Speaker Asylum: REVIEW: Polk Audio RTi 150 Speakers by HiFi Guy

Model:	RTi 150
Category:	Speakers
Suggested Retail Price:	$1795.00
Description:	Floorstanding 3 way Loudspeaker
Manufacturer URL:	Polk Audio
Manufacturer URL:	Polk Audio

Review by HiFi Guy ( A ) on December 31, 2002 at 09:23:14
IP Address: 63.234.87.57

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for the RTi 150

I purchased these speakers new from Crutchfield for $1503.00 for use as secondary speakers. I must say that I am very favorably impressed. These speakers have a very natural midrange and good low level definition without being overly detailed and harsh. Soundstaging is excellent with good front to back depth, image localization, and width. Bass is extended and well defined if placed properly in room. Good horizontal dispersion results in non critical listening position. Actually these speakers compare very favorably with my Paradigm Reference Studio 100 v2's.They are very attractively finished in light cherry.
My secondary system is in the dining room of my house which is essentially one big room encompassing the living room, dining room and kitchen with a 23 foot cathederal ceiling. I am driving these speakers with my main amplification system which is located in the dedicated listening room in the basement using a high quality speaker selector switch thru approximately 50 ft of standard 12 guage speaker wire.

Product Weakness: Require experimentation in placement for clean bass.
Product Strengths: High value, very musical with excellent imaging, low level resolution and sweet highs.

Associated Equipment for this Review:
Amplifier:	Hafler Transnova 9505
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated):	Musical Fidelity A3cr
Sources (CDP/Turntable):	Sony SCD-777ES Sacd player with an MSB Gold Link III for CD's, Linn Sondek LP-12 TT with SME arm and Shure Type 5vmr cartridge, Carver cassete deck, Sansui Tu seriesTuner, Monolithic Sound Phono Preamp.
Speakers:	Polk Audio RTi 150
Cables/Interconnects:	Home made out of Belden Microphone wire and Heavystrand Speaker wire
Music Used (Genre/Selections):	Blues, Jazz, Big band Jazz, Country, Bluegrass, R&B, 60's and 70's Rock, Classical and Symphonic.
Room Size (LxWxH):	see review x see reviw x See Review
Room Comments/Treatments:	none
Time Period/Length of Audition:	1 month
Other (Power Conditioner etc.):	Tripplite LC2400 (2)
Type of Audition/Review:	Product Owner

Product Weakness:	Require experimentation in placement for clean bass.
Product Strengths:	High value, very musical with excellent imaging, low level resolution and sweet highs.