Which TSi to go with?

Noc1200GS

Hi everyone. Its my first post and I have a question already. :biggrin:

I recently started upgrading my home theater over the past few months. This is going to be my first "quality" setup ever. Before this I had a small 32" LCD panel and a 7 year old Yamaha HTIB setup (which is still being used). Earlier this year I moved into a new area and made a new dedicated theater room. Which is small, but good enough for me. 12' by 12' i think. I upgraded the TV to a 55" 3D Samsung.

Im still using the Yamaha receiver and all it's HTIB speakers, with the exception of the subwoofer. The yamaha sub was one of those passive subs powered by the receiver. So back in May i bought a Polk PSW110 sub which was been great.

Last week I picked up an Onkyo TX-NR808 receiver to bring myself up to the 21st century with HDMI, 3D, DTS-HD....etc. Now its sitting on the floor until I get the speakers to go with it. The whole system is going to get rewired so, why do things twice, right?

So I went out and listened to the TSi 300's at Best Buy and I liked them, but I held off on them. I ended up doing more research and I feel in love with the idea of the TSi 400 or 500's.

I also thought about getting a smaller center channel, but after thinking about it I think I'm able to rearrange the components and fit a full sized CS10 or 20 below the TV.

I'm 99% sure about getting some Tsi100's for the surrounds.

With being said, here are my questions. With a room only that big (12'x12') in mind, a PSW110 sub and a Onkyo 808 A/V rec; would the TSi 500's be too much or the 400's too little? Or vice versa? Or would the 400's be sufficient enough? I heard the 500's larger drivers put out more bass, but would that mean they need to be louder in order to perform better?

Since its such a small room, I was going to mount the TSi 100's on stands (like the current setup) on both sides of the couch, against the wall aiming towards the center seat a little above ear height?

Im only considering the TSi (or monitors even) due to the budget i have in mind. If i could get all 5 speakers for 1000 or less I'd call that good.

Also if its important to know, the will system will only be used for movies, PS3/360 and TV. I rarely listen to music in there. So

I had a few more questions but I cant think of them right now.

Thanks in adavnce.

EndersShadow

Here is what I suggest. If you have a decent sub (or are comfortable with the amount of bass your sub puts out) go with Monitor 40's or Monitor 50's for your fronts and Monitor 30's for your surrounds.

The choice for Monitor 40 v. Monitor 50 comes down to more looks. I have a DLP so wallmounting my fronts isnt an option for me. When my wife and I purchase our next Tv which will be a Plasma we will be moving from floorstanding to bookshelf speakers. That way I can mount them on the wall and re-claim that floor space.

If you have the ability to wallmount a pair of Monitor 40's you can save some considerable dough. If you cant wallmount then get the 50's since they are basically Monitor 40's with built in stands. The Monitor 60's and 70's do put out more bass, but with a capable sub for HT use you dont really need their extra bass IMO, especially if your on a budget.

Also I personally would recommend purchasing a PSW505 to replace the sub you have, but I like lots of bass myself. I have a PSW125 and find I need more bass. I am moving up to a SVS PC-12NSD later on, but the 505 or even one of the DSW's should give you enough bass.

I would suggest either going all Monitor or all TSi. They do look different and that might clash. For my money I would go all Monitor to save some cash.

Also dont forget to check out Polks ebay website. You might even be able to step up into the RTi lineup by buying refurbished.

BTW WELCOME TO CLUB POLK!

Edit: Built you a couple systems on newegg so you can see the cost savings of going with the 40's for your fronts

System 1:
Fronts: Monitor 50's - 260 (130x2)
Center: CS2 - 180
Surrounds: Monitor 30's - 130
Sub: PSW505 -230
Total: 800

System 2:
Fronts: Monitor 40's - 180
Center: CS2 - 180
Surrounds: Monitor 30's - 130
Sub: PSW505 -230
Total: 720 savings of 80 bucks

dorokusai

TSi400/CS20/TSi100. That's what I would do since I don't like the Monitor series at all. The PSW110 is a neat little subwoofer.

Noc1200GS

Thanks for the fast replys and input and the welcomes!

I already have a sub, a PSW110, which i just bought earlier this year.

I do have one question about the PSW though. Since the port on it is downward facing and it's sitting on a carpet, should I put it a on pad to raise it up a bit to let the port breathe better? I think the carpet crushed where the feet are and now the whole bottom is laying on the floor instead of being supported by the feet.

I have to admit I never gave the monitor series a look, partially because I didnt find any information on them on polk's site. Are they phasing them out or something? All I see on the site are the R/T/M, TSi's, RTi's. VM and LSi's.

