Swap the RTA-12Cs around....WOW!!!

[jon s]

I could never get the imaging right with the RTA-12Cs... somehow, the Monitor 10s seem a bit more focused. Well, I decided to replace the Marantz PM7200 amp with an Onkyo TX-905 receiver since my wife wants to listen to FM.

The Onkyo was used with my big screen which was upgraded to the TX-NR906. The speakers of choice there is the well regarded Sony SS-M9s which some may know was designed by ex-Polk speaker designer Dan Anagnos. He was with Polk during 1984-1992, Sony 1992-2002, Boston Acoustics and currently the VP of DM Holdings. The Onkyo sounded fab with the Sony speakers. Imaging was first rate with excellent sound and depth.

When I hooked the Onkyo with the Polk RTA-12Cs, I was surprised at how the soundfield collapsed. Left to right was merely okay and depth was unexceptional. I swapped out the IEC power cable to a 14G from 18 and there was some increase in depth. Just for the hell of it, i swapped the Polks around, left to right and vice versa.

That made a BIG difference. Just to double-check, I looked at the label to make sure that the speakers were in the wrong location. But there was no mistake. The soundfield was far superior when the speakers were moved. Normally, the full range midwoofer would be on the "inside" of the two and now they were the "outside" pair. Any RTA-12 owners should try it and see if it makes a difference to them too.

[BottomFeeder]

I had the same exact experience! I had RTA12C's & for reasons that I couldn't begin to understand, liked the way they sounded when the right speaker was on the left & vice versa.

I spoke w/Ken at Polk and he informed me that though manuals say otherwise, the two speakers are not mirror imaged, thus it shouldn't matter which speaker is on which side. He said that the speakers were marked left and right just because that was what manufacturers did back then.

I'm so glad that you posted because I still thought I was a bit nuts!

Which, of course, I am, but just not about the RTA12C's! Enjoy those babies!

[avguytx]

You've got a TX-NR906 already? Where did you get it at?

[jon s]

You've got a TX-NR906 already? Where did you get it at?

got it from my local dealer in Hawaii... he got them 08/23...

[jon s]

I had the same exact experience! I had RTA12C's & for reasons that I couldn't begin to understand, liked the way they sounded when the right speaker was on the left & vice versa.

I spoke w/Ken at Polk and he informed me that though manuals say otherwise, the two speakers are not mirror imaged, thus it shouldn't matter which speaker is on which side. He said that the speakers were marked left and right just because that was what manufacturers did back then.

I'm so glad that you posted because I still thought I was a bit nuts!

Which, of course, I am, but just not about the RTA12C's! Enjoy those babies!

That is incorrect... I ran a test sweep on the RTA-12Cs... when correctly positioned, the inboard midwoofer went higher in frequency than the outboard ones... looking at the schematic proves that the woofers are have different crossover points... what's more interesting is that the schematic shows the outboard midwoofers run full range and the inboard ones are not...

[BottomFeeder]

Well, I only know what Ken At Polk told me.

& I only know what my ears told me.

Beyond that, I don't know!

[rmaiers]

I just won a set of RTA 12Cs.I hope to pick them up soon. I already have a set of the RTA 12Bs which I got about a year ago. I was able to see them the 12Cs before buying and they look to be in very good condition. The RTA 12Bs are the best sounding speakers I have owned and will be interested in seeing and hearing what the differences are between them.