wkomassa

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
Less than 1 month

Visitors rate this review
3.59 of 5, 22.00 votes

Price Paid:  $315.00 from American TV, Waukesh

Summary:
I just picked these up yesterday to replace my aging DLK Model 1.5s which I've had... forever. I am "pretty" impressed with these speakers. The do just what you'd expect out of a speaker this size, and sounded considerably better than any other speaker in this price range that I listened to with the exception of the Klipsch RF-25. The RTi8's sound different - obviously - than the horn-loaded RF-25s, but I'd say they overall sound just a touch better. Better imaging and depth is conveyed very well by these speakers. In the Spousal Acceptance Factor area, these are much better than any other speaker in this range. REAL cherry veneer on every face of these speakers except the front just isn't an option on most towers in this range. You can also really tell the build quality is fantastic. Other sound stuff -- well, duh - these are loaded with a pair of 6.5" woofers, so you're not going to get the same low frequency response as a speaker with a couple 10's or 12's. But what you do get is very tight, accurate bass. The low end rumble that these speakers lack is a void easily filled by any number of competent subs out there today. Honestly, folks, it is A LOT easier to fill a hole in the bass department than it is to find a speaker which sounds great on vocals, all sorts of instruments and movie soundtracks, which these do. In terms of comparisons with other speakers, I really did prefer these to any of the Boston Acoustics VRs I listened to, which are all for some reason lacking that signature Boston top-end crispness these days. I also listened to several Canton models at sometimes triple the price. What those speakers make up in Low end, they lack again in mid-high clarity and efficiency... MAN are those dogs! Again, in terms of closeness of sound, the Klipsch RFs (25s in particular) are close in price and overall sound quality. The Klipsch's are much more in your face, and these are more airy and with better imaging. I'll be interested to keep listening critically to these speakers - they are a real treat thusfar.

Strengths:
Exceptionally detailed high frequency reproduction. Clear, even breathy midranges with excellent imaging and depth of field. Tight, accurate midbass. Gorgeous veneer finish unusual for a speaker in this price range Overall quality of build PRICE

Weaknesses:
Lack of earthshattering bass -- not a weakness of this speaker, but simply a weakness of 99% of all small form-factor towers. **NITPICKY** Slightly cheesy plastic spike feet. Grills are tough to get off -- Klipsch's reference series and several other manufacturers use magnetic grill covers. These push on to studs in the front baffle. The terminals are very nice, but the bi-amp straps are easy to dislodge unless you are using banana plugs with the terminals screwed all the way down.

Similar Products Used:
Definitive Technology Klipsch Reference series Klipsch KLF series Mirage BIC/Venturi Boston Acoustics

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xyzsurf

Overall Rating
 4 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
3 Months to 1 year

Visitors rate this review
4.20 of 5, 5.00 votes

Price Paid:  $141.00 from Polk

Summary:
Excellent speakers for the money! I listen to mine every single day. I worked at Circuit City, so I got a rediculous deal on them, but they're still a steal at the retail $700. I listened to pretty much every speaker available to me here locally including speakers from Sonus Faber, Martin Logan, and Thiel. For their lowest priced models, (that were still often more than 2x the price of the RTi8), there was just not that much difference to justify the added cost. The ML's bass was very similar with a 8" woofer. They sounded slightly more open and airy, but had fairly bad issues with reflection due to their electro-static design... So you'd had to have some sort of dampening behind them. It created a sort of echo at some times and then a noticeable cancellation at others, Yuck. The Sonus Fabers didn't impress me any more at all for their cost (do NOT like their cabinet either). The Thiels were very impressive, with fairly better width and detail, but the difference in sound was NOT worth the difference in price. The RTi8s are simply a remarkable value. They have incredible clarity, detail, width, and range. I'm not sure what the other reviewers were expecting to get out of these speakers bass-wise. Give me a break! They have two 6.5" drivers. If I turn the bass on my HK all the way up, pop in a bass CD, and turn off my CSW-10, they still have enough bass to rattle the dishes in the kitchen on the other side of the wall! What more are you expecting from a passive tower?! Now, it did take the better part of a month or maybe even slightly more before they produced that much bass, but they have quite a bit for a passive tower with two 6.5" drivers. With some very heavy bass songs and the bass all the way up, the drivers must come close to .75" Xmax without hardly muddying up the sound. Of course I don't listen to them like that, I'm much more into acoustical music and usually run them with an 80Hz crossover and the bass at about 50%, but it is definitely impressive to see what they can do. I also bought my father a pair along with RTi4s for rears and a CSi3 for the center. They perform equally as incredibly on movies. He is using a simple Onkyo TXSR502 with heavy-guage zipchord and the clarity and detail blew me away when watching the final battle scene in LOTR.

