CSi30 vs CSi40

DonCB · September 2003

Hi all.. Looking for some advice on a center speaker...

Right now I have a CSi30 center with RTi70 mains and FXi30 surrounds powered by a Yamaha RX-V630 with the help of a PSW650 - a modest setup that I am quite happy with.

As some you know the Yamaha is a 6.1 system, and I have always meant to spend more money - um - ah I mean finish off my system with a rear center speaker (which I really don't need at this time due to the environment that I must exist in).

I have heard that Polk is comming out with a new RT line in the near future, so it is sort of like get one now before they out of production....

The basic plan would be to get a CSi40 to replace the 30 (pack away the 30 for now..) and pretend that nothing has changed... oops .. I mean justify it by how mush better it sounds ... you know...

So I guess the question is, to justify it in my own mind at least:

How do the CSi40 and CSi30 compare?

Any one care to comment on CSi40 vs 30?

Thanks

Don

brettw22 · September 2003

Welcome to the forum....

Simple answer.....Yes, get the csi40 and put it up front. It's a better speaker and you'll hear things MUCH better than with the 30 (not to say the 30's bad, but it's lacking comparatively).

Since you had the stroke of genious to mention you wanted a rear center, keep the 30 out and put it out back to fill your system out nicely. The 30 as a back would be a good match to what all you've got goin on.

Have fun, and let us know how ya like the new speaks.......

Tour2ma · September 2003

brett's advice is "sound"... and I like the new sig, too.

DonCB · September 2003

Brett:

The plan is/was to use the CSi30 as a rear center, but I don't have a good place to position a rear center at this time... I sit right against the rear wall... just wouldn't work...

So the real question was is the 40 better (and how) than the 30 - which you did answer - thanks...

Don

faster100 · September 2003

I sit right on the back wall and still mounted a csi30 about 2-3 feet above my head on a shelf i made and painted out black, looks good, works fine.. and you can still hear it just because it points straight forward doesnt mean anything,

have you seen a csi30 and 40? note the size difference, in this case "size" matters.. LOL The 40 is an easy choice.. gives all the benifits of a larger speaker.. bigger drivers, larger cabinet, bi-wireable, dual power ports, all equal a great large speaker

Tour2ma · September 2003

Good summary faster...

Another option for the 30 as a rear center is the floor behind the seating firing upward. Neither this (furniture will muffle sound some) or overhead (dispersion from tweeters in particular is shy of 180 deg) is optimal, but in a tough room both are options.

The muffling from the floor option can be compensated for in the system calibration.

DonCB · September 2003

Thanks for the info guys - I think I will go looking for a deal on a CSi40...

Don

fgr41 · September 2003

If you find a 40 you wont be disapointed! I would suggest using the 30 in the rear like was mentioned above. I am using the 245, almost same as 30, in a nonideal position and it DOES make a difference in the sound.

DonCB · September 2003

Faster - a couple of questions for you....

You have both a CSi40 and a 30 - do you run them large or do you run them small and send all the bass to that wicked SVS you have?

And if you run them small does the 40 still out perform the 30?

Don

faster100 · September 2003

Yes i have both, I run all small ... the 40 is great!! I used to run a csi30 before i got the 40 and it sounds better, louder, more crisp and if you do run it large has a nice bit of bass.. not alot however but enough for a center.. I let the SVS take care of all the bass in this system.. It really is a massively bigger speaker in looks and feel and performance... I love it even better then the cs400 everyone raves about.. it was short and fat with the same overall performance as the csi40.. I think now i have a very well rounded system that matches perfectly..... I think you would be impressed with a csi40... I have a 46" rear projection and the 30 looked dwarfed on top of it, unlike the 40's stellar looks and sound. can you tell i like it.. aside from all the other speakers i wouldnt ever trade it out.. unless for the new line rti's

which won't be for awhile.

you could call me somewhat of an upgrade/update hog.. i have had quite a few of the polk speakers last years line and the current line and have liked them all really.. the list go's on, rt55i,cs245i,r10, r15, csi30,csi40,rti70 black, rti70 cherry, rti28 cherry, rti38,psw202,psw404,svspb1, and thats just in the last 1 1/2 years maybe.... hehe.. good luck

DonCB · September 2003

Thanks Faster - you have sold me on the CSi40 - I noticed that you have bi-wired the 40 and the 70s - do u find that it makes much of a diff?

bgaskins · September 2003

I know I am beating a dead horse here because everyone has said the same thing. I just bought a csi40 and swapped it out with my 30. Huge difference. I really didn't think it would matter that much but it was nice. All of the dialog sounds a lot crisper, and it blends in really well. All of the channel switches are seamless son it feel like the room is one big speaker insted of 5 or 6. I am in your situation too about my rear center. I think I am going to go with shelf mounting it above the listening posistion. Has anyone had any luck with behind the couch firing upwards?

