Older Polk Upgrade Path

Khyron

Hello - novice here with a new-to-me house and some upgrade puzzles.

Originally started with a discount yamaha HTIAB, and though piece by piece have the following:

Rec is a Pioneer VSX-920K (110W - 8 Ohm /chan)

Sub is a newer Polk PSW110

Fronts are Polk R20 , Rear Sats are Polk R15, Rear Center is the old Yamaha Center, and the front Center is an older Infinity CC3 (a well regarded unit)

I was thinking of moving the 2 R15s as the mono center rears. Then possibly buying some new Polk Rear Surrounds. Or possibly moving the R20s to become the rears and buy a full front/center polk set. But I know nothing about what works with what (or if I'd even notice).

Room is a 15x20 den with a half wall that opens into the kitchen. I don't listen to really loud music but I like a good home theater experience.

Specs for the infinity CC3 is:
Frequency Response: 80Hz - 20kHz
Sensitivity: 91dB (2.83V @ 1 meter)
Power: 10-150W
Bass Driver: (2)5-1/4"

Any thoughts or suggestions? I find dialog is often getting blown out by the fronts, even though it's boosted a few dbs from the receiver so I suspect a matching center at least is in my future.

wutadumsn23

How much are you looking to spend? Have you looked at any of Polks speaker lines, such as TSi, Monitor, RTi, LSi, etc?

-Jeff

Khyron

Hrm, maybe around 300ish for center, 300-400 for front bookshelves (if that works) or 250-300 for rears. I'm willing to spend more if it's required.

I can also use the r15s or the r20s downstairs as main fronts, so replacing one set or the other is fine. The remaining set would most likely be the center rears?

As a guess, RTI A1 or A3s would be an upgrade for the fronts, and a CSIA3 or 4 for matching center? FXIA4 for rears and keep the R20s up front? Those are the lines I've been looking at but not limited to.

Edit: Not going to upgrade receiver or get pre-amps.

B Run

I'd personally go Rti a3's for mains, Csi a6 for center (if you've got room), Fxi a4's for surrounds. No offense but you might consider eventually selling the psw110 and upgrading if you want a "good home theater experience", you'd be surprised what a difference it would make.

rooftop59

I agree with the Rti A3s and csi A6. I think that you could stick with one of your pairs of bookies for the surrounds and use the money you save for a sub. That would be the route that I would consider.

Khyron

Hrm sounds reasonable. Better to upgrade fronts and migrate to the back then - could have the r20s as surrounds and the 2 r15s as the rears. Or would you reverse and use the r15s as surrounds and r20s as rears?

With my receiver only putting 110W, why do you both recommend the bigger C6 over the C4? Fits better with the rtiA3? I thought it would be overkill just looking on paper.

B Run

It's just a really important speaker, especially for a home theater based system. You'll have clearer dialogue and better bass response, and yes it will blend better with the A3's.

B Run

Also keep in mind with 7 channels you aren't going to get anything close to 110watts. I had the 1120 which is rated at 120wpc and is much heavier, and with 7 channels driven it only put out 38.9 watts at 0.1% distortion when tested.

drummer86

Khyron wrote: »

With my receiver only putting 110W, why do you both recommend the bigger C6 over the C4? Fits better with the rtiA3? I thought it would be overkill just looking on paper.

Because with the way things work around here you're going to be upgrading that receiver before too long...

B Run wrote: »

It's just a really important speaker, especially for a home theater based system. You'll have clearer dialogue and better bass response, and yes it will blend better with the A3's.

...ditto

drummer86

also keep in mind that plenty of people have been happy with the monitor and tsi lines of speakers. your receiver won't have much trouble pushing those and it might allow more money for a better sub. No, they're not as good as the rtia's - but it's up to you to decide what you want/need.

codyc1ark

Thats a pretty good budget, I'd at least get a matching frontstage. As drummer86 said the monitor or tsi line would be great, and you may have some money left over for that 'next step'!

Khyron

Upon further discussions with the wife/boss, my WAF is not high enough for a 7.1 system (couch has to be 1 foot or closer to the back wall). My old house had the kitchen behind us so I mounted rear center there.

But that means a better 5.1 setup - I already have a line on some lightly used FXi A4 for the rear surrounds. I'm going to do the wiring asap and hook up the old fronts. But that rtiA3 + csiA6 are looking likely. :biggrin:

Khyron

Ok another option:

Get RTi5 towers instead of the RTi3 bookshelves (since I need stands/get them off the ground anyway) and sell the cheaper Polk PSW110. Or considering the crappy price I'd get for it, keep the PSW110 hooked up as well.?

Joe08867

Keep the PSW110. It's not the best but it still has a little something. Heck maybe you could hide it by the couch to add a little rumble to the proceedings.
You could always use a bit more bump even with the towers, am I right or am I right?

Khyron

Got the CSiA6 on sale, and got the RTiA5s for just over half-price. Bought a set of barely used FXiA4s used on Kijiji.

Love the setup. I'm no audiophile but it's just so much clearer without being louder.

Edit: And I'm getting 80 bucks for selling my old speakers.

Thx for the help!!