need center channel $100 to $150 budget

[unreal.freak]

Currently im using this set up:
Front- Polk RTi 4's
Rear- Polk R15's
Center- KLH (not sure of the model #)
Sub- JBL 10"

Im looking for a center speaker to replace the KLH. My budget is $100 to $150

I also have an extra pair of the Polk r15's that i could make a center channel with the speakers. I just dont know all of the details of how to make a box for that set to be effective.

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks,
Tommy

 

[fredk]

Are the Polk R15s bookshelfs. You could put one above and one below the screen/display. That can make a very effective center configuration as long as the are matched in sound to the mains.

Since you already have them, there is no harm in trying this.

Fred

 

[Adam]

I agree with Fred. Never hurts to try it out, right? Assuming, of course, that either they are magnetically shielded or you don't need them to be.

The matching center for your mains is the CSi3. Apparently, that has been discontinued, but you could probably find it at a few places. Google popped up with this place that has it for about $160, although I have never heard of them.

 

[fredk]

Good point on the shielding. It would be needed for anything CRT/tube based, but not for LCD. I don't know about Plasmas.

Fred

 

[unreal.freak]

I dont think putting one over the monitor is an option, I will have my LCD mounted over the fireplace (Yes i have seen the many people say that that spot is not recommended) I need the center to be able to rest underneath the monitor on the mantle. I could still use the 2 of them in that spot though, they are bookshelf speakers. I found a Athena - LSC-100 Center Speaker for $100. Do you guys have an opinion on this center speaker?

Thanks
Tommy

 

[Adam]

I don't have an opinion on the Athena, but I want to say that be sure that the center channel is matched to the mains. Otherwise, when sound moves across the screen in a movie (and goes from one front speaker, to the center channel, to the other front speaker), it will sound strange. For example, a motorcycle might sound like a Harley in the left speaker, a scooter in the center channel, and then a Harley again in the right speaker.

 

[unreal.freak]

I don't have an opinion on the Athena, but I want to say that be sure that the center channel is matched to the mains. Otherwise, when sound moves across the screen in a movie (and goes from one front speaker, to the center channel, to the other front speaker), it will sound strange. For example, a motorcycle might sound like a Harley in the left speaker, a scooter in the center channel, and then a Harley again in the right speaker.

can you explain matched in a little more detail?
I always set up the surrond sound with the white noise demo, if that helps.

Peace.
TOMMY

 

[Adam]

I believe the term is timbre-matched. Companies will timbre-match the speakers within any given line, but they don't necessarily match speakers from different lines. For example, Polk matches the RTi4's with the CSi3, but that doesn't mean that the R15's are timbre-matched with either of those.

With today's receivers and their ability to do an auto set-up with equalization, it's not as important - but I think that it's still a good thing to try to timbre-match your front three speakers.

Of course, the only thing that really matters is how you like how it all sounds!

 

[unreal.freak]

LOL....im out of luck cause i have an old Yamaha 5.1 reciever. It has the test tones but you have to adjust the speaker levels manually. I didnt have much noticable difference with the KLH and the R15's. The RTi4's may throw a hitch in my 5.1's Gitty-up. Im considering the Athena center channel, Its only $99 on clearance. That is if anyone dont have a better recommendation.

Thanks,
Tommy

 

[ChunkyDark]

If you could find another Polk RTi 4 that would work. Otherwise you'll have to shop around and see if anyone still has a csi (not csiA) for sale.
You could also go with a cs1 or cs2, but not sure how well that timber matches.
On polks website they also have a chart for timber matching older speakers for other options.

 

[Pyrrho]

I dont think putting one over the monitor is an option, I will have my LCD mounted over the fireplace (Yes i have seen the many people say that that spot is not recommended) I need the center to be able to rest underneath the monitor on the mantle. I could still use the 2 of them in that spot though, they are bookshelf speakers. I found a Athena - LSC-100 Center Speaker for $100. Do you guys have an opinion on this center speaker?

Thanks
Tommy

Use just one of the R15 speakers for the center. Just because you own an extra pair, that does not mean you have to use them both. (You would not double up any of the other channels if you had extra speakers, would you? So don't do it with the center either.) Since you are using an LCD TV, it does not matter whether it is shielded or not. If you don't like how well it matches your front right and left speakers, then go looking for a Polk that more ideally matches your front right and left speakers. The perfect match would be a speaker that is exactly like the front right and left speakers.