However after looking at Newegg I'm HEAVILY considering them now.

I put together this :

Fronts: Monitor 70's Series II - (2x250) - $500
Center: Cs2- $180
Surrounds: Monitor 40's - $180

Total $860 plus $10 shipping

Thats an entire system for the price of 2 TSi500's alone. I like that. Hmmmmmmm.......

RuSsMaN

Be sure to check polkdirect on eBay, lots of good deals recently that would be right up your alley.

cnh

dorokusai wrote: »

TSi400/CS20/TSi100. That's what I would do since I don't like the Monitor series at all. The PSW110 is a neat little subwoofer.

I'd put it this way. The TSI, let's face it, look 'cool'. They are also probably a bit better balanced than the Monitor series for HT which is what OP is REALLY interested in.

I have a set of TSI-300s and some M-70s--so I have home experience with both lines. I'll leave it at that.

If "I" were doing HT on a budget 'today' I would go Cherry TSIs all the way around. Mostly for their aesthetic appeal--they're a handsome speaker. And Monitors, at this point, are looking a bit Fugly...for the wife, that is!

WAF = TSI Cherry!

cnh

Noc1200GS

What's not to like about the Monitors? Out of curiosity.

Im liking the price point first off. But im open to personal reviews. Im no audiophile, but I know enough to know a good sounding speaker from a bad one. Thats about it. Im looking for decent to good power, presence, clarity and fullness. I'm not going to be picking out a missing string section through some critical listening. I know I should not expect champagne quality on a budweiser budget too.

The end goal is a powerful, decently impressive full sound for blu ray movies, some Gran turismo 5 on the PS3, Black ops on 360 and the usual TV garbage.

Im also going to bi-amp the fronts as well.

Right now a 50 dollar pair of best buy speakers would probably sound better than the HTIB speakers i have now. Which have no bass at all.

dorokusai

cnh wrote: »

Let's put it this way. The TSI, let's face it, look 'cool'. They are also probably a bit better balanced than the Monitor series for HT which is what OP is REALLY interested in.

I have a set of TSI-300s and some M-70s--so I have home experience with both lines. I'll leave it at that.

If "I" were doing HT on a budget 'today' I would go Cherry TSIs all the way around. Mostly for their aesthetic appeal--they're a handsome speaker. And Monitors, at this point, are looking a bit Fugly...for the wife, that is!

cnh

What are you quoting me for? I'm just answering the thread.

cnh

I'm just pulling your leg during Lunch....not much more than that.

cnh

dorokusai

cnh wrote: »

I'm just pulling your leg during Lunch....not much more than that!

cnh

Oh. ok.

EndersShadow

Noc1200GS wrote: »

What's not to like about the Monitors? Out of curiosity.

Im liking the price point first off. But im open to personal reviews. Im no audiophile, but I know enough to know a good sounding speaker from a bad one. Thats about it. Im looking for decent to good power, presence, clarity and fullness. I'm not going to be picking out a missing string section through some critical listening. I know I should not expect champagne quality on a budweiser budget too.

The end goal is a powerful, decently impressive full sound for blu ray movies, some Gran turismo 5 on the PS3, Black ops on 360 and the usual TV garbage.

Im also going to bi-amp the fronts as well.

Right now a 50 dollar pair of best buy speakers would probably sound better than the HTIB speakers i have now. Which have no bass at all.

The TSi's replaced the Monitor series last year. To find the spec's for them you need to click on Products/Recent/Vintage and then type in Monitor. For the most part the spec's on Monitor v TSi will almost be identical since the TSi's are just the newest version of the Monitors. There may be some slight sonic differences and the TSi's are more WAF factor. Personally I hate piano gloss finishes due to dust myself but YMMV.

They sound very very similar to the TSi's and like you pointed out are much much cheaper.

Noc1200GS

Thanks for all the help. I think i might go with the monitors.

Also this question got buried with all the TSi questions.

I have my PSW-110 sitting on the carpet. I guess the carpet crushed under the weight of the sub. So now the bottom of the sub is sitting on the carpet. Then it dawned on me before that the port on the sub is on the bottom. Is this ok, even better or should i put something under the feet to keep an air space there?

Thanks

dorokusai

There's a reason for feet on that subwoofer. You could buy a 18x18 floor tile for $0.59 at Home Depot. The color selection even works to your advantage.

Noc1200GS

I just might do that. It never dawned on my until this morning. When I saw the picture on the site, it hit me. :eek: I might as well do that now on my day off.