Right now I have this RCA 5.1 surround system (http://reviews.cnet.com/surround-speaker-systems/rca-scenium-sp2660/1707-7868-20156071.html) connected to a Denon AVR-1604 (http://reviews.cnet.com/av-receivers/denon-avr-1604-av/4507-6466_7-30578135.html?tag=mncol;rnav) receiver. The system is about six years old. Now that I purchased a new plasma and Blu-ray player, I think it's also time for an upgrade in the audio department.

The TV room is roughly 14' x 11'. It's a pretty small room in an apartment. The door and radiator are in the way so I can't even place the rear speakers on the side of the couch. They're set up directly behind it. 7.1 isn't an option right now. I don't have the space for floor standing speakers. I've been looking at bookshelf speakers to put on either side of the TV (on a TV stand), and the center speaker on the shelf beneath the TV. No wall mounting.

Down the road I'd like to buy the Onkyo TX-SR606. It has four HDMI ports (my Denon has zero), Dolby TrueHD so I can take full advantage of my Blu-ray discs, and 7.1 for when I move into a bigger place in the future. Right now I want to start upgrading the speakers. My budget is tight. What I'm thinking of buying to start off are new pair of front speakers, along with a new center. For the time being, I would have to use my current sub and rear speakers.

Front speakers: Polk TSi100 (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16882290095)
Center speaker: Polk CS1 (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16882290022&Tpk=polk%20CS1) or CS2 (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16882290024)

1. Can I expect decent performance from the Polk speakers?

2. What's the difference between the CS1 and CS2?

3. Will I have a problem using the Polk speakers along with my existing RCA sub and rear speakers?

I'm open to other speaker suggestions anyone might have, especially with the center speaker, because both the CS1 and CS2 are long and would require me to move components onto another stand in order to fit it under my TV. I'm trying to stay in the $250 range for now and upgrade whenever I can.

Any help is appreciated.

Take a look at svsound.com they have the SBS bookshelfs for 209 and center for 175. Very nice speakers alittle over budget but they are much nicer than the Polks IMO. Not sure about your time frame for upgrading but you can get the whole 5.0 setup for 569.00 total so if you can wait and save alittle more you get a discount for buying everything at once.

Thanks. I'll check those out. I'm also considering buying four Energy C-100s and the C-C100 for the center. I'll go around $50 over budget, but I'd only have to use the RCA sub until I can get something better.

Any thoughts on how the Energy C-100s and C-C100 compare to the Polk TSi100s and CS1/CS2?

Those Energy C100's are some of the most recommended budget speakers on this forum. I myself have never heard any Energy speakers, but from what I read you'll won't be disappointed with them, I have never really heard any negatives concerning Energy speaker. But then again alot of people on a low budget go with Polk's and are very happy with them as well.

What I'm thinking of buying to start off are new pair of front speakers, along with a new center. For the time being, I would have to use my current sub and rear speakers.

Front speakers: Polk TSi100 (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16882290095)
Center speaker: Polk CS1 (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16882290022&Tpk=polk%20CS1) or CS2 (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16882290024)

1. Can I expect decent performance from the Polk speakers?

Yes, these are decent entry-level speakers. I realize that's a loaded term, but let's say entry-level in the realm where most audiophiles wouldn't tear at their ears in pain. ;) But seriously, they're pretty good for the price. And they seem rather similar to the Monitor 30 (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16882290094), which are being cleared out at the moment.

2. What's the difference between the CS1 and CS2?

Their specifications are very similar on paper. It looks like the CS2 uses larger woofers that should sound a bit fuller, especially in large rooms. Otherwise, there's not a huge difference between them of which I am aware.

3. Will I have a problem using the Polk speakers along with my existing RCA sub and rear speakers?

Not really. Subwoofers operate at such low frequencies that are affected so much by room reflections that issues such as timbre-matching and imaging are rendered moot--you can pretty much use any subwoofer you like from any manufacturer. And while I prefer matching surrounds, personally, it's not nearly as important as matching the front three speakers to one another.

I'm open to other speaker suggestions anyone might have, especially with the center speaker, because both the CS1 and CS2 are long and would require me to move components onto another stand in order to fit it under my TV. I'm trying to stay in the $250 range for now and upgrade whenever I can.

Would this center speaker, at 14" wide, be a better fit?

http://www.wwstereo.com/#/ecommerce/store/Speakers/33/144378/9_1_11_84__0_0_0_-1

If so, then these bookshelf speakers would be a good match for it:

http://www.vanns.com/shop/servlet/item/features/542789938/energy-c100

Or you could go smaller with these guys:

http://www.wwstereo.com/#/ecommerce/store/Speakers/33/144501/9_1_4_84__0_0_0_-1

Take a look at svsound.com they have the SBS bookshelfs for 209 and center for 175. Very nice speakers alittle over budget but they are much nicer than the Polks IMO. Not sure about your time frame for upgrading but you can get the whole 5.0 setup for 569.00 total so if you can wait and save alittle more you get a discount for buying everything at once.

That's solid advice if your budget could possibly stretch that far. Or three of these at the front for $398 ($434 shipped) would have a smaller footprint and should sound even better with music:

http://www.ascendacoustics.com/pages/products/speakers/htm200/htm200.html

They're small but mighty. :)

Any thoughts on how the Energy C-100s and C-C100 compare to the Polk TSi100s and CS1/CS2?

They're roughly at the same level, and I've never done an A/B comparison between the two. Most folks around here favor the Energy brand, due to their well-deserved reputation, and these are fine speakers for the price (and a steal on clearance). I've heard Polks similar to these more often, and they sound just fine to me for the price, too (definitely a step up from the lowest-end Polks--please don't buy the CSM center!). At these clearance prices, you can't go wrong with either. Some of the speakers mentioned above are even better, though, if you can afford them.

This is where I'm at:

I'm thinking of buying the Polk Monitor 50 for the front speakers, and the Polk CS1 for the center. Since I can fit the CS1 on the shelf below my TV, I'll have the space for towers beside the TV stand. For now I'll use my existing sub and surround speakers.

Would it be worth it for me to buy a receiver capable of lossless audio if I'm using the Monitor 50 and CS1, or do those speakers not have enough detail for me to hear the added sound quality? I'm not going to buy the receiver now, but down the road I would like to upgrade.