Mantis

[Zero]

I am curious as to what your exact impressions of the RT line, and especially the 1000p you currently own (though not for long Ive noticed).

It will be interesting to see if your thoughts/opinions run along the same lines as my own.

This short-summary may not co-inside with something you haved experiecned because I have the 2000ps, vice, the 1000's.

Its rather difficult to describe the strengths and weakness's of these speakers, because it varies so much. If your a serious listener who must have absolute musical clarity then obviously the RT line is not for you. In fact, the RT line, though excellent for its price range.... is focused more towards modern applications with modern music/theatre. This of course, means over-bearing bass, harsh highs and sheer volume. These are party speakers, meant to impress friends who are accustom to typical cheap HT sound or car stereo systems. The Polk brochure put it perfectly "For the listener who appreciates high quality audio from mid-level electronics".

What the RT2000s are....are truely versitle speakers. They can play it all, from Mozart to Linkin Park. Though they tend to come to life best with modern music, they can provide detailed and accurate enough reproduction to satisfy the majority. They are also incredibly easy to drive, meaning you can purchase just about the cheapest reciever you can find on the market today, and odds are that will be more then enough power for them. The imaging could be improved. Perhaps I have been positioning them wrong for the longest time, but, I noticed the soundstage is not consistant throughout the listening area.

I am not sure about the 1000's, but the 2000s have one thing that still both impress's/angers me. That is, bass. The bass hardly ever blends in with the music, its either under-powered or over-powered, depending on the placement of that knob. However, if you like your bass loud and in your face, over a wide surface area.....the RT line delivers in full. I am willing to say the bass is better then my friends 12' Infinity Kappas they have in their vehicle.

It would be very interesting to see a comparison between the LSi15s and your 1000's.

[Aaron]

It would be very interesting to see a comparison between the LSi15s and your 1000's.
What's there to compare? Apples and zucchini, man. Mantis did say in one of his posts that the LSi were better in every way and that it was a no contest.

Aaron

[mantis]

You got it my man ,
I have done this test a couple of times now.
Your points on the rt lines are valid..there your's and I respect them.I will start there real quick.The rt line in my opnion is a great speaker line.They can compete with EVERYONES speakers there.I feel they are the leaders of that bunch.But I do dissagree with the cheap receiver with the rt lines.No good, they can't sound there best with a whinny cheap Yamaha or underpowerd Kenwwod.But as far as sensitivity,yes they can be driven.Sound quality suffers bad.Alot of guys in here power there's with cheap receivers.Thats fine, price for all this stuff can really take you out.I'm sure everyone of us including myself wish they had more coin to spend on electronics.So you do the best you can.Better quality receivers properly mated with the speakers you own can sound darn good.Its a game. Enough with that for now.

The Lsi 15's Vs the Rt100p's.........man
I don't even know where to begin so excuse me while I ramble on.
The rt1000p's had no chance against the lsi 15's.They simple sound like a lesser speaker in direct compare.I was shocked on how bad the Lsi 15's made them sound.Awefull is what I would use.
But for the tech side of all of us I will make this like a review Vs's thing.
The Rt1000p's are a powered tower with a built in 6.5 woofer powered.80 watts of power that is.They are crossed over at 90hz and is non adjustable.Level adjustments are on the back,and are very important for what your after.the top is sealed with 1 6.5 and a 1 inch tweeter.They are heavy and well built.they have great carpet spikes for tweaking.The front is damped with a valvin material in grey color.Nice speaker for a G.
The Lsi 15's are also sealed up top with sporting 2 5 1/4 inch midbass and a larger ring tweeter.The Tweeter is moved closer to the inside for reasons I'm unsure of.The bass section of this tower is powered with an 8 inch looking like a subwoofer quality driver.Passive.They are also a well made speaker,with just LIMITED color choices.
I ran the rt1000p's with some Lorenna Mckenit music.The voice was clean and clear,the sub's are fussy as I also found myself adjusting them to suit the music.I did however find a happy medium,about 9 oclock work well.The Image was razor sharp, fooling you to believe that my center chaneel was playing,you had to get off the couch and stick you ear on the center to proof that is was off.The soundstage was limited to the outside of the speaker cabnets,they didn't fill the front with a wall of sound, but with such deadly imaging, it made up of that.Blending was always a problem with this speaker.But with time effort you can get them to sound almost passive.They are truely a good speaker, but I grew tired of the tweaking and my kids changing the setting on the back of the sub level,I need to get into some passive towers.
I will say this and I feel 100% about it, they are the best in the rt line for sound quality.Tweaking is needed but I feel they destory the 55's and the 800's of then, the newer rti70s I think have a better chance against them.
Rock music fell off some ,it sounded somewhat jarbled,and unclear,some of this is part of the poor recorded music.Overall the speaker can play jazz,classicial,female voice verywell in its price class.
In your face highs and hard bass id what they do, you can calm all that down with wire and the right amps driving, but a flaw of it's design.

