Polk RTi8 vs Athena F2

[SangYuP]

I just purchased the Polk RTi8 and I was wondering how much better if at all is the RTi8 compared to the F2? I sort of made an impulse purchase with the RTi8 and now I'm wondering if it's an upgrade or a lateral move. I will also try biwiring them for better sound (it can't hurt to try).

 

[jamie2112]

It can't hurt to try but I gather you won't hear any audible difference by Bi-amping the speakers. You really don't get much benefit bi-amping in my honest opinion.

 

[SangYuP]

It can't hurt to try but I gather you won't hear any audible difference by Bi-amping the speakers. You really don't get much benefit bi-amping in my honest opinion.

Yeah, I was thinking that I might as well try since it will either not make any difference or it *could* in my mind sound better. Also, I haven't read any negatives about it so I figure it's worth a try. By the way, do you have any experience between the two speakers that I mentioned? Just wondering...thanks.

 

[mazersteven]

I just purchased the Polk RTi8 and I was wondering how much better if at all is the RTi8 compared to the F2? I sort of made an impulse purchase with the RTi8 and now I'm wondering if it's an upgrade or a lateral move. I will also try biwiring them for better sound (it can't hurt to try).

IMO that is a big upgrade in sound quality to the RTi8's. Also it's a total waste of time, and effort to bi-wire your speakers.

 

[SangYuP]

IMO that is a big upgrade in sound quality to the RTi8's. Also it's a total waste of time, and effort to bi-wire your speakers.

Mazersteven,

Thanks for your input. I can't wait to hear them. I hope they arrive soon.

 

[billy p]

It sounds like your likely to own both and I'd like to hear you thoughts. As for my opinion, I audioned the LS-500 & Rti8's in store and did like the Polks slightly better overall. However IMO since I owned Athena Auditions neither to me sounded like a big improvement over them and I think you're right about calling this a lateral move. They just sound different.

Just my 2 cents

 

[SangYuP]

It sounds like your likely to own both and I'd like to hear you thoughts. As for my opinion, I audioned the LS-500 & Rti8's in store and did like the Polks slightly better overall. However IMO since I owned Athena Auditions neither to me sounded like a big improvement over them and I think you're right about calling this a lateral move. They just sound different.

Just my 2 cents

Hmm..now I'm confused. I guess I was hoping that the RTi8 would be better than the Athena F2. I was hoping to get a lot of replies saying that the RTi8 was better. I guess I'll wait a bit to see if anyone else chimes in, and I'll do more research on the net. If they are similar, I might cancel my order as I don't really want to spend money on something that will have similar performance. I also wanted something new lately with better performance and I was hoping these would do it. Thanks for your input though.

 

[billy p]

Hmm..now I'm confused. I guess I was hoping that the RTi8 would be better than the Athena F2. I was hoping to get a lot of replies saying that the RTi8 was better. I guess I'll wait a bit to see if anyone else chimes in, and I'll do more research on the net. If they are similar, I might cancel my order as I don't really want to spend money on something that will have similar performance. I also wanted something new lately with better performance and I was hoping these would do it. Thanks for your input though.

I wasn't trying to deter you from making this purchase. I personally found the Polks a bit bright and the LS-500 appeared more neutral but really lacked the depth or detail required IMO for a good sounding speaker. My auditon speakers after awhile just started to annoy the hell out of me(getting old) as well because of their forward nature. I wanted a neutral sounding speaker that had the depth and imaging that I was looking for music and home theater and found it with my current set up.
I would listen to the Rti8's before you cancel the order or ship them back.

Good luck, Bill

 

[SangYuP]

I wasn't trying to deter you from making this purchase. I personally found the Polks a bit bright and the LS-500 appeared more neutral but really lacked the depth or detail required IMO for a good sounding speaker. My auditon speakers after awhile just started to annoy the hell out of me(getting old) as well because of their forward nature. I wanted a neutral sounding speaker that had the depth and imaging that I was looking for music and home theater and found it with my current set up.
I would listen to the Rti8's before you cancel the order or ship them back.

Good luck, Bill

I guess I'll just have to hear them and decide from there. I was really hoping that the RTi8 were a lot better and I expected a lot of people to respond telling me that the RTi8 were tons better and not to worry about it because I made an excellent purchase. I guess I'm just looking for reassurance for my impulse purchase.

 

[mazersteven]

impulse purchase.

IMO a great impulse purchase. IMO the RTi's have a much better tweeter, and much better bass response then the Athena's.

 

[SangYuP]

IMO a great impulse purchase. IMO the RTi's have a much better tweeter, and much better bass response then the Athena's.

I need more posts like this to make myself feel better for this impulse purchase.

 

[PENG]

I need more posts like this to make myself feel better for this impulse purchase.

You can consider this one more vote for the RTi8. To me, it is only a little better than a lateral move. Polk's LSi series or the Energy's RC series would get you a clearer margin.

 

[speakerman39]

I need more posts like this to make myself feel better for this impulse purchase.

