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Restored RtR 180D speakers - $350 (Derry/Manchester area)
condition:
excellent
make / manufacturer:
RtR
model name / number:
180D
size / dimensions:
14x14x33.5"
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Here is what the brochure says about them: Features two 10" woofers and four 2 1/2" tweeters; response 28-18,500 Hz; crossover 3000 Hz; impedance 8 ohms nominal; recommended amp power 25 to 60 W rms/ch; has tweeter level control, tweeter protection circuit breakers with push-button reset, bi-amp switch, dual 5-way input jacks. Hand-rubbed walnut veneer cabinet; 14" x 33V/x 14" D
RTR was a family-owned company that began as a supplier of electrostatic panels and drivers for major electronics manufacturers. RTR eventually designed and fabricated their own line of higher-end speakers here in the United States. All facets of design, engineering, and construction were done in house as part of their total integration philosophy to achieve perfect interaction and accurate reproduction of sound and allow for constant monitoring of engineering, testing and quality control measures. Unfortunately RTR became victims of their own success as a crowded and fiercely competitive home audio market put the full court press on RTR. The company faced great resistance and pushback from the very companies they once supplied, and was further hamstrung by a burgeoning economic concept known as outsourcing the other audio manufacturers embraced. RTR suffered a fate similar to that of automotive visionary Preston Tucker and was forced to close their doors. Another company began trading on their name creating speakers inferior to the "Round Badge RTR Speakers". Round badge RTR speakers are representative of original RTR quality as compared to RTR speakers with the 3/4 round badge. The RTR 180D are original round badge RTR speakers and a hard to find model. I might describe them as a cross between an OHM Walsh 2 and an Infinity RS in terms of performance. There is a 10" woofer mounted on the front baffle and a 10" downward firing woofer in a waffle enclosure near the bottom of the cabinet. Both drivers have butyl surrounds that will never need rebuilt. There is also an array of 4 2" phenolic ring Peerless tweeters firing from the front baffle and side panels. RtR was one of the first companies to recognize the sonic value of bi-amping and these are bi-ampable with an ON/OFF switch on the rear ID plate, two sets of speaker inputs, and thermal reset protection circuitry to prevent blown drivers. The high end drivers have L-pad controls to customize the sound. They measure 33.5 H x 14" W x 14" D and are heavy speakers weighing over 70 lbs each.