Polk Audio rt800 or r300 (need help choosing a good setup)

[bench43]

I really need some help choosing my mains for my new HT setup.

I plan to buy a entry level to maybe mid range H/K receiver. Possibly Denon

My goal for the front speakers are to have them be good for a stereo setup for listening to music from a PC that will be hooked up to the receiver, but also be good for movies.

Any suggestions would be really appreciated. I dont have much money to spend on the speakers, so let me know how to get the most bang/buck.

Thinking about polk R60, R50, R300, or someone has RT800's on Craigslist. Of course the rears, center, and sub are a different discussion but any suggestions there would be very helpful as well.

First time post. Been lurking for a while.

 

[gus6464]

What's your budget?

 

[bench43]

ok i got an insurance settlement of $550.00 Now i might be able to pull a couple hunred more out of my sleeve.

Bought a couple other things adding up to $100. one of which was an X-FI sound card for the PC

Leaving me with 450.00 which remember, is slightly flexible.

Ive got my eye on a Velodyne 1012 10" sub. For 139.00 I think ill buy that.

I can get the Polk RT-800's for 80 bucks for the pair. or the Polk R50, R60, Or R300 for around 50 bucks each.

I am a little squeemish about buying the used Polks for fear of abuse.

 

[bench43]

There is also the possibility of using some older sony speakers as my rears until i can get more money and replace them. Then i could put all of my dough into the mains, center, and sub.

By the way, what is everyones opinion about the difference in low-mid range H/K receivers?

What are you getting for your extra money?

 

[Gimpy Ric]

I might skip the Polks. And for now I would concentrate on your left-right mains. For music you'll want the best you can afford. Look at these, you get in home for 30 days, and they are well respected for their size.

http://www.axiomaudio.com/m3ti_main.html

Which receiver are you looking at?

 

[gus6464]

For the low end Yamaha receivers are great. I would definitely check them out before any other brands.

 

[bench43]

I might skip the Polks. And for now I would concentrate on your left-right mains. For music you'll want the best you can afford. Look at these, you get in home for 30 days, and they are well respected for their size.

http://www.axiomaudio.com/m3ti_main.html

Which receiver are you looking at?

I thought the Polks would be my left and right mains. Just out of curiosity, why skip the polks?

 

[cfrizz]

There is no reason to skip Polk speakers, they are good quality speakers. They have different series to fit every budget and will last for years. My Polk mains are 17 yrs old & still sound terrific.

Unlike the Axioms, you can go to a store and listen to Polks to see if you like them. If you don't, you won't have to worry about packing them back up to ship them back.

If you are gearing them towards music, you should make a demo cd with songs you know very well & go listen to the speakers with the receiver of your choice. Try the different series with the receiver & the best sound wins.

Denon's tend to be very good matches with Polk speakers. Try to get the lowest priced receiver that has preamp outputs. This will put you in a better position to upgrade your power without having to buy a whole new receiver in the future.

 

[bench43]

Thanks for the responses.

About hearing the Polks at a store, how will i know how they will actually sound with my receiver?

am I correct to assume that Without regards to power and features, ______ brand receiver will SOUND the same as another receiver made by the same company?

and maybe barring ultra high end by that brand of course.

Also,

Does anyone know about the JBL Balboa series??? I can pick those up for 99 a peice at Fry's...

 

[bench43]

oh and REP to everyone who helps in this post of course

Thanks!

 

[avaserfi]

If you are eventually planning to upgrade to a 5.1 system your center won't be another choice. Your front choice will pretty much decide what center you will need to get. This happens because you want a center channel that matches the timbre of the fronts so it does not stand out. All that means is you will want a center that matches your fronts.

Since you are starting out with a two channel set up for music I would recommend starting small and working your way up. What I mean by this is buy a set of bookshelves and your receiver first and a decent receiver (for quality low end I would say Yamaha). Once you have your receiver and 2.0 set up you will be able to listen to music in quality. Start saving up again and buy towers (or these). When you get the towers make those your fronts and move the bookshelves to the rears. Then save up and buy your center and woofer. With that set up you will be able to listen to music wonderfully as well as enjoy any movie out there. Its nice because you will slowly upgrade but have good functionality and for what you get its cheap! If you are worried about auditioning the speakers, which you should be, don't be av123.com will pay refund you shipping both ways if you decide you don't like the bookshelves after 30 days so you are 100 percent safe!

If you have any other questions let me know.

 

[avaserfi]

Another option to look at that would be less expensive as a whole than my previous post, but also probably not sound as good is this. While I have not heard this specific Denon HTiB it got a pretty good review and leaves room for upgrades as you are buying a Denon receiver and Denon speakers. Personally, I would see if it was possible to take the av123 route but if that is a little to steep I think this option would do you well and its good because again it leaves you the ability to upgrade if you outgrow the speakers.

