Use two CS1 for stereo setup?

jd27

Newbie question here ? I see some great prices on the CS1 and CS2 from time to time. Any thoughts on using two of these for a simple but robust TV/Movie setup?

I'm looking to upgrade my sound on a budget, and I want to keep it pretty simple. Reason being, I just don't have the kind of TV room where a surround sound setup would offer any advantage over one where the speakers are positioned alongside the TV. Also, no subwoofer at this time.

Anyone have thoughts or advice? Is it a dumb idea to grab two cheap CS1's and use them alone? Would I be much better off grabbing true bookshelves instead?

Thanks in advance.

ravaneli

I am interested to see what will be advised on this, although I have no interest in doing that.

To the OP, - are you gona sit the horizontal or vertical? They would take a lot of space horisontally, and they are not vertically simmetrical, so.. I don't know about that. Something tells me that the differences will be theoretical and in practice you would be quite happy with them however u use them. Will have fuller sound than the bookies for sure.

codyc1ark

Although I believe this could be done, and would sound fine, I wouldn't do it. Reason being, the CS1 will be harder to get rid of if you decide to sell them in the future, I'd look at some small bookshelfs. Like this -http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16882290203

Or, be done with it, and grab this, seems to be a steal of a deal - http://www.ebay.com/itm/RM6750-BLACK-5-1-Home-Theater-Speaker-System-Polk-Audio-/390389421287?pt=Speakers_Subwoofers&hash=item5ae505d4e7

Good luck! Welcome to CP!

tonyb

The two centers imho anyway, wouldn't be as good as regular bookies which may go lower than those centers and have a wider dispersion. Depending on the bookies of coarse.

WagBoss

you can get a pair of bookshelfs for just as cheap and they will sound and look much better

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16882290200

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16882290202

rooftop59

Welcome to CP!

Those monitor 40s have the same drivers as the CS1s, but are actually designed to be bookshelf speakers standing upright. they often go on sell at newegg for 120 shipped, so I would do that instead of two CS1s.

for about the same money as two CS2s, you could get a pair of rti4s on eba. there are several new pairs for 180 shipped. A little less bass than the cs2, but better overall sound and build quality.

jd27

ravaneli wrote: »

To the OP, - are you gona sit the horizontal or vertical? They would take a lot of space horisontally, and they are not vertically simmetrical, so.. I don't know about that. \\\.

I have enough room to position them vertically. Hadn't noticed they would not be symmetrical, which I guess could affect the sound balance.

ravaneli wrote: »

Will have fuller sound than the bookies for sure \\\.

That was my assumption as well, but wasn't sure.

Thanks for the post!

piker

I'd just like to make you aware that the cherry M30 bookshelf speakers can be had for $80 a pair right now on Newegg. Sale is good through 2/27, or until they sell out.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16882290201

jd27

Thanks! Those 40s look like a good deal. Cherry finish is exactly what I want as well.

codyc1ark wrote: »

Or, be done with it, and grab this, seems to be a steal of a deal - http://www.ebay.com/itm/RM6750-BLACK-5-1-Home-Theater-Speaker-System-Polk-Audio-/390389421287?pt=Speakers_Subwoofers&hash=item5ae505d4e7

I'm really glad you sent this link. Coincidentally, I own a pair of these in silver which I'm not using (see below).

I've had the RM6750 for a while. Sound was good, no complaints there. But I recently moved and after trying them out in my new TV room, I packed them away because they didn't quite fill the space like they could in my old place It also felt silly to me to have 5 small speakers staring at me from the front. I know, call me crazy. I freely admit to being a stickler for aesthetics.

I guess this begs the question - are either the CS1 and/or Monitor 40 lines a step up from the RM6750?

codyc1ark wrote: »

Good luck! Welcome to CP!

Thank you!

jd27

rooftop59 wrote: »

Those monitor 40s have the same drivers as the CS1s, but are actually designed to be bookshelf speakers standing upright. they often go on sell at newegg for 120 shipped, so I would do that instead of two CS1s.

VERY useful information. Thank you!

rooftop59 wrote: »

for about the same money as two CS2s, you could get a pair of rti4s on eba. there are several new pairs for 180 shipped. A little less bass than the cs2, but better overall sound and build quality.

Even though I'm looking to do this on a budget, I could swing $180. In your opinion, are the RTIs worth the extra money over the Monitor 40s? Particularly, keeping in mind I'm using just the two of them without a center or sub for the foreseeable future. Any room for pairing them up with a true center, sub and/or satellites don the road would be nice-to-have, but not necessary.

jd27

Thanks piker!

rooftop59

jd27 wrote: »

In your opinion, are the RTIs worth the extra money over the Monitor 40s? Particularly, keeping in mind I'm using just the two of them without a center or sub for the foreseeable future. Any room for pairing them up with a true center, sub and/or satellites don the road would be nice-to-have, but not necessary.

Absolutely. I owned the 30s, 40s, rti4s, rti6s, etc. Although you lose the slightest amount of bass with the rti4s, you gain so much clarity and dynamic capability. The cabinets are more inert, the drivers and components are better quality, the finish is nicer looking, and they produce far more detail and better imaging than the 40s. They make a nice little 2 channel setup. Just keep in mind that none of these bookies are going to give you much bass. My personal opinion is a nice little 2.1 setup over something like the rm6750 any day, because the sound will be fuller, more detailed, and much better for music. But even without a sub rti4s over the 40s all day.

codyc1ark

Here's a thought, if you already have a pair of the RM's, you could find a third and use that for a 3.0 setup, and down the road add a smaller sub. Polk has some nice compact wireless options, very easy to hide. Otherwise, any of the above would work well for your situation it sounds like.

jd27

codyc1ark wrote: »

Here's a thought, if you already have a pair of the RM's, you could find a third and use that for a 3.0 setup, and down the road add a smaller sub. Polk has some nice compact wireless options, very easy to hide. Otherwise, any of the above would work well for your situation it sounds like.

Thanks codyc1ark.

My bad. I should have posted, "I own a set of these". I have 4 satellites, a center, and a sub (which is unfortunately dead). That's one of the main reasons why I'm looking for larger speakers (in the literal sense). I was thinking, a beefier speaker – without jumping to a floor standing model – would bring about a lot more sound and richness.

Right now, I'm certainly leaning towards trying out a pair of true bookshelves, and hopefully order from a company that has a generous return policy just in case I'm not happy with them. Seems like I would be getting a lot speaker for (possibly well) under $200 with either the Monitor 40s or the RTI4s.