The Lsi 15's are a different.Refined if you will.Grace and pleasing.Warm and natural, filling the room with beautifull sound is just what they do.
Female voice comes across with a tear in your eye.I for one feel this is there very best asset.Raw sounding instruments come across natural and clear,the speaker doesn't draw attention to itself,rather more to the music.They blend so well with the bass driver,I get all choked up when I listen for a long period of time.I love them what can I say.........there all about me.
Sorry spewing at the mouth there and got off track.
Now Vs. mode.....the rt1000p's got outclassed in every single department.They couldn't hold there own.The only thing I can't take away from the rt1000p's is the ability to image..they are effin deadly.But when you switch to the lsi 15's and they are deadly as well and then extend the soundstage outside of the box,the rt1000p's look less impressive here.
The Lsi 15's fill the room with sound so well sometimes you think the rears and center channel is playing.I heard sounds behind me and was puzzled on there ability to play so wide.Effin Incredible man let me tell you.
Now the downside to owning the Lsi over the rt1000p's...you need really good amps to hear exactly what they can do.The Denon avr3801 has a very hard time showing them off.You still could tell the Lsi 15's where a better speaker over the rt1000p's but they also told you that your receivers can't play nice with me.......the rt1000p's mated 100% better with the Denon and they came together as a package alot stronger.
Rotel showed off what both speakers where made of.The rt1000p's really shined with Rotel.........thought...is there a speaker out there that Rotel can't make sound good??????just a inside thought.........ok back to action,
Home Theater I could really demo well as I don't have the rest of the Lsi package.........I will after I move out of here and into my still being built home.
I know I babble alot about this and run around in circles...Alot of time went into my demoing over the last year.I'm 99.9% pleased with the Lsi 15's...just got to get the cherry.The black eff's with me..I don't like it now that I have had it for a while.But I believe that other like the ebony color..It's just not for me........honestly it's butthole ugly....

[Zero]

Aaron, needed a more detailed analysis if you will. Im anal . :)

Mantis,

In regards to a cheap reciever powering the RT lines. It is all in ones taste. For example: My JVC *forgot the model number, but it retails for $120.00* totally rocked the Polks much better then the mid-range Onkyo *595 I believe*.....

True, they dont provide you with that clarity, but a cheap reciever can drive them with ease.....enough to please the contemporary listener.

Thanks for the insight. I defintely have an interest in the LSi15s. I seriously wonder how they will be able to perform with albums from Linkin Park, Incubus, Eminem, etc... The RT line absolutely excells with this type of music. I would go so far as to say, it is what they were built for.

Not sure if I can totally agree with the imaging you speak of, but that may be due in part to different positioning and of course, listening area. I plan on taking the polks to a large room with little obsticles... just space...

