Stereo Amp for POLK Rti10

[MDS]

Where have you heard that? and why would that really be anything different than a typical loudspeaker, under load?

It's all hearsay and I've never seen a comprehensive review with impedance plots. I'm aware that the nominal impedance is a sort of average and the impedance dips above and below that nominal number at different frequencies but different speakers will spend more time at a lower impedance (like some 8 Ohms Klipsch, or so I've heard, actually spend a lot of time at 3.2 Ohms which may be taxing for a typical receiver).

The RTiA line seems to be the best so far in terms of meeting all my requirements and they have got to sound at least as good, probably much better, than my 15 year old JBL speakers.

 

[dorokusai]

There should be no problem driving a Polk Audio loudspeaker. The only wrench in that plan is the LSi series, since its 4ohms.

The RTiA sounds better than the previous RTi series. Does it sound better than your JBL? I don't know. I've heard some heritage JBL that define audio...way before I got here, or there.

Mark
Polk Audio CS

 

[TLS Guy]

Hello everyone
Am buyin the new polk RtiA7(rti10) -300w rms,89db. I'll be usin 'em for music.So please suggest me a good stereo amp which will match these speakers.I heard 'em with denon pma-1500 Ae (70 watts)-not very satisfied.Am considerin the NAd c372 -150 watts ,rotel ra 06 (70 watts), ra 1062(60 watts).Please suggest if ther s any other amp which will drive these speakers to their full potential.
My room size is 16 ft x 12ft. and I Listen to all genres.
Thank you.

What were you not satisfied with? We a have had another thread about this Polk Rti series, an Rti 12 last time. These speakers have a passive crossover in the 120 Hz range. The 12 120 Hz and the ones you are considering 125 Hz.

Now there is a huge problem here. This is not what I would consider a sensible design decision. The reason being that the values of the inductor and capacitors involved are huge. Now I leaned years ago not to do this, and I have read many authorities that put the lower acceptable limit for a passive crossover at around 350 Hz at the lowest.

I doodled with an 8 ohm nominal second order three way filters with the low pass to band pass at 125 Hz. This circuit had an inductor of 16 mH and a cap of 103 mfd!

Now those values are huge. That inductor in series with the woofer will have a series resistance of about 1.5 ohms. This will play havoc with the bass tuning. The other solution is to give it an iron core with all the saturation and hysteresis problems that entails. The cap being in the 100 mfd range is going to call for a non polarizing electrolytic type, that are not the best components for a speaker crossover.

If Polk want to build speakers with crossovers in this range, then the speakers have to have active crossovers and built in amps.

To me the speakers have a fundamentally flawed design. I doubt going form one an amp to another will make a halfpence of difference.

 

[prashanth957]

Thanks everyone for your advice.
I've bought the NAD C372.(for $950 in india).My speakers are working good.
not sure if a subwoofer will enhance the sound.its got decent bass,esp with movies ,sounds great.now contemplating whether to buy a decent (NAD) dvd player or a sony ps3.dont kno the sound quality of ps3 with a stereo amp.

 

[PENG]

The RTiA sounds better than the previous RTi series. Does it sound better than your JBL? I don't know. I've heard some heritage JBL that define audio...way before I got here, or there.

Mark
Polk Audio CS

I A/B it with a pair of the smaller Energy RC50 last week. It did seem to sound better than the RTi10 but its bass appeared weak relative to the RC50. At the volume I was listening to more power would not have helped.

 

[GZA]

futureshop has some RTi10s on for $500 a pair i went to check them out and they sound like the worst speakers in futureshop i couldnt buy them even for half price i would rather spend another 500 for some good sounding speakers

 

[PENG]

futureshop has some RTi10s on for $500 a pair i went to check them out and they sound like the worst speakers in futureshop i couldnt buy them even for half price i would rather spend another 500 for some good sounding speakers

That's where I compared the RTiA to the Klipsch and the Energy. I would put them second, better than the Klipsch but it has the worst bass performance.

 

[GZA]

That's where I compared the RTiA to the Klipsch and the Energy. I would put them second, better than the Klipsch but it has the worst bass performance.

yeah i tired all 3 brands as well. the klipsch has better bass and seemed brighter but from some reason i didnt like the sound and would take the polk speakers over them. the energy on the other hand was 10 times better in every way so thats what im planing on picking up the RC 70s

 

[billy p]

yeah i tired all 3 brands as well. the klipsch has better bass and seemed brighter but from some reason i didnt like the sound and would take the polk speakers over them. the energy on the other hand was 10 times better in every way so thats what im planing on picking up the RC 70s

If you factor in the prices of the RC's, this makes for a easy decision. The 70's are a true 3 way design and IMO this is what separates them from the other the smaller RC's. However, the 70's have a very wide sound stage and if your room isn't large go the with the 50's you won't be disappointed. They're currently selling for what I paid for my 30's and that is more than 50% off MSRP.

Regards, Bill

 

[GZA]

If you factor in the prices of the RC's, this makes for a easy decision. The 70's are a true 3 way design and IMO this is what separates them from the other the smaller RC's. However, the 70's have a very wide sound stage and if your room isn't large go the with the 50's you won't be disappointed. They're currently selling for what I paid for my 30's and that is more than 50% off MSRP.

Regards, Bill

yeah i should have added that i compared the polk and klipsch to the rc 50s which i still thought were better. then i compared the 50's to the 70's and i want the 70's. right now im in a small room 10x10 but im about to buy a house and have a much larger room so i have to consider that. also i dont like subs so i need my towers to deliver on the lower end. right now the speakers i have are true 3 ways (i think lol) and they sound amazing the bottom 2 woofers handle all the bass and its blows people away. most people think i have subs because they have not heard room shaking bass from floor standings.

 

[cl35m]

This is interesting. I was wondering why I have 4 pair of vintage 80's polks in my house but I would never buy any of their current stuff. I guess your comparisons explain why.

 

[TLS Guy]

Hello everyone
Am buyin the new polk RtiA7(rti10) -300w rms,89db. I'll be usin 'em for music.So please suggest me a good stereo amp which will match these speakers.I heard 'em with denon pma-1500 Ae (70 watts)-not very satisfied.Am considerin the NAd c372 -150 watts ,rotel ra 06 (70 watts), ra 1062(60 watts).Please suggest if ther s any other amp which will drive these speakers to their full potential.
My room size is 16 ft x 12ft. and I Listen to all genres.
Thank you.

Have you heard those speakers sound good with any amp? I suspect they will sound much the same with any of them. Do not assume any amp will make them sound any better.

 

[dorokusai]

I A/B it with a pair of the smaller Energy RC50 last week. It did seem to sound better than the RTi10 but its bass appeared weak relative to the RC50. At the volume I was listening to more power would not have helped.

I never stated that it would sound better with more power, I just asked for your opinion. When did we segway from JBL to Energy? Did I miss something?

Awesome, you had a bad demo of Polk and Klipsch and a great demo of Energy. You should be happy.

 

[PENG]

I never stated that it would sound better with more power, I just asked for your opinion. When did we segway from JBL to Energy? Did I miss something?

You never stated that, but the OP was asking something along that line. Then MDS mentioned something about the low impedance of some Klipsch speakers.

I know more power helps but how much it helps would depend on many other factors. I just happened to have listened to the RTiA and Klipsch (the RC happened to be side by side with them) recently so I felt like reporting my experience in that specific environment where I A/B/C those 3 speakers.

Sorry about quoting you by mistake.

 

[dorokusai]

100% understood. That was meant to read very nicely BTW Typing stinks sometimes.

Mark