Are the Polk RTA line-up meant to be run with no toe in similarly to the SDA?
15TL
Posts: 89
Cannot find a copy of the setup instructions online, however, this is what I have been told because they share the same dimensional array technology. Apparently toeing in these speakers is a big no no.
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I much preferred RTA-12Bs toed in when I had them. Less width but way more focused images.
There is no SDA tech on any RTAs, else they would have been called SDAs. RTA-12s besides the original version did roll off at different frequencies to reduce interactions between the drivers but you only had to have the left speaker on the left side and the right speaker on the right side for that. None of the other RTA models had side by side drivers.afterburnt wrote: »They didn't speak a word of English, they were from South Carolina.
Village Idiot of Club Polk -
There are not SDA, you can toe them in if you like. They do need more room from the back wall unlike SDA's. This is due to the rear passive.
There is no dimensional array. None -
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Nope it don't.
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The RTA series has a conventional driver arrangement (RTA = Realtime Array), not a stereo dimensional array as the SDA series do. They're really conventional stereo speakers with several time aligned drivers. Toe them in however they sound best to you. They can also be used without toe-in if they sound better at the sweet spot that way. If they're in a home theater setup that may work best.
Your choice. -
I don't know what you're reading on there that leads you to believe that.afterburnt wrote: »They didn't speak a word of English, they were from South Carolina.
Village Idiot of Club Polk -
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I think you guys are completely wrong. I think the SDA and RTA absolutely do share similar technology as stated here https://www.hifi-classic.net/review/polk-audio-rta-15tl-87.html
SDA and the idea behind RTA are two entirely different concepts.
SDA deals with inter aural crosstalk cancellation
RTA is Real Time Array... or time alignment....and yes, you can toe in RTA’s.
Two different things, Cochise......and we aren’t completely wrong. Many of us have been into this for awhile and have a rudimentary understanding.
I plan for the future. - F1Nut -
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Then listen to them like that, but there's nothing wrong with toe in on RTAs.afterburnt wrote: »They didn't speak a word of English, they were from South Carolina.
Village Idiot of Club Polk -
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Hold up a Sec.....my Little Orphan Annie Decoder Ring isn’t super fast...
Ok, well, Polk used the same basic drivers in most their speakers.....but, again, SDA is a totally different and unique technology. We’ve been discussing it here for decades....I plan for the future. - F1Nut -
No response for this?
There's nothing derived from SDA tech into RTAs. Zero. I promise you.afterburnt wrote: »They didn't speak a word of English, they were from South Carolina.
Village Idiot of Club Polk -
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The article is just a little deceiving. The closest they come to SDA would be the very last SDA speaker made. The SDA 3.1tl only had one dimensional speaker and had a similar design WITHOUT the rear passive radiator.
Other that that they are not in the same league. Do they have a wide sound stage ? Maybe. But so do a ton of speakers made by other companies that have absolutely no SDA DNA.
The RTA 15tl can be real boomy if they are close to the back wall, once again because of the rear passive. The rear and front passive are totally tuned different.
Man if you're happy with them rock that snot out of them.
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No response for this?
Response AND advice.
Response: SDA has nothing to do with RTA. Not sure how many times more we need to say that
Advice: I’d work on making first impressions. You suck at it.
I plan for the future. - F1Nut -
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He was referring to the line array.....having the drivers vertically aligned but handling different frequency ranges (I believe). I believe that is what they did in the SDA SRS, for example.George / NJ
Polk 7B main speakers, std. mods+ (1979, orig owner)
Martin Logan Dynamo sub w/6ft 14awg Power Cord
Onkyo A-8017 integrated
Logitech Squeezebox Touch Streamer w/EDO applet
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iFi Mercury 0.5m OFHC continuous cast copper USB cable
Custom Ribbon Speaker Cables, 5ft long, 4N Copper, 14awg, ultra low inductance
Custom Vibration Isolation Speaker Stands and Sub Platform -
SDA was indeed more than just stick sets of two drivers horizontally next to each other in each speaker to cancel interaural crosstalk. There was research that went into how arrays of drivers interact with each other. It wasn't magic that Polk managed to make the big SDA speakers sound coherent across a really wide range with 12 active drivers and a passive radiator in each cabinet. It was physics and engineering.
The RTA series took advantage of this research but there is no stereo dimensional array in them and hence no interaural crosstalk cancellation by design. They all use common design doped paper midwoofers, tweeters, and passive radiators.
The SDAs have to be set up straight ahead so the sound reaches the ears on the melon shape of a person's head to cancel crosstalk. The RTA series can be toed in according to preference. Some prefer to have very little toe in and a wide soundstage and some prefer to toe them in for soundstage depth. Some obsess to get just the right balance in their room. Some don't care and stick the speakers in the opposite corners of a room for parties with plants or candles sitting on top of them.
Some stereo purists in the audio press didn't like the SDA technology when it first came out. They had no issues with what the RTA speakers did because they are conventional speakers. -
SDA speakers also need room size, you cannot stuff in a small room or in corners and get the sda technology to work correctly.
Polk used many of the same drivers in many many of the speakers outside of the SDA field. Like the RTA you have, IIRC they used the same mw6510 driver used in a few SDA speakers.
MW 6503 also used in the big SDA and monitor 10.
Stick around and welcome to club Polk -
Point being the review specifically states they share a similar technology and the RTA's were derived from the SDA. Obviously I'm not saying they are the same though.
The 15TLs may sound similar to the SDA 3.1's without IACC of course.Don't take experimental gene therapies from known eugenicists. -
I've owned the RTA15TL and 3 different SDA speakers, still own 2. Sold the RTA a long time ago.
The RTA should be toed in and need to be a couple feet out into the room. Your comprehension of that article is way off base.Political Correctness'.........defined
"A doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a t-u-r-d by the clean end."
President of Club Polk -
Gardenstater wrote: »He was referring to the line array.....having the drivers vertically aligned but handling different frequency ranges (I believe). I believe that is what they did in the SDA SRS, for example.
Nope. All the stereo drivers play the same range. All the SDA drivers play the same range, but at a slightly lower volume level. The tweeters are a progressive point source.Political Correctness'.........defined
"A doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a t-u-r-d by the clean end."
President of Club Polk -
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The RTA used some of same the MWxxxx drivers that some of the SDA used. The RTA used the same SL3000 tweeter that some of the SDA used. Similarly ends there.Political Correctness'.........defined
"A doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a t-u-r-d by the clean end."
President of Club Polk -
This is a good explanation, I appreciate it. Much better than "dude you're wrong".
This is a much better tone, we appreciate it. Much better than "You guys are all completely wrong because of this one random webpage I found" 😂afterburnt wrote: »They didn't speak a word of English, they were from South Carolina.
Village Idiot of Club Polk
