ron answered his question on the first post and nailed it.
Sony 850c 4k
Pioneer elite vhx 21
Sony 4k BRP
SVS SB-2000
Polk Sig. 20's
Polk FX500 surrounds
Cables-
Acoustic zen Satori speaker cables
Acoustic zen Matrix 2 IC's
Wireworld eclipse 7 ic's
Audio metallurgy ga-o digital cable
Kitchen
Sonos zp90
Grant Fidelity tube dac
B&k 1430
Tad 803 speakers
dude, I didn't say it was a GOOD question. Good and serious have two different meanings last time I checked. But I am pretty sure he is actually thinking about sawing his speakers in half as a solution to his problem lol..
Denon AVR-X4200w; Peachtree Audio NovaPre; B&K TX4430; Bryson BPD-1; Mains: Dynaudio Excite x18; Center - Polk cs400i; Heights, Center Surround - Klipsch KHC - 6 In-Ceiling; Surrounds - Monoprice in-ceiling; Sub - HSU VTF-2 MK5; LG UP870 4K BDP; NVidia ShieldTV
;
Master Bedroom
Cambridge Azur 551r; Definitive Technology SM45, NHT Super One CI surrounds, Martin Logan Dynamo (original), Squeezebox Touch
I don’t think I was being harsh...
KEF Q150s, NAD 1152 preamp and 4452 tuner courtesy of DaddyJT, NAD C352 playing power amp, BJC Belden cables, Technics SL3200, Marantz CD6004 courtesy of Clipdat, Salamander Archetype rack, Millenium Falcon
Resident Child of Club Polk
No, you weren't. Being "harsh" would be to say: "Lock the kids in the root cellar and leave the speakers as they are."
I did that once, it didn’t work.
Not even kidding though, I wanted more bass response from my speakers and I said to myself “less treble = more bass, right?” Wrong.
Edit for fixing quote mistake
KEF Q150s, NAD 1152 preamp and 4452 tuner courtesy of DaddyJT, NAD C352 playing power amp, BJC Belden cables, Technics SL3200, Marantz CD6004 courtesy of Clipdat, Salamander Archetype rack, Millenium Falcon
Resident Child of Club Polk
Dude, you should keep some things under your hat.
Sony 850c 4k
Pioneer elite vhx 21
Sony 4k BRP
SVS SB-2000
Polk Sig. 20's
Polk FX500 surrounds
Cables-
Acoustic zen Satori speaker cables
Acoustic zen Matrix 2 IC's
Wireworld eclipse 7 ic's
Audio metallurgy ga-o digital cable
Kitchen
Sonos zp90
Grant Fidelity tube dac
B&k 1430
Tad 803 speakers
like ??? hair? maybe....
First allow me to apologize for disappearing. My notifications were turned off, apparently. Not cool.
As far as some of the responses go: Yeah, I totally get it. Sometimes there’s little else to say to someone asking a seemingly absurd question. However, I feel it is a fair one, which I hope to explain below. I also feel that getting the appropriate speakers for the job is entirely fair, and this is generally my preferred approach.
The reason I asked is because a) the two cabinets are physically sealed from one another. I am attaching a photo taken from when I recently opened it up to clean out a piece of debris. (Shot taken from the upper woofer hole toward the MT cabinet.) This is likely something I should have included in my original question. And,
b) I have sunk a fair bit of coin into this theater to date, and I tend toward being resourceful; wiring issues, aesthetics, and resale are not a pressing issue presently.
With regard to selling the speakers: I am perfectly aware of how to effect such transactions, should they be necessary. Also, to anyone who is not familiar with the model, and are simply assuming it would be a dumb idea, or otherwise feel this may be indicative of a federal or spiritual holiday, I would only ask that you support your assertions with hypotheticals, data, or empirical evidence (except for you, tweeter boy
To those of you remaining that might have something of additional substance to proffer, I welcome your insights with open armatures. (I’m not insinuating that that hasn’t yet happened, but I feel even the valid responses invite a more robust basis of reasoning.) Should the idea prove unfeasible, unreasonable, or unbelievable as a result of our discourse, I will by all means conclude the rational thing to do is rule it out and proceed thusly.
