Polk Monitor 5.1 buying choices - Help!

disco_al

I'm about to make the jump to a 5.1 system, and wanted some opinions on the choices i need to make. So far looking at the following Polk speaker combinations:

Choice 1: 2 x Monitor 60 (fronts), 2 x Monitor 50 (rear), 1 x CS2 series II (center),
or
Choice 2: 2 x Monitor 50 (fronts), 2 x Monitor 30 (rear - on stands), 1 x CS1 series II (center),

and then a sub to go with them at a later date (approx $250 - $300).

The receivers i have narrowed it down to are the Onkyo RC260 or the Pioneer 1020 - Still weighing this part up. Both will do a good job i think with either speaker set-up, but i like the USB playback feature of the 1020 ($50 more).

Does anyone out there have either of these speaker combinations? Or can anyone say whether or not choice 2 will be significantly better than choice 1? Choice 2 will be about $170 more, and so i would like to know if that money will be noticed. If choice one is a good set and the difference is slight, i would get choice 1, but if the difference is drastic or if choice 1 is not so good, then i would get choice 2.

Please post your thoughts and cast your votes too!

B Run

I think you said it backwards, because I don't see how choice 2 could cost more than choice 1? With that said i'm running your choice 2 with 60's instead of 50's for fronts and i like it a lot. I'd save your money and get the best receiver you can afford, it will really wake those speakers up.

disco_al

Yep you're right - i got it backwards! Choice one is the more expensive choice!

So Monitor 60s with the CS1 - and it works well? I will almost certainly skip the Monitor 30 idea as the floorstanding Monitor 50s will work better for me (not much difference in price after adding stands for the 30s). But i know others paired the front Monitor 60s with the CS2, not the CS1, but obviously you have this and it works well together, so that's interesting. $50 more for the CS2 over the CS1, i wonder how much of an improvement it gives?

Also of note, room is 23 feet long by 13 feet wide, with main couch 13 feet from TV (and front speakers).

B Run

Honestly i'm happy with my CS1, i'm not doubting the CS2 might sound better though. I just don't have room in my setup for the cs2 and i like having all the same size drivers. If you're going to pay the same for 30's + stands i'd definitely go with the 50's as rears if it suits your setup. Honestly on the receiver i'd go with something with preouts in case you ever want to ad an amplifier, or go with a nicer used one unless you need all the features like 3d tv etc. I think the 2 you listed are both decent but take it from someone who's had 6 receivers in the last 4 months, you'll want to upgrade haha. Good luck with your system.

disco_al

Thanks for the advice B Run. I don't want to be upgrading anything in the set up for years hopefully, which is why i don't mind doing the research and spending an appropirate amount to get a set up i will be more than happy with.

I think it will definately be the 60s up front with the 50s in the rear, Just need to decide which center.

So the drivers on the CS2 and CS1 are different, which makes sense - and are you saying that the CS1 driver is matched to the Monitor 60s (and Monitor 50s), and not the CS2? If the CS1 is designed for the 60s (and 50s) i'll get that, but if the CS2 is designed to match the 60s (my front) i'll get that.

Probably gonna get the Pioneer 1020 too.

B Run

Technically the cs1 uses a 5 1/4 driver like the 50's and 60's, while the cs2 uses a 6 1/2 driver like the monitor 70's. However I know lots of people run a cs2 with the 60's and are very happy with it.

disco_al

Went with 70s for the fronts, cs2 for center and 50s for the rears (and the Pioneer 1020 receiver). Only problem is Cs2 is so big it's blocking my tv screen - i have to get a riser for it.

I also now need to get a sub to go with my setup. Any thoughts?

My living room is 23 feet long by 13 feet wide, with main couch 13 feet from TV (and front speakers).