Polk rti8/infinity psw-12 VS. JBL E100

[panicphan6]

so i bought the polk rti8 towers with the psw-12 subwoofer from infinity. my question to you, is do you think the jbl e100s will sound better than the set up i have right now? i like the sound polk has along with the sub. I am running the speakers from a Denon 695 receiver, which gives it more than enough power! how would the jbl towers compare to my current setup? I can get the jbls for $500 shipped. $1100 investment compared to $500. will the jbls have more bass than my current speakers including the sub? my stereo is for music only so i'm looking at something with plenty of bass and good clarity. thanks!

 

[Buckeyefan 1]

Stick with the RTi8's. They're in a different ballpark than the JBL's IMO.

 

[Estephens13]

Stick with the RTi8's. They're in a different ballpark than the JBL's IMO.

+1 I sold both, and the Polks are a league up.

 

[panicphan6]

that's what i'm leaning towards doing...are the jbl speakers very nice? they have to have some bass with 4 10 inch woofers!

 

[panicphan6]

how much of a difference is there between the rti8s and the rti10s?

 

[Buckeyefan 1]

how much of a difference is there between the rti8s and the rti10s?

There's a huge difference. When you step up to the RTi10's, you really need a separate amp to power the lower half of that speaker. The RTi10's are basically a RTi6 set atop two 7" bass drivers that are very inefficient. The RTi8's will run off most AVR's without a problem. There's a reason the RTi10's and RTi12's handle between 300 and 500 watts per channel. It's because they sound their best when pushed with these types of amps. The RTi8 towers are basically a CSi5 center channel in a larger cabinet. They match up perfectly with the CSi5 and RTi6, although I preferred the sound out of the RTi4's to the RTi6's.

 

[Estephens13]

There's a huge difference. When you step up to the RTi10's, you really need a separate amp to power the lower half of that speaker. The RTi10's are basically a RTi6 set atop two 7" bass drivers that are very inefficient. The RTi8's will run off most AVR's without a problem. There's a reason the RTi10's and RTi12's handle between 300 and 500 watts per channel. It's because they sound their best when pushed with these types of amps. The RTi8 towers are basically a CSi5 center channel in a larger cabinet. They match up perfectly with the CSi5 and RTi6, although I preferred the sound out of the RTi4's to the RTi6's.

I agree 100%

 

[panicphan6]

i've narrrowed my search down to the rti8s or the infinity primus 360s. I will be using a subwoofer, so bass isnt an issue for the towers. which of these tower speakers would you recommend? both have awesome reviews! they will be used for music purposes only. thanks

 

[Tomorrow]

i've narrrowed my search down to the rti8s or the infinity primus 360s. I will be using a subwoofer, so bass isnt an issue for the towers. which of these tower speakers would you recommend? both have awesome reviews! they will be used for music purposes only. thanks

I say go with the Infinities. And I thoroughly disagree with the previous posters. The JBL's will outperform the Polks, up and down the FR. Polks IMHO are now and always have been cheap speakers (except perhaps the LSi's). There is more research in JBL speakers than all the other speakers made in this world...combined!

(So THERE, BEF1. LOL. )

But having said that....kindly remember that of all that is available to you in the audio-video world, speakers are THE most personal and subjective elements. You should get what sounds BEST to you.

Good cheer and good luck.

 

[mardelgo]

Sorry, but the Rti 8 outperform the E100, all you need is a side by side comparison, just sound better is not just a matter of taste. Just like the Studio line of Paradigm outperform the rti line of Polk. (Those are the last speakers I audition recently by the way).

 

[Tomorrow]

Sorry, but the Rti 8 outperform the E100, all you need is a side by side comparison, just sound better is not just a matter of taste. Just like the Studio line of Paradigm outperform the rti line of Polk. (Those are the last speakers I audition recently by the way).

"just sound better is not just a matter of taste"

I'm sorry. What you just said is contradictory.

Sound better to whom? You? 3,000 others? All that matters is what sounds good to the buyer. That doesn't make ANY one speaker better than any OTHER speaker. You can side-by-side compare all you like, but it's you who thinks they sound better. It is indeed a matter of taste.

I'll say again, there is no absolute measure of what is a better or worse speaker. There are just speakers that sound better or worse to you. There are more or less expensive speakers. That doesn't make one superior in sound preference by you...or anyone. And this is also why technical/performance measurements are irrelavent when actually hearing a speaker. Speaker preference is all between the ears.

