Some center advice needed

Marty J
Marty J Posts: 3
edited November 2011 in Speakers
Hey guys!

I just have a couple of questions regarding selecting a new center. I appreciate any advice you can give me.

I have an Insignia HTIB. I purchased it with the intention of replacing it piece by piece as funds allow. (it's actually not a bad receiver for the money, but I digress) I saw that Best Buy dropped the price of their Polk T15 speakers to $50 a pair, so I picked up two pairs to replace my front and rear speakers. Well, seeing the dramatic improvement a pair of inexpensive speakers make, I've been bitten by the upgrade bug!

I'm planning on asking the wife for a center for Christmas, and I've narrowed it down to the CS10 or the CS20. I realize neither is matched to my existing speakers: is this something that's going to seriously impair my enjoyment of a new center? I'm planning on upgrading my T15 speakers to something from the TSi range eventually, so provided its not going to drive me nuts in the meantime, I'd rather make my selection with that in mind.

I'm leaning towards the CS20 at the minute, but my main concern is its size. It seems to be a pretty big speaker. It's going to have to sit on the bottom shelf of my TV stand, which gives me 8 1/2 inches of clearance. If anyone who owns a CS20 could tell me its height when angled to fire upward, I would very much appreciate it.

Thanks in advance!
Post edited by Marty J on
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Comments

  • tonyb
    tonyb Posts: 33,014
    edited November 2011
    Hit up the cs20 especially since you want to upgrade in the near future. Lets face facts here guys, if the wife gives the ok for a center, best take advantage and buy the most you can afford. Those nods from the wife are far and few between.
    HT SYSTEM-
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    Pioneer elite vhx 21
    Sony 4k BRP
    SVS SB-2000
    Polk Sig. 20's
    Polk FX500 surrounds

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    Acoustic zen Satori speaker cables
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    Sonos zp90
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  • Glowrdr
    Glowrdr Posts: 1,103
    edited November 2011
    I have/am kind of running into an issue with this as well. THe CS20 is 8 inches high (on a flat surface, not angled)

    In the end though, i think you will want to get the CS20 and be done with it. Otherwise the bug will just continue to buzz around you and you will be annoyed.
    65" Sony X900 (XBR-65X900E)
    Pioneer Elite SC-37
    Polk Monitor 70's (2)
    Polk Monitor 40's (4)
    Polk Monitor CS2
    Polk DSW Pro 660wi
    Oppo BDP-93
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  • gudnoyez
    gudnoyez Posts: 8,132
    edited November 2011
    I would give you a good deal on a used Cs10 thats in excellent shape still under warranty with original box I upgraded to a csia4 a month after, and the cs10 is as in good of shape as the day it was purchased and matches the Tsi line that you seek
    Home Theater
    Parasound Halo A 31 OnkyoTX-NR838 Sony XBR55X850B 55" 4K RtiA9 Fronts CsiA6 Center RtiA3 Rears FxiA6 Side Surrounds Dual Psw 111's Oppo 105D Signal Ultra Speaker Cables & IC's Signal Magic Power Cable Technics SL Q300 Panamax MR4300 Audioquest Chocolate HDMI Cables Audioquest Forest USB Cable

    2 Channel
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  • Marty J
    Marty J Posts: 3
    edited November 2011
    Hi guys, and thanks for the advice!

    I'm aware that the CSR is the matching center for my existing speakers, but as I said above, I'm planning on upgrading, and I think I'll only get away with buying one center in the next six months!

    I was at Best Buy today, and I measured the CS10 they had on display. It's 6 1/2 inches when sitting flat and 7 1/2 inches when angled. So it looks as though angling the CS20 will add at least an inch to its height, which puts it a little too close to my available 8 1/2 inches for comfort. It might just fit, but I'd hate to order it and have to send it back, so I'll probably play it safe and go for the CS10.

    Gudnoyez, thanks for the offer, but I can pick up a CS10 on Amazon for $104 shipped next day on Amazon (though they're temporarily out of stock), and my wife would rather just order it on there for me. I appreciate it though!
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  • Marty J
    Marty J Posts: 3
    edited November 2011
    Hi DSkip, I had looked at some older models, but unfortunately the CS400i won't fit in my space. If I ever wall mount our TV, something like that would be a possibility. The CS10 is a big upgrade over what I have at the minute. (a tiny Insignia HTIB center) I could tell the demo model at the store blew my existing center out of the water, so I'm hoping I'll be happy with it for the time being.
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