Newbie-Am I going to regret the Mains?

[DMan]

I'm in the process of upgrading my HTIB. I decided to go the Polk route and bought a csi40 center and a pair of rti100's for the mains, rc60i in ceiling speakers for the surrounds (WAF). I'm planning on purchasing an SVS sub when my pocketbook recovers, in the meantime I'm using my HTIB sub.

Money withstanding, Should I have bought the rti70's as mains instead since I am planning on using a quality sub?

I would like opinions on weather I should replace the rti100's with the 70's.

Again I'm a newbie, and these speakers sound great, but as my ear becomes more sophisticated I don't want to regret not getting the correct fronts. 70% Movies/30% Music

[Loud & Clear]

Put me in the 'return RTi100 and replace with RTi70' camp. Next suggestion? Save your cash and decide on the best SVS sub you can afford ... then say eff it, and get the one you can't afford. Good luck.

[dorokusai]

D - Welcome to the forum :)

I am in the club with LC, the RTi70 is a GREAT speaker. IMO the RTi100, if your getting a subwoofer, just doesn't make sense. No offense, thats just me. You made another great choice with the CSi40. WAF certainly rules sometimes, good compromise on the RC65i's. I think you actually won in that battle tho'.....hmmmm ;)

You won't regret returning the 100's.

[fireshoes]

I'd go with the RTi70's as well.

[Loud & Clear]

To piggyback on what dorokusai said, and it's something that I had intended to say but forgot to, you made a great pick-up in the CSi40. I bought one for my mammie, and it's a dynamite center.

The CSi40, RTi70s, and any SVS sub would make for an absolutely precious home theater experience ... and make me jealous as hell in the process. Again, good luck.

[Eastern]

I'm with the "Go with the RTi70s " boys. I have a CSi30 but wishes I had the dough then for CSi40. CSi40 is twice the price for a reason.

[faster100]

Well i have the Rti70's and csi40 center and i love them, I will soon as of next week have a Pb1-isd SVS sub and know i will love that also, return the 100's and get the 70's.. and don't look back..

[wlrandall]

In case you're wondering why everyone is saying "ditch the 100s", go listen to them side by side. Huge difference.

Take the 100s back, go to Fry's and pick up the 70s for $500. Now you have $200-300 towards your SVS sub (depending on what you paid for the 100s).

[DMan]

I guess the jurys out. When I listened to the 70's and 100's in the store, they both sounded comparable to me, but I thought I was getting a better speaker with the 100's until I did some research on line. Better late than never. The Speakers sounded much better in my house than the listening room, so discerning between the different speakers was difficult for me.

Thanks for your advice

[rskarvan]

Get the speaker with TWO midranges. Much better sound.
You've got a sub already. The RT70 kicks the RT100's ass.

[danger boy]

ok.. i use both of the older verision of these speakers in my HT. Here is my take on them. the 70's do sound better in the mids... two mid drivers... plus they sound louder than the 100's. Bass is about the same believe it or not. The 70's are pretty decent on lows.

The only reason to keep the 100's would be so even out the front to rear bass once you get your SVS. Plus you can always turn "off" the subs in the 100's if you want. it give you options this way.

But between the 70's and 100's. I lean with the other people towards the 70's. Not to say the 100 is a bad speaker by any means... it's a good one.. it just sounds "different".

[DMan]

I returned the 100's and picked up a pair of 70's today. I had the opportunity to listen to both of them side to side on a demo cd and did like the 70's better. They were louder and like Danger said, they did have surprisingly great bass. The Demo was Rap style (not my kind of music) but it demonstrated the low end real well. I thought a subwoofer was playing also.

Next on my list: Subwoofer, Receiver, Rear Center.
Looks like I got hooked on an expensive hobby.

I returned the favor while shopping today. I steered a lady from Bose to either polk or infinity. She was looking at Bose because 'They had great quality'. We played comparible priced speakers between the Bose, Infinity, and Polk. Guess which one finished last.

Thanks for all the advice.

[Loud & Clear]

Good job, DMan. Let us know what happens with the SVS and your other upgrades. You're well on your way to an outstanding setup.

[dan t]

You should have waited. The RTi12's are about to surface in October. These might be the speakers I upgrade my M10's Series 2 with. Maybe.

Purchase a Velodyne SPL or HGS series sub and be done with the bass.

Dan

[Loud & Clear]

You should have waited. The RTi12's are about to surface in October. These might be the speakers I upgrade my M10's Series 2 with. Maybe.

~~ He's already got a CSi40 and, unless he's planning on upgrading that to the new line, he presumably wants the front soundstage seamless.