If you ever get the chance, pick up Josh Grobans CD. The last track which features himself and Charollete Church "the prayer" is definately the track to use to test male and female voices. If combined correctly.......its breathtaking.

[Aaron]

Aaron, needed a more detailed analysis if you will. Im anal . :)
Oh come on! I thought the "apples and zucchini" statement summed it all up! :D I mean, normally people say "apples and oranges" but those are still both fruits. I figured I'd show how different they were by using a fruit and a vegatable (and a zucchini, even)!

Aaron

[Zero]

haha Very astute Aaron. :D

[mantis]

Atcvenom,
It's just my opnion.......no attack on your receiver or anyones else's bro..I feel that the rt line deserves good amps like any other speaker can can reproduce sound well.
I have had alot of different types of amps/receivers on them..one I don't care for was Onkyo/Integra, and Yamaha......I felt they where to bright and the 2 clashed.Pioneer Elite,B&K,and Denon all seemed to perform well with the rt lines.

As far as Imaging........that has some to do with the amp/receiver driving them.Wire is also a big part of the total sound overall.
Setup and room all play big factors.Even my rt35i's have a good center Image.......better then most speakers in there price class.
If you put in the time like I did, you can get the rt line sound really good.I still think my rt series speakers are good,even with the Lsi 15's running all over them,I can still listen and enjoy.
Powered towers are a different story...but all is well.

Josh Grobans cd...will do. Charollette is amazing.....

[HBombToo]

To quote Mantis:

*****"No good, they can't sound there best with a whinny cheap Yamaha or underpowerd Kenwwod."

"It's just my opnion.......no attack on your receiver or anyones else's bro.."*****

WOW! All in 1 post?
I'm always confused and Trashed!

[RuSsMaN]

HBomb, have you park-bench tested a 'whinny' Yammie? HAVE YOU? DO YOU KNOW????

Cheers,
Lunatic Fringe

[Zero]

Mantis,

I am speaking strictly from the "volume" point of view. As for quality, I agree that speakers along the RT line *or almost any speaker for that matter* generally deserves a decent source to take full advantage of their capabilities and to do them proper justice.

Imaging is simply too dependant upon the environment for me to comment on. I have fiddled around with these speakers, and various set-ups and recievers *though mostly low-grade*... its driving me crazy.

They are good speakers, no doubt about that. But there is something missing....

[TroyD]

Russ,

The obvious problem must be that it is an HTR-series Yammie from Sears. I've heard that he different model number makes them practically unlistenable.

yuk yuk yuk

BDT

[HBombToo]

Russman, kinda.... ya??? I guess, but the yammie line was hooked up to a bunch of little speakers, blos I think, and sounded decent for the room.... but what the hell do I know anyway? I'll probably buy a dvd player from them.

My new RT55i's sound like shit right now driven from my h/k but I'll give them a slow breakin. Had them in the front, surround, center and rear just to make sure they work but they sound like She-It. Hope I'm not dissapointed.

[nascarmann]

Here is what I have found....the HTR-5280 and RX-V800 have the exact same construction. The sound difference mantis here's is the harmonic wave shifts from the different lettering on the face plate. This also applies to the HTR-5250/RX-V596 and the HTR-5240/RX-V496. These units are built on the same line with the same components.....the harmonic wave shifts makes the difference in the sound:rolleyes:

[HBombToo]

WHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


Let me get another Rum the Beer is gone!

[mantis]

OK,
let me get this straight.......cheap receiver's = good sound quality......and yes you can get the volume up with a cheap receiver with Polk due to the high db rating and 8 ohm load...easy.Like I said no attack on anyones stuff, read the post again.

As for the Yamaha HTR and RXV so far from what I have learned is the power supplies and amp section is different.Yamaha has omited it to me a long time ago when they started this venture into Sears with a line called the RV LINE......anyone remember them.....I DO ,DO YOU?????????????????????????:p ,
HERES ONE FOR YEAH.......does the htr line use TOP ART TECHNOLOGY????

