I'm on the Polk Bandwagon! Building system..what's next?!

Strafe

I haven't had a really good Sound/Home Theater System in many years and have started to build a system. I'm seeking advice on what to purchase next..

I mainly watch movies, but of course do listen to music as well. I'm also looking for fairly long term so I'd rather spend a little more now and have a great system that will last awhile. My place is pretty small and realize my system will be overkill, but again, thinking fairly long term. I do like the Polk Cherry a lot and would like to stick with it. However, for the rears I don't think they'll be as big of a deal.

Here's all I have so far...

Receiver: ONKYO TX-NR717 7.2-Channel
Front Mains: (2) RTI A5 - Cherry
Sub: PSW505

What I need to go with those three...

For the Center, I'm thinking in order of choice and what I've read up on:
1. CSI A6
2. CSI A4
3. 25 C
4. CS2 Series II

For the Rears, I have a pair of RM8's on the way (I paid $130.00 for the pair. Does anyone have an opinion on them?), but have thought about returning them. And maybe getting one of the following..

1. RTI A1 (or another RTI)
2. Monitor 40's
3. Monitor 35B

Any help on how to proceed on the center and rears to match the Onkyo, Mains and Sub would be great!

I'm glad I found these forums!

Thanks in advance!

jbooker82

I would pass on the PSW505 and go with at least a DSW Pro550WI or DSW Pro660WI. They usually sell for $299 and $329-359 on new eggs weekend sale. Also right now if you buy $499 or more in polk speakers you get a free psw111 wich is $299, but you can take the $299 and use it twards a DSW Pro sub. That should get it down around the New Egg Sale price.


For the rears if you want a great surround speaker look at the FXI A4's or A6's.

Strafe

Thanks JBooker but I can't find any of those deals you mentioned on Newegg and I looked through all my e-blast emails and on the site.

jbooker82

You just have to keep an eye on www.newegg.com on the weekends usually staturday and sunday. That is when the DSWPro's usually go on sale.

Here is the free polk sub offer.
http://www.polkaudio.com/promotions/free-subwoofer

It has to be through an authorized polk dealer. Crutchfield has it on there site. The DSWPRO660WI from Crutchfield is $649 but they will knock off $300 if you buy $499 in Polk Home Speakers.

Crutchfield sells the RTi A5's for $399 each. I dont know where you plan on getting your RTi A5's from or if you already do have them.

4406bbl

csi-a6 center and rti-a3 rears, Polk has a great deal on the rti on their ebay site, click the where to buy tab above. Welcome to club Polk.

Geoff4rfc

Strafe, welcome to the club!

Great start so far. Your Onkyo has pre-outs so you can add external amplification down the road.

For your center, definitely go with the CSiA6, it's a great center and you won't have to upgrade it for a long time and it will let you upgrade your speakers around it.

For your side surrounds, Jbooker called it with the FXi series, AWESOME surround speakers, IMO, they give you more sound than regular bookies. If you're going to keep your A5's as your mains forever, I'd recommend the A4 surrounds. But, if you're considering upgrading your towers to maybe A7's or A9's, then I'd recommend the A6 surrounds.

The sub you have will get you by for now, you will want to upgrade that some day if you want real theater bass. IMO, a decent sub will make your set up.

Have fun and post what you decide to get.

Strafe

Thanks for the input, fellas!

I went ahead and bought a CSI-A6 for the center. I got it for $239.00 on Newegg with a coupon code. No buyers remorse!

I'm still undecided on the surrounds/rears. I'm leaning towards the F/X A4 (only offering in black and white, white? UGG!) or the RTI-A3's. I'd like to stick with all cherry, but for the rears, probably not as big of a deal.

ravaneli

The most important decision in front of you that i see is will you get dipole speakers or not. A cheap dipole will beat a very expensive monodirectional speaker. I tried quite a few and there is no comparison.

Your sub is good, and even if you wanted to upgrade it, you have to look further than the DSW line, because that will not be an upgrade at all.

Your A5s are great speakers and A7 or A9 cannot be considered an upgrade over them. If you ever want to upgrade them you need to look at a different speaker altogether, perhaps LSiM.

A6 rocks and I have never seen two opinions about it.

B Run

ravaneli wrote: »

Your A5s are great speakers and A7 or A9 cannot be considered an upgrade over them.

According to who? Have you personally tried all 3 back to back in your listening room? I went from Rti8's to Rti12's and it was a HUGE improvement, especially in the midrange. I also had two friends and my wife listening and we went back and forth several times to compare and everyone agreed it was a substantial upgrade. I loved my Rti8's and i'm not knocking their performance at all, but I feel like that's a very ignorant statement.

Strafe

ravaneli, thanks for the advice.

I think I will go with the F/Xi A4's. I've emailed Polk to see if they'll ever be offered in Cherry. If not, I'll go with the Black.

B Run

Strafe wrote: »

I think I will go with the F/Xi A4's. I've emailed Polk to see if they'll ever be offered in Cherry. If not, I'll go with the Black.

Fxi's are great speakers, you'll be happy with them. I think they only come in black or white if i'm not mistaken.

ravaneli

if cherry is important for you ( it is important for me) consider these

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Mordaunt-Short-Carnival-3-2-way-Bi-Pole-Speakers-in-Calvados-Pair-/120810730442?pt=Speakers_Subwoofers&hash=item1c20e173ca

They are stunningly prety. I am contemplating replacing my FX500s with these only because the FX500s are too HUGE and INTRUSIVE in my room. And don't like black. The problem is, all speakers that I replaced them with were mono, and just obviously inferior to the 500s as surrounds. So I am down to this link abouve now, but those are bipole, not dipole. Where are you from? May be I sell you my FX500s if I buy these

jbooker82

99% of the exposed speaker surface is grill. The only thing that could possibly be cherry colored is the top cap.

Geoff4rfc

Strafe wrote: »

I went ahead and bought a CSI-A6 for the center. I got it for $239.00 on Newegg with a coupon code. No buyers remorse!

I'm still undecided on the surrounds/rears. I'm leaning towards the F/X A4 (only offering in black and white, white? UGG!) or the RTI-A3's. I'd like to stick with all cherry, but for the rears, probably not as big of a deal.

Very nice buy on the CSiA6! As for your A4's, I can relate, my entire front stage consists of 5 speakers, all Cherry with 2 black monster subs, one each in between my mains and wides. So, my FXiA6's are black. The contrast is awesome, you will be happy with black.

These FXiA6's are pretty powerful and pair well with the A7 and A9, which are both a decent upgrade from the A5, I've heard both the A5 and A9 back to back and the difference is substantial.

Nicely done so far, keep us abreast of the progress and don't be afraid to question any statement or recommendation that's thrown at you.

slester99

Go with the csi a6 for your center if you have the room for it otherwise get the csi a4. And for your backs go with either the rti a3's or the rti a1's. that will give you a very well matched system

tonyb

we have a "waggon" ? Why was I not informed ? :cool:

ravaneli

not 'not informed'.

Unaware!

You been riding it the whole time.

People like wagons. Will stop short of names, but, hey, you know who you are..