Suggestions for speakers similar in price to the Polk RTI A9

[BLindsay]

So i have a few upgrades in mind for this year, First i will most likely pick up an Emotiva XPA-5 to drive my speakers instead of my 806. Next i was looking to upgrade my Monitor 70/40/CS2. Since i have polk currently i was looking at the RTIA9 (and the matching center/surrounds) what are some other speakers i should consider in that price range (preferably slightly more mainstream making it easier to demo them, so like ML, B&W etc)

[callas01]

What city do you live in, and roughly your total speaker budget.

[BLindsay]

Originally Posted by callas01

What city do you live in, and roughly your total speaker budget.

Nashua NH, i work very close to boston though

$1500 for the fronts and then whatever the match speakers that go with it, so maybe $3k for rears fronts center

[callas01]

Originally Posted by BLindsay

Nashua NH, i work very close to boston though

$1500 for the fronts and then whatever the match speakers that go with it, so maybe $3k for rears fronts center

Located in your town

http://www.ensembleht.com/speakers.html
they have PSB, Paradigm, ML, Totem, Wharfedale and B&W

Goodwins High End located in Waltham
http://www.goodwinshighend.com/speaker.htm
nice selection of Totem, Quad, and Dynaudio which all have speaker in or near you price range.

http://audiodave.net/product-lines/speakers/
Focal and Monitor Audio

[BLindsay]

Originally Posted by callas01

Located in your town

http://www.ensembleht.com/speakers.html
they have PSB, Paradigm, ML, Totem, Wharfedale and B&W

Goodwins High End located in Waltham
http://www.goodwinshighend.com/speaker.htm
nice selection of Totem, Quad, and Dynaudio which all have speaker in or near you price range.

http://audiodave.net/product-lines/speakers/
Focal and Monitor Audio

Cool ill check those places out thanks, any specific ones i should keep an eye out for?

[callas01]

Originally Posted by BLindsay

Cool ill check those places out thanks, any specific ones i should keep an eye out for?

Id listen to whatever they have in your price range. You may find that you like something I didn't even mention. I take it all 3 aren't too far from you, so hopefully you can do this over the next few weekends and keep them fresh in your mind. Otherwise take notes.

-highs very extended, but not bright, mid-range a little warm, bass is good, not great, very balanced(linear), etc....

-Highs laidback but detailed and airy, Mid-range is neutral and clear. Bass is good, very linear/balanced speaker, tone is perfect, musical, etc....

-brighter then others I have heard. Bass... OMG, very good, maybe a crossover bump by mfg? mid-range is excellent...


that way you can compare... put a * next to the ones you really liked. narrow it down to a couple then go back and audition those ones, and widdle away until you find the right one for you. Thats what I did.

[BLindsay]

Originally Posted by callas01

Id listen to whatever they have in your price range. You may find that you like something I didn't even mention. I take it all 3 aren't too far from you, so hopefully you can do this over the next few weekends and keep them fresh in your mind. Otherwise take notes.

-highs very extended, but not bright, mid-range a little warm, bass is good, not great, very balanced(linear), etc....

-Highs laidback but detailed and airy, Mid-range is neutral and clear. Bass is good, very linear/balanced speaker, tone is perfect, musical, etc....

-brighter then others I have heard. Bass... OMG, very good, maybe a crossover bump by mfg? mid-range is excellent...


that way you can compare... put a * next to the ones you really liked. narrow it down to a couple then go back and audition those ones, and widdle away until you find the right one for you. Thats what I did.

alright ill go listen to a few, i actually work in waltham so the one there is like 5 minutes down the road lol.

[BLindsay]

PSB a pretty solid brand? i wasnt familiar with them but i listened to a set and they sounded good. They were $1300 i didnt catch the model but im guessing it was the T6, C5 center and I think the B4 rears, $2000 for the set. He said that they would be a good match with the XPA-5 that im getting (i was suprised that even though he doesnt sell emotiva that he said they are like the best bang for the buck)

[callas01]

Originally Posted by BLindsay

PSB a pretty solid brand? i wasnt familiar with them but i listened to a set and they sounded good. They were $1300 i didnt catch the model but im guessing it was the T6, C5 center and I think the B4 rears, $2000 for the set. He said that they would be a good match with the XPA-5 that im getting (i was suprised that even though he doesnt sell emotiva that he said they are like the best bang for the buck)

Dont be surprised, dealers read the magazines and know their competition.

[Adam.C]

At the least do what Callas suggested and try and audition as much as possible. If you are dropping $3k I would to make sure no regrets

[BLindsay]

He suggested the PSB's because he said the Emotiva amp that im planning on getting is a little bright so he didnt want to pick a speaker that was very bright to begin with, thoughts on that comment?