Well I say buy what you want HTR RXV RV RX it doesn't matter what you buy..........................I still haven't talked to the Yamaha rep yeat ,he hasn't been around but I will make my best effort to step on the HTR RXV thing so you guys can RIP....OK ??????

I WILL WILL YOU????
THE GREATEST STORYTELLER OF ALL TIME!!!!!!!!THE GREAT ONE!!

[nascarmann]

HERES ONE FOR YEAH.......does the htr line use TOP ART TECHNOLOGY????

Yes.....sure do! The HTR-5280 uses it exactly like it's twin brother the RX-V800......
As for the Yamaha HTR and RXV so far from what I have learned is the power supplies and amp section is different.
What school did you learn this from.....THX.....go back and tell them they made a mistake.....It is not correct!

[TroyD]

Yeah, I'm with nascarman on this one Dan. We've been over this before, even Yammie's website laid it out that the only differences are cosmetic.

'nuff said

BDT

[gidrah]

Dang I love it. Somebody that has good things to say about JVC.
My JVC *forgot the model number, but it retails for $120.00* totally rocked
I've listenned to my Polks on a Sansui receiver, Kenwood separates, Pioneer rcvr, a Sony rcvr, then finally on my JVC rcvr. These were all of comparable value/price within their mid-grade lines. The JVC bested them all.

My beer is gone too. Screw it I'm going to the bar.

[MxStYlEpOlKmAn]

i do agree a little bit with the bright sound...but i think that bright sound is a more detailed sound ur hearing...lol...i think the yamaha sounds good with the rtxxi line...but once again thats my opinion...lol

[burdette]

I suppose I'd believe the Yamaha site, if it said that (I couldn't find it). But I know in many products, Sears does indeed use cheaper components. We wanted a Whirlpool refrigerator.. there one sat at Sears. Right next to it, identical unit with the Kenmore nameplate, less expensive. In less than two years, the autodefrost stopped working. Repairman (whom I know and trust) told us that Sears uses cheaper parts... plastic fans instead of metal, less robust motors, that sort of thing. The icemaker has gone out as well.... we'll never buy another Kenmore.

One of the reasons Sears uses different model numbers is so they don't have to price-match....

As for cheap vs. expensive... sort of reminds me of our cars. We sold a Honda Civic EX with a 1.6L V-Tech engine a couple of years ago. Pretty good acceleration, pretty good roll on.. you could cruise at 80 or 85 or whatever you wanted just fine.. but you knew that engine was screaming. It got us to the grocery store and many many long interstate trips. Now, we're in a Maxima SE with the 3.0L engine out of the 300ZX. It gets us to the grocery store as well.... but you press the accelerator on this baby and you are GONE.... and you can just "feel" it underneath you.. like a racehorse begging to get out of the gate... same feeling you get from a powerful motorcycle.. sure, you can cruise at 50 MPH on a Rebel 250... but it doesn't "feel" the same as have a 4cyl 1000 between your legs.

I just bought a cheap Sherwood receiver because that was all I could afford (and frankly, it does feel solid, doesn't look cheap, works quite well).. but I did so knowing that new $500-$700 Onkyo (or whatever) is waiting for me a few years down the road.

Besides, you can burn up ANY pair of speakers more quickly with a cheap amp rated below the speaker's power rating than with a good amp rated at twice the speaker's power.. IMO.

[mantis]

Check it out,
I know we all went over this Yamaha thing.......It's all good ,believe what you want to believe...I'm cool and fine with it...If I was told wrong Info...I'm sorry for even posting it...I never cracked them open and looked for my self........I just went be what I was told.
And Nascarman....It wasn't THX thank you.........it was a Yamaha rep straight from the company.

And check this one out,
Read my post again I'm sure your reading into what I wrote......no attack on what you own..we all had the budget receivers at one time or another...so what...you like .....very good.It's your stuff.......in my opnion only I feel the rt line needs a better receiver to sound there best.....thats it man.Take it for what it is.........Geeeeeeee!!!

