Little Help: Polk Rti8 or Paradigm Monitor 7 ver5.

[Smoothmids]

Hi guys, long time lurker, new poster. I'm considering getting either of these speakers. They are in my budget and I like their sound. I can't however compare them directly since I found the speakers in seperate stores. Anyone with experience with the RTi8 and Monitor 7 please lend me some advice. The Polk can be had a bit cheaper than the Paradigm, but I think the Paradigm sounds a tad richer, but it could be the room, receiver, who knows.

70% movies, 30% music. I have a SVS 25-31PCI subwoofer and a Yamaha 6060 receiver. I'm just looking for a 2.1 or 3.1 setup since my apartment isn't suitable for rear speakers.

 

[Seth=L]

Either speaker is good, you just need to try to pick the one that you feel suits you needs, sound and appearance.

 

[billy p]

I would also suggest the Athena LS-500. I listened to the Polk rti8 and Athena ls-500 and both sounded very good, but for different reasons. So before you blow off the Athena just remember they use basically the same driver configuration as the Energy C line which is on par with the Paradign Monitors and IMO offer better value.

Good Luck and also consider the PSB image line as well!!

 

[mazersteven]

Just My Personal Opinion

Forget the RTi8's and purchase the Polk LSi9's pre/owned, or look for a sale. Tweeters had them for $499 a pair.

 

[Smoothmids]

This is going to be my first real speakers (upgrading from a crappy HTIB I bought last year), and so I'd like the peace of mind of getting it from a store and not used.

BillyP, I listened to the Athena speakers at the Vaughn Future Shop. I hated them. They had little to no detail compared to the RTi8 from what I heard. The disc in the player was a compilation of THX noise, Star Wars sounds and so forth. Now, I'm a noob at this so maybe I'm missing something, but to me the RTi8 sounded the best of all the speakers Future Shop carries.

 

[mazersteven]

This is going to be my first real speakers (upgrading from a crappy HTIB I bought last year), and so I'd like the peace of mind of getting it from a store and not used.

Tweeters is a retail store.

 

[Smoothmids]

Tweeters is a retail store.

We don't have them in Canada. We have plenty of Future Shops and Best Buys, and if you're lucky, a audio store.

Like I said, this will be my first venture into 'real' speakers, and I'd rather go to a store, pick them up and take them home, than buy online, or someting. The Polks and Paradigms are the most common speakers in my part of town. Both are in my price range and I liked the sound of both, that's why I narrowed it down to the 2 speakers.

I was hoping someone had heard both of them and could give me pointers on which way to go in terms of audio quality. The 7 is a smaller speaker but the build quality seems better and has the Paradigm name. The RTi8 has bigger speakers, and comes from a Big name store where if I didn't like them, I could return them.

 

[ParadigmDawg]

Like Seth said; either one is fine. Go listen again and decide which one sounds better to you, load it up and take it home.

 

[Seth=L]

Like Seth said; either one is fine. Go listen again and decide which one sounds better to you, load it up and take it home.

Yes, we cannot tell you which one (even if we had listened to them both vigorously). You have to use your ears and decide which sounds best to you. When you truly find peace with audio you don't need to opinions of others to support your decisions.

One of the most controversial speakers in the world has to be Klipsch. Some people love them and will never ever buy anything else once they have heard them, then you have others that absolutely hate the sound of Klipsch speakers and would sooner burn them than listen to them (I am being a tad extreme)

The point is what sounds good is subjective. One person may not like what you like or find the speakers you view as good audio quality speakers to be poor audio quality speakers.

Sorry there isn't more we can do, but this is just the truth of it.

If I was you (literally) I might be able to help.

 

[billy p]

Heh

This is going to be my first real speakers (upgrading from a crappy HTIB I bought last year), and so I'd like the peace of mind of getting it from a store and not used.

BillyP, I listened to the Athena speakers at the Vaughn Future Shop. I hated them. They had little to no detail compared to the RTi8 from what I heard. The disc in the player was a compilation of THX noise, Star Wars sounds and so forth. Now, I'm a noob at this so maybe I'm missing something, but to me the RTi8 sounded the best of all the speakers Future Shop carries.

