Kick-Off
Getting started always takes longer than I wish, simply due to the fact that I need help with set-up, but we finally got that done this morning. Speaker stands in place, subwoofers turned off. Simple, right? I'll spare you the logistical details involved, but one of the bigger factors is squeezing time from my lovely wife's busy schedule for the assistance I require. Some of it required us both.
I already miss the subs - but I didn't want to muddy the waters with this small-speaker comparison. Each will stand on its own.
Up first is the Polk RTiA3 with Cherry finish. If you've been thinking of buying a pair at the current $239/pr sale price, then my advice is to go ahead and pull that trigger. I'm very favorably impressed with the value, and mine aren't broken in yet. For fit and finish, they compete at four times the price. For sound quality, well, I prefer them to the similarly-priced ELAC Debut - I think. I have yet to hear the B6 with this placement, amp and room - so we'll see.
That placement is 40" from the back wall, with a little more than that to the side walls, with the speakers about five feet apart. The amp is just what one would expect to see for this price of speaker, the Mark Levinson No. 585.
Of course, one of the advantages of a bookshelf speaker is often in their imaging, and these are no exception. Not the best I have heard, but still a very good three-and-three-quarter out of five stars. Their bass alignment is quite impressive - it seems a well-sorted bass reflex design that gets decent low extension without trying to do more than it can (-3db @ 50hz). The port is on the rear, and there is a plate over the port that shunts the air flow to the sides, bottom and top. If used on a shelf this adds a little to the depth, but prevents blocking the port, so may not be a bad idea. I find the bass alluring - fast and articulate upper bass.
Voice is relatively uncolored, as well. Melody Gardot, Linda Ronstadt with Riddle Orch, Ella, Krall, Sinatra all sounded good. Not spine-tingling good, but a solid four stars, which is right at what I'd rate the speaker overall.
Glenn Miller Orch
Digital Mood did tingle me some.
Also, they are capable of pretty high volumes without stuttering.
Why do so many here report expecting the speaker not do perform as well as I do? I don't know. Perhaps I placed them better, perhaps my room likes them more than theirs did (or my amp), and perhaps my preferences differ from those less impressed with the speaker. Most likely it is a combination of these factors.
Bottom line. I could live with these and enjoy my music just fine (with the dual subs). I find them an outstanding value for new-speaker money.
I will listen to these some more, tack on additional comments, as needed, and continue with the next pair - either ADS or ELAC - in a day or two. I think they have their work cut out for them. We'll see how they line up, for my ear.