Strengths:
Excellent value. Entry-level audio-phile grade speakers at a fraction of the cost. Of course there are better speakers out there, but NOT for the money. They sound wonderful on acoustical music. Extremely open, airy, and natural. It sounds as though the guitar is in the room with you.

Weaknesses:
Absolutely none for the money!

Similar Products Used:
None Yet.

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ahmann

Overall Rating
 3 of 5

Value Rating
 3 of 5

Used product for
3 Months to 1 year

Visitors rate this review
2.00 of 5, 17.00 votes

Price Paid:  $600.00 from ebay

Summary:
I'm sorry to bring down these speakers but I have been unimpressed with their performance the etire 6 months I have had them. Their clarity and imaging is fine. Polk had done a good job of not pressing the bright sound of say a Boston Accoustic tower and not falling into the muffled sound of lesser expensive JBL towers. The problem here is a lack of a low range. I tried these speakers on several setting, in many positions, and with three receivers and I was never able to get any significant low end. As a person who likes to listen to music in two channel these speakers leave me wanting more, but for home theater applications they are great.

Strengths:
-Very clear in the higher frequencies without over emphasizing the highs - Look good with veneer finish - Good all around speaker for the money (price has dropped significantly since I purchased them.)

Weaknesses:
- lack of a low end

Similar Products Used:
Definitive technology Paradigm

Audiopleased

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
1 to 3 months

Visitors rate this review
4.75 of 5, 20.00 votes

Price Paid:  $700.00 from tweeters

Summary:
I had the oppertunity to audition these speakers next ones of similar price points and more expensive and of course lesser priced models. Now to be fare, yes there were some that had that extra "oomph" shall we say but at the near twice the price.I have to admit though that the actual cabinets were not nearly as sound as the RTi8's. It really boils down to a fact that we buy what we can afford and perhaps at times stretch the buget a little to what we really like.I have had these now for about 3 months and I am very pleased over a wide spectrum of details. Yes the bass may lack some but In my case I have used a subwoofer now for many years so it is really not a negative issue. They are very clean sounding and asthetically pleasing. (those who have wives can truly understand this) I have pushed them to thier limits without a single flaw. If given the choice again I am sure that these would be the speakers I would choose. Happy listening to all

Strengths:
The sound is very clear. The build quality is excellent. I use them both for audio and video and they perform well.

Weaknesses:
They really have good bass but not really thunderous. I can not in all fairness say that this is a weakness.

Similar Products Used:
Infinity, Polk r50, Canton (small monitors), old Design Acoustics

audiomarc1

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
1 to 3 months

Visitors rate this review
3.56 of 5, 9.00 votes

Price Paid:  $700.00 from Tweeter

Summary:
Very well built floorstander. Real wood veneer in either cherry or black oak. Great imaging, soundstaging and front to back depth of stage. Good bass, not great but very useable and satisfying.

Strengths:
Build quality. Sounds like a speaker costing 3-4 times as much.

Weaknesses:
Good bass, not great. A good sub (I use a Polk 505) makes this world-class!

Similar Products Used:
Celestion, Alon, Dunlavy