Calling all Polkies:Official Polk thread - Page 15

Has anyone compared the Polk PSW10 to the MTX 12 sub?

I'm thinking of getting some new speakers. I currently use Polk rt35i bookshelfs for mains. I've been happy with them since I got them a few years ago. I'm now looking at the Rti6 bookshelf's. Will I notice a real difference?

They will sound different... The 35is use a metal dome tweeter and the RTis use a silk dome tweeter...

The 35is will sound a little brighter... the RTi6s will sound a little smoother... which will sound better is purely a personal choice.....

Personally, unless you need another set of speakers, I would not bother to upgrade...

Don

>Will I notice a real difference?

Best advice is to listen and see for yourself.

Why are you looking at thos subs? Polk is not known for it's subs, and MTX should be embarrased at what they put out. Fine for car audio, but not HT. What's your budget?

Hello all-

I am a newbie to this forum & I have been silent behind the scenes absorbing all of the great information that can be found on this site!

We recently purchased a vacation home & we have had it wired for sound & Cat5 throughout the home. Here is a list of my current gear - I'm looking for feedback on whether I should purchase the Polk TC265i or LC265i & whether or not to upgrade my current receiver (if so, what receiver would be a nice fit - budget is $700) or is mine suitable. In addition, should I get rid of the NHT sub & go with a Polk (if so, what do you recommend);

- H/K AVR 525
- Nuvo Simplese
- Polk Audio RC60i (5 pair)
- Polk Audio RC65i (1 pair)
- Polk Audio TC265i (1 pair) or Polk Audio LC265i
- NHT 2A-2 Amplifier
- NHT SW2Si Subwoofer
- Proficient Audio AW525 (1 pair)
- Samsung HP-S4253 Plasma (wall mount - Peerless ST660s)
- Samsung DVD-HD960
- APC H10 Power Conditioner

In addition, is it worth having someone install the equipment for me or is it fairly simple to do yourself (i.e., cutting into the ceiling/walls for the speakers, setting up the Simplese, etc.)? The place won't be completed until January 2007.

Any information/feedback is appreciated - Thanks!

I have a question, I am in the market for new front speakers and am looking at the Polk LSi15's! They sound really good. I currently own Definitive Technology Studiomonitor 450,s and a CLR 2002 center channel. The receiver that I own is a Panasonic XR55. My question is, the Polks are rated at 4 ohms, would the LSi15's work well with a receiver that is rated to support 6-8 ohms? Or would I be looking at getting another receiver to power these speakers?

- Garrett

I currently use Polk in my bedroom set up...

RT800i Front
CS245i Center
RT1000i Surround

I also have two pair of RT7 and a pair of RTFX (b/d) that aren't being used at the moment.

From bookshelves to big honkin' towers: you are going to hear that upgrade in a major way!
Unfortunately, you will almost certainly need a receiver rated for 4 ohm speakers. (Probably a high power one too. Those LSis are known to want lots of power.)

Thanks for the reply. I guess I will have to look at other options as I like my Panasonic XR55 and it is not even a year old. It is a shame that they require some power to handle them! Thanks again!

- Garrett

Hi,

In reading the specifications on the Polk Audio web site, the TC265i is designed to match up with the RTi series of speakers. The RTi series appears to have the same drivers as your RCi speakers so it would appear that the TC26i's would be a good timbre match for your current Polk speakers. The TC265i's are 8 ohm speakers so your receiver should have no trouble powering them.

The LC265i speakers on the other hand are designed to match up with the LSi series of speakers. They are 4 ohm speakers and your current receiver more that likely would not be well suited to power them. In addition it is not likely a new $700 receiver would be suitable either. These speaker like a lot of power. As I mentioned in a previous posting I have a set and I am powering them with a separate amplifier rated to handle 4 ohms. I am using more than 200 watts per channel.

Larry

In my honest opinion, I don't think you will find anything that significantly outperforms the AVR 525 at $700. The 525 has DTS ES, DD EX, multiple optical and coax digital outs and 7.1 channels. About the only thing it is missing is DVI/HDMI video connections.

If power is a consideration, consider this: with my AVR 525, I am driving a 4 ohm LSiC and four (4) x 4 ohm LSi15s without a problem at decent sound levels. Not recommended, I know, but so far so good.

The AVR 525 is a worthy receiver.

edit -

In following up with Larry's comments, I would be very happy to match my LSi's up with a beefy amp, using the HK as a pre. I'm just waiting on the cash. Until then, I can live with what I have.

If you go with the LSi equivelants, I agree with Larry's assessment: get yourself a powerful amp. But if you go with the RTi equivelants, I don't think an amp upgrade is totally necessary, although a more powerful amp will make the speakers sound better.

Ultimately what I am saying is that if you have a $700 budget to upgrade the AVR 525, don't bother.

I picked up a Polk Audio 5.1 RM20 set and am driving them with a Pioneer VSX1016 amp. I have the speakers in a 14x16 room. So far I am happy with them. I do find the sub woofer is prone to distortion in movies like serenity and Star Wars II. Anyone else with this set experience this? I think I might end up upgrading to a bigger sup with lower end range. I've got a subsonic filter on the way so we'll see if that helps.

Brendin

The sub I have is a PSW12...

>I do find the sub woofer is prone to distortion in movies like serenity and Star Wars II.

Polk subs are notoriously poor compared to other offerings at similar price points. I would look at SVS, HSU, or the Mirage S-12 at Vanns.com right now. I have a S-12 with my Polk Rti 5.1 set-up, and am about to order one more. Great sub. No drop-off at all until you hit 19 hz. Useable bass down to 18 hz in my room (just charted it last night). Accurate and "musical" according to folks who use such terms.

