RTI A3 vs RTI A5?

[4WardMotion]

Well, I thought I had made up my mind until I started pricing things and questioning the best bang for my buck. Here's my question, is there a big enough difference between the A3 and A5 to justify going with the A5's?

I was going to go with a book shelf speaker and then buys stands, but as I have been looking for a couple hundred more I can get the A5's. Is it worth the upgrade from bookshelf to floor standing? I have been looking at the Pioneer Elite VSX-32 to power these. 70% HT and Games, 30% Music.

I would love to hear your feedback on my options here.

Thanks!

[Ericw2431]

Hmm well the a'5s have more midrange! but if thats gonna be your last upgrade might as well go for the a'9s if your not ready get the a'3s buy an amp aside and than upgrade whenever! well thats what i will do...get you a good sub!

[dorokusai]

I believe the RTiA5 is a much better overall loudspeaker than the RTiA3. This isn't really hard to imagine given the difference in design.

[blehmbo]

Well, the A5s do have a bit of a more pronounced mid range and they can go deeper frequency wise. I thought my A5s performed well for HT duty and decently for music.

I highly recommend listening to both side by side if possible. Only you can decide whether the A5 is worth the extra coin over the A3s.

[tonyb]

If I was you, I'd bypass the 5's and head straight for the A7's. Throw in a good sub, and you'd have something to brag about in your neighborhood. The pioneer you mentioned would still do fine with all this. I guess it depends on your budget, maybe I missed it somewhere.
If your into movies, and you get the A3's, 3 months will go by and you will be thinking you should have gotten the 5's. Then you'll get the 5's, another 3 months will go by, and you'll say damn, betcha those 7's would be even better. Just tryin' to save ya some steps my man.

[jbooker82]

The time line is about right. Jumped in head first with my HT with the RTI A7's and now wonder what the 9's would be like. :)

[mrbiron]

By the time you buy both the speakers and the stands, you're approaching the price of the 5's anyway.
I enjoy my 5's and have no remorse about not going to the 7's / 9's. They are ideal for my application.

Start with the 3's, then if you feel they are lacking, move them to the rear and buy the 5's for the front. Simple fix.

[thesurfer]

You never said anything about room size,, that plays alot in what you need, what your trying to do,,The rtiA3,s would be great for a smaller room, but as others have said, if your putting a system in a larger room, get the 5,s or 7s, keep in mind, large speakers in a small room, are overkill. also, small speakers in a large room, wont do you any justice,,

[packetjones]

I have had both the 3's and the 5's. I would say that the 5's are better.

what really matters is how they will be used and the space they are in. i am actually selling my 5's but they are local only, if you are willing to come to oklahoma let me know. lol

[SRTer]

The time line is about right. Jumped in head first with my HT with the RTI A7's and now wonder what the 9's would be like. :)

I got bit with the upgrade bug when I bought RTi8's all around now I got A9 and A7

[dnoyeB]

A5s all day.

[4WardMotion]

Thank you all for the replies!

I wish I could say my decision is made, but I'm still pondering. I hear the term warmer and brighter when reading a lot of these posts. Between the A3's and the A5's is one brighter than the other. I will definitely be getting a sub eventually, so I am trying to take that into account also.

My living room is about 14ft wide by 16ft deep and then opens up to the kitchen area. Not a real big room so I don't think it would take a lot to fill it up with sound.

Packetjones, where are you in Oklahoma? I am in Missouri and might be interested in your A5's. Are they the Cherry finish? That is what I am wanting to get.

Can anyone tell me how the Energy bookshelf speakers compare to these A3's? I was in Best Buy this weekend and listened to the Energy speakers and liked what I heard there, but I am still leaning towards the Polk's as I feel the reviews sound better. I don't have anywhere around here to hear them, so I am going off the advice shared here. Any thoughts on the comparison between Energy's and Polk's?

Thanks again for your feedback!

[packetjones]

I am in oklahoma city. My A5's are the black finish.

In regards to the brightness I would say they are about the same really. If you are just starting out I doubt you would be able to tell a difference.