Does this center channel upgrade make good sense?

ROHfan
ROHfan Posts: 1,014
edited March 2011 in Speakers
Saw that the cs2 is on sale on newegg for 99.99 with 2.99 shipping. I currently have a cs10 with M60 fronts powered by a Denon 1611. I originally got the cs10 because the cs2 wouldn't fit in the space I needed it to. Now we're re-doing the LR and getting a new media center so I'm thinking I might jump on it. Would you? Room is 13x13, one wall opens to the kitchen. Sale ends on 3/31 so I have to decide quickly. She's gonna keel me since I just got the RC85i's for rears and 65i's for front heights.
TV: 65" Samsung QLED 4K
Fronts: Energy RC70 --- Center: Energy RC-LCR
Front Heights: Polk RC65i --- Rears: Polk RC85i --- Sub: Power Sound Audio XS15
Pioneer VSX-1120K --- Parasound HCA-1000A --- Oppo BDP-103
Vincent Audio SA31 preamp --- Teac UD301 DAC
AIYIMA Tube T7 preamp --- Nobsound 12AX7 tube preamplifier
Post edited by ROHfan on
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  • SRTer
    SRTer Posts: 372
    edited March 2011
    ROHfan wrote: »
    Saw that the cs2 is on sale on newegg for 99.99 with 2.99 shipping. I currently have a cs10 with M60 fronts powered by a Denon 1611. I originally got the cs10 because the cs2 wouldn't fit in the space I needed it to. Now we're re-doing the LR and getting a new media center so I'm thinking I might jump on it. Would you? Room is 13x13, one wall opens to the kitchen. Sale ends on 3/31 so I have to decide quickly. She's gonna keel me since I just got the RC85i's for rears and 65i's for front heights.

    Better speakers are always in order according to your budget.

    Also, the center channel is very important in HT. More of the important sounds will come from it. You don't want your center to be the weak spot at all. Nor the front channels for that matter.

    My opinion...
    Fronts: Polk RTi A9
    Center: Polk CSI A6
    Rears: Polk RTi A7
    Receiver: Pioneer Elite SC-35 (140 watts x 7)
    Amplifier: Adcom GFA-555 Mk.II (200 watt @ 8 ohms)
    Sub: Polk DSW PRO 500 (10 inch, 200 Watt)
    TV: Samsung 59 inch 3D Plasma 600 Hz PN59D7000
    Sources: Samsung BD-D6700 3D Blu-ray Player, DirecTV, PS3, iPhone 4 and IPod Classic with Apple Lossless Tracks
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  • comfortablycurt
    comfortablycurt Posts: 6,745
    edited March 2011
    I'd jump on it. The center channel is a very important speaker...since it typically carries over 60% of a movies soundtrack.

    A bigger center channel is always going to be a good idea. It helps to clear up dialogue, adds a little more low end extension to the center, and overall will just blend with the mains a lot more smoothly. The fact that you're running Monitor 60's, which are pretty big speakers, means that a larger center channel would definitely be preferable.

    Like dskip said, if you're patient, you could probably find a CS20 for not much more coin. It should sound quite similar to the CS2, but slightly more refined.
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  • ROHfan
    ROHfan Posts: 1,014
    edited March 2011
    comfortablycurt wrote: »
    Like dskip said, if you're patient, you could probably find a CS20 for not much more coin. It should sound quite similar to the CS2, but slightly more refined.

    Was going to go with the cs2 over the 20 because it's a better visual match to the M60s. I do like the piano gloss edges though but it's almost 2" wider than the cs2.

