CS1000P Modification

Gatecrasher

Has anyone ever modified (or considered modifying) their CS1000P center speaker to permit bi-amp wiring of the tweeter and mids like the RT3000 satellites?

I'd like to go to a true 5.2 setup with all 5 speakers from the RT5000 system bi-amped and the 8 powered subwoofers connected to the pre-amp/sub RCA outputs. The RT3000P satellites and the f/x1000 surrounds are bi-amp ready but anyone who is familiar with the CS1000P knows how it is. The mids and tweeter are together.

It doesn't seem like this would be that difficult of a modification although I don't have a schematic or have even ever taken my speakers apart. I don't think this is a question that comes up too often but it could be a nice little upgrade. The drivers in the CS1000p appear to be the same as the RT3000 satellites.

Anyone have any insight on this?

dpowell

I think they did that since the built-in sub provides the bass. I've owned the CS1000p in the past and it is a great performer. I'm not sure how much you'd gain by doing the work. I suppose if the drivers are the same as the CS400, you could look at that crossover and see how Polk made it. Might change how the speaker works with the built-in subs though....

rtart

Hi. I have the RT5000 system and have doinked around with it a lot over the years. You can look at my equipment list and get an idea of the direction I have finally gone with biamping vs. direct.

After I bought my ATI 200x7 amp but before I sold my XPA-5 and UPA-2 amps, I tried some biamping. I ran the XPA-5 and UPA-2 from the RCA pre-outs from my Onkyo PR-SC886 preamp and the ATI 2007 from the XLR outs. Didn't seem to make much difference to me. (Sure looked cool, though!)

In my situation I decided to run my SVS subs on the LFE via a SMS-1 and let the crossovers in the CS1000p and RT3000p's do their thing. (They are set at about 75Hz)The biggest reason was that the SVS subs are really monsters, and were not well matched to the subs in the Polks. I needed to overdrive the SVS subs to get a reasonable gain level from the Polk's internal subs. The second reason is that the RT3000p's and the CS1000p are/is already biamped (at least in a sense of the word.) The internal sub amps provide power to the subs and the main amp provides signal to the mids and tweets.

I also use a spare set of RT3000p satellites for my rear surround speakers. I used a second pair of FX1000's for a while, but like the point-sourcing of the sats better.

Running the subs together on the LFE channel can be problematic because they have differing driver sizes and amp ratings. Even with Audyssey, matching their output is nearly impossible. (The RT's have 4 x 10" drivers and the CS has 2 x 6.5" drivers.) That's why I eventually went with the SMS-1. It feeds the SVS PB12-plus/2's. I calibrate them (both) with the SMS-1 and then run Audyssey afterwards to set everything else. I get a very flat response curve and have been very happy with the results.

Gatecrasher

Before I do any modifications to the CS1000P I plan to bi-amp them running the low pass to the powered subwoofers and try them out. I'm making some custom cables now. I will bi-amp the RT3000 satellites and run the powered subwoofers off the LFE or preamps.

In essence the RT3000P towers will be "tri-amped" and the CS1000P will be bi-amped as you mentioned.

My receiver has the ability to bi-amp all 5 speakers so I'm going to at least try it out.

I've had the RT5000 speakers for 8 years now but rarely used them. I had the RT3000s out and used them occasionally but the rest were still in the factory boxes until about a year ago after I got the SC-09TX and finally had a decent area to put them in. They are all black and in absolute mint condition.

They always sounded awesome with my older receiver but they sound flat-out phenomenal with the SC-09TX!

Don't know if I'll notice a big difference or not but we'll find out. You're right though, if nothing else they will look cool.

civilian

First, I am jealous of all 3 of you!
I have tried bi-amping both sets of my RT's with my 4806, and the results were not noticable.
I also hooked up the subs in my 2000's to the LFE out along with my highly underpowered sub and didn't think they sounded as good as when they were just wired in as large speakers. There seemed to be a hole in the mid bass using them as LFE.
While not exactly the same as yours they are similar.

dpowell

civilian wrote: »

There seemed to be a hole in the mid bass using them as LFE.
While not exactly the same as yours they are similar.

I had the same experience with both the RT2000's and RT3000's. Better to have a separate sub for LFE so that you get the best full-range sound out of the mains. That is the reason I never tried using the subs on the SRTs in LFE mode, I knew I just wouldn't be satisfied.