Milt's setup

Bluer6

Hey folks! These are my first Polks and I'm taking advantage of the _egg sales. I was hoping for some advise on what should be next on my list. When I get home in a few weeks, I'll post dimensions and other data. Right now, I have the following speakers in boxes but not setup yet:

Receiver: Onkyo TX-SR606

Purchased:
Fronts: Monitor 60s
Center: CS2

Next up (in order?):
Sub: PSW505?
Rear: ??
Speaker wire: ??

I'm thinking of bi-amping my fronts and forgoing my 7.1 availability. Any advise on wires, rear speakers/stands, and anything else I may be forgetting?

falconcry72

Congrats and welcome to Club Polk!:biggrin:

mdaudioguy

Welcome to Club Polk! Now, get that gear out of the box! That would be a good choice for a sub. Get some of the Monitor bookshelves for the surrounds. Forget about the speakers being bi-ampable. You don't have the gear to do it properly. Any AVR puts out less watts per channel, with every additional channel used. Using the back channels to bi-amp the fronts does not double the power they receive. Just get some decent 12-14 gauge wire, and you'll be set.

Bluer6

Congrats and welcome to Club Polk!:biggrin:

Thanks Falcon!

Welcome to Club Polk! Now, get that gear out of the box! That would be a good choice for a sub. Get some of the Monitor bookshelves for the surrounds. Forget about the speakers being bi-ampable. You don't have the gear to do it properly. Any AVR puts out less watts per channel, with every additional channel used. Using the back channels to bi-amp the fronts does not double the power they receive. Just get some decent 12-14 gauge wire, and you'll be set.

Thank you MDAudioGuy! I'll get the gear out when I get back from Iraq. So for surrounds any recommendation for 30s v 40s? Thanks for the input on the bi-amp. HAve any good websites to get the wire from? Thanks again.

falconcry72

Bluer6 wrote: »

HAve any good websites to get the wire from?

http://www.monoprice.com/home/index.asp

Bluer6

falconcry72 wrote: »

http://www.monoprice.com/home/index.asp

Nice! Thank you.

So, I noticed a lot of folks in some other threads bought the 70s for the front and put the 60s in the rear. I was just going to get some 30s for the back.

danz1906

Welcome to the Club!

codyc1ark

Bluer6 wrote: »

... I'll get the gear out when I get back from Iraq.

Welcome to CP, what are your doing on the other side of the world??

Bluer6

Welcome to the Club!

Thanks Danz!

codyc1ark wrote: »

Welcome to CP, what are your doing on the other side of the world??

Just working on my tan and saving some cash to spend it on some speakers! :cool:

Outfitter03

The 30s are nice, especially if you want the flexibility to mount your rears on the wall. The 40's are quite large.

These bookshelves will match well with your 60s in the front.

I would spend a little more than monoprice on the speaker wires for the fronts. I would buy a set of Canare 4s11 cables from BJC

http://www.bluejeanscable.com/store/speaker/index.htm

If you are a DIY there are several posts on making these look nice. If not a DIY and want to have something ready to go on your return I would get them terminated.

Bluer6

Outfitter03 wrote: »

The 30s are nice, especially if you want the flexibility to mount your rears on the wall. The 40's are quite large.

These bookshelves will match well with your 60s in the front.

I would spend a little more than monoprice on the speaker wires for the fronts. I would buy a set of Canare 4s11 cables from BJC

http://www.bluejeanscable.com/store/speaker/index.htm

If you are a DIY there are several posts on making these look nice. If not a DIY and want to have something ready to go on your return I would get them terminated.

Good info to know. I think I'm going to pop on the 30s at the Egg before the sale ends this week. For 7.1 should I get an extra pair of 30s?

I bookmarked BJC! I've been reading up on the termination types and will, most likely, going with the spade to spade connectors.

Glowrdr

For 7.1 - yes, grab an extra set of the 30's (or whatever you end up deciding). You would want your surrounds to match so you have a seamless transition between the speakers

Bluer6

Glowrdr wrote: »

For 7.1 - yes, grab an extra set of the 30's (or whatever you end up deciding). You would want your surrounds to match so you have a seamless transition between the speakers

Glowrdr, thank you. Looks like 2 sets of 30s it is. Time to edit my original post.

