[MadHookUp]

These are the speakers that I have...
http://www.crutchfield.com/S-NZ70Vo1...te-5-Pack.html


Polk Speakers

4x RM2300 satellites: 140-24,000 Hz (-3dB)

1x RM 2600 center channel: 130-24,000 Hz (-3dB)

# 8-ohm impedance

# sensitivity 89 dB

# handles up to 125 watts


I paid about 2k for them... around 10 years ago, lol. I really like the speakers. I am by no means an audiophile, but I always felt they sounded good. But recently my center channel just sounds... muddy? When I am listening to a movie in DTS, all the dialog is going through the center channel, and it just doesnt sound that good. I dont really know anything about watts, Hz, and dB. So I figured you fine people might be able to point me in the right direction.


Are my speakers so out dated that I need to get 5 new ones? By looking at the numbers listed for my satellites, I have no clue if that's good. If I drop 1k on a new set of speakers, would it even be as good as the 5 I have?


Or maybe I should just replace the center speaker? Does it matter which one I get, or do I need to look at certain specifications so that it matches my satellites?


Incase it helps, I am using a Harmon Kardon 247 receiver.

 

[quadriverfalls]



Quote:
I paid about 2k for them... around 10 years ago, lol.

Are you serious? $2K??? Wow....

I guess the small satellite stuff has come a long way since then. Especially with regard to better pricing.


Anyway, it sounds as though you have a blown driver (tweeter) in your center channel. Turn the volume down and all the other speakers off except for the center. Get right up to it with your ear and see if you hear any sound coming from the tweeter. Check the other drivers as well. With the larger drivers, you can often times see them moving, but a tweeter you normally can't because it's moving so fast and only fractionally in and out.


I'd also double check the speaker wire connections between the center speaker and your receiver. First, make sure they are all connected securely. If using bare wire connections, they could also have become corroded (turned green or black). If that's the case, simply cut off the corroded ends and strip some more insulation back where you have good clean wire. I'd also clean the speaker terminals. You can use something like denatured alcohol prior to re-installing the wire.


If you have a bad driver, it's out of warranty of course, but you could call Polk technical services and see what they would charge you for another one. It shouldn't be very expensive at all and it's a snap to change them.


Good luck and let us know what you find....

 

[MadHookUp]

You know, it might have been the total price including the sub and receiver. I really dont remember, it was so long ago. I am not opposed to getting new speakers though. But if I bought new ones, I would like to upgrade what I have, and get something that would go well with my receiver. If my current speakers are considered "decent" and it wouldnt make much sense to upgrade, I could try and get a replacement center speaker.

 

[jettore]

As quadriverfalls suggested, I would try to do some troubleshooting first. No need to replace them if you are still happy with the sound. Another quick test I would try, disconnect the center channel and replace it with one of the rear speakers. Try listening to that and see if you notice anything wrong. If you still hear the "muddy" sound then you know right away it's not the speaker. If it sounds ok, then you have a center speaker problem. If that's the case, you can probably swap a tweeter from the back speaker to the center speaker to see if it's the actual tweeter. They seem to be the same tweeter in all of the speakers.

 

[gtpsuper24]

 http://cgi.ebay.com/POLK-AUDIO-CENTE...d=p3286.c0.m14 If you can get it cheap might be worth it, but swap out the center for another speaker and see if in fact the center is bad. Wow 10 years with the same speakers, don't think I could do it

but if your new speaker budget is $1000 depending on if you want a satelite set or seperate speakers, and depends on brand it would be light years ahead of what you have now. Theres a great amount of speakers that would be a huge upgrade ie: Ascend Acoustics, Axiom Audio, SVS, Aperion, HSU, Paradigm, Elemental Designs, and some others I didn't mention Emotiva just because if I read his post correct his receiver is 10yrs and the Emos are 4ohm speakers he might have problems with the receiver powering them.

 

[quadriverfalls]



Quote:
Originally Posted by MadHookUp /forum/post/16991538

You know, it might have been the total price including the sub and receiver. I really dont remember, it was so long ago. I am not opposed to getting new speakers though. But if I bought new ones, I would like to upgrade what I have, and get something that would go well with my receiver. If my current speakers are considered "decent" and it wouldnt make much sense to upgrade, I could try and get a replacement center speaker.

Ok.... that makes more sense.

I would try to find the problem with the center channel before dissing the entire set. Mainly due to possible issues between the ten year old HTIB receiver with the new speakers. It may be fine, but generally, HTIB receivers aren't as robust in their power supply's and you may find that "cranking" it up will cause it to clip (run out of power) and BAM.... you blow a driver in your new speakers.

 

[MadHookUp]

My first receiver was a Harmon Kardon as well. I didnt get a HTIB. I also got a 12" Polk Sub to go with it. Thank you for posting the ebay link, I actually found it earlier in the night ;-). I have it saved incase I need to bid on it. I will do some troubleshooting first.


I have had the urge to upgrade my speakers for a little while now. From reading the forum I saw some people talking about the Ascend moving sale. I cannot find the normal price, but people are saying its a good deal at $1000.


When we bought our house, we had all the wiring already run through the walls. So ideally I would like to get wall mountable speakers. And it appears I cannot do it with those.


Also read some good things about the Axiom QS8 speakers. I think they are just used as rear speakers? If I considered those, I am not sure what to get for a center/left/right.

 

[MadHookUp]



Quote:
Originally Posted by gtpsuper24 /forum/post/16991648


If I read his post correct his receiver is 10yrs and the Emos are 4ohm speakers he might have problems with the receiver powering them.

My speakers are about 10 years old, my receiver is fairly new. Less than 2 years old. Harmon Kardon 247.

http://www.harmankardon.com/product_...prod=AVR%20247

 

[quadriverfalls]



Quote:
Originally Posted by MadHookUp /forum/post/16991729


My speakers are about 10 years old, my receiver is fairly new. Less than 2 years old. Harmon Kardon 247.

http://www.harmankardon.com/product_...prod=AVR%20247

Cool.... you're good to go then. Since you've had the itch to upgrade and have a wad of cash burning a hole in your pocket, then by all means I would go ahead and upgrade the speakers.


In looking for wall mounted speakers look for acoustic suspension (sealed) or front ported speakers. Rear ports up against or right near a wall is not a good thing.