Polk Audio Back Surrounds ...

[HWNBOY]

A real newbie to this forum thing. I finally pushed aside my Bose that I have had for 10+ years. I don't know why I took so long. I currently have some KLPISCH Syn III sats/Volodyne sub. I have been playing with my ONK605 because my center is pretty bassy (box sound). I could not get the right configuration on the center chanel and so I purchased a Polk Audio CSi3 center (good deal as it was demo unit) the other day just to see the difference. Wow! I am totally impressed with Polk now that I am thinking of returning my KLIPSCH since I have til the 31st of January.

I was looking at a pair of RTi8 (frys.com) for my fronts and it seems like this would go well with the center that I just purchasd. However, I am questioning what I should get for the back surrounds. I don't really want to hang anything on the wall (although it is optimal) and so I prefer another pair of floor speakers. I also read that I don't have to have another pair of RTi8s in the rear surrounds.

Q. Any recommendations? I saw a post that some folks were using R50s as back surrounds. Would these speakers keep up with the RTi8/CSi3. Or does it even make sense to match these speakers together?

Q: Better yet ... If I had to start all over again (which I still can) and I had about $800 to spend ... any recommendations on a system? I already have a sub and it rocks so I don't need this piece. I would use this system primarily for movies/tv/karaokes. Of course spending less woud be better. The room is average and so I would rather stick to 5.1 even though the ONK can go 7.1.



Thanks,
HWNBOY

 

[dorokusai]

A real newbie to this forum thing. I finally pushed aside my Bose that I have had for 10+ years. I don't know why I took so long. I currently have some KLPISCH Syn III sats/Volodyne sub. I have been playing with my ONK605 because my center is pretty bassy (box sound). I could not get the right configuration on the center chanel and so I purchased a Polk Audio CSi3 center (good deal as it was demo unit) the other day just to see the difference. Wow! I am totally impressed with Polk now that I am thinking of returning my KLIPSCH since I have til the 31st of January.

I was looking at a pair of RTi8 (frys.com) for my fronts and it seems like this would go well with the center that I just purchasd. However, I am questioning what I should get for the back surrounds. I don't really want to hang anything on the wall (although it is optimal) and so I prefer another pair of floor speakers. I also read that I don't have to have another pair of RTi8s in the rear surrounds.

Q. Any recommendations? I saw a post that some folks were using R50s as back surrounds. Would these speakers keep up with the RTi8/CSi3. Or does it even make sense to match these speakers together?

Q: Better yet ... If I had to start all over again (which I still can) and I had about $800 to spend ... any recommendations on a system? I already have a sub and it rocks so I don't need this piece. I would use this system primarily for movies/tv/karaokes. Of course spending less woud be better. The room is average and so I would rather stick to 5.1 even though the ONK can go 7.1.



Thanks,
HWNBOY

Welcome This is a great place for information on just about everything and it has a large, active user base.

Klipsch makes a great loudspeaker but if your concentrating on HT, you should use the same series of speakers for your front stage. The RTi8 prices at Fry's are pretty smoking and would be a perfect match to the CSi3.

The RTi8 as a surround speaker is overkill and if you want to ease the pain on your wallet the R or Monitor series would be a good option. Since you don't want to mount anything, I would suggest the Monitor50. As far as pricing goes, I'm not sure which wil be cheaper but the MSRP on the Monitor50 is lower. The Monitor series isn't a timbre match to the RTi, but it's closer than the R series sonically....and the R series is older. In the end, buy what you get the best deal on.

Start over? Nah. I think the RTi8 and CSi3 is a great front stage in regards to Polk speakers.

What else could you do? If you save some money on surrounds, pick up a CSi5 for the center channel. It's more robust and handles dialogue more in-line with the RTi8/10/12.

If there's anything else I can assist you on, feel free to ask....even if you don't go with Polk. Either way, good luck!

Mark

 

[CaliHwyPatrol]

I use RTi 4s for the surrounds, and one Monitor 30 for the SB in a 6.1 setup.

Sound = amazing!

What sub do you have?

 

[HWNBOY]

Welcome This is a great place for information on just about everything and it has a large, active user base.

Klipsch makes a great loudspeaker but if your concentrating on HT, you should use the same series of speakers for your front stage. The RTi8 prices at Fry's are pretty smoking and would be a perfect match to the CSi3.

The RTi8 as a surround speaker is overkill and if you want to ease the pain on your wallet the R or Monitor series would be a good option. Since you don't want to mount anything, I would suggest the Monitor50. As far as pricing goes, I'm not sure which wil be cheaper but the MSRP on the Monitor50 is lower. The Monitor series isn't a timbre match to the RTi, but it's closer than the R series sonically....and the R series is older. In the end, buy what you get the best deal on.

Start over? Nah. I think the RTi8 and CSi3 is a great front stage in regards to Polk speakers.

What else could you do? If you save some money on surrounds, pick up a CSi5 for the center channel. It's more robust and handles dialogue more in-line with the RTi8/10/12.

If there's anything else I can assist you on, feel free to ask....even if you don't go with Polk. Either way, good luck!

Mark

Thanks for the advice. I am still new to all of this since getting away from the HIB setup (although it was BOSE) that I was putting aside. With the set up that I am choosing it seems I need to upgrade my receiver already. I just got the ONK605 and from all the Polk threads that I have been reading I won't be able to optimally drive my mains with this receiver (RTI8/CSi3) without an amp. Frys has a pair of R50s (less than $170) and so I am kind of leaning in this direction. Yes there is the other option of going RTi4 (book shelvs), but than I have to spend on some good stands. Mark, will the ONK605 still provide some decent sounds? I don't have a fairly big room. I heard its okay, but I am not sure what is really required for these RTI8/CSi speakers from Polk. Any advice there?

By the way "CaliHwyPatrol" what stands are you using? My subs are really old Velodyne CT100, but seem to still shake the house. Thanks for also sharing your advice to me. I am still trying to learn all these things. I wish I knew about this place sooner.

 

[CaliHwyPatrol]

I use some cheap 30" stands for the surrounds, and I mounted the SB on the wall. I'll take a picture when I get home.

I don't really like the sound of the R series speakers. To me, they sound muffled, almost like I'm listening to them through a pillow compared to the RTi series. Night and day.

Velodyne makes a good product, so if you like the way it sounds, then keep it. I had the option of getting a Velodyne, but I got a better deal on the Polk, even though I probably should have gotten the Velodyne.

 

[dorokusai]

Thanks for the advice. I am still new to all of this since getting away from the HIB setup (although it was BOSE) that I was putting aside. With the set up that I am choosing it seems I need to upgrade my receiver already. I just got the ONK605 and from all the Polk threads that I have been reading I won't be able to optimally drive my mains with this receiver (RTI8/CSi3) without an amp. Frys has a pair of R50s (less than $170) and so I am kind of leaning in this direction. Yes there is the other option of going RTi4 (book shelvs), but than I have to spend on some good stands. Mark, will the ONK605 still provide some decent sounds? I don't have a fairly big room. I heard its okay, but I am not sure what is really required for these RTI8/CSi speakers from Polk. Any advice there?

By the way "CaliHwyPatrol" what stands are you using? My subs are really old Velodyne CT100, but seem to still shake the house. Thanks for also sharing your advice to me. I am still trying to learn all these things. I wish I knew about this place sooner.

The Onkyo will be fine.

Mark

 

[bandphan]

ill throw in the focal sib and cube 2 sub, a g for the setup but... worth the extra