I appreciate everyone's advise and inputs. Once I get home and get the Polkies setup I'll let you guys know what I think.

New plan:
Receiver: Onkyo TX-SR606

Purchased:
Fronts: Monitor 60s
Center: CS2

Next up (in order?):
Surrounds: 30s (4) - Moved up since they are on sale this week.
Sub: PSW505 - Next Payday!

B Run

I had that exact setup but only had a CS1 and I loved it, you'll be good to go for a while.

Splif

Right now I have the 40's in the front, along with the CS2, and the 30's in the rear. As someone said above, the 40's are quite large and don't have the keyhole mount. And I just plain could not fit 40's in the back.

So far the 30's have been great for surround. Movies, tv, and games.

Like you have, I just bought the 60's to replace the 40's in the front. Wanted a little more "oomph".

Good luck and stay safe out there in the sandbox. And post us some pics when you get up and running.

Bluer6

I had that exact setup but only had a CS1 and I loved it, you'll be good to go for a while.

B, I was going to get the CS1 but the CS2 was only $20 more so I went ahead and got that.

Splif wrote: »

Right now I have the 40's in the front, along with the CS2, and the 30's in the rear. As someone said above, the 40's are quite large and don't have the keyhole mount. And I just plain could not fit 40's in the back.

So far the 30's have been great for surround. Movies, tv, and games.

Like you have, I just bought the 60's to replace the 40's in the front. Wanted a little more "oomph".

Good luck and stay safe out there in the sandbox. And post us some pics when you get up and running.

Splif, I feel good about the "plan" with the 30s now. Let me know how the 60s work out for you. I'll get some pics posted as soon as I get the room setup. The whole HT area is going to go through a makeover when I get back. I need to room to be as nice as those speakers!

I might need some help with "proper" placement of the Polks but I'll post the room dimensions and all that other info when I get back. Thanks fellas!

Splif

Bluer6 wrote: »

B, I was going to get the CS1 but the CS2 was only $20 more so I went ahead and got that.

And just a side note, the CS2 is BIG. At least to me. As this was my first full on foray in HT setup.

My previous experience was a Kenwood HTiaB. The CS2 was easily, literally, 4x the size of the center channel in the Kenwood. Just make sure you have a place to put it.

I'm kinda stuck right now trying to find a decent TV stand that can hold that monster relatively centered to the TV and my ears.

Bluer6

Splif wrote: »

And just a side note, the CS2 is BIG. At least to me. As this was my first full on foray in HT setup.

My previous experience was a Kenwood HTiaB. The CS2 was easily, literally, 4x the size of the center channel in the Kenwood. Just make sure you have a place to put it.

I'm kinda stuck right now trying to find a decent TV stand that can hold that monster relatively centered to the TV and my ears.

:eek: Ruh-Roh. Well, I had planned on mounting the TV to the wall and the center channel have the whole tv stand top to its self. If I remember right, the TV stand is a little over waist high when sitting on our couch. :mad:

B Run

Bluer6 wrote: »

:eek: Ruh-Roh. Well, I had planned on mounting the TV to the wall and the center channel have the whole tv stand top to its self. If I remember right, the TV stand is a little over waist high when sitting on our couch. :mad:

You'll be fine like that, the CS2 is a good center you'll be glad you went with it over the CS1. Post pics when you get it all setup.

Glowrdr

I ran into troubles with the CS2 while looking for a new entertainment amoire at HOM furniture. Everything seemed to expect you either don't have a center, or it's one of those 3 inch high soundbars.

This led me to research Salamander furniture, but my bank account says no right now.