Funny and the answer to the riddle is this? Having heard both myself at future shop here in Markham, I felt the Polk Rti8 would be slightly better speaker for H/T because of better imaging. IMO the warmer sound of the Athena I preferred for music as Seth pointed out speakers are SO subjective and must be heard in person. Since your in Maple check out 2001 audio & video(Markham Store) and look into the PSB image T45 retail price is in your range. Here is a link http://www.2001audiovideo.com/product_info.php?id=T45&clr=

 

[Seth=L]

As great as the PSBs are I would not pair them with that receiver. They are power hungry. Not efficient, and not easy to drive 4-6 ohms and probably dips lower at transients.

 

[PENG]

We don't have them in Canada. We have plenty of Future Shops and Best Buys, and if you're lucky, a audio store.

Like I said, this will be my first venture into 'real' speakers, and I'd rather go to a store, pick them up and take them home, than buy online, or someting. The Polks and Paradigms are the most common speakers in my part of town. Both are in my price range and I liked the sound of both, that's why I narrowed it down to the 2 speakers.

I was hoping someone had heard both of them and could give me pointers on which way to go in terms of audio quality. The 7 is a smaller speaker but the build quality seems better and has the Paradigm name. The RTi8 has bigger speakers, and comes from a Big name store where if I didn't like them, I could return them.

$499, is a great price for a pair of LSi9, especially when the C$ is high right now. May be you can email Polk and ask them how to get that kind of deal in Canada. The LSi9 will give you much better sound quality, and will give you some incentive to upgrade your electronics down the road. Your HTR6060 can do the job for now but won't be tapping into the LSi9's full potential. You also have to be careful not cranking it up too high unless you use the 6 ohm switch.

Other than that, between the RTi8 and the Monitor 7 you would have to pick the one that sounds better to you. To listen to the RTi8 you should find a newer Future Shop that has a dedicated H.T. room that allows you to close the doors. If you like them both the same and cannot make up your mind base on SQ then I would say go for the RTi for the better after sales service.

 

[billy p]

He is only looking for a 2.1 or 3.1 set up and lives in apartment. Therefore, I don't think power would be an issue. Most of those companies(like frys or tweeters)don't even ship up here its not worth it to them. So the burden is put on us to absorb the added cost & simply making the transaction not worthwhile. I do like the suggestion of using smaller speaker and I would look no furter then the PSB image b25. I went out and listened to them the other day, after Craigsub spoke so highly of them over at AVS. http://www.2001audiovideo.com/product_info.php?id=B25&clr=

Good luck in your decision, Billy p!! LOL we're neighbors, almost .

 

[PENG]

I would also suggest the Athena LS-500. I listened to the Polk rti8 and Athena ls-500 and both sounded very good, but for different reasons. So before you blow off the Athena just remember they use basically the same driver configuration as the Energy C line which is on par with the Paradign Monitors and IMO offer better value.

Good Luck and also consider the PSB image line as well!!

Did you see that Future Shop had some Athena floor speakers selling for $49.99 on line? All sold out though!

 

[billy p]

You

Did you see that Future Shop had some Athena floor speakers selling for $49.99 on line? All sold out though!

know, I seen a thread somewhere that made mention of it!! When I was last at the store, for my audition they were selling (f2's) for about $300.00 a pair. I've seen online sales, but with limited quantity which quickly sell out. They did the same thing awhile back with some Infinity Primus speakers and were sold out before you got to the store or logged into your online account.

 

[mazersteven]

Well if the Polk LSi9's will not work, I would suggest going with the Paradigm Studio line over the Monitor. Studio 20's. Now to be fair, I haven't heard the new Monitors. But the Studios where IMO a night, and day difference in sound quality. And worth every penny.

Do they have Usher Audio up in Canada?

The new Usher S-520's sound great for $400 a pair.