New to Polk, would love speaker suggestions

Theheadsn

Hey guys and gals. Im new to this great forum here, thought I could try and get some help from all you helpful people.

Ive been into using surround sound speakers for 15 years now, but to tell you the truth I havent experienced it like I should have. I've finally gotten around to rebuilding a new system (tax returns rock lol) and my first BIG purchase was a new receiver. I was missing out using my ps3 to get rockin sounds, and wanted TrueHD and DTS-HD.

So I went out and bought the new Pioneer 1020k, it was either that or the new Onkyo (806?), but the Pioneer won me over. Read a lot of pros and cons on both, but I just liked the pioneer more I guess.

Right now Im still using my old Onkyo sk - 100 series which Ive had for over 8 years now. I like them, they sound good. But I can tell now with the new receiver, especially when I crank it real loud, that they might be lacking in what I really want. Ive heard so many great things about polk speakers I thought Id give them a whirl.

Im able to purchase a new CS20 Center speaker for 119.99, and Ive been looking around and that seems like a great deal. Also Ive checked as many reviews as Ive been able to and noticed an all around positive outlook towards it. I know the CS2 is just the older model and usually cheaper, but with this great price and me liking new shinny things, I thought I'd get the CS20.

First question, by me having the CS20 on the Pioneer receiver, WITH the Onkyo skf-100's still, will it just totally kill my experience? Or even harm my receiver/speakers? I know they say not to mix and match speakers, but is there an actual risk to damaging anything?

The plan is for me to get new front speakers as well, but not for a few months at the soonest. I also wanted to get your guys opinion, with me purchasing the cs20 center, which polk speakers I should get for the fronts, with the receiver Im using. I know Id love to go buck wild and get the top of the line, but my wallet, and my receiver wont handle it ha.

Any ideas and criticism would be great. Thanks again :biggrin:

cnh

Welcome to Club Polk!

You preferred the lower level Pioneer to the Onkyo TX-SR808 which is almost TWICE its weight? Ok? Must like the Pioneer sound, but the Onkyo 800 series is better than the Pio 1020. Should've gone with the Pioneer 1120 instead of the 1020. That I could understand..better, more powerful AVR than the 1020! The reason we recommend that is that the Onkyo 808 and the Pio 1120 both have pre-outs...the 1020 does not--that allows you to add more power in the future and also increases the resale value of your unit?

The speakers are pretty straight forward. How big is your room. DO you want to go with towers up front or not? I recommend you go all out on the TSI line which is the acoustic match for your CS20. You got the right center. A couple of TSI-500s up front would be nice and maybe some TSI-200s as surrounds and s.back (or TSI-100s for S.Back). Then get yourself a DSW600 or the newer DSW660 series Polk sub and you're done!

This all assumes a DECENT sized room!

cnh

B Run

I think he meant 608

Rodeo0530

The TSi series is definitely prettier than the Monitor line, but I would highly recommend the Monitor 70's or 60's from personal experience. I also own a set of TSi 100's for surrounds that I like a lot, but I only bought those because it was a good deal from a fellow Polkie. Newegg will have the Monitor 70's for as low as $169.99 at times and they are a great speaker if you want towers. I have the CS2 to match with them and it definitely performs well enough for my needs. If you do stick to the TSi line though, I'm glad you're going with the CS20 because bigger is definitely better for your center IMO.

Theheadsn

yea sorry, should have made it clearer with the Onkyo haha 608

and as far as the pre outs I know I wish I had the money to have gotten a better receiver at the time, I bought the 1020k last year, so live and learn. Unless anyone wants to buy it off me so I can get the 1120 haha

BTW thanks for the speaker ideas so far. What about having different brand speakers? is that gonna matter for the time being?

And anyone know if best buy will let you take an item back without a reciept? Im a pack rat when it comes to keeping boxes and everything, Im wondering if I box up the 1020k and take it back saying I mean to get the 1120 I could get that to pass with some charm? lol any ideas

Theheadsn

btw, just did some checking. As much as I would LOVE to completely go all out and have a receiver that had pre outs for an amp, Id end up spending another 800+ bucks on a good amp. This leads to a slipperly slope haha dont think the wife would be to happy.

Plus my main need for this is in my garage, converted it into a movie/guy area, its about 18x20, not to huge, 8' ceilings. I think if or when I actually create a "movie room" then Ill go all out. By that point itll be time to replace the 1020k, and move on to bigger and better things.

Gotta take baby steps moving up. You dont go from a honda to a lamborghini over night, you wouldnt appreciate what you had. Have to build up the system over time. First step is speakers, for now... lol

As far as small or big speakers, I really dont mind either way. Im more into clearity and quality over size. Hell I wouldnt go for the cs20 then, heard its huge. I just want something thats going to last, to many things these days blow out or give up the ghost to damn fast.


Thanks again guys for being so helpful, just be gentle haha

Theheadsn

@cnh

I feel like an idiot posting so much, just kinda getting into a groove.

The tsi series speakers look awesome, and realisticly I can pay for something like that over time, even if the sub alone is 350.

Will the 1020k be able to put enough power to those? I dont plan on doing the 7.1 anytime soon, so would the 825 max watts for a 5.1 give those polk speakers any justice?

Also as far as a sub goes, is the PSW125 good? would it be worth dropping that amount of money for a good sub?

gsxr141

i think the 1020 will be fine for the tsi's. as far as subs go, i hear a lot of good things about the psw505. It seems to me that i heard they were in the $200 range online.

