Polk CS400i x 2

weiser · December 2003

I can purchase another CS400i for fairly cheap from a friend and was wondering the best way to add to my system? Is there any advantage to having 2 centers?

Tour2ma · December 2003

With your widescreen a pair on oppsite sides can overcome any disconnect between where the sound comes from and where the visual source is.

On center above and below your screen would be ideal, if possible. However, if not, flanking it with the 400i's on end is another way to go.

Many would say that rather than dual centers in an orientation they were not built for, that a good pair of Polk bookshelves would be a better choice.

fgr41 · December 2003

Holy all kinds of equipment!

don't really know if having 2 centers is the way to go or not. I found one of the best improvements I made was timber matching all of my speakers.

You have quite a collection of equipment. I am quessing you have things the way you want them.

buy the 400i and sell it to me for +$10.

north51 · December 2003

Weiser,

I think you should buy the 400i and trade with me for my 245i.

Jason

weiser · December 2003

I can't stop buying more equipment!!!!!!
It's an addiction!!!!!!!!

I have everything with my main system pretty much how I want it! I may add the second center ( or a pair of RTi38's with another power amp running off center pre-out on receiver!!!) and probably 2 more subwoofer's( M&K's). But we will see!
The problem ( or lack of depending how you look at it! ) is I can get another CS400i for cheap so I would like to integrate into this system. Just not sure how to wire in!

dorokusai · December 2003

This is how you wire those two speakers:

http://www.usspeaker.com/speaker%20wiring-1.htm

dave shepard · December 2003

Scottvamp had called it "center on steroids" a while back and people were always asking how to do it he claimed it made a big improvement. I don't know how to do it but hopefully someone or even Scott himself can help.

Sorry I couldn't be of further assistance

Dave

Tour2ma · December 2003

Here's Scott's old thread...
http://clubpolk.polkaudio.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=6124

weiser · December 2003

Thanks for the input!

I don't really see any advantage to hooking up the 2 CS400i's in series and running off the receiver's center speaker output. I would still be driving them with the 100 watt amp for the center channel that's built in. I suppose the only advantage would be less strain because I have 2 speakers but the CS400i has no problem being driven hard and loud. I see no advantage for me here correct?

Second scenerio;

If I keep one speaker connected to the receiver off center speaker output and connect another power amp(mono) to the center pre-out. Connecting the second speaker to this power amp would this be feasible? If I went this route would I need volume control for the amp and would the amp need to be roughly the same power output as the receiver or?

Thoughts!

Tour2ma · December 2003

The only advantage will be in imaging. You could have 12 centers, but you still have to calibrate them to balance with the remainder of the system.

Since the 400i's are 8-ohm, a parallel wiring arrangement yielding a 4-ohm load is doable...

Scenario three:
Outboard stereo amp, Y-split the AVP center output and run the 400i's one per channel - has advantage of matched amplification for the centers.

EDIT: Bottom line is if you are not being annoyed by one center now, you don't really neeed a second. Then again, good deals are hard to pass up.

weiser · December 2003

I suppose if I do this that I can use bi-wire to connect the 2 positives and 2 negatives back to the receiver.
Your right I really don't need this speaker as the CS400i on its own rocks but good deals are hard to pass up.
I think adding another sub to the center pre-out would yield better results!
Maybe I'll do both, we'll see!!!!!!!!!!!!

P.S. I presently have the center sitting on top of the tv and tilted down towards prime listening location. This seems to work good for my setup!

scottvamp · December 2003

Weiser,
Having multiple center channels was my greatest HT improvment to date and the improvement was more than I ever expected.
*70% of your frontstage comes from your center channel. That is why in newer HT spreaker packages the centers seem to be getting bigger and bigger.
*Took care of quiet Diaulog and has never been an issue again.
Very common complaint with larger HT's.

***No paralell or series wiring - not going to work.***
You have to have an external amp using the center preouts on your reciever. Some recievers don't have preouts and some recievers that do will not play the interal center power when the preouts or being used. My Onkyo will. So all three of my CS400's are getting seperate uninterupted 100 watts of equal WRAT Onkyo power. SPL Calibration is done the same way as normal. With all three speakers getting the same test signal.
Hope this helps..........

weiser · December 2003

Thanks! I will have to see if hook-up to pre-out cuts the center speaker output. Will experiment with my mains off the Anthem amp. I agree with my major setup that dialogue sometimes suffers and would like to do this to see how much of an improvement I will gain!

Do you think adding a mono amp to drive another cs400i ( assuming I can use speaker and pre-outs at same time) will be sufficient or better off with 2 flanking speakers and 2 ch. power amp?

weiser · December 2003

I just tried hook-up and found that the Marantz cuts out the speaker output with pre-outs connected. Damn!

Any other ideas or options to improve center?

Tour2ma · December 2003

Originally posted by Tour2ma
Scenario three:
Outboard stereo amp, Y-split the AVP center output and run the 400i's one per channel - has advantage of matched amplification for the centers.

scottvamp · December 2003

Originally posted by weiser
I just tried hook-up and found that the Marantz cuts out the speaker output with pre-outs connected. Damn!

Any other ideas or options to improve center?

Bummer, sorry to hear that Weiser - that does put a dampen on your project.
The only other way is to have a strong 2 channel amp on your center preout and run a cs400 on each channel. This would work.

weiser · December 2003

I think this is the only solution!
As far as the outboard amp is concerned the power rating really shouldn't matter as long as it is within reason ( between 80-200 rms) because it will be calibrated by the meter in setup menu correct!
Thanks for the input!

Now this deal on the second speaker is starting to cost me money, oh well life continues!

scottvamp · December 2003

Originally posted by weiser
I think this is the only solution!
As far as the outboard amp is concerned the power rating really shouldn't matter as long as it is within reason ( between 80-200 rms) because it will be calibrated by the meter in setup menu correct!
Thanks for the input!
Now this deal on the second speaker is starting to cost me money, oh well life continues!

You are correct but an amp that has a totally different sound to it may rear its head but I really do not think that will be a problem - my 2 channel amp even has a volume (gain) on the back of the unit for futher control. But it is cranked anyway because the wattage is equal to my reciever.

weiser · December 2003

It shouldn't be a problem because I already am running the Anthem 40 watt tube amp off the main pre-outs. The receiver is 6x100 RMS. I find I just run a little hot in the calibration for mains about +11 for r/l front compared to 0, +3, +6, +8 for the other channels. More the effect of the room than anything. All done with a meter. Seems to work just fine!
Will have to find a good 2 channel amp for center maybe an Onkyo like yours. Will see what I can find!

weiser · December 2003

Scottvamp;

I just realized I connected my center speaker to the main speaker jacks to test and posted that the pre-outs cut out the internal amp but I failed to notice that I was playing a dvd with 2.0 output. Put a proper 5.1 dvd in and tried again today and yes the amp does not cut out for speakers when pre-outs connected.
Back in business!

scottvamp · December 2003

Originally posted by weiser
Scottvamp;

I just realized I connected my center speaker to the main speaker jacks to test and posted that the pre-outs cut out the internal amp but I failed to notice that I was playing a dvd with 2.0 output. Put a proper 5.1 dvd in and tried again today and yes the amp does not cut out for speakers when pre-outs connected.
Back in business!

That is pretty funny Weiser....
Honest mistake. Glad to hear it - let us know how it works.
Those mains were cranked almost all the way.
P.S.>My multiple center I run a couple clicks hot (and why not

)

weiser · December 2003

Yeah silly me!!

My mains are pretty high to balance but doesn't seem to affect the sound. The tube amp is so clean it is silly!!!!!!
Later!

Polk CS400i x 2

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