One note, you seemed hesitant about getting used speakers which is why I have been giving you new options that hopefully fall in the price range. Also, since you seem to want good speakers for music it don't through out the idea of not getting surrounds and a center if you want to buy everything now and be done. Have a set of quality fronts will always beat out having just okay fronts with surrounds when it comes to music especially, but sometimes even when it comes to movies.

 

[bench43]

THanks a lot Repped of course.

Just one thing though. You may have mis-understood me. I will actually be purchasing an 5.1 or 7.1 AVR. That will be my first purchase. It will have to be primarily for watching movies and TV, so I will certainly need a sub, center and rears. ( i have a pretty good set of sony's that i may use as my rears until i get more money. if you can call anything sony makes "good")

I really wanted to know what are some front towers that will be good for movies and tv but be just as good for music.

Im only a little bit leary of used speakers. Actually on the fence. I will probably end up going that route. All I need is a little push, and some advice on how to avoid getting abused speakers. Just found some Polk Monitor 40's on craigslist for 150 for the pair.

Now about receivers. A couple people have told me that yamaha would be good for low end. But what about the H/K's ? I think what i really mean is "low end" of a "high end" company. Maybe even a used or refurb Denon

 

[avaserfi]

Ahh okay. Well if its mainly movies I still suggest the upgrade path I said, but if you have your eye on the Polks and they sound good to you go get them. Personally, from my limited experience with H/K I am not a fan just because I don't like the look and the menu system, oddly I like Denon's more. Denon has a reputation for being a high end company among many but so does Yamaha. I would look at the receivers you like and make sure they have connectivity that suits you and if they are in your price range pick them up. I wouldn't expect you to be able to hear much of an audible difference between the companies in terms of sound.

 

[cfrizz]

Well if the Craigslist Polks are in your town or close by, you can go in person to check them out & even ask for a demo of them. If the person is on the up & up they shouldn't mind doing that. Any objections given would mean you walking out the door.

Since the Monitor series is one of Polks current line, you can go to a store and compare how they sound on different receivers available since you don't have one yet.

That way you will have a better idea of how they differentiate in sound.

 

[Gimpy Ric]

I thought the Polks would be my left and right mains. Just out of curiosity, why skip the polks?

I was refereing to the USED Polks. Believe me, I like Polk. Back in the early 80's I almost bought Polks from the local dealer. But instead I bought Boston Acoustics, because another dealer gave me a year to trade UP to any brand they sold. Over the years they would let me take show room speakers home to audition in my own living room. How cool is that!

I totally agree with avaserfi - and his upgrade path. Buy good stuff from day one, a piece at a time.

 

[bench43]

AWESOME

Thanks everyone.

So about auditioning the used polks... OBVIOUSLY I can hear if the speaker is blown. Or anything else obvious. But are there any indications of abuse that are not so obvious?

Oh and what about Jbl Balboas???

as far as "buy good stuff" is concerned... for a fledgeling listener, are these lower end polks going to be good? Obviously I shouldnt buy really good speakers and under power them. I have a fear that I am over analyzing this, and I probably wouldnt even know the difference at this point.

My main concerns are:

-Coloration
-LOUDNESS!
-low distortion




Upgrade path sounds great.

1) Receiver
2) Front mains
3) Sub???
4) Center???
5) Rear satalites

Correct order? or switch sub for center in the priority. Where do cables fit into the equation?

 

[avaserfi]

I would suggest the upgrade path of receiver and fronts (to be moved to surrounds later) then get your subwoofer. After that pick up the center and lastly get your towers and move the bookshelves to the surround at that point.

Cables shouldn't really fit into the equation because once you get them you are done with them as they won't need upgrading. Also, they shouldn't be expensive. Check out monoprice.com or bluejeanscables.com for inexpensive good cables.

 

[bench43]

Interesting idea with moving bookshelves to the back, then buying towers.

Keep in mind however the Sony bookshelves that I can use as my rears for the time being.

I think this is what I will do:

1) buy a decent receiver $250
2) buy front mains (maybe tower maybe bookshelf) $150
3) use my kind of crappy sony's for the rears. $0
4) buy the velo sub $139
5) use my really crappy phillips center from a htib $0

Use this setup for a while then buy new rears or new fronts and move fronts to back, then buy a good center,

i guess this is more of a "build path" than a upgrade path huh?

NOW FOR THE BIG QUESTION

for the fronts (that may become rears someday)

a) Polk R-300 towers
b) Polk R-50 or 60 towers
c) Polk Monitor 40 bookshelves
d) Jbl Balboa towers

 

[avaserfi]

Personally I wouldn't even use a center if you are going to have such a bad and mismatched one. When choosing a center you should pick one that matches the front in timbre otherwise it will make some parts of movies sound very awkward due to frequency changes between your front left/right and center.

I cannot give you any advice on specific Polk speakers since I have not heard them myself.