[nascarmann]

we all had the budget receivers at one time or another

When I bought my Yammie 3 years ago it was 700 bucks....Where I live this is not budget money. Glad to here a $700.00 receiver is budget to you! $700 is a budget car to me.....:rolleyes:

[RuSsMaN]

About 10 years ago, I paid $165 for an 84 Mazda GLC Wagon 4 spd, no a/c, primered hood, no muffler.....

Drove that effer for 2 years, bought 2 rear tires (used), changed the plugs twice, wires once, new battery. Never had to change the oil, it burned it fast enough, just kept adding a quart a fill-up....

I've been there my brotha, I ain't too proud to get my Hooptie on if need be.....

Cheers,
Russ

[mantis]

I have no words,
other then just this.........JUST.....MY.....OPNION.....is there a word you don't understand?

700.00 for a Yamaha..........thats about mid line for them.....not there cheap receivers...........alittle better then bottom of the line.

I'm not rich.....nor Poor.........just an average Joe with an opnion of what sounds good to be and what don't.Thats all folks nothing more nothing less.

[nascarmann]

You now.....sometime it just makes me wonder about your opinion...It was how great your RT1000p's sounded after all the hours and hours of getting them setup right.......after all this work and they sounded so good......all of a sudden you think they sound like shit! The Denon receiver you own I can bag locally for less than 500 bucks.....(but it's not budget now is it) Geeeezzzz! A month ago I remember reading how much you loved your SDA-2B's before you gave them to your uncle a few years back.....now today you say you never really like the sound of them? I just don't understand how your opinion on things can change so much from week to week and month to month. If I like something today......999 times out of 1000 I will like it a year from now......

JUST.....MY.....OPNION

[MxStYlEpOlKmAn]

700 dollars for a yammie...i think they make high quality stuff all the way down to their cheapest...i mean they make alot more high quality stuff that all the other brands at the same price...

I like denon...they are one of my favorite receiver brands...but their overpriced for what u get...i mean for the 1600 - 2000 dollars u can get a yammie 170 x 8 .015 thd for the same amount u can get a denon whatever that only has 125 x 7... .05 thd... does that say anything. But if your willing to spend that extra money...i mean thats fine...

Now i think cheap receivers can power speakers...a 200 dollar sony can play polks loud...make not sounds the best in the world...but their good...
newayz this is my opinion on it...newayz... im out...must get sleep

Mx

[MxStYlEpOlKmAn]

Originally posted by mantis

I have had alot of different types of amps/receivers on them..one I don't care for was Onkyo/Integra, and Yamaha......I felt they where to bright and the 2 clashed.Pioneer Elite,B&K,and Denon all seemed to perform well with the rt lines.


Ok so ur saying...since i bought 300 dollar mains, 200 dollar surrounds, and 200 dollar center...i should pay 1000-2000-3000 dollars for a receiver...are u kidding me?

[mantis]

UM wrong person on the SDA love my friend.......they where ok at best.......

If I liked them I would have kept them........read back my big boy,I did a compare with the 1000's and way way back then ........the 1000's won........read much....your not as sharp as Russ is with my Older Posts.But hey thats all good........
Question my opnion??????So what..........

Let me ask you this.......do you ever upgrade?Ever feel that the new is better then the old?Or old is better then the new?Is an opnion need validating?

The Receiver thing.........I owned 3 in that price class between 999.99 and 1200.00..........so what.......Believe it or not one was a Yamaha rxv992.So what.I never owned seperaters untill now.....I'm blown away by how much better they sound over receivers...disagree?Well?????I'm learning my way around this hobbie just like the next guy.I have found a sound that I really love.Are you going to kick me for that 2?Any reason you feel the need to attack my gear?I didn't attack anyone elses Including yours.

