Took a stroll through Frys today...

[Ron Temple]

The Polk/JBL demo room was empty so I took some time with the new models. It's a horrible setup bookshelves and centers in the front and floorstanders in a U shape on the sides, small to large. If you understand that the worst speaker in the room is going to sound much better at home, you can at least get an idea of what each speaker offers over the next up the line. I really only wanted to listen to the floorstanders, so I compared the A5 (didn't have an A7 out) to the RTi10 and the RTi12 to the A9. The A5 and the 10 were close, so I assume the A5s cabinet design has indeed improved the line. The RTi10s bass was the most noticeable difference, but it wasn't huge. Overall, they sounded very similar.

The 12s vs 9s was a larger difference. The 9s sounded much deeper with more profound bass and even in this awful setup, wider soundstage. If you consider the 12s to be a big step from the 10s, then you feel the 9s are a similar step up from the 12s.

This is a first blush impression with about 20 minutes of switching around on the same demo disk, but I wouldn't be surprised if it stood up in home.

I looked over the new DSW subs, but they weren't hooked up. Solid looking...the driver surrounds felt substantial and the box handled the knock test well. I'd like to bring the 600 home to test, but I'd feel guilty bringing it back (and I would :eek:)

Just random thoughts...

[jakelm]

So I understand the new A's won out.

Good to hear about the DSW sub, wish you could have heard it and give us your opinion.

Explain your knock test?

[ryanjoachim]

I have the 600, and it hits very hard, without seeming to bottom out.

Clean sound, along with brown-spot inducing lows (kudos to whoever figures out what I mean by brown-spot) make for a very happy HT freak like myself.

[Face]

Do you mean brown note? :D

[Ron Temple]

Explain your knock test?Rap test, knock test, knuckle test...knuckle to side wall...listen for hollow sound or resonance. The more inert the better...if it sounds hollow, it's generally not good ;).

[jakelm]

Rap test, knock test, knuckle test...knuckle to side wall...listen for hollow sound or resonance. The more inert the better...if it sounds hollow, it's generally not good ;).


Ok, like testing a watermelon....:p

I like to stand on it. If it doesnt break, its good.

[fossy]

The 12s vs 9s was a larger difference. The 9s sounded much deeper with more profound bass and even in this awful setup, wider soundstage. If you consider the 12s to be a big step from the 10s, then you feel the 9s are a similar step up from the 12s.



I was in Fry's monday & was comparing the rti10's to the A7's. I got the same impression as far as the A7's being a step up from the 10's. The 7's had a more "full" sound to me. I really want a pair of 9's & could afford them in the next month or so but gettin something to drive them properly is what scaring me off.

[DeusExa]

If driving RTis scare you, try driving my LSi15s!!

Maybe it has something to do with the new cabinet design...curved cabinets..