Comparing Polk speakers

[xjaguar23]

Is there a significant difference in the two systems?

RTiA5s front RTiA7s
CSiA6 center CSiA6
RTiA1s surr RTiA3s

velodyne DPS-12 sub with each

i'm trying to set up my HT and not sure whether it is worth it to go with the more expensive rtia7s and rtia3s? i am already running a sub, so is the latter setup going to give me anything else extra besides bass? Any input would be appreciated



One more quick question, will a Yamaha RVX-1800 drive this system or will I need an amp? Its RMS power is 130x7.

[Erik Tracy]

I can't speak for your speaker selection aside from that your choices seem good to me - wish I had that budget!

I do have a Yamaha RX-V1800 and am driving x4 RTi4s all around with a CSi3 Center and PSW303 sub.

The Yammy is rated at 130x7, but when all 7 are driven the rms power drops to about 60w (there's a link someplace with the article that measured this).

If you only have 5.1, then the power is around 110W per channel.

The speakers you've got listed are rated at 89dB efficiency, so if you've got a small-ish room, the Yamaha would do an adequate job, but you'd pushing it pretty hard if you got the itch to crank it up.

The Yammy does have a limiting circuit that would cut off power to the speakers if it exceeds the preset limit (user selectable - eg. -5db, 0db, +5db, up to +16db), and while that would protect your speakers, you'd wish you had more power especially with towers!

In my previous 2-channel setup I had a Carver M1.0-t power amp rated at 200wpc 8-ohms, which I kept and use that to drive the Fronts from the Yammy pre-outs.

I can go up to 0db on the Yammy and the Carver is barely breathing(bottom two sets of power lights just flickering) and my family room is filled with clean sound (even though it's thru the tiny RTI4s).

I haven't yet turned it up to "11"... :D

Erik