—Michael
Country House: Polk RTi150 (mains) and CS400i (center) | Cerwin Vega D-5 (surrounds) | Definitive Technology BP-2X (single, rear surround) | Pioneer Elite VSX-72TXV receiver | Pioneer Elite BPD-05FD Blu-ray player | Sony VPL-VW100 projector | Silver Ticket 120" Grey Screen | LilWrecker folded horn subwoofer (coming soon...)
First allow me to apologize for disappearing. My notifications were turned off, apparently. Not cool.
As far as some of the responses go: Yeah, I totally get it. Sometimes there’s little else to say to someone asking a seemingly absurd question. However, I feel it is a fair one, which I hope to explain below. I also feel that getting the appropriate speakers for the job is entirely fair, and this is generally my preferred approach.
The reason I asked is because a) the two cabinets are physically sealed from one another. I am attaching a photo taken from when I recently opened it up to clean out a piece of debris. (Shot taken from the upper woofer hole toward the MT cabinet.) This is likely something I should have included in my original question. And,
b) I have sunk a fair bit of coin into this theater to date, and I tend toward being resourceful; wiring issues, aesthetics, and resale are not a pressing issue presently.
With regard to selling the speakers: I am perfectly aware of how to effect such transactions, should they be necessary. Also, to anyone who is not familiar with the model, and are simply assuming it would be a dumb idea, or otherwise feel this may be indicative of a federal or spiritual holiday, I would only ask that you support your assertions with hypotheticals, data, or empirical evidence (except for you, tweeter boy
To those of you remaining that might have something of additional substance to proffer, I welcome your insights with open arms. (I’m not insinuating that that hasn’t yet happened, but I feel even the valid responses invite a more robust basis of reasoning.) Should the idea prove unfeasible, unreasonable, or unbelievable as a result of our discourse, I will by all means conclude the rational thing to do is rule it out and proceed thusly.
—Michael
Country House: Polk RTi150 (mains) and CS400i (center) | Cerwin Vega D-5 (surrounds) | Definitive Technology BP-2X (single, rear surround) | Pioneer Elite VSX-72TXV receiver | Pioneer Elite BPD-05FD Blu-ray player | Sony VPL-VW100 projector | Silver Ticket 120" Grey Screen | LilWrecker folded horn subwoofer (coming soon...)
Now, if you don’t mind, I believe I have some explanations for why it won’t work (not 100% sure they are all correct, but I know at least a few of them are, so bear with me).
1. Even though you aren’t changing the internal volume of the speaker, the front baffle does make a difference to the way that the speaker responds in its environment, as well as the sides. The bigger the speaker is, the more area for reflection. Because of this, they make adjustments to the crossover of the speaker from the bookshelf version the make up for it.Remove that area, and there will most likely be wholes and peaks in the frequency response, and it generally won’t sound good.
I apparently only had one explanation, or maybe I forgot the other ones whilst typing? If I think of them, I will come back.
Micah
KEF Q150s, NAD 1152 preamp and 4452 tuner courtesy of DaddyJT, NAD C352 playing power amp, BJC Belden cables, Technics SL3200, Marantz CD6004 courtesy of Clipdat, Salamander Archetype rack, Millenium Falcon
Resident Child of Club Polk
I know I should but I always think of that after it’s been an hour so I can’t edit my post
KEF Q150s, NAD 1152 preamp and 4452 tuner courtesy of DaddyJT, NAD C352 playing power amp, BJC Belden cables, Technics SL3200, Marantz CD6004 courtesy of Clipdat, Salamander Archetype rack, Millenium Falcon
Resident Child of Club Polk
You will get away with for HT but will never get the true stereo signal, and sound stage for music
Desktop rig: LSi7, Polk 110sub, Dayens Ampino amp, W4S DAC/pre, Sonos, JRiver
Gear on standby: Melody 101 tube pre, Unison Research Simply Italy Integrated
Gone to new homes: (Matt Polk's)Threshold Stasis SA12e monoblocks, Pass XA30.5 amp, Usher MD2 speakers, Dynaudio C4 platinum speakers, Modwright LS100 (voltz), Simaudio 780D DAC
No offense taken, amigo — I was just giving you a hard time
Now, that’s somwthing I can chew on. Thank you.