    What exactly do you mean by refined? I've read that the cs2 and cs20 were exactly the same except for cabinet design.
    TV: 65" Samsung QLED 4K
    Fronts: Energy RC70 --- Center: Energy RC-LCR
    Front Heights: Polk RC65i --- Rears: Polk RC85i --- Sub: Power Sound Audio XS15
    Pioneer VSX-1120K --- Parasound HCA-1000A --- Oppo BDP-103
    Vincent Audio SA31 preamp --- Teac UD301 DAC
    AIYIMA Tube T7 preamp --- Nobsound 12AX7 tube preamplifier
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  • slk55amg
    slk55amg Posts: 305
    edited March 2011
    When I had my monitor 70,s as my left& right, I went to the CSIA4, I felt that clarity of voices etc would benefit from a higher grade center. I liked the results...........
    Emotiva XPA5, Sony ES 5300,: Lsi 15,s LSIC, Monitor 70,s, ( side surrounds) FXI 3,s, (rear surrounds)Micropro4000, Velodyne DEQ 10, Sony 55inchXBR 930D Sony BDP 790 Bedroom rig SonyES 3200 RTIA1,s CSIA4 FXI3,s polk PSW 10 SONY 34inch XBR960:cool:SONY BDP550
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  • slk55amg
    slk55amg Posts: 305
    edited March 2011
    :frown:I might as well admit to this and get it over with, I have some Bose 301,s ( way back when I did not know better) I thought about putting them in the fireplace, and get some value out of them by heating the room on a chilly evening.................................
    Emotiva XPA5, Sony ES 5300,: Lsi 15,s LSIC, Monitor 70,s, ( side surrounds) FXI 3,s, (rear surrounds)Micropro4000, Velodyne DEQ 10, Sony 55inchXBR 930D Sony BDP 790 Bedroom rig SonyES 3200 RTIA1,s CSIA4 FXI3,s polk PSW 10 SONY 34inch XBR960:cool:SONY BDP550
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  • dkr919
    dkr919 Posts: 379
    edited March 2011
    I always thought the 301 was a fine speaker.
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  • slk55amg
    slk55amg Posts: 305
    edited March 2011
    I agree, I once thought that.......................................................
    Emotiva XPA5, Sony ES 5300,: Lsi 15,s LSIC, Monitor 70,s, ( side surrounds) FXI 3,s, (rear surrounds)Micropro4000, Velodyne DEQ 10, Sony 55inchXBR 930D Sony BDP 790 Bedroom rig SonyES 3200 RTIA1,s CSIA4 FXI3,s polk PSW 10 SONY 34inch XBR960:cool:SONY BDP550
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  • gudnoyez
    gudnoyez Posts: 8,132
    edited March 2011
    nothing wrong with 301s, I have an old pair hooked up to a Marantz receiver in the garage and they sound pretty good before you toss yours into your fireplace, I will buy them off of you. I could use a second pair in the garage what series are they, IIIs, IVs, or Vs?
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  • Geoff4rfc
    Geoff4rfc Posts: 2,480
    edited March 2011
    ROHfan wrote: »
    What exactly do you mean by refined? I've read that the cs2 and cs20 were exactly the same except for cabinet design.

    I don't know if redefined is the right wordage, there are some subtle differences,

    CS2
    20 - 175W
    90db
    50Hz - 25kHz

    CS20
    20 - 150W
    91db
    48Hz - 25kHz

    $99 is probably the lowest I've seen it. Got mine for 129(blk), right now that one is going for 119.

    In answer to your question, if you plan on getting it anyway, Yes, get it.
    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)

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  • owltopclip01
    owltopclip01 Posts: 3
    edited March 2011
    Most surround sound recordings are created by film production companies or video game producers; however some consumer camcorders have such capability either built-in or available separately. Surround sound technologies can also be used in music to enable new methods of artistic expression. After the failure of quadraphonic audio in the 1970s, multichannel music has slowly been reintroduced since 1999 with the help of SACD and DVD-Audio formats. Some AV receivers, stereophonic systems, and computer soundcards contain integral digital signal processors and/or digital audio processors to simulate surround sound from a stereophonic source.
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  • dowop
    dowop Posts: 30
    edited March 2011
    owltopclip01 wrote: »
    Most surround sound recordings are created by film production companies or video game producers; however some consumer camcorders have such capability either built-in or available separately. Surround sound technologies can also be used in music to enable new methods of artistic expression. After the failure of quadraphonic audio in the 1970s, multichannel music has slowly been reintroduced since 1999 with the help of SACD and DVD-Audio formats. Some AV receivers, stereophonic systems, and computer soundcards contain integral digital signal processors and/or digital audio processors to simulate surround sound from a stereophonic source.

    Say What ??
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  • vintageaudio64
    vintageaudio64 Posts: 5
    edited March 2011
    I still own a pair of BOSE 301 series 4 which i bought back in 1998 just under $300.00 and today still sound pretty nice. Nevered reconed. I use them as B speakers to listen to music without the subwoofer. On the A speakers i use Polks t-15 with a accurian 10" subwoofer running off my Pioneer SX-303R which i bought back in 1997.
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