Advice appreciated

crmeyers

Been seriously considering purchasing the Polk Audio RM510 5.1CH High Performance Surround Sound Speaker System, but have not read much of anything on this forum about this set. I can't find a store that has these in their sound room so I can't audition them. All reviews I have read were very favorable, but you never know. Space is a huge factor for me. My livingroom is quite small and my budget is about the same. I'll be pairing them with a Onkyo TX-SR608 7.2 reciever. The RM510 setup comes with 2 RM7's, 2 RM8's, an RM8 center, and a PSW110 sub. I can get the whole package for $299 with free shipping. I want this to sound good for both movies and music. Any advice would be appreciated, since this will be my very first Home Theater setup. Thank you in advance.

Topper

not sure about that package but i thought the following comprised the RM85 package:
- 1pc RM8 Center
- 2pcs RM8 Satellites
- 2pcs RM7 Satellites

All of the above and including a PSW110 sub all for 299 sounds like a steal.

But if you can spare a few more bills, perhaps you might want to consider going with the new Blackstone TL2 sets. I know a few places were doing a promo that if you bought the TL250 5-pack set, they'd throw in a free PSW111. I'm very familiar with that exact setup and its shockingly good for how small these speakers are.

crmeyers

Topper wrote: »

But if you can spare a few more bills, perhaps you might want to consider going with the new Blackstone TL2 sets. I know a few places were doing a promo that if you bought the TL250 5-pack set, they'd throw in a free PSW111. I'm very familiar with that exact setup and its shockingly good for how small these speakers are.

We're now talking spending double. Are the Blackstone's that much better then the RM's?

ShadowTowel

I read a review recently (professional one) that indicates that the answer to your question is a resounding YES. They were blown away by the TL2's.

crmeyers

Went to BB's Magnolia Theater today to listen to various small 5.1 systems. I'm kind of nervous now. Nothing I heard sounded to my liking except for the full size floorstanding speakers. I listened to Energy, Mirage, and Definitive Technology speaker systems. They didn't have any Polks set up in the room unfortunately. They all sounded hollow...lacking in the lower vocal sections and not very good bass. The larger floorstanding speakers sounded marvoulous. Is it not possible to get the full size speaker sound out of these smaller sets? Or is it because these "theaters" don't have the systems set up correctly? I'm new to the HT stuff. I've had nothing but 2 Bose full sized speakers for 10+ years, and it still sounds pretty good compard to what I heard today. I was really set on getting a nice 5.1 smaller setup with a decent sub. Anyone have any ideas?

tonyb

If your looking for the sound of big floorstanders to come out of a small cube and a budget sub, your kidding yourself. I guess the better question for you is how big of a room are you trying to fill with sound ? I'm thinking the RTIA3's and a 505 sub maybe more to your likeing, a bookshelf type with a decent sub in other words. I'm sure the TL series, for a small speaker is everything Polk says it is, but you would still need at least a 505 sub if your a bass head. Just my .02

BlueFox

crmeyers wrote: »

The larger floorstanding speakers sounded marvoulous. Is it not possible to get the full size speaker sound out of these smaller sets?

Nope. Not at all. The only time I have ever had an AVR go into protection mode was with my very first HT system; Polk RM6000 series.

crmeyers

So then why all the hype over the smaller speakers? Everyone has said how wonderful and full they sound. Not to be rude, but it sounded like crap to me. And it's not that I'm a boomy bass guy. I hate the heavy bass that some of these automobiles out here today play. I like tight, full, natural sounding bass. I didn't hear that at all in the small sets. They sound hollow. Like somethings missing. That's why I wondered if BB didn't have it set up correctly. How is it that they can switch speaker sets during an audition and not have to run a set up first? When I was listening to the Mirage Nanosats, I could barely tell the difference with the sub on or off. I guess I'm just disappointed because I spent several months researching smaller speaker sets thinking it was what I was looking for. Now I've got to rethink this whole thing!

larry777

I wouldn't get discouraged if I were you. These type of satellite speakers and a Sub can do wonders for a smaller to mid size room. That set you were considering should perform ok especially for the price. Did the music you were listening to call for a lower signal that would ask the Sub to put out ? Maybe the crossover to the Sub was geared to the Tower Speakers and not the Satellites......thereby leaving a hole in the soundfield ! These are only some of the possibilities. My first setup was Polk RM10 Satellites and a PSW10 Sub ( Similar to what you want ) and they performed very well even in a large room. Most places have a return policy within so many days.....so try out the system and see what you think. Most speakers don't sound great in a large store anyway.....unless they have a dedicated sound room.

crmeyers

That's what I was thinking...that the crossovers weren't setup correctly, because there definitely was a noticeable "hole". My living room is fairly small...I wouldn't even call it midsized. So that is why I wanted a smaller set-up. But I didn't want to sacrifice sound quality that much. I guess I'll go listen to some more speakers! By the way, the reason I was getting away from floorstanding speakers is because the cats like to scratch the cloth speaker grills - shredding them to rags! I just can't stomach buying new speakers and having that happen to them!

crmeyers

Let me ask this question to the forum...Has anyone heard an RM85 system with a PSW110 sub, and if so, what was your opinion of it?

tonyb

If cats are the problem, get a dog. J/K

Like I said, bookies on stands maybe up your alley if cats are a problem. That sub is not one I would recommend in Polks lineup, but thats me. Bookies will give you a fuller sound than small sats, unless we are talking the TL series of coarse. Go listen to some and compare to sats.

squeeb

cr,

I have been there man. I had some small JBL's and had researched some small systems (smaller family room) and was going into BB to get some Klipsch Quintets (I liked the way my iFi sounded in the bedroom).

Listened to them and was not thrilled - thought I should just hang onto my JBL's than spend the money. So I did more research. Polk was closing out their RTI line on Amazon - plus throwing in a 505 SW with $250 purchase. I got on Polk's website and forum and did my homework. My "Game Room" setup was pretty much that initial speaker purchase.

Point is - keep looking, don't compromise, and get the best you can for your budget that you can add on to in the future. Because, no matter what you get, you WILL want to upgrade down the road.

crmeyers

Thanks for the encouragement guys. I'll keep looking!