Polk IN-Wall Speakers?

[kcrossley]

I'm considering some Polk In-Wall speakers for an home theatre located in a finished attic that's already pre-wired. The room is approximately 16' wide x 23' long and will have a 96" fixed screen mounted on the 16' wall and a Sanyo PLV-Z5 projector which will mount on the ceiling approximately 15' away.

Here are the speakers I'm considering:
Front: Polk RC85i
Rear: Polk RC80i (ceiling) or Polk RC65i (rear sides)

Both rear or ceiling speakers will be positioned approximately 16' away from the screen, which is where the seating will be. I'm not sure what to use for the center speaker. My audio installer is recommending that I simply use another RC85i, which would be cost effective, but I see that Polk now makes an LCi-C center speaker.

Is this speaker setup a good choice for my home theatre? If so, which rear and center speakers should I go with?

Thanks,
Kelly

 

[mazersteven]

I am a huge fanboy of the Polk LSi9's. I think they produce a sound quality that is hard to match with any bookshelf in it's class.

The in-walls your looking at are timbre matched to that series so they should sound real nice. The only problem I have is that only the tweeter is aim-able to the listening position. Now just think of regular bookshelf, or floorstanding speakers. You aim the speakers toward the listening area to a sweet spot. You tweak until it's perfect. You can't do that with in-walls or in-ceilings that don't have aim-able drivers. Plus if you can only aim the tweeter not the main driver you have sounds going in two different locations. Just think when you install the speakers in their locations where is the main driver aimed? Your mains are the more critical.

Speakercraft had a series of speaker with both aim-able driver, and tweeter. Plus many more options of speakers giving you many more choices to do your in-wall, in-ceiling theater right.

After all in-wall, in-ceilings speakers are a compromise. Might as will make the very best of it if that is what you have to do.

www.speakercraft.com

http://www.speakercraft.com/#Products:16:AIM8 Three

http://www.speakercraft.com/#Products:409:AIM Wide Three

Check out the Cinema series

http://www.speakercraft.com/#Products:403:AIM Cinema Three

 

[kcrossley]

Wow! Those are cool! I didn't know such a thing existed. How do they sound?

Also, where's the best (most economical) place to purchase the SpeakerCraft brand?

 

[mazersteven]

Wow! Those are cool! I didn't know such a thing existed. How do they sound?

Also, where's the best (most economical) place to purchase the SpeakerCraft brand?

Sound is so personal. I think they sound great. You need to find a A/V boutique store near you to audition them.

Most A/V boutiques will work with you on the price also. Call a few places in your area, I'm sure someone carries Speakercraft.

Again I'm not trying to talk you out of the Polk's. Just giving some advise and information for you to research and make a better educated decision.

 

[cfrizz]

Hi KCrossley. One thing you should know is that RC series & the LCI series are not timbre matched The LCI goes with the LSI series which requires more power to operate.

The RC series falls more along the lines of the RTi series. So you would be better off getting another one of the RC series to keep everything matched.

 

[mazersteven]

Hi KCrossley. One thing you should know is that RC series & the LCI series are not timbre matched The LCI goes with the LSI series which requires more power to operate.

The RC series falls more along the lines of the RTi series. So you would be better off getting another one of the RC series to keep everything matched.

OOPS Good catch. I looked at the wrong series. Sorry

RTi series is still a good speaker.

 

[kcrossley]

Hi KCrossley. One thing you should know is that RC series & the LCI series are not timbre matched The LCI goes with the LSI series which requires more power to operate.

The RC series falls more along the lines of the RTi series. So you would be better off getting another one of the RC series to keep everything matched.

So I should just purchase an additional RC wall speaker for the center channel? Is that correct?

 

[cfrizz]

Yes it will sound much better that way.

So I should just purchase an additional RC wall speaker for the center channel? Is that correct?