Slyder01

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16882290130
FREE SHIPPING

cnh

Theheadsn wrote: »

@cnh

I feel like an idiot posting so much, just kinda getting into a groove.

The tsi series speakers look awesome, and realisticly I can pay for something like that over time, even if the sub alone is 350.

Will the 1020k be able to put enough power to those? I dont plan on doing the 7.1 anytime soon, so would the 825 max watts for a 5.1 give those polk speakers any justice?

Also as far as a sub goes, is the PSW125 good? would it be worth dropping that amount of money for a good sub?

OK, if money is tight. The Pioneer VSX-1020 can power a TSI or a Monitor system. If you don't already have the CS20. I'd go with Rodeo's suggestions and also with the 505. So you could do either Monitor 60s or 70s and the CS2 (definitely get the LARGE center--you'll thank us--that carries a lot of movie soundtrack info). Then go with some Monitor 40s or the smaller 30s for surrounds and pick up the Polk PSW505--it's a better sub than the PSW125 and can be had for 229 or even as low as 199 new on sale?

Theoretically you could get an M60/CS2/M40 PSW505 for 260, 125, 130 and 200 or 715 or less on sale as these models are 'discontinued' but still great values! And compare favorably to the newer TSI series! How's that?

cnh

Theheadsn

@Cnh

Sounds good

The deal im getting on the CS20 seems to good to pass up, and seeing as the cs2's are more expensive then the cs20 at the price im getting it, I figured id go with that for the center.

As far as speakers, moneys never TO tight lol just gotta justify spending so much at one time. I think when the time comes to get new fronts I should be able to save up enough or find a good deal on some.

And anything you can tell me about the sound/quality difference between the 505 and the 125 would be great. The cheapest Ive seen the 125 is about 350 or so, and slyders link to newegg has the 505 for much more less. I just wanna be set for the future as well, dont mind older stuff though.

O forgot to mention, I have the skw-100 onkyo sub right now. I just know the difference between whats new and what I have. Dont know a lot of audiophiles personally to inform me otherwise ha

Slyder01

do NOT skimp on your center and mains if at all possible,,, like cnh said,, you will thank evryone later...
and now that you started this (building a system), you'll probably end up like most of us,,, the building never really ends,,lol

cnh

According to Polk's own stats (and I don't usually go by stats alone--but in this case they are relevant to your question).

The PSW125 has a real low of about 34hz and 150 watts RMS. Whereas the PSW505 has a low of 28hz and 300 watts RMS. Every 3db is a potentially hearable difference in sound? So that's 6dbs? The PSW505 is also at least 5 lbs heavier (that would indicate less resonance, more bracing; and it is slot ported like the newer DSW line rather than the standard port on the bottom of the PSW125.

The PSW505 was meant as a sub to augment the higher RTI series speakers. The PSW125 is the companion to the Monitor or TSI series. The new DSW are now the subs that have replaced the 505. So the 505 sort of stands between the the present PSW series and the DSW; does that make sense!

cnh

Theheadsn wrote: »

@Cnh

Sounds good

The deal im getting on the CS20 seems to good to pass up, and seeing as the cs2's are more expensive then the cs20 at the price im getting it, I figured id go with that for the center.

As far as speakers, moneys never TO tight lol just gotta justify spending so much at one time. I think when the time comes to get new fronts I should be able to save up enough or find a good deal on some.

And anything you can tell me about the sound/quality difference between the 505 and the 125 would be great. The cheapest Ive seen the 125 is about 350 or so, and slyders link to newegg has the 505 for much more less. I just wanna be set for the future as well, dont mind older stuff though.

O forgot to mention, I have the skw-100 onkyo sub right now. I just know the difference between whats new and what I have. Dont know a lot of audiophiles personally to inform me otherwise ha

BtrSound

Theheadsn wrote: »

@Cnh

Sounds good

The deal im getting on the CS20 seems to good to pass up, and seeing as the cs2's are more expensive then the cs20 at the price im getting it, I figured id go with that for the center.

As far as speakers, moneys never TO tight lol just gotta justify spending so much at one time. I think when the time comes to get new fronts I should be able to save up enough or find a good deal on some.

And anything you can tell me about the sound/quality difference between the 505 and the 125 would be great. The cheapest Ive seen the 125 is about 350 or so, and slyders link to newegg has the 505 for much more less. I just wanna be set for the future as well, dont mind older stuff though.

O forgot to mention, I have the skw-100 onkyo sub right now. I just know the difference between whats new and what I have. Dont know a lot of audiophiles personally to inform me otherwise ha

Check the polk store on ebay

Theheadsn

thanks again guys

@Cnh
good to know how many people on here really know whats what, means a lot to a newbie like me

@Slyder
I dont plan on it lol why waste the money when you can go broke with style

@Btrsound
Checking out the ebay store right now, saw other posts on here about people prasing it. Ill keep my eyes open for good deals

Geoff4rfc

Slyder01 wrote: »

and now that you started this (building a system), you'll probably end up like most of us,,, the building never really ends,,lol

Hello?????? I'm trying put my 65,856th floor together, has anyone seen my beams and struts?

Slyder01

:eek:beams and struts are on back-order!!

Geoff4rfc

Slyder01 wrote: »

:eek:beams and struts are on back-order!!

Don't stress me out man, I almost have this thing right - where - I - want - it, just 6 more amps and 8 more speaker upgrades.................