Which speakers to go with to complete a low budget setup?

defreak

First, I have limited knowledge of audio equipment, everything I know is only after a couple hours of reading, so please correct me if I'm mistaken anywhere.

I am looking to swap out the speakers that came with my HTIB system, the receiver is a ONKYO TX-NR609. I know I have a quality receiver for the price, but still on the low end side. I am looking for speakers that are equivalent in quality and can be fully utilized by the receiver, also not looking to spend much. I am not planning on upgrading in the future.

After doing some research, I decided to go with the Monitor Series II speakers. I already ordered 2 pairs of Monitor30s (for rears and surrounds) and a CS1 center. My question is, for the fronts, should I just get Monitor30s, or is it worth the extra $30 to get 40s? what about 50s and 60s?. I assumed 30s and 50s are equivalent, just the difference of bookshelf and floorstanding, or is floorstanding better than bookshelf even with the same hardware?

Also, PSW10 for the sub?

Any help is appreciated.

20hz

besides what speakers you would rather have there is a couple of things
floor standing speakers usually go lower but if you have a sub more expensive floor standing is a waste of $$ ( since the added lows are not heard with the sub )
I suggest buying moniter 30's for the front and buying a sub that you like the best to add the extra punch .
I find you have more flexability with the booksleves .
I am sure someone else has some good comments on subwoofer choice .

cowtrimmer

If you want floorstanders get the 50's, if you want to mount on stands or on some type of shelf get the 40's for the front. As for the sub ? I would spend an extra 100 and get a 505 over a psw10. You can always turn the volume down, but its impossible to make a small sub sound big.

michael1947

Hi there and welcome to club Polk. I see you just joined today, congratulations. At 100 wpc, 2 channels driven your onk is capable of a nice monitor system. The 30's will do just fine in the rear, the center cs1 will work ok (a cs2 would be better) and for your front mains go at least M40's or up all the wat to M70's. I have M40's (love 'em) CS2's and M70. The entire line is great for the buck. Look at Polk's e-bay site and your local for sale links especially craigs list. I recently saw a pair of M70's on the Grand Rapids MI craigs list for 220. Read more and welcome.

bansheesho

I would go with the 40s or if you can swing it the 70s. You will probably want a little bit more than the 30s up front, but they work great for surrounds. Sometimes newegg.com has good deals on polk speakers, usually on the weekend. Not every weekend though, so you have to be patient. You can check out camelegg.com for some idea on the frequency of price fluctuations. Also check out the polk ebay store for good deals. A good sub is essential for a really good HT experience, so don't skimp on it.

cnh

Welcome to Club Polk!

M-40s have the same driver configuration as the M-50s, not M-30s. The M-50s are certainly superior to the M-30s. But if you had M-40s and a good sub, not sure the M-50s would give you that much more.

Going BIG on the center is usually advised (CS2) because that carries more info on a "surround" track that "any" other speaker in the system!

If I may suggest an alternative. I run an Onkyo TX-SR 604 in my bedroom system (probably a little more powerful than your 609 because Onkyo has been adding features and more channels since my model, but not terribly different in sound). I like Rti-4s up front with the Onkyo for HT (and you can match that with a center from that series). See below:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/PAIR-RTi4-Cherry-Bookshelf-Speakers-Polk-Audio-/360504604578?pt=Speakers_Subwoofers&hash=item53efbfb7a2

http://www.ebay.com/itm/CSi5-BLACK-Center-Channel-Polk-Audio-RTi-Series-Speaker-/360504632120?pt=Speakers_Subwoofers&hash=item53efc02338

Ah, but I see you already have 4 M-30s and a CS1, so in answer to your question. M-40s would be preferably for L/R channels up front. And although the CS1 is OK, the CS2 is better!

In any case, that Onkyo will have more than enough power to run such a system. It makes my Rti-4s sing!

Enjoy!

cnh

krt919

Hey welcome, and I too am looking to get polk speakers with a budget in mind. I have been looking all week, and think the CS2 for center, and monitor 40's for the front left and right. I have heard nothing but good reviews from these speakers, and think it would be a great set to start off with.

krt919

Ohh and the cs2 speakers is $99.99 on newegg that expires today thought.

cnh

krt919 wrote: »

Ohh and the cs2 speakers is $99.99 on newegg that expires today thought.

You'll regret if you don't! But it will probably be on sale again, in any event!

cnh

defreak

Thank you everyone for the help so far.

I went with CS1 because the driver size is 5.25 like the 30s, instead of 6.5, I read somewhere it was better to have consistent driver sizes, but I guess that's not the case then? seems like everyone unanimously agree on the CS2. Newegg is where I ordered, it's still processing, I'll probably cancel and get the CS2 then. And it looks like 40s for the front.

I didn't know my receiver was powerful enough for 70s and better subs. Thanks for all the help again!

cnh

Any "powered" sub will work fine with your receiver. However, the Onkyo 600 series, while it can drive M-70s, does not do them "justice" because they like to have MORE power than it can put out. Minimal power for the M-70s is my Onkyo TX-SR 805 or the succeeding 300X and 500X series (the REAL Onkyo power). And even these can benefit from external power amps, but are sufficient for M-70s.

Have fun!


cnh

Lietuvis91

Sounds like you got good advice here and your selections should do well with the receiver you have. I would only suggest going to the psw110 instead of the psw10. I was at a new years party last night where this kid had setup a 5.1 surround system using m40s and a cs2 with the psw110 sub and I was actually very impressed how well he had the system dialed in. Sounded darn good for what it was.

I've heard the psw10 and just leaves a LOT to be desired.