–Michael
Country House: Polk RTi150 (mains) and CS400i (center) | Cerwin Vega D-5 (surrounds) | Definitive Technology BP-2X (single, rear surround) | Pioneer Elite VSX-72TXV receiver | Pioneer Elite BPD-05FD Blu-ray player | Sony VPL-VW100 projector | Silver Ticket 120" Grey Screen | LilWrecker folded horn subwoofer (coming soon...)
I should go bury my head in the sand, in shame.
I think I have more than enough reasons to abort, but by all means feel free to continue to disclose the true scale of the horror of my reasoning.
–Michael
Country House: Polk RTi150 (mains) and CS400i (center) | Cerwin Vega D-5 (surrounds) | Definitive Technology BP-2X (single, rear surround) | Pioneer Elite VSX-72TXV receiver | Pioneer Elite BPD-05FD Blu-ray player | Sony VPL-VW100 projector | Silver Ticket 120" Grey Screen | LilWrecker folded horn subwoofer (coming soon...)
Naw your good dude I’ll let you off here. Others may not be so forgiving...
I remember asking questions that didn’t make since long ago (not on the forum, like in the 2nd grade) and I would always get made fun of. And now I can totally confuse my friends by telling them anything about computers, electronics, speakers, cars etc.! It’s sooo much fun
KEF Q150s, NAD 1152 preamp and 4452 tuner courtesy of DaddyJT, NAD C352 playing power amp, BJC Belden cables, Technics SL3200, Marantz CD6004 courtesy of Clipdat, Salamander Archetype rack, Millenium Falcon
Resident Child of Club Polk
I'm honestly just curious, serious question as I don't have kids.
But having hands on in design of speakers, coordinating drivers, crossovers and cabinets is quite the PITA
Once you start modifying, any part of someone's else's design, the chain must be tweaked from end to end
Desktop rig: LSi7, Polk 110sub, Dayens Ampino amp, W4S DAC/pre, Sonos, JRiver
Gear on standby: Melody 101 tube pre, Unison Research Simply Italy Integrated
Gone to new homes: (Matt Polk's)Threshold Stasis SA12e monoblocks, Pass XA30.5 amp, Usher MD2 speakers, Dynaudio C4 platinum speakers, Modwright LS100 (voltz), Simaudio 780D DAC
It’ll save you a lot of confusion when people talk about where they got the black paint for their DIY projects.
KEF Q150s, NAD 1152 preamp and 4452 tuner courtesy of DaddyJT, NAD C352 playing power amp, BJC Belden cables, Technics SL3200, Marantz CD6004 courtesy of Clipdat, Salamander Archetype rack, Millenium Falcon
Resident Child of Club Polk
I didn’t have kids for a long time. They never made much sense to me, and the only way I was certain they weren’t some sort of practical joke was my recollection of being one myself.
And, yes, they will take any and every opportunity to die some kind of horrible death. You know that guy who is always next to the president, looking around like he’s hearing things? That’s been me, 2/3 of every day, for the last 3.58 years.
Country House: Polk RTi150 (mains) and CS400i (center) | Cerwin Vega D-5 (surrounds) | Definitive Technology BP-2X (single, rear surround) | Pioneer Elite VSX-72TXV receiver | Pioneer Elite BPD-05FD Blu-ray player | Sony VPL-VW100 projector | Silver Ticket 120" Grey Screen | LilWrecker folded horn subwoofer (coming soon...)
Just think of them as really smart, obnoxious puppies. Treats and pops in the rear work really well for behavior modification.
I have four, and I have never had an incident with any of my equipment (other than toys in the subwoofer port lol but that’s just too tempting). And I’m not nearly as mean as @steveinaz or @tonyb!
Keep your speakers, beat your children, problem solved!!!
Denon AVR-X4200w; Peachtree Audio NovaPre; B&K TX4430; Bryson BPD-1; Mains: Dynaudio Excite x18; Center - Polk cs400i; Heights, Center Surround - Klipsch KHC - 6 In-Ceiling; Surrounds - Monoprice in-ceiling; Sub - HSU VTF-2 MK5; LG UP870 4K BDP; NVidia ShieldTV
;
Master Bedroom
Cambridge Azur 551r; Definitive Technology SM45, NHT Super One CI surrounds, Martin Logan Dynamo (original), Squeezebox Touch
So, go ahead and cut them, if you think you can make it work. Then, pics or it didn't happen.