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Polk RTi4, Paradigm Titan, or other?

940 Views 14 Replies 4 Participants Last post by mazersteven, May 13, 2006

marx-7

Discussion Starter · May 11, 2006

My budget for some front bookshelf speakers is 200-250 and I just got a pair of Polk RTi4's. I didn't open them yet because I was told that the Paradigm Titan is a very good speaker for the money, Tweeter doesn't carry Paradigm though. They will be used only for HT, no music unless it's part of the movie.

I just wanted to know if I should take the time to drive out to the Paradigm dealer and listen to those speakers, or consider something else before opening the Polk's. Hopefully someone can chime in and tell me their experience with either of these speakers.

EDIT: There is no Paradigm dealer in the area, so I would have to purchase them online without listening to them.

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1 - 15 of 15 Posts

Ultiman

· #2 · May 12, 2006

I have the RTi 4s and think they do a pretty decent job in my Polk setup...they look pretty nice too

marx-7

Discussion Starter · #3 · May 13, 2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ultiman
I have the RTi 4s and think they do a pretty decent job in my Polk setup...they look pretty nice too

What do you use them as and what are your other speakers in your setup? Did you listen to other speakers before settling on the RTi4's?

mazersteven

· #4 · May 13, 2006

Check these out

http://shop1.outpost.com/product/3292811

marx-7

Discussion Starter · #5 · May 13, 2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by mazersteven
Check these out

http://shop1.outpost.com/product/3292811

These Polk R15's you're pointing out. They are in a completely different price range. Are you saying that they are an amazing buy for that price? In general are they a better bang for the buck, compared to the RTi4's or the Titans? I was going for the $200-250 price range because I thought that was the sweetspot for value. If I am wrong then someone please clarify.

mazersteven

· #6 · May 13, 2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by marx-7
These Polk R15's you're pointing out. They are in a completely different price range. Are you saying that they are an amazing buy for that price? In general are they a better bang for the buck, compared to the RTi4's or the Titans? I was going for the $200-250 price range because I thought that was the sweetspot for value. If I am wrong then someone please clarify.

I posted them just to bring them to your attention. Figure you might be able to use them as surrounds for a little while at that price. Unless your purchasing 4-5 RTi4's.

I have the LSi9's myself. You can get the LSi9's for under $500 a pair. But you need great gear to drive them.

Ironmike86

· #7 · May 13, 2006

Try searching Ascend or SVS speakers

marx-7

Discussion Starter · #8 · May 13, 2006

Thanks for the advice guys. My problem is that I have no idea what I'm looking for and I know for a fact that I am not one of those people that can hear every nuance coming from a speaker. I have heard words like these speakers are "warm" or "bright" but have no clue what that means. I am looking for speakers that will recreate dialogue, special effect sounds, and everything else that comes with watching movies, tv, and playing games. These speakers will never really be used for music. I am just starting to grow out of my HTIB that I have and everyone has told me to get the LCR speakers first as that is the most noticable upgrade. It's my understanding that the LCR should be matched and it would help if the sats are matched as well, so I need a good company that has a great LCR plus the sats. I am not worried about the sub at this point because after the LCR upgrade, I will be getting Buttkickers installed.

IronMike, you say to look into Ascend or SVS speakers. Are all the models they make good or do they have certain superstars that I should look for?

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Ironmike86

· #9 · May 13, 2006

read the Ascend thread do a search on SVS01 lots of reading may take all day.

marx-7

Discussion Starter · #10 · May 13, 2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by mazersteven
I posted them just to bring them to your attention. Figure you might be able to use them as surrounds for a little while at that price. Unless your purchasing 4-5 RTi4's.

I have the LSi9's myself. You can get the LSi9's for under $500 a pair. But you need great gear to drive them.

Since I would be upgrading my receiver/amp last, would you recommend that I stay away from the LSi line? I know they run on 4Ohms, but that only means they suck up a lot of juice. My receiver is a Panasonic 5 DVD HTIB thing from about 5 years ago. I know the speakers that came with it were 6Ohm speakers but other than that, it seems pretty generic.

mazersteven

· #11 · May 13, 2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by marx-7
Since I would be upgrading my receiver/amp last, would you recommend that I stay away from the LSi line? I know they run on 4Ohms, but that only means they suck up a lot of juice. My receiver is a Panasonic 5 DVD HTIB thing from about 5 years ago. I know the speakers that came with it were 6Ohm speakers but other than that, it seems pretty generic.

The LSi line is a little harder to drive then most speakers. They aren't that efficient, and love power. But they sound a world a difference to other Polk audio lines. I am leaning towards Outlawaudio Mono 2200 Block amps to run mine.

www.outlawaudio.com

There are always deals on E-Bay or Audiogon for under $500 for the LSi9's. Or every once in awhile Outpost has them for $499 a pair.

Just for your information, I have auditioned the SVS SBS-01 system. It does very well with movies. Surprisingly well. I recommend it.

http://www.svsound.com/products-sys-sbs.cfm

http://www.svsound.com/products-spks-sbs01.cfm

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marx-7

Discussion Starter · #12 · May 13, 2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by mazersteven
The LSi line is a little harder to drive then most speakers. They aren't that efficient, and love power. But they sound a world a difference to other Polk audio lines. I am leaning towards Outlawaudio Mono 2200 Block amps to run mine.

www.outlawaudio.com

There are always deals on E-Bay or Audiogon for under $500 for the LSi9's. Or every once in awhile Outpost has them for $499 a pair.

Just for your information, I have auditioned the SVS SBS-01 system. It does very well with movies. Surprisingly well. I recommend it.

http://www.svsound.com/products-sys-sbs.cfm

http://www.svsound.com/products-spks-sbs01.cfm

So I checked out the SBS-01's and they have a freq. response of 68Hz-20KHz. The other speakers have a wider freq response, especially on the low end. Is 8-10Hz on the low end a big deal to lose?

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mazersteven

· #13 · May 13, 2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by marx-7
So I checked out the SBS-01's and they have a freq. response of 68Hz-20KHz. The other speakers have a wider freq response, especially on the low end. Is 8-10Hz on the low end a big deal to lose?

The only bookshelf speaker I have ever heard that has great bass response is the Polk LSi9's. During a demo using War of the Worlds in the opening scene when the pod starts to crack, and come out of the ground. The LSi9's proved to reproduce great bass. But once the intense bass scenes kicked in, they couldn't handle it. But then again no bookshelf could.

I don't know what your total budget is, but for $999 sub included for the SVS SBS system. I don't think you could find a better system. JMO

marx-7

Discussion Starter · #14 · May 13, 2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by mazersteven
I don't know what your total budget is, but for $999 sub included for the SVS SBS system. I don't think you could find a better system. JMO

Thanks Mazer! Since no one else is chiming in, I think it's safe to assume that everyone else is agreeing with you or no one else is around to debate it. Either way, I liked what you said and how the website referred to HT usage so I'm gonna jump on board and get these. Thanks again.

mazersteven

· #15 · May 13, 2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by marx-7
Thanks Mazer! Since no one else is chiming in, I think it's safe to assume that everyone else is agreeing with you or no one else is around to debate it. Either way, I liked what you said and how the website referred to HT usage so I'm gonna jump on board and get these. Thanks again.

How big is your room? You can even up-grade the sub if you needed to. E-mail Erik at SVS and ask him. Tell him I sent you.

[email protected]

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