Sang, I really like the RTi8's myself. There is really not a lot of bass, but otherwise they are impressive. However, I have never heard the Athena towers so I can not help you there. Please remember, what really matters most is how YOU feel about them. If you like the RTi8's better, then so be it. Don't worry so much what others think. There is nothing wrong with ascertaining some advice, but in the end it is more about what YOU prefer. Personally, I would love to own the RTi8's myself. You are lucky to have them imho.

Cheers,

Phil

 

[SangYuP]

Sang, I really like the RTi8's myself. There is really not a lot of bass, but otherwise they are impressive. However, I have never heard the Athena towers so I can not help you there. Please remember, what really matters most is how YOU feel about them. If you like the RTi8's better, then so be it. Don't worry so much what others think. There is nothing wrong with ascertaining some advice, but in the end it is more about what YOU prefer. Personally, I would love to own the RTi8's myself. You are lucky to have them imho.

Cheers,

Phil

Phil,

Good to hear from you buddy. I hope all is well with you. Yeah, I ended up buying the RTi8 without much research and here I am again asking for advice. Yeah, I guess it'll be like the CS2 all over again. I guess I'll wait and see how the RTi8 sounds. I got the CSi3 as well so that they would all timbre match even though the CSi3 is smaller than the CS2. I ended up getting the cherry finish for all of them. From the pictures I've seen, it looks really really nice. I've read that it looks even better in person so I'm even more excited about them.

 

[SangYuP]

You can consider this one more vote for the RTi8. To me, it is only a little better than a lateral move. Polk's LSi series or the Energy's RC series would get you a clearer margin.

Peng,

Thanks for your input. I would love to get the LSi series or even the Energy RC series, but I can't afford those and I wouldn't have been able to afford the RTi8 as well if it wasn't for the sale price that I got it at. Plus, with the LSi series, I don't have the power to drive them so that is one more thing I would have had to upgrade.

 

[mazersteven]

You can score a pre-owned, open box, or some times the big box stores will run sales on the LSi9's for $500 a pair.

Now that is much more then a lateral move from the Athena's. More like leaps and bounds.

 

[speakerman39]

Phil,

Good to hear from you buddy. I hope all is well with you. Yeah, I ended up buying the RTi8 without much research and here I am again asking for advice. Yeah, I guess it'll be like the CS2 all over again. I guess I'll wait and see how the RTi8 sounds. I got the CSi3 as well so that they would all timbre match even though the CSi3 is smaller than the CS2. I ended up getting the cherry finish for all of them. From the pictures I've seen, it looks really really nice. I've read that it looks even better in person so I'm even more excited about them.

Everything is fine here now. IKE brought some bad weather up my way and knocked my power out for over 5-hours. Thanks for asking though. It is true, that the Cherry RTi's look better in person. I am certain you will like the sound of the RTi8. As far as it sounding better than the Athena Towers, only YOU can really decide that my friend. From what I remember, the bass is really lacking on the RTi8. However, with sub you have that really poses no problem. Keep us posted and snap a few pics if you can. Others here may be in the same or nearly the same situation. If so, pics can be very helpful.

Cheers,

Phil

 

[SangYuP]

You can score a pre-owned, open box, or some times the big box stores will run sales on the LSi9's for $500 a pair.

Now that is much more then a lateral move from the Athena's. More like leaps and bounds.

Mazer,

That would be nice if I could find something like that here. Unfortunately, the only big box store in my town is circuitcity. Their best speaker from Polk is the TSi300. Other than that, the next best speaker they have open box or clearance is the Monitor 70, 50, 40, and 30. Even if I were to find them for $500/pair, I would still need to upgrade my receiver or get an amp to power those bad boys. Maybe my next speaker upgrade will be the LSi speakers or equivalent at the time.

 

[SangYuP]

Everything is fine here now. IKE brought some bad weather up my way and knocked my power out for over 5-hours. Thanks for asking though. It is true, that the Cherry RTi's look better in person. I am certain you will like the sound of the RTi8. As far as it sounding better than the Athena Towers, only YOU can really decide that my friend. From what I remember, the bass is really lacking on the RTi8. However, with sub you have that really poses no problem. Keep us posted and snap a few pics if you can. Others here may be in the same or nearly the same situation. If so, pics can be very helpful.

Cheers,

Phil

Good to hear that everything is okay with you. Yeah, I will patiently wait for UPS to drop off my new speakers. I am having second thoughts on my center though. I really really want the CSi5 but they are priced a lot more than the CSi3 and also I want the CSi5 to be cherry finish. I'm not too crazy about having cherry finish Mains with black Center. Also, my wife is telling me that I can't buy the more expensive CSi5. Other than that, I really really want the CSi5.

 

[mazersteven]

Even if I were to find them for $500/pair, I would still need to upgrade my receiver or get an amp to power those bad boys. Maybe my next speaker upgrade will be the LSi speakers or equivalent at the time.

Amp is only $200 bucks?

http://www.behringer.com/A500/index.cfm?lang=ENG