I recently replaced a blown-up AudioSource SW15 (poo-poo!) with a Klipsch 12" 460w sub. I realize the the offerings of BBuy and the like are not what we'd consider "high-end", but for my 15x20 room running this puppy off my Yammy 2600 at 1/2 power is way more than adequate. This is a sub $500 subwoofer..

This is my current setup, which was in a smaller space before.

Center- Polk CS200
Front L/R- Polk M3II
Surround L/R- also Polk M3II
Subwoofer- Polk PSW120

I posted this in another thread but didnt get to many responses.

I plan on upgrading the left and right main to either the Monitor 40 or the Rti6's


What do you guys think about my center, leave it or upgrade that as well. The extra M3II's will be used as extra surrounds in my 7.1 setup.

I went into Futureshop (Canada) yesterday to get a price quote on a set of rti4's, a csi3, and a set of fxi3's. The wife see's the rti10's and says she likes the look of them. Well OK then... I end up taking the rti10's, the csi3 and fxi3's home. I didn't sleep well at all and not because I was playing with them all night.

Someone please knock some sense into me as my thoughts are spinning out of control.

70% of the time the speakers will be used to watch digital cable. 5.1 when available. 20% DVD's. 10% music - mainly through ipod connected to Yamaha receiver dock.

I have a Yamaha 5690 receiver and a PSW10

I paid $999.99 for the rti10's when I was planning to spend $279.99 on the rti4's.

I am concerned that the csi3 will not be able to keep up with the 10's but don't want to spend any more to upgrade the center channel. So then I considered dropping the 10's to the 8's. But then I have other concerns with any floor standing model.

A couple of my (ir)rational thoughts are my damn cat is likely to tear the grills on the floor standings and more realistically it will be impossible to keep my child from touching or knocking them over once he begins to crawl/walk around.

Book shelves on the wall seem more practical. (Speaker stands are out because they are even easier to tip in my experience.)

Then I look at the rti10's and think that they are so good looking and sound so good that I will train the kid not to touch them. And then I mostly think what other toys I could buy if I went down to the rti4's.

Basically for my usage how huge a difference will the 10's/8's make over the 4's?

Also I am considering returning the fxi3's for another set of 4's. Mainly because the 4's come in cherry where the fx's don't. ( I don't want to paint them). Are the 4's going to preform suitably as surrounds or would a huge gain be made by sticking with the fxi3's?

Sorry for the rambling post. Now you have some idea of what when on in my head between 2:00 and 5:00 am today.

The M3II's are my surrounds and L/R currently.

I have a CS200 center, which is an older model.

Thank you for the quick response. I had the same thought about the 6's. Would the 4's be suitable surrounds?

Can the 6's be wall mounted out of the box or do I require a mount of some sort?

The problem I face now is packing the 10's back into their boxes and getting them to the store!

It was WAY out of character. I usually get eye rolls when I talk about wanting something new. The look of feel of the cherry wood sold her. They are in my living room now and they do look great... but obviosuly if I am having trouble sleeping they are not right.

I can't believe it but it looks like futureshop does not sell the 6's in cherry. Only the 4's and 10's. Weird.

Thanks again for the quick help. I just needed someone to agree with me!

I pretty much trained my kids to leave my speakers alone by explaining to them that:

1. The speaker falling on them would crush them like a car running over them.
2. (we don't spank much) I would spank them seriously if I caught them touching any of the speakers.

Note that I have LSi25 mains and LSi9s on shot loaded stands. An LSi9 falling over on one of those loaded stands actually would do serious damage to either of my kids.

So far, them seem uninterested in testing either option 1 or option 2.

The cat is a hopeless. You are on your own there mate.

Ruin

Maybe I'm lucky. We have 4 cats. They politely look, but don't touch my speakers. They used to be curious and would jump on one of my R50s, but ever since I upgraded to an SVS 20-39+ they are intimidated. Recently I auditioned RTi 8s, no problems with the cats, a very nice speaker, but I returned them. I was able to snag some vintage SDA 1Cs which are in another league and are in excellent shape. Cloth sides and grill, so I was concerned, but the little buggers just look.

So my advice to mr.nice. Keep the 10s, you will miss them immediately for the detailed midrange and mid bass. I personally think the 8s sound better and are much easier for a receiver to drive...with a good sub, but you want cherry. Start looking for a used 2 channel amp to open the 10s up and get the woofer moving for much better bass...

and turn the suckers up to -10 with the cat(s) in the room.

>Would the 4's be suitable surrounds?

I use the rti4's as surrounds. They work great. I have rti12 fronts with a csi3 center. The 12's are clearly in a different league than the 4's, so i assume the 10's would be as well.

I have a pair of Polk R50's as my front speakers. I need to find a center channel speaker. Which one is the one for r50's? Polk's website says CS2. It also says the CS1 is the preferred for the r30. Aren't the r50 and r30 very similar, just one more 6 1/2" woofer. What are the main differences in the Polk centers: CS1, CS2, CSi3, CSi25? Would any of these work? Which is the preferred center from this forum?

Also, I have been thinking about getting another set of R50's for the rears. Or should I go with R30's, R300's, or R15's? Mostly HT, but some music as well is what I listen to. Holding off on a sub right now.

Lastly, need to find a cherry center speaker in the one that I select.

CSi matches with the RTi series. CS matches with the R series. The 'i' signifies real veneer, vifa drivers, and heatsinked tweeters. I think the remaining differences are limited