Calling all Polkies:Official Polk thread - Page 528

You probably need a better center than the A4.
You can get a Csi5 from Polk's ebay store for $200.

I am looking to upgrade surround speakers to match Polk Audio RTi12 fronts and Polk Audio CSi5 center for 5.1. A Yamaha RX-V667 receiver will be powering the center and surrounds. System is used only for movies and TV. Due to room constraints, I don't believe the FXi speakers will work nor can I utilize 7.1.
Which speakers below would be best for surrounds? The prices are current for Fry's, except the RTi8 which will go on sale eventually.
Pair of Polk Audio RTi4 new for $129.95
or
Pair of Polk Audio RTi6 new for $199.95
or
Pair of Polk Audio RTi8 new for $300.00
Current:
Fronts: Polk Audio RTi12
Center: Polk Audio CSi5
Surrounds: Onkyo SKF-200F*
Sub: Klipsch Reference RW-12d
Receiver: Yamaha RX-V667
RTi12 amp: QSC GX5

*Onkyo SKF-200F specifications:
Dual 5 1/4" Cone, 1" Balanced-Dome
55 Hz-35 kHz
86 dB
100 W
8 ohm

I am super happy with my F/Xi A6 bipole/dipole speakers. The F/Xi A4 is a decent match as well.

both the f/xia4/6. Are good rears...they do well for movies and very well on multi ch/..music to

The Rti8's make great surrounds because the tweeters are ear height without shelf or wall mounting.
The 4's and 6's are also very good (I use them as rears) but may be overpowered by the 12's.
It all comes down to what you can afford and what fits.

Fine set of speakers you've assembled there!

I thought the tweeters were supposed to be above ear level on rears?

I don't think the FXi will work with my setup. One side of the room opens up to the dining table area, I do not have a place to mount the FXi.

RTi8s, I like the concept but they may be too deep at 15" do to opening up to the dining table on one side. Plus I am little concerned that my 90W RX-V667 won't be able to adequately power the 250W RTi8s. Although I imagine in surround duty they won't be pushed too hard.

I used a 90wpc Denon to power Rti10 fronts and Rti8 surrounds (plus Rti6 rears) and had plenty of power.
But I will say when I upgraded to A9's (same as Rti12's) even a larger Denon at 125wpc wasn't enough
and I had to upgrade to an external amp (Emo XPA5). But there should be plenty of power for Rti8's...
even given that Yamaha overrates the power output of their AVR's (I have a RX-V565 no longer used).

If you are placing the surrounds in a doorway, as I understand it, to you dining room, so much the better.
They can be free standing along side a pillar or whatever. Main problem is the power port sticking out
the back becomes obtrusive. But only you know what would fit best where. But please consider that
most ppl have never regretted buying too large of a speaker at any position.

Do any of you think the CS20 sounds better on setting the speaker to large instead of small?

Small works best for me but you can try it both ways and see which you prefer. Never hurts to experiment. Especially when it's using your time and not mine.
I also run it a few db's hot.

Try playing the same movie scene with dialog and compare.
Edited by XStanleyX - 1/6/13 at 8:16pm

thinking of getting the polk 350 blackstones(5 channel), looking for opinions and how much power would be required, thanks

You don't currently have a receiver to drive them? Shouldn't take much. An inexpensive receiver would do it.
Edited by XStanleyX - 1/6/13 at 8:37pm

ROFLMAO

Well said! I for one usually forget to ask one of the most important questions; what size of room are you using? But then again, before I got my cave, I had my 7.1 Monitor 70's, 40's, 30's and CS2 with an Empire set up in my 14x10 bedroom.

My wife, as lenient and supportive as she is, was sooooo happy when I got my cave

Your set up looks awesome, it looks like you have the original Monitor series instead of the series II. I could be wrong but I thought the original Monitors came with the silver faces and the series II came with black faces.

Yes, those certainly appear to be original Monitors.

I guess it is so. I had gotten angry for a split second there, but really, who cares. there is no practical change between the models other than the face color. which is always covered anyway. If I could choose between all three models out now, it would be the 65t new monitor. Only because the face is wood/black and not silver or grey.

You're right they aren't series ii

Just sold my Monitor 70's II fronts on CL. Now the wait for the Cherry RTI A9's to go back on sale!

I currently have the CS2 Center and 50's as rears along with new Klipsch RW-12D

Good for you. I really like those speakers in cherry too. Just a classy looking speaker.

Anyone?

My Monitor 70's I think have broken in some, they sound even better than day 1, typically I just left them playing music at fairly low volume all day long when I was home. Even on the old (relatively speaking) receiver I am using to power them, they sound great. Paired with the CS2 for movies (not yet broken in) they make the whole experience so much better. I have them placed about 9.5' apart, angled in towards me slightly with the CS2 about 12' in front of me. It's really cool to watch and hear things moving from one side to the other, or to hear little background effects that I never noticed before.

For music they sound even better, for all the money I spent in my car (Logic 7 set up using a JBL MS8 and Alpine amps) it just does not compare. Obviously I knew it would sound better in the house, but am still shocked at how much. I find myself either just watching movies/shows I have seen before, or listening to music just to pick up on details that I never heard with thte HTIB speakers. What's neat as well, is that they sound good enough that I don't think I need to upgrade my receiver just yet. About the only thing missing from my current one is HDMI, so I think I will just wait a little longer to upgrade. The front HTIB speakers are now being used as rear surrounds, and so far are working well in that position. I might upgrade those to some Monitor 30 or 40's down the line.

Breaking in a speaker.... My M70 sound the same from the first day I got them to today. It's all in your mind. If the speakers needed a "breaking in" cycle/time the manufacturers would recommend it.

My ears must be fugged up cause mine definately sound better than when I first bought them. I think Klipsch is a speaker manufacturer. http://resource.klipsch.com/Education/howto/breaking-in-speakers.htm

isn't it a known thing that speakers go through a break in process? Always what I was told growing up, not to just crank them full blast first day you got them, kinda like why you don't drive a 70mph jetski at 70mph jetski on day 1. Same thing in a sense.

You run a new engine at max when you first get it things are liable to break. Not like a speaker. Sometimes comparing speakers to a car or engine work but other times not.

it all prob falls in along those lines of take care of your stuff haha

Speaker break in can be gradual and some folks might not notice it. Like the Klipsch article said, some will improve more than others. I really noticed a difference in mine. Real or not I'll take it.

Hey everyone,

I had a question about some speaker recommendations. I currently have 2 RTI A5's and was looking into centers and subs. Any recommendations? I've been told a few times to stay away from Polk subs, but that their centers are good, and I'd like the center to match my A5's. Thanks a bunch.

the csia5 center...and the dsw..pro subs. Are really good..what are you running in the rears?