[callas01]

Originally Posted by BLindsay

He suggested the PSB's because he said the Emotiva amp that im planning on getting is a little bright so he didnt want to pick a speaker that was very bright to begin with, thoughts on that comment?

my opinion is that the Emos have a higher input gain then most other amps, therefore they sound louder, But thats also so lower end receivers can be connected to them and itll be easier for the lower end receivers to output to them, so probably the first thought is they are bright, cause the gain is higher.... I am not saying they are bright, or warm or neutral, because I have never heard one. Id say that if you like a speaker, buy it.

It could be that your dealer is right too....

[BLindsay]

My onkyo 806 should be ok connecting to it right?

Also any suggestions for some good demo music, im putting together some of my favorite music of course, but i really want to put them through their paces before i buy.

thanks for the help by the way

[callas01]

Originally Posted by BLindsay

My onkyo 806 should be ok connecting to it right?

Also any suggestions for some good demo music, im putting together some of my favorite music of course, but i really want to put them through their paces before i buy.

thanks for the help by the way

your 806 will be fine pushing the Emo. It will probably be fine powering the speakers without an amp... but the amp should grip your speakers even better.

As far as music to listen too... I would use rachmaninoff piano concerto 3 to see how they handle piano. Schubert conducted by Leonard Bernstein for symphony. I would use Anne Bisson to see how it works with female vocals, maybe even Sarah Vaughn or Billie Holiday. John Coltrane for some instrumental jazz. I would use the new Foo Fighters for rock, maybe some The Black Keys and A Perfect Circle or Metallica so that I can check rock music.

I listen to a lot of music types, so my speakers have to be VERY versitile, that is why I choose Dynaudio - Musical, Neutral offering very little coloration, detailed... However I went the route of buying just the fronts, then a center, and still haven't bought surrounds yet.

[BLindsay]

yeah i listen to a lot of different types as well, i threw together a demo cd of stuff i listen to and it ranges from Blues Traveler to Dire Straits to Static-x to Mushroomhead to juno reactor to tech n9ne just to name a few on there lol

[aces high]

Originally Posted by BLindsay

He suggested the PSB's because he said the Emotiva amp that im planning on getting is a little bright so he didnt want to pick a speaker that was very bright to begin with, thoughts on that comment?

Has your dealer listened to an Emo amp? I wouldn't say that the XPA-5 is a bright amp. I'm not going to say that all amps sound the same but usually the pre amp section of your AVR will colour the sound more than a SS amp will, that's been my experience anyway. Is there any way you would consider putting off the amp purchase? You would probably get bigger gains by using the money for the amp to move up to the Imagine series if possible and get the amp later.

[callas01]

Originally Posted by aces high

Has your dealer listened to an Emo amp? I wouldn't say that the XPA-5 is a bright amp. I'm not going to say that all amps sound the same but usually the pre amp section of your AVR will colour the sound more than a SS amp will, that's been my experience anyway. Is there any way you would consider putting off the amp purchase? You would probably get bigger gains by using the money for the amp to move up to the Imagine series if possible and get the amp later.

very true, moving up the line would be best, buy the best you can now, add an amp later... The Onkyo 80X's pull a good amount of power, it could probably do fine until you could save up again for the amp....

Lindsay, Are you looking into anything else other then PSB?

[BigAl87]

Originally Posted by callas01

very true, moving up the line would be best, buy the best you can now, add an amp later... The Onkyo 80X's pull a good amount of power, it could probably do fine until you could save up again for the amp....

Lindsay, Are you looking into anything else other then PSB?

Yeah I would give a try to some 1200$ monitors like Dynaudios and Totems, even Paradigm Studios. It's quite surprising what the X12 and Rainmakers can do from Dynaudio and Totem, those puppies have tremendous dynamics and are sonically incredible speakers. Not sure if there is some MA dealers and Quad around the OP's area.

[callas01]

Originally Posted by callas01

Located in your town

http://www.ensembleht.com/speakers.html
they have PSB, Paradigm, ML, Totem, Wharfedale and B&W

Goodwins High End located in Waltham
http://www.goodwinshighend.com/speaker.htm
nice selection of Totem, Quad, and Dynaudio which all have speaker in or near you price range.

http://audiodave.net/product-lines/speakers/
Focal and Monitor Audio

Originally Posted by BigAl87

Yeah I would give a try to some 1200$ monitors like Dynaudios and Totems, even Paradigm Studios. It's quite surprising what the X12 and Rainmakers can do from Dynaudio and Totem, those puppies have tremendous dynamics and are sonically incredible speakers. Not sure if there is some MA dealers and Quad around the OP's area.

see the above post buddy.... all dealers near him that he could audition the ones you listed and even more.

[BigAl87]

Originally Posted by callas01

see the above post buddy.... all dealers near him that he could audition the ones you listed and even more.

Yeah I know but from Digm I was not too sure but I knew about Dynaudio and Totem. Good he also has MA and Focal so that's cool.