RTi12 vs. Rti A9. Rti A9 has much better low end?

[guitarplyrstevo]

What are the main differences between the two? The reason why I ask is because I have the RTi12's bi-amped to my Onkyo 805 with the bass on +10db. Well I was at work today and compared the RTi A9 with the Onkyo 876 reciever with the bass on +10db and I could have sworn there was a subwoofer connected but there wasn't because the subwoofer was selected off on the speaker settings. I know the 876 has more power but I set the volume as close as I could based on how it sounded, but there was just so much more bass in the A9.

Are there any major differences between the two different models? Should I have waited for the A9?

 

[Sheep]

The 12's need power to move those woofers. A different amp could make the difference, and rooms and speaker locations will make a huge difference as well. There is many factors affecting bass.

SheepStar

 

[speakerman39]

The 12's need power to move those woofers. A different amp could make the difference, and rooms and speaker locations will make a huge difference as well. There is many factors affecting bass.

SheepStar

Very good advice Brian. Once again you sum it up quite well. BTW, would you mind looking at my updated pics on the Members Systems Gallery and give me your feedback? Go ahead Brian, be as blunt as you want to be. Any feedback is appreciated.

Cheers,

Phil

 

[guitarplyrstevo]

The 12's need power to move those woofers. A different amp could make the difference, and rooms and speaker locations will make a huge difference as well. There is many factors affecting bass.

SheepStar

The 876 only has 10 watts per channel more than my 805. I'm not sure if the room would make that much of a difference because I am basing this off of standing about 1-2 feet away from the speakers. The bass feels like it slaps me in the face a lot harder with the A9 instead of the rti12.

Do you think maybe the rounded enclosure of the A9 plays a big part in the resonance of the bass? Or maybe the speakers are more sensitive in the A9? For the most part, I always thought the two models were very identical except for the cosmetic aspects.

 

[bandphan]

The 876 only has 10 watts per channel more than my 805. I'm not sure if the room would make that much of a difference because I am basing this off of standing about 1-2 feet away from the speakers. The bass feels like it slaps me in the face a lot harder with the A9 instead of the rti12.

Do you think maybe the rounded enclosure of the A9 plays a big part in the resonance of the bass? Or maybe the speakers are more sensitive in the A9? For the most part, I always thought the two models were very identical except for the cosmetic aspects.

Yes your room plays a role, as well as the auto setup. As for the speakers, spec wise they are identicle. Unless you compare apples to apples, saying one has more slam could be a nnumber of issues going on.

 

[Ron Temple]

The cabinets make a definite difference. The A series are an improvement across the board. That said, the 12s deliver gobs of clean bass. Taking the tone controls to +10 usually only boosts 100hz, which to me, just muddies the bass. To get an improvement and flat response, leave the tone control alone, use Audessey and add power.

 

[Cpt.America]

Room setup and speaker placement can have a HUGE affect on preceived bass output. The only way you could accurately compare, would be to swap the speakers out in the same room, placed in the same position.

Here is a quick example of how room/placement can affect bass:

I was playign with placement of my new ed A3-300 subwoofer the other day. Placed the sub in the corner of my livingroom and the subwoofer feels like it could break the windows. Moved the sub out to almost the very middle of the room (just for fun), and I could barely tell it was on. Speaker placement within any given room can have DRAMATIC affects on preceived bass output. The highs aren't affected nearly as much.

 

[Chopin_Guy]

Personally I wouldn't worry about the bass issue that much....that is what the subwoofer is for... You have plenty of juice coming from your AVR and I understand the perception of what one might *think* the RTi12 should sound like and what they really will sound like---and this judgement is nothing against the speakers, as I am very happy with my RTi12s...

Despite the fact they each house 3 x 7" drivers....how much bass might one expected from a 7" driver--especially drivers that aren't independently amplified and crossed-over. I am sure most of what you heard had to do with room/acoustic characteristics and settings on the SR875 with them. All in all, however, the RTi12 is a capable speaker and will do anything you ask of it within reason....

 

[tom67]

Bass

Could it be you have your home system set up correctly with RT12s set as "small" and intergrated into an HT system with sub set to 90Hz.....perhaps the A9s were set to large so that they could be auditioned as stand alone stereo speakers...Try setting yours to "Large" for a few minutes without the sub on stereo only and see what bass you get....beyond that, most people want the sub producing the bass under 90HZ anyway....

 

[guitarplyrstevo]

Could it be you have your home system set up correctly with RT12s set as "small" and intergrated into an HT system with sub set to 90Hz.....perhaps the A9s were set to large so that they could be auditioned as stand alone stereo speakers...Try setting yours to "Large" for a few minutes without the sub on stereo only and see what bass you get....beyond that, most people want the sub producing the bass under 90HZ anyway....

Yea I made sure of that. When I heard the A9's, I went into the speaker settings and turned the sub off so the fronts will be full range. I did this to my RTI12's too and got a different sound.

What I am thinking is maybe its because I have my computer connected to my receiver. The A9's had a blu ray player connected directly to the 876 via HDMI (only a standard audio disc was playing though) whereas I use my cd rom drives in my computer and connect my computer to my receiver via optical. Do you think this might decrease the quality of the audio, making it seem more trebly and less bassy?