Upgrading, want to replace Athena's

busterbrown885

I currently have Athena AS-B1 for fronts (want to replace),Athena, As-C1 for center channel(want to replace) Athena S.5 surrounds which I will continue to use. I have a Onkyo TX-SR706 Receiver and a BIC Acoustech H100 sub.

I am looking for more understandable, crisp dialogue from the center over what I currently have and an upgrade in sound over the fronts. My room is 14x18 with 8 foot ceilings. 95% of the useage of the system is for TV, movies. My budget is $500 max.

I need bookcase speakers which will actually be a bookcase and understand that rear porting can be a problem. The depth of the shelf is about 11inches, height and width not an issue.

I am have been looking for some time and have zeroed in on the following but would not rule out other systems

Infinity Primus
P 162/163
C350/351
there are P162 and C350 currently available at some attractive prices.

Polk
RTI4/RTI A1
CSI3/CSI A4
There are some RTI4 and CSI3 currently avaiable attractive prices

using the discounted prices for older models, the budget would come in at about $300

Would either or both of these be an upgrade over what I currently have? Of these 2 systems which is likely to provide clarity for movies and provide the sound needed to experience action movies etc.

Thank you

cnh

I'd go with the newer models, the A1 and the A4, but would probably substitute the A6 for my center if you really want the best dialog and center experience.

I might also step up to the A3s? Depends on your budget of course! Think you'd be 'happy' with this!

cnh

shack

cnh wrote:

I'd go with the newer models, the A1 and the A4, but would probably substitute the A6 for my center if you really want the best dialog and center experience.

I might also step up to the A3s? Depends on your budget of course! Think you'd be 'happy' with this!

cnh

He is right of course. Check on Polks e-bay site and you could pick up the RTi3 and CSi6 combo for around your $500 budget. They are refurbished...but have a warranty and you probably can't tell the differece from new.

http://stores.ebay.com/Polk-Audio-Direct

busterbrown885 wrote:

There are some RTI4 and CSI3 currently avaiable attractive prices.

Not a fan of the recent infinity products. The combo above should give you a nice front soundstage on the cheap.

Again on Polks ebay site they have some Monitor 40s and CS2 center channel might make an excellent combination...even better than the RTI4 CSI3 combo...and cheaper. They may be too deep for your needs at 12" is the only problem.

busterbrown885

I have been under the impression that a speaker with a rear port should not be placed against the wall. Does the Monitor 40 have a rear port. Someone had indicated that the RSI and LSI bookcase speakers have a plastic shield of some kind over the rear port that keeps the speaker far enough away from the wall, is that not correct?
Does putting a rear port bookcase speaker against the wall distort the sound?

Thank you

shack

Since you can't place it flush against the wall because of the binding posts and speaker wires, there is enough room for the rear port to serve it's purpose. You might not get as good of bass as you would if you could move it away from the back a little, but that is the tradeoff you make when you actually place bookshelf speakers...in a bookshelf. It should not be a problem.

busterbrown885

What is it about the Monitor 40's or Monitor series that make them a better choice than the RTI series? Do they have some special features or sound that would make them a better choice?

Thank you

Erik Tracy

Shack's info on an RTiA3 and CSiA6 combo from Polk's ebay store would be a nice setup!

The RTis have the rear facing power port that would allow you to put them up against a wall if your room constraints dictate that.

I used to own the RTiA3s - and for the price on Polk's ebay site - a heck of a deal.

shack

busterbrown885 wrote:

What is it about the Monitor 40's or Monitor series that make them a better choice than the RTI series? Do they have some special features or sound that would make them a better choice?

Thank you

I happen to like the D'Appolito (or M-T-M - midrange-tweeter-midrange) configuration. This design tends to produce a smooth phase response in the midrange and higher frequencies.