Please help me select a center and other speakers

AirZonk
AirZonk Posts: 2
edited March 2011 in Speakers
I am new to home theater. I have been slowly buying some equipment over the last year to put together my system. So far I have an Onkyo TX-SR608, Polk Monitor 40 Series II (pair) and Polk Monitor 30 Series II (pair). I was about to buy a Polk Audio CS2 Series II for my center. However, I have heard this is a big speaker and I am kind of tight on room.

I noticed the RM8 Center is pretty small. Would this work as a center with the current equipment I have? Also, I would like some recommendations on what I should buy for the rest of the system.

Thanks in advance to anyone that offers advice.
Post edited by AirZonk on
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Comments

  • F1nut
    F1nut Posts: 50,778
    edited March 2011
    Welcome to Club Polk.

    Polk recommends the following to match what you have already purchased, http://www.polkaudio.com/homeaudio/products/recent/monitor40/

    The CS1 is a bit smaller than the CS2, but it is generally recommended to go with a bigger, rather than smaller center.
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  • Jesse22
    Jesse22 Posts: 60
    edited March 2011
    I picked up a CS1 for $60 on newegg, same setup as yours (Different receiver) pretty perfect for a beginner setup.
    Polk CS1 Series II
    Monitor 30s
    Monitor 40s Series II
    Klipsch RW-12D
    Onkyo TX-SR308
    Samsung 46" LED-LCD
    Samsung BD-C5500 (Don't Recommend)
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  • 67jason
    67jason Posts: 57
    edited March 2011
    In my opinion, unless you plan on running the monitor 60s or 70s the CS1 should be fine. The CS2 is a pretty big speaker and finding a good spot for it can be tough.
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  • Geoff4rfc
    Geoff4rfc Posts: 2,480
    edited March 2011
    AirZonk wrote: »
    Also, I would like some recommendations on what I should buy for the rest of the system.

    Thanks in advance to anyone that offers advice.

    Recommendations on what exactly? Additional speakers? If you plan on getting larger fronts such as: Monitor series II 50's, 60's or 70's, I would for sure get the CS2. Larger speakers with limited room require creative placement, you can achieve anything you put your mind to.
    Source: BRP Panasonic UB9000, CDP Emotiva ERC3 - Display: LG OLED EVO 83 C3 - Pre/Pro: Marantz 8802A - Amplification: Emotiva XPA-DR3, XPA-2 x 2, XPA-6, Speakers, Mains/2ch-Focal Kanta No2's, C-LSiM706, S-702F/X, RS-RTiA9's, WS-RTiA9's, FH-RTiA3's, Subs - Epik Empire x 2

    Cables: AudioQuest McKenzie XLR's/CDP/Amp, Carbon 48/BRP, Forest 48/Display, 2 channel speaker cable: Furutech FS Alpha 36 12AWG PCOCC Single Crystal (Douglas Connection)

    EXPERIENCE: next to nothing, but I sure enjoy audio and video MY OPINION OF THIS HOBBY: I may not be a smart man, but I know what quicksand is.
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  • danz1906
    danz1906 Posts: 5,144
    edited March 2011
    Welcome to the Club!
    Linn AV5140 fronts
    Linn AV5120 Center
    Linn AV5140 Rears
    M&K MX-70 Sub for Music
    Odyssey Mono-Blocs
    SVS Ultra-13 Gloss Black:D
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  • ShadowTowel
    ShadowTowel Posts: 89
    edited March 2011
    Advice: get the CS1 and you'll love it. You don't always need the larger center. I was told many times to get the smaller center for my setup (RTi A line) and I couldnt fit it in my area. Got the smaller one and have been plenty happy with it. I may upgrade later but I have bookshelf speakers so I don't think I need to get the larger center until I upgrade to towers.

    Advice 2: Go get an awesome subwoofer. Figure out what your budget is and then spend $200 more than that.
    You will make your starter system sound like a system much more expensive than it has any business sounding. You won't regret it.
    Polk Audio RTi A3 (mains)
    Polk Audio CSi A4 (center)
    Polk Audio RC60i (rears)
    BIC Acoustech PL-200 (sub)
    Denon AVR-590 (receiver)
    Samsung LN46B550 (LCD)
    Sharp BD HP22U (Blu-ray player)
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  • AirZonk
    AirZonk Posts: 2
    edited March 2011
    Looks like I'm going to buy the CS1. Thanks to the link F1nut provided I was able to check out the specs on both centers and the CS2 simply won't fit in my cabinet. I don't intend to buy larger fronts (at least not for now due to limited space), so I think the CS1 should be fine based on what I've read here.

    As for a subwoofer, the recommended Polk model is the PSW110. Is this a good choice?
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  • Gulfstrings
    Gulfstrings Posts: 313
    edited March 2011
    I have a similar setup in our bedroom, though the receiver is not as nice as your Onkyo. I think the CS1 is perfect for the 40s/30s. For a sub, I use the PSW111 (actually 2 because I have them). This is a very nice sounding system for both music and movies.

    Please visit photos in the System Showcase to view how the Monitors look with the Sanus "standard" stands.

    http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showcase/view.php?userid=106014

    Since those photos were taken I've switched out the Toshiba TV for a Visio, otherwise it's as shown.
    Marantz AV7005
    Marantz MM7055
    Onkyo DX-755 CdP
    Oppo BDP-93
    Technics SL-1301/Shure M97xE
    Polk RTi A7s
    Polk CSi A6
    Polk FXi A6s
    Velodyne VDR10-BV
    Panamax M5100-PM
    Antec VERIS A/V Cooler x 2
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