Let me explain growing to you.
When you owned your very first stereo system....you loved it because it was the greatest thing then.After awhile you needs and want grow,the taste for better or different sound is needed.Then you get into something else,then another and another,etc.
Hears one big guy...do you play anything..like the Guitar,piano,Drums???
Well if you do , you'll know exactly what today this sounds awesome..tomarrow it sounds like shit means.I play alot of different Instruments, mainly guitar.I owned alot of different models looking for a certain sound.In and out of different amps tubes solid state back to tubes.
Back then I bought what I felt was the thing for me.Today I still do the same.The Lsi series isn't timeless.......with more money and greater things to have they could be out the door in a few years or they might last me for the rest of time..I don't know DO YOU?
I remember you wanting to add like 750 watts to your speakers..was that you?Is that true?Where you not looking to Improve the sound quality of your rig????I'm sure everyone would/could improve there rigs in some way.So why is it so hard for you to understand my logic or growing pains?The rt1000p's do suck compared to what I have now......so what..if you owned them that doesn't mean your pair sucks,just mine to me.

So my last Question to you NASCARMAN.......what are you running your speakers with?a receiver?seperates?and why?

[nascarmann]

So my last Question to you NASCARMAN.......what are you running your speakers with?a receiver?seperates?and why?

I'm a wanna be remember.....

KING WANNABE

[mantis]

I don't recall what wanna be you are.....So what are you driving them with?
a receiver, and pre and amp, or was it a receiver as a pre amp and and an amp????

Whats wrong Nascarman can't you answer that question?It's fine anyway you do it,it's your's so I was just wondering.

[nascarmann]

Whats wrong Nascarman can't you answer that question?It's fine anyway you do it,it's your's so I was just wondering.

Nothing wrong here my little good buddy.....You were the one that called me a wanna be for using a receiver as my pre-amp:rolleyes: So.......I thought I had answered you........

OK.....here is what I'm using. Yamaha RX-V800 (by the way is the same exact thing as the HTR-5280) as my tuner and pre-amp and to the front SDA 2.3tl's I am bi-amping with 2 Yamaha M-80 amps and for the rear SDA-1C's I'm powering them with a Yamaha M-70 amp. Yes....there is no center channel of my system. I use it 98% of the time as a 2 channel system for music and TV. For DVD the Yamaha the center channel to the 2.3's......

[TroyD]

damn, you big cloven-hoof mofo, I didn't realize you had that much hardware. I'm coming to your place for a demo!

You do realize that your rig doesn't consitute a real HT though.

I couldn't resist.

BDT

[nascarmann]

You do realize that your rig doesn't consitute a real HT though.

Yeah, I know.......:rolleyes:

[HBombToo]

If I drive I70 from MO to PA how far is Nashville, in hours, south of I70?

[nascarmann]

....about 4.5hrs...

[mantis]

So I assume you like the way it sounds.........Good deal sounds like a nice rig.

[HBombToo]

so How far does nascarmann live from Nashville?

[nascarmann]

......about 4.5hrs...:lol:
We are up in the NE corner of TN. You will need to get your wagon train on.....

[jlitz]

All I know is that Manis's discription of the LSi15's tells me that I have to hear these speakers! I haven't heard any of the latest high dollar polks.

This prompts me to ask a new question. Which do you think is better, the 15's or the 25's? Polk obviously thinks the 25's are almost twice as good. $$$ ;)

[mantis]

You have to ask yourself this question........

Do I want a powered tower or not?

[jlitz]

The question as I see it is

What sounds better?


JL

[mantis]

The most Important question would be..........

When Am I going to go listen?

[RuSsMaN]

The MOST MOST important question would be.....

Why does this post give me gas?

[mantis]

You need to crank on those 303's and allow the gas to flow.Sometimes when people are scared, they fart.

[RuSsMaN]

heh heh heh

[jlitz]

Do you get a good image with that fart woofer?