RTA 15T: 2-speaker --> Home Theater

[MichaelJ]

I have a pair of RTA 15T stereo speakers bought 10 years ago that have a wonderful sound. I recently purchased a Mitsubishi 55" wide-screen TV and an Onkyo TX-6030 AV receiver. I need to purchase a center channel and surround speakers. I have two questions:
1) are the RTA 15T speakers un-shielded, and if so, will they cause distortion in my TV if placed a about a foot to either side.
2) I am looking at a CSi40 center channel and two FXi50 surrounds. After looking through some of the speaker forums, there has been discussion about the difference in speaker material between older polkaudio speakers and the silk/polymer construction of the newer speakers. Will the sound of the CSi40 and FXi50's blend well with my RTA15T's?

[F1nut]

MJ,

Welcome to the forum.

Yes, the RTA 15TL's are unshielded, but you can buy some bucking magnets from Polk to solve that problem. Just call Ken in Customer Service and he'll set you up. The 15's use a SL3000 tweeter and I believe the LSiC would match up ok, but some of these other guys know more about that than I do. Also, while you've got Ken on the phone you could ask his advice about matching up speakers.

F1

[MichaelJ]

F1

Thanks for the reply ... I'll contact Ken for the bucking magnets. I have corresponded with him previously by email; he recommended the CSi40 and FXi50's. While browing the forums, I came across discussions about the effects of different speaker materials, so was wondering if anyone had matched up the new "i" speakers with the older RTA's.

My previous electronic setup was Sherwood separates; now I have an integerated digital AV receiver and the speakers sound different. They are more forward, they have more clarity, and slightly less warmth. I figure if a different amplifier produces a different sound, then different speaker materials may also produce a different sound.

Thanks again ............... MichaelJ

[George Grand]

Try that set-up before spending for bucking magnets. They can be tough to apply, and the woofer magnets may sit low enough to not have any effect on the picture.

One of my AR-9's is sitting about two feet from a 27" monitor, and the 8" lower mid has a fairly good size magnet attached. No picture degradation whatsoever.

George Grand (of the Jersey Grand's)

[F1nut]

MJ,

Your assumptions that different speaker materials may produce different sounds is correct, it's called timbre. George makes some good points, but that 15 has two mid-drivers at the top and it's a tall cabinet. The best thing to use for attaching the magnets is a gelled super glue. Don't forget to do the tweeter as well.

F1

[ChrisDurano]

I used some 2 part epoxy I got from HomeDepot for my old S4's, and those worked w/ no problems. It takes some time to hold the magnets in place, but once the epoxy dries...its permanent.

[pjdami]

MJ,

Unshielded speakers should not be a problem with rear projection tvs; only with tube tvs. One foot away should be fine.

My mains are unshielded and about a foot away from my rear projection Mits tv. There is no distortion. On a tube tv, when there is no source (and the screen is blue or some other color besides black and you move the unshielded speaker close to the tv you can see the distortion in the color).

Paul

[F1nut]

Paul,

Good point, I missed that one.

F1

[MichaelJ]

thanks for the advice about rear-projection TV's. I have not noticed any distortion, but I do keep the speakers about a foot away from the TV (it is a 55" 16X9 Mitsubishi). I have only played movies at moderate volume, will high volume introduce distortion?

[F1nut]

Crank it up and find out.

[mantis]

Onkyo receivers have what is called a reference point.If I remember correctly,it comes in around the 78 volume setting.It will read REF instead of a numbered volume reading.

DO NOT GO PAST THIS POINT.Why???exactly what your question asks.

[MichaelJ]

Well ... I did crank it up while watching selected sections of the Terminator DVD ... the Onkyo receiver reads Max when it is topped out ... did not overdrive the excellent RTA 15T's and I could not detect any distortion on the Mitsubishi Widescreen TV.