Hi, all. I'm a novice with questions about the "they don't make them like this anymore" Polk RT25i bookshelf speakers.
I don't have the disposable income to be a true audiophile, but I try to be quality-conscious. Recently I replaced a home-theater-in-a-box setup with budget-priced but well-reviewed component pieces, starting with a Yamaha RX-V375 receiver and Yamaha YST-SW012 subwoofer. I've also just purchased a center speaker from Cerwin-Vega's AVS-5.1 system (reviews praised the center's performance and suggested it went against CV's [perhaps unfair] "loud but little else" reputation). I was excited to get a good deal on a pair of Polk RT25i speakers, especially based on their much-referenced rave Stereophile review. My system is in a small room, so I was intending to use the Polks as front speakers and keep my HTIB rear satellites until I found something better.
Unfortunately, the Polk RT25i's have been a disappointment. One speaker was noticeably quieter than the other; after checking my connections, calibration, placement, etc., I removed the woofer and discovered that the magnet had become separated and was loose inside the speaker. I reattached the magnet, which appears to be held on to the back of the driver with its own force and without glue, aligning the undamaged-looking overhung voice coil as best I could. That improved but didn't completely fix the level difference between the two speakers, but I'm still unhappy with the overall performance of them both. I have to crank up the volume to hear anything from them, and their low end is nonexistent. They sound out of phase, even though that's not the case. I suppose the high-end detail is impressive, but I'd prefer not to watch Blu-rays and hear every paper-rustle and lip-smack in perfect detail while any dialogue and music sound muffled and tinny. I thought maybe the RT25i's might work well as rear surrounds, but they even disappointed in that regard; the satellites I already have sound much better. The Polks' performance was unsatisfactory whether set as "small" or "large" with the receiver, and no matter how much I played with levels, equalization, etc. (the subwoofer crossover, which I have set to 80 Hz, is handled well between sub and receiver).
I believe the reattached magnet and voice coil are aligned correctly, and there's no visible damage to either speaker. I bought them on eBay from a seller who doesn't usually accept returns, so naturally they weren't overjoyed when I contacted them about the problem and requested a return and refund. (The speakers were sold as being in perfect working order, and I think a refund is reasonable based on the detached magnet alone.) Were my expectations too high; am I being too picky; is there a factor I'm not addressing; or are the Polk RT25i's simply overrated?
I don't have the disposable income to be a true audiophile, but I try to be quality-conscious. Recently I replaced a home-theater-in-a-box setup with budget-priced but well-reviewed component pieces, starting with a Yamaha RX-V375 receiver and Yamaha YST-SW012 subwoofer. I've also just purchased a center speaker from Cerwin-Vega's AVS-5.1 system (reviews praised the center's performance and suggested it went against CV's [perhaps unfair] "loud but little else" reputation). I was excited to get a good deal on a pair of Polk RT25i speakers, especially based on their much-referenced rave Stereophile review. My system is in a small room, so I was intending to use the Polks as front speakers and keep my HTIB rear satellites until I found something better.
Unfortunately, the Polk RT25i's have been a disappointment. One speaker was noticeably quieter than the other; after checking my connections, calibration, placement, etc., I removed the woofer and discovered that the magnet had become separated and was loose inside the speaker. I reattached the magnet, which appears to be held on to the back of the driver with its own force and without glue, aligning the undamaged-looking overhung voice coil as best I could. That improved but didn't completely fix the level difference between the two speakers, but I'm still unhappy with the overall performance of them both. I have to crank up the volume to hear anything from them, and their low end is nonexistent. They sound out of phase, even though that's not the case. I suppose the high-end detail is impressive, but I'd prefer not to watch Blu-rays and hear every paper-rustle and lip-smack in perfect detail while any dialogue and music sound muffled and tinny. I thought maybe the RT25i's might work well as rear surrounds, but they even disappointed in that regard; the satellites I already have sound much better. The Polks' performance was unsatisfactory whether set as "small" or "large" with the receiver, and no matter how much I played with levels, equalization, etc. (the subwoofer crossover, which I have set to 80 Hz, is handled well between sub and receiver).
I believe the reattached magnet and voice coil are aligned correctly, and there's no visible damage to either speaker. I bought them on eBay from a seller who doesn't usually accept returns, so naturally they weren't overjoyed when I contacted them about the problem and requested a return and refund. (The speakers were sold as being in perfect working order, and I think a refund is reasonable based on the detached magnet alone.) Were my expectations too high; am I being too picky; is there a factor I'm not addressing; or are the Polk RT25i's simply overrated?
