Picking the right components for my new house

mminogue
mminogue Posts: 3
edited December 2012 in Basic Hookup/Wiring Questions
Hi,

i've recently moved to a new house and thought it was a perfect opportunity to clean up my home theater system.
I currently have:
- CSi3 center channel, which i would like to replace with something more narrow that fits on the mantel a bit better. My mantel is only 5.5" deep and the CSi3 currently overhangs it by 1.5".
- PSW202 03200 sub. I am super happy with this and not likely to change it
- 2 RTi4's set up as the rears in the system. again, happy with these and not looking to change.
What i am missing are the 2 fronts. I was trying to decided which tower speaker would work best with the new room, which is 19.5' x 22'

I'd also love to hear some recommendations on receivers. I have an old Panasonic unit that is dated and needing to be upgraded.

Appreciate the help
Post edited by mminogue on
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Comments

  • Erik Tracy
    Erik Tracy Posts: 4,673
    edited December 2012
    Greetings and Welcome to Club Polk!

    There are lots of good advice that others will chime in with - but the usual questions probably need to be asked first.

    Do you have a budget in mind?

    What are your preferences for music vs movies?

    Are you looking for components mostly for watching movies or do you have other components like a CD/SACD player or turntable for listening to music?

    H9: If you don't trust what you are hearing, then maybe you need to be less invested in a hobby which all the pleasure comes from listening to music.
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  • mminogue
    mminogue Posts: 3
    edited December 2012
    My budget is still pretty flexible at this point.
    I'd like something that is of pretty high quality so that I don't feel the need to upgrade any time in the near future.
    the system is used more 50/50 between movies and music.

    as far as components running to the receiver
    digital TV
    Blue Ray/CD player
    laptop
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  • Erik Tracy
    Erik Tracy Posts: 4,673
    edited December 2012
    Be careful when you say 'flexible' - we can spend ALOT of money here! :cheesygrin:

    If you are happy with your sub, the RTi4s, and the CSi3 (aside from its size), and your preferences are evenly split 50/50, then I'd say your best fit for fronts would be something in the RTiA series of towers - so go big or go home - go for the RTiA9s.

    To drive them - I'd go big with a Marantz SR7007 AVR - which would leave the door open for an external amp upgrade later.

    H9: If you don't trust what you are hearing, then maybe you need to be less invested in a hobby which all the pleasure comes from listening to music.
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  • Geoff4rfc
    Geoff4rfc Posts: 2,437
    edited December 2012
    mminogue, welcome to club Polk!

    Since you're keeping the RTi4's, it's probably a good idea to hang on to your current center, maybe get creative with a supportive shelf. The last thing you want is to create an underpowered dialog. Also, I've upgraded from the monitor series to the RTiA's, I couldn't see doing the opposite which is probably the way you would have to go just to make a "size" fit.

    For towers, in a room that big, like Erik suggested A9's would be an awesome addition. Given the size of your current center, the A7's and A5's would be okay also. Even the RTi8's or 10's.

    I'm sorry that I don't have a wide range of experience with receivers. I've owned one in my short time of H.T. extravaganza however, my Onkyo 807 has performed flawlessly for me over the past three years.

    One thing I can advise from the experience of others, to drive larger (or multiple) speakers, unless you have a Pioneer AVR with ICE amps, you'll need to consider having both an AVR and an external amplifier, and the reason is, AVR's big power specs are rated with only two channels, once you start adding a third, fifth or even seven, the power per channel MAY drop significantly. I've heard from Pio owners that the ICE amps maintain their power well.

    There's great deals to be had used and new here on the forum and other related links. Best of luck and many happy returns.
    Source: BRP Panasonic UB9000, CDP Emotiva ERC3 - Display: LG OLED EVO 83 C3 - Pre/Pro: Marantz 8802A - Amplification: Emotiva XPA-DR3, XPA-2 x 2, XPA-6, Speakers, Mains/2ch-Focal Kanta No2's, C-LSiM706, S-702F/X, RS-RTiA9's, WS-RTiA9's, FH-RTiA3's, Subs - Epik Empire x 2

    Cables: AudioQuest McKenzie XLR's/CDP/Amp, Carbon 48/BRP, Forest 48/Display, 2 channel speaker cable: Furutech FS Alpha 36 12AWG PCOCC Single Crystal (Douglas Connection)

    EXPERIENCE: next to nothing, but I sure enjoy audio and video MY OPINION OF THIS HOBBY: I may not be a smart man, but I know what quicksand is.
    When I was young, I was Superman but now that old age has gotten the best of me I'm only Batman
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  • Erik Tracy
    Erik Tracy Posts: 4,673
    edited December 2012
    One idea to address the OP's concern with the CSi3 overhang on the mantel might be to create a platform/shelf secured from the rear down into the mantel.

    As Geoff4rfc mentioned - I wouldn't go 'down' in the Polk line to go smaller on the Center. If anything, go bigger - esp. with RTiA9s.

    Just stirring the pot......

    H9: If you don't trust what you are hearing, then maybe you need to be less invested in a hobby which all the pleasure comes from listening to music.
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  • mminogue
    mminogue Posts: 3
    edited December 2012
    thanks for all the input.
    any recommendations on where to buy? I live in Canada and the only place I can find Polk Products is at Futureshop, which I don't tend to believe has very competitive pricing
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