But otherwise - I do believe that the CS2 is actually the "matched" center for the Monitor series (at least the 70's and 40's that I've got - would assume the same for the 30's)

rebuy

You'll enjoy the Polks and the Onkyo but let me give you a word of warning.
I have the TX-SR 608 and it's supposed to be 100 WPC. Adding channels past the 5.1 configuration will dramatically reduce the power of the Onkyo.
With the 608 in 2 channel stereo it produces 129 WPC.
In 5.1, all channels driven with an 8 ohm load it drops to 82.3 WPC...:cool:

Five channels driven continuously into 8-ohm loads:
0.1% distortion at 82.3 watts
1% distortion at 84.7 watts

I can live with that since I have a small room.
However when the Onkyo 608 is asked to drive 7 channels the power drops even more.

Seven channels driven continuously into 8-ohm loads:
0.1% distortion at 30.9 watts
1% distortion at 40.1 watts :eek:

I'm running small RTI 4's and plan on adding more RTI's later.
Given the numbers, I would not run a 7.1 set up through this receiver.
You are buying bigger speaker for mains than I have and I'm not sure of the power it takes to make the 60's sound good but the power specs are something you really need to look at when trying to run a 7.1 set up.

I found my specs at home theater.com.

Hope this helps.

F1nut

Bluer6 wrote: »

I've been reading up on the termination types and will, most likely, going with the spade to spade connectors.

Forget the spades, go with banana plugs.

Bluer6

Man, you guys are a great source of information. I'm checking out HT.com now and noted the banana plugs. My question is do I have to modify my receiver and/or speakers for those type of connections?

reeltrouble1

No your Polks have a circular plastic cap you pop off with a small screwdriver blade and you simply plug the banana into it. Your receiver should have holes in the top of the binding posts, simple and a good connection. If I did not use banana I would just use bare wire...spades are difficult at times especially on the back of the receiver.

RT1

Bluer6

rebuy wrote: »

You'll enjoy the Polks and the Onkyo but let me give you a word of warning.
I have the TX-SR 608 and it's supposed to be 100 WPC. Adding channels past the 5.1 configuration will dramatically reduce the power of the Onkyo.
With the 608 in 2 channel stereo it produces 129 WPC.
In 5.1, all channels driven with an 8 ohm load it drops to 82.3 WPC...:cool:

Five channels driven continuously into 8-ohm loads:
0.1% distortion at 82.3 watts
1% distortion at 84.7 watts

I can live with that since I have a small room.
However when the Onkyo 608 is asked to drive 7 channels the power drops even more.

Seven channels driven continuously into 8-ohm loads:
0.1% distortion at 30.9 watts
1% distortion at 40.1 watts :eek:

I'm running small RTI 4's and plan on adding more RTI's later.
Given the numbers, I would not run a 7.1 set up through this receiver.
You are buying bigger speaker for mains than I have and I'm not sure of the power it takes to make the 60's sound good but the power specs are something you really need to look at when trying to run a 7.1 set up.

I found my specs at home theater.com.

Hope this helps.

So from your data, I would be best suited for 5.1. And from what MD Audio Guy said, bi-amping can't be done and it may not even be worth it. Thoughts?

reeltrouble1

I would not rely on those specs. Yes the Onk will run your gear, no way it can provide 84 per channel if all the channels were actually being presented a real world signal, its just the way most of manufacture's test. The use of so-called ice modules have changed the receiver game a bit but its still about current...electrons moving down a signal path.

If you want to bi-amp knock yourself out, most of us have tried it I suppose a few still do it. The Onk channels all share the same power supply so your not actually adding any more power. Still a good part of this hobby is trying things out for yourself.

I have owned several Onkyo receivers and they do the job for HT quite well so you are off to a good start.

Enjoy and have fun.

RT1

rebuy

Those measurements were from the bench test that Home Theater.com said they measured. I think those are much more accurate than the info Onkyo states in the owners manual. All I was saying was that for a 5.1 system you are good to go. I won't bi-wire my fronts because of the power drop and most polkies say it is a waste of time. My Onkyo is fine for what I use it for and I'm sure you'll be happy too.

Bluer6

Just ordered the Polk PSW505 from Amazon (not 3rd party) for 193.97 shipped. I went ahead and purchased this before the monitor 30s. Price was too good to pass up.

Bluer6

Monitor 30s purchased from the Egg!

george daniel

welcome aboard

Toolfan66

Congrats!!!