Help with speaker choice!

[acstech]

I am up in the air between the Polk and Athena speakers. Which speakers would you recommended or should I go another route. I have a 120w sub and a JVC 100w per channel receiver that I will be upgrading in the future. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Polk CS1 Center
Polk Monitor 30 for front and surround



Athena AS-C1.2 Center
Athena AS-B1.2 front
Athena AS-R1.2 Surround

 

[jcPanny]

Athenas

I have the athena bookshelf speakers and center channel and they offer good performance for the money. In the same price range, others on the forum are also happy with the performance of the BIC venturi bookshelf speakers.

I am not familiar those Polks, but I think they are one of the lower models. For a slightly higher budget, you might consider the polk RTi series, of better yet, the Axiom Audio M2i bookshelf speakers.

 

[acstech]

polk vs athena

The Polk Monitor 30 retail for $199.00 per pair and the CS1 retails for $199.00. I can get the CS1 and 2 pairs of the MOnitor 30 delivered for $380.00. The Athenas are less money which if they sound as good will help me put money toward the Sub and receiver. Any suggestion on a good Sub for under $500.00.

 

[jaxvon]

For a subwoofer, I'd have to say SVS PB-10. It has awesome low-end extension and great output levels. It'll run you under $500 shipped.

http://svsubwoofers.com/subs_pb10_isd.htm

Also, there is a user selling his here:

http://forums.audioholics.com/forums/showthread.php?p=119231#post119231

 

[LCRush]

I have the Polk speakers: FXi3s surround, CSi5 center and Rti8s left and right speakers. They are fantastic. They tend to be toward the crisp or bright side, but I like that. Watched the movie Tap and it sounded like they were tap dancing on my floor. I have a Velodyne Spl8R for my sub; absolutely great. Unless you like a less bright speaker system, this seems to be the best for the price, for me.

 

[acstech]

Follow up question!

I picked up a Polk CS2 Center speaker last night at Circuit City for $120.00 normally $299.00. I need to decide which speakers to use for my fronts. I am considering the Polk Monitor 40's or Polk Monitor 50's. For my surround I might go with the Monitor 30's but I am not sure yet. I saw at Best Buy a pair of Athena AS-R1.2's for $49.99 normally $113.00. Would they match with my Polk speakers or should I buy Polk all around. Thank you for your responses.

 

[jaxvon]

Since you now have a Polk center, you'd do best to use Polk speakers all around.

 

[STRONGBADF1]

Stick with the same series polks as your center. Your "fly over" effects will be more seamless.

Also, I would buy the best fronts that you can currently afford. Speakers and the room they are in have the biggest influance on your total sound quality.

Good luck and let us know what ya did and how happy you are!

SBF1