 

[mardelgo]

I agree with you in the part of "All that matters is what sounds good to the buyer", and that is the most important thing, because there it will be something better, always. But I also know that there is a difference in levels in any product. Now if you talk about price-performance ratio that is different. For example (so you can understand better my point of view) I know that a Toyota is better than a Hyundai, but I like Hyundai and can't afford a Toyota, so I bought a the Hyundai and I extremely happy with it, but it doesn't mean that is better, is just better for my needs, and maybe a Toyota will be a waste for me. The same will happened if you compare a Nissan with a Mercedes. This is the same for audio, I know the rtis are better, why, better components (drivers, crossover, box) = better sound. Cause and effect. This is nothing to do with been JBL or Polk, it is just different class of product. There are a lot of JBL products that outperform Polk, but this is just not the case.

 

[Tomorrow]

I agree with you in the part of "All that matters is what sounds good to the buyer", and that is the most important thing, because there it will be something better, always. But I also know that there is a difference in levels in any product. Now if you talk about price-performance ratio that is different. For example (so you can understand better my point of view) I know that a Toyota is better than a Hyundai, but I like Hyundai and can't afford a Toyota, so I bought a the Hyundai and I extremely happy with it, but it doesn't mean that is better, is just better for my needs, and maybe a Toyota will be a waste for me. The same will happened if you compare a Nissan with a Mercedes. This is the same for audio, I know the rtis are better, why, better components (drivers, crossover, box) = better sound. Cause and effect. This is nothing to do with been JBL or Polk, it is just different class of product. There are a lot of JBL products that outperform Polk, but this is just not the case.

These are speakers...not automobiles. Price/performance means nothing to the ears. (It might make a difference trying to hit freeway speeds in a Hyundai, but not in making sounds that hit the ears.) I understand what you're saying Mardelgo, but you really need to reread your own words. You say the Rti's have "better components". "Better" is a relative word. It's subjective in the utmost. Just as with speakers as a whole, components being "better" resides between the ears. "Better" is a value judgement.

Let me give you a recent, personal example. I recently auditioned a large number of expensive and otherwise "high end" speakers. Out of perhaps 12 brands, only one was acceptable to me...it was "better" than the others. I hated Paradigms, Thiels, and the like. The only one that was worth my time was the Aerial 7B...the "better" speaker. It was far from the most expensive speaker I auditioned. And It's barely "better" (to me) than what I own now (some cheapies).

Look up a recent thread on "Speaker Upgrade". You'll see what I mean about how improved performance issues, technical capabilities, etc, do not factor in with what is "better" or "best"....even the next step up in one brand's line.

It's all between the ears. Some like it reserved. Some like it up-front and open. Some like it dynamic. Some like it soft and dreamy. You say tomato. I say tomahto. (Some like it hot....lol.) There is NO absolute when it comes to assigning the label "better" to a speaker. We all have our own opinions. That's why there are soooo many speaker companies. Every industrial speaker designer has a different take on what will sell (first and foremost) and what it should sound like. Think about that. "What a speaker should sound like." It says a lot. THAT's what influences the components that go into a speaker.

Good cheer.

 

[Tomorrow]

I have further proof of the relativity of loudspeakers.

My wife says that the (Panasonic) tv speakers are 'better' than our 7.1 surround system speakers, because she can understand the dialogue better. I'm not gonna argue with her! LOL!

 

[panicphan6]

well, i decided to go with the infinity primus 360s and the Infinity ps-12 subwoofer. it will all be here friday..do you think the 360s and the sub would match up good against the rti8s and the ps12? i had the polks but didnt really care for them..i have the primus 250s for my ht and i've been impressed ever since. thoughts?

 

[Tomorrow]

well, i decided to go with the infinity primus 360s and the Infinity ps-12 subwoofer. it will all be here friday..do you think the 360s and the sub would match up good against the rti8s and the ps12? i had the polks but didnt really care for them..i have the primus 250s for my ht and i've been impressed ever since. thoughts?

IMHO you have done quite well, panicphan6...especially if you like the sound of Infinities...which I do. You may want to step up to a better sub sometime in the future, though. Maybe an SVS or Hsu. But I believe you're really going to enjoy your new toys!

 

[panicphan6]

what svs sub would you recommend? under $600 is my budget.

 

[Tomorrow]

what svs sub would you recommend? under $600 is my budget.

Well, that would be your choice, and depends upon the size of your room, the purpose, and your desire for max bass. Those who have heard both brands tend to say Hsu's are more musical because of 'tightness' and SVS's are better for HT because of a couple of db deeper base on equivalent models. I personally think that if it's good for one, it's good for the other (HT vs. music).

I personally have 2 Hsu's, and love them. You can pick up a great STF-3 for 6 bills. I used one of these (only) to energize my 4800 cu.ft. 'great room'. It was more than up to the task! With the new VTF-HO coming out from Hsu, you may be able to pick up a VTF-3 at a sale price. And by the way, both the STF-3 and VTF-3 can later be retrofitted with the new Hsu TURBO device, if you so desire!