Center/Surround Advice

sohcahtoa

Hey all, hoping I can get some advice. Been "polking" around the site and it's been a big help.

Anyway, just got a new 7.1 receiver (Pioneer VSX-30) and a new blu-ray player
(Sony-BDP-S580) to take some weight off my older model playstation3 and add
the ability to decode source audio in the new codecs.

So...I have about $400 to put into speakers to add/supplement/or replace my current Polk setup and was looking for advice on center and surround choices and perhaps doing a switcharoo with my mains and regular surrounds.

The deal is I'm pretty happy with my fronts older RT400's and main
surrounds which are RT5's which where bought about 10 years ago.

I'm not loving my center...a Polk CSM model which I chinced on a little bit and also want to put something other than Cambridge Soundworks mini cubes in the rear back section for 7.1. I'm very happy with my sub.

So was checking out the Polk store on eBay and seemed to be leaning towards the black CSi5 for center and a pair of black OWM3's for the back, but the auctions have ended and wanted to grill you fine folks on options.

My thinking is that since essential audio for TV/Movies/Games need a strong center channel I should really go for an upgrade there and not go to crazy with the rear backs as 7.1 or 6.1 will not pop up as often.

My question however is if the CSi5 will go well timbre wise with what I have and/or if I'm over shooting (or undershooting) what would work best.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated! I'd really like to stay under $400...and keep in mind that I can move around some of the RT series speakers to the back if any of you suggest getting newer towers for the front instead of the OWN3's or some of the bookshelf stuff available.

I should also add that my CSM center speaker is currently under my TV (and I'm mean under in the sense of actually holding up my 42inch LCD). Not the smartest thing I know but it works for ear placement. I bigger center will probably make it more sturdy, or I can put it on the floor and point it up if it's got an angle option.

Much love...this is fun!

slk55amg

Might be hard to find, but I have a pair of FXI3,s for my surround backs, and they are terrific. The FXI4,s are on the polk Ebay site same speaker a little bigger, either would work fine. A CSAI 4 5 or6 would work just great.

sohcahtoa

Thanks brother...a quick search yielded little for fxi 3's and 4's. I only saw the fxi6's on ebay, which are little high in my price range for rear surrounds and with about $400 to spend I'm thinking I put the money into the center.

Seems the websites like newegg are trying to move the CS20's and the Monitor stuff.

As mentioned want to go all in the center...just a little curious because the csi5's and A6's are touted as matches for the RTi's...also a little worried that 5's or 6's may be overkill, but with a center for HT I'd assume the bigger the better as long as they are quality.

Starting to lean towards the OWM3's for rear back surrounds as they are light and give me many options for placement whereas I would have to get stands for anything bigger.

Best and thanks...a lot!