Purchase a Velodyne SPL or HGS series sub and be done with the bass.

~~ Dude, Doc's going to kick your ass. Shit, better you than me though.

[dan t]

~~ He's already got a CSi40 and, unless he's planning on upgrading that to the new line, he presumably wants the front soundstage seamless.

So what about the center. No such thing as "seamless"
Funnel the center dialog through the front's, no problem.


"~~ Dude, Doc's going to kick your ass. Shit, better you than me though.

Yeah right..

Dan

[acdds]

Is the Rti70 really a better choice than the 100's? I have the 100's, Csi40, Rti38(side surround), Rti28(rear surround) and a sony sub. I am planning to buy a SVS around Christmas time. I have a Denon 2803. I can still return the 100's and I saw a pair of 70's for $270/ each at CC. What is everyone's opinion on this set-up? Will the 2803 have enough juice to run both midrange drivers? I would like all the speakers to match so I want to get this system finished before Polk changes their llines. Any input would be greatly appreciated!

[danger boy]

acdds,

Yeah your 2803 will have enough power for either set of speakers.

Like I said in my earlier post.. the 100's are not a bad speaker by any means.. they just have a different sound quality to them.. some, me included just prefer the sound of the 70's over the 100's. but to each his own. the CSi40 should work equally well with either of those as fronts.

If you have any doubts.. go with the 70's. and you won't be disappointed in the sweet mid sounds.

[Dr. Spec]

The RTi70 is a 2-way speaker with two 6.5" mid-range drivers.

The RTi100 is essentially also a 2-way speaker with only one 6.5" mid-range driver - albeit high passed at 90 Hz to a really marginal powered subwoofer.

Due to its dual mid-range drivers, above 90 Hz the RTi70 walks away from the RTi100 in terms of midrange clarity and room filling ability.

Yes, the RTi100 has marginally better deep bass response than the RTi70. But the RTi100 can't do midrange as well as the RTi70, and it can't do lower bass as well as a good subwoofer. It's a compromise speaker and I would only (hesitantly) recommend it to someone has no intention of ever using a separate subwoofer.

If you have an outstanding subwoofer and you will be high passing all the speakers at 80 Hz, using a powered tower like the RTi100 is not only a waste of money, but it will also result in a noticeably inferior midrange as compared to the RTi70.

PS - I wouldn't kick anyone's ass for buying a Velo HGS or SPL sub. Good stuff.

[danger boy]

i'd like to kick some ass
:p

[acdds]

I returned the 100's and got the 70's. Like everyone said the mid's are much clearer and DVDs sound much better. However, there is a definite difference in the amount of "punch" my HT has. Hopefully when I get a SVS in a few months that will change. I can't wait to order one! Thanks for everyone's advice! Also, should I look at a box or cylinder SVS? I looked at the web site and was a little confused about all the different options on each. I want to spend $500-750. Thanks!

[Tour2ma]

acdds,
The sub selection is a whole 'nother topic. Suggest you fire up a new thread.

Congrats on the 70's...

[acdds]

Thanks for the advice. I'm still trying to get the hang of this forum!

[hank1105]

A little late reply. We practically have the same setup. I went with the 70's and the SVS-PB1. I am not big into powered speakers when you have a solid sub. The 70's have been excellent. I would suggest returning the 100's for the 70's.

Hank

[DMan]

Ordered my SVS PB1 tonight. This is a new low on the WAF scale, but I'm really enjoying the upgrades to the sound system and hope the SVS adds as much Bang for the Buck as promised on the boards.
Dman

[kberg]

Originally posted by DMan
Ordered my SVS PB1 tonight. This is a new low on the WAF scale...
Dman

Dman, do I EVER KNOW WHAT YOU MEAN!

[GuitarheadCA]

lol. where do you people find these obscure smilies!!!

[goingganzo]

the 100 make sence if you are going 2 channel music and no sub. but the 70 just scream ht. i have the older 800i and they are awsome. i olny have 2 defenate upgrades a pre witch i am getting later this year and a projector. maby if i get a big refund form the goverment earley next year.

[Airplay355]

rti100s are a great HT speaker if you dont have a seperate subwoofer, since u are planning on getting a SVs return those speaks and get urself some i70s, they are smaller and dont need to be placed next to outlets (to help with the WAF). or just wait until the new rti series is released, if you got them at CC you can upgrade.

my vote is for the i70s

[acdds]

Thanks everyone! I did return the 100's for the 70's and the mid's are much more defined. Thanks again!