fgr41 · September 2003

Sounds like you need to update your sig

Originally posted by bgaskins
I know I am beating a dead horse here because everyone has said the same thing. I just bought a csi40 and swapped it out with my 30. Huge difference. I really didn't think it would matter that much but it was nice. All of the dialog sounds a lot crisper, and it blends in really well. All of the channel switches are seamless son it feel like the room is one big speaker insted of 5 or 6. I am in your situation too about my rear center. I think I am going to go with shelf mounting it above the listening posistion. Has anyone had any luck with behind the couch firing upwards?

faster100 · September 2003

Originally posted by DonCB
Thanks Faster - you have sold me on the CSi40 - I noticed that you have bi-wired the 40 and the 70s - do u find that it makes much of a diff?

In all honesty, I don't notice a difference.. but the option is there and i took advantage of it. Only better/same sound can come from bi-wireing.. no degrade in sound quality so i said what the heck..

heres my shelf for the rear csi30

kberg · September 2003

Before considering a rear center speaker, I contemplated buying the CSi30 as a front center for my RTi70's, since at that time it was $200 less than the CSi40. Now even after price drops, I don't regret buying the CSi40 in the least. After waiting/saving for a bit of time, I then purchased a CSi30 for the rear - the 40/front 30/rear idea ended up being one of the best decisions I've made to date.

Go for the 40!

DonCB · September 2003

Well it seems like EVERYBODY is in agreement about the CSi40 being much better than the CSi30... Just got to scrape up the cash (here I go again...) and find a good deal....

Thanks all

Don

DonCB · September 2003

and nice shelf there Faster...

criverajr · September 2003

DonCB,

Purchased my 40 from Crutchfield, 299.00 includes delivery. If you go to a store the tax in my case 6% made this a no brainer. It's a great center just as good as the cs400i.

CRj

ken brydson · September 2003

Originally posted by criverajr
DonCB,

Purchased my 40 from Crutchfield, 299.00 includes delivery. If you go to a store the tax in my case 6% made this a no brainer. It's a great center just as good as the cs400i.

CRj

$299 with free shipping @ CC too

http://www.circuitcity.com/detail.jsp?c=1&b=g&qp=0332033213336&bookmark=bookmark_0&oid=50695&catoid=-8023

fort · September 2003

I love my CSi40 center so much, I bought two more as mains ... ( great deal @ $239 each - brand new)

CSi40 x 3 (center, mains)
FXi50 x 2 (surrounds)
CSi 30 (rear surround)
HSU-VTF2
RTi38 x 2 (two channel - 2nd room)

DonCB · September 2003

Hi all:

DonCB · September 2003

Hi all:

Just to let you all know, I pick up a CSi40 today.. have not had much of a chance to put it through its paces yet... just standard TV so far but initial impression are good ... seems to be a little more clear, a little brighter yet more depth too... give it a couple of days to break in and it is going to be great...

Thanks for all the advice on the CSi40

Don

Tour2ma · September 2003

You high?

DonCB · September 2003

Not Yet....

bgaskins · September 2003

Hey faster, is there any special reason as to why you put the L-brackets for your rear wall mounted csi30 on top as opposed to on the bottom. Also, did you drill into the studs or use drywall screws? Just getting curious because in the next week or so I think I will be trying to rear mount my own.

Speaker placement today
World domination tomorrow!!!
....Or in the near future

faster100 · September 2003

I have had that shelf for a few other projects, and my other rear center i had (rti28 on its side) when i got the csi30 i just replaced the bottom wood to make the shelf wider, I could flip it around but i like the sides coming up around the speaker instead of below.. No real reason but personal preference, and actually i used drywall screws, I couldnt find the stud on one side so i also used small L brackets under neath the shelf as well and painted them white to match the wall so you cant really see them.. its real simple not to high tech but it works and looks good painted black to match the speaker.. The csi30 is pretty heavy for its size, but not excessive so holding the weight really isnt a problem

bgaskins · September 2003

That is neat. I have been wondering exactly how I am going to do it because I have wood paneling in my den on the walls. So I don't know if I should try to screw through the little divisions in them, or just straight through them. I'll have to get a stud finder and see what I think.

faster100 · September 2003

If you have paneling, I would make maybe a similiar shelf and stain it to match closely as possible or paint a shade of brown that matches closest. use small L brakets and find the studs in your case, The studs don't always match where you want a shelf though and the size of the shelf for that matter..

edit: use this for reference the next time someone asks , csi30 or 40??? I am running some new wire(longer run) for the rear center and decided to hook the csi30 up front while i was working.. and snap some pics as well for comparison..

faster100 · September 2003

here

faster100 · September 2003

here again

CSi30 vs CSi40

Comments