First build, choosing matching speakers

quicksilvergts

Hello all,
I feel privileged to own my first Polk Audio system( well only 2 speakers for time being lol)
For the longest time I always wanted a "true" home audio system,
I have always had a All-in-one system mostly Samsung. Couple weeks ago the wireless rear speaker port on receiver broke, I said "I am FINISHED with these style systems". So, the past weeks I have been researching every night when the Family goes to bed to come up with a budget friendly, clean, sound matched system all the way down to the speaker wires.
NOTE- "OH MY" I just thought for the most part just get the correct gauge and will be good to go BUT "OH NO", they play a VERY important roll as well.
Anyways, recently I bought basically New setup from Craigslist at a AMAZING deal to get me started,can't post price because it was that low lol ( NO JOKE literally NEW lol)
here are the pieces
-Pioneer VSX-520-K Receiver
-Polk CS10
-Polk PSW10

I would like the "Tsi series" Tsi300 for mains and Tsi100 for surround. but have become interested in the monitor series II.
I have found the Tsi300(Pair) for $200 and Monitor60 (Pair) $219
My questions are,
Would it be more logical to get the Monitor 60 or stay with the Tsi300?
Will the Monitor 60 match my CS10 and PSW10?
I am NOT going to get a sub anytime soon and was thinking the monitor60's would not blend well(overpowering the sub)?
NOTE-regardless of Mains, I will get the Tsi100 or equivalent( maybe Polk T300 monitor 30)

My understanding is the Tsi line is basically the Monitor series just different cabinet?
This is how I would like my setup if they blended well to be..
AVR- Pioneer VSX-520-K
Center- CS10
Front- Tsi300 OR Monitor60
Rear- Tsi100 OR Monitor30(t300)
Sub- PSW10

any help on these speaker(working well with each other lol) is MUCH appreciated.
THANKS,
Richard

quicksilvergts

Never mind. I found my answer on the "Polk EBay store" it was in the description on some of their item lol
The tsi300 and monitor50 would be maxing out my sub/setup so.... According to the Tsi catalog off

F1nut

Maxing out your sub/setup?

At the top of the page under Products you will find listings for each model and in that you will find recommended "systems", perhaps that will help you.

quicksilvergts

Sorry for the confusion.
What I meant was if I were to have monitor60 or Tsi400 as mains,
I would probably need a different sub other than the PSW10. As the mains would be more dominant
For the lows than the PSW10 ( I think anyways) lol

F1nut wrote: »

Maxing out your sub/setup?

At the top of the page under Products you will find listings for each model and in that you will find recommended "systems", perhaps that will help you.

PolkieMan

Welcome! Here is the mate for your system.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16882290277

F1nut

What I meant was if I were to have monitor60 or Tsi400 as mains,
I would probably need a different sub other than the PSW10. As the mains would be more dominant
For the lows than the PSW10

You would set your main speakers, center and surrounds to small and set the crossover point to the sub at 80Hz. The sub would handle the anything below 80HZ and take a lot of the bass load off your speakers. Running the calibration program will help equalize the dB levels between the speakers and the sub.

quicksilvergts

Thank guys!!
Really appreciate the find on the 55t(great price)and info about the sub frequency.
I did however buy the Tsi100 for rears.
Now my setup is
Center-CS10
Sub-PSW10
Rear-Tsi100
So all I need now is the mains.
Is there a major(noticeable) difference between the the "downward-firing" loudspeaker
versus "Forward-firing"?
Jeez I am such a noob lol. Gotta start somewhere,
f1nut, what is this "calibration program" you speak of? Are you referring to the AVR settings parameter etc..
I have found the frequency,small,large etc settings. Or are you referring to the microphone test? Because unfortunately my AVR does not have that option:-(
Also my setup at this moment is not even a "5.1" yet lol
Anyways, MUCH APPRECIATED for all the help and the Welcome.
Sincerely,
Quicksilvergts

F1nut

f1nut, what is this "calibration program" you speak of? Are you referring to the AVR settings parameter etc..
I have found the frequency,small,large etc settings

Yes. Since you don't have a mic, you'll have to set it manually. Hopefully you have an SPL meter for the final fine tuning.

quicksilvergts

F1nut wrote: »

Yes. Since you don't have a mic, you'll have to set it manually. Hopefully you have an SPL meter for the final fine tuning.

Super!! Lmao
No I don't have a SPL meter
I am just going to have to use my 32 yr old ears for the mean time lol.
Do you know a budget meter that would be suitable enough to tune it?
Thank!!

ZLTFUL

quicksilvergts wrote: »

Super!! Lmao
No I don't have a SPL meter
I am just going to have to use my 32 yr old ears for the mean time lol.
Do you know a budget meter that would be suitable enough to tune it?
Thank!!

Do you have a smartphone? Several free/cheap SPL meter apps for popular Android/IOS phones.
They aren't perfect but will do a good job of helping you equalize the volume between speakers.

quicksilvergts

ZLTFUL wrote: »

Do you have a smartphone? Several free/cheap SPL meter apps for popular Android/IOS phones.
They aren't perfect but will do a good job of helping you equalize the volume between speakers.

Yep, HTC one. Just downloaded 2 apps. I will give it a go later this afternoon.
Thanks alot, dud not even thunk about a app lol

ZLTFUL

They are handy. And while not 100% accurate, they will at least allow you to volume match all of your speakers.

quicksilvergts

Well thanks a lot for the info.
Finally got time by myself to relocate and tune.level/distance of speakers
That "APP" worked fantastic until I get the 55t or tsi300(money tight right now lol)
Then I WILL get a real one SPL meter. Finding the spot for sub was a bit tricky because my furniture
and such. Here is a pic of finished wired and hung.(before fine tuning and stuff).
I have had about 7 people come.over and were in complet awe. So clear,full and well.just awesome lol.
I am POLk fan for LIFE. I know it is a "entry level" but damn this is great. I WILL NEVER buy
A "home theater in a box" again.
Yes I know center is a lil off it is because I just put tv back on. And I did some tidying up on lower wiring.
Thanks again everybody!!

Lietuvis91

I like it, well done! That's a very clean install, and I'm sure it sounds good. Looks like there is a window on the left. Move the sub towards the window, and place it in a corner about 1.5 ft from each wall, if you can. See how that sounds, it worked for me.

drummer86

Very clean looking! You have almost the exact same setup that I started with about 10 years ago (I had monitor 30s instead of tsi100s). Welcome to Club Polk quicksilver!

pkrfan

You can get monitor 60's on newegg right now for $99. That's a very good deal and what I currently use. I recommed you get the 60's and upgrade the sub when funds allow.

quicksilvergts

Thanks all!
I am to the point of flipping a coin on the monitor60's or
Tsi300's the concern I have is.
How much of a difference it would be on overall quality/fullness of the
Tsi300 downfiring port vs Monitor60 front facing??
The sub is just going to have to wait till next year since Xmas is coming lol.

To be honest, the Monitor60 might just literally remove the sheetrock from my walls lol.
Since the area is small/medium. My house floor plan blows. But the wife liked it lol and
the garage was exactly how I like it.

But Heck, I WILL definitely consider the Monitor60. Just because the price/performance.

Premblr

If you can, also audition the TSx series, it claims to be an improvement over the TSi series.

quicksilvergts

Premblr wrote: »

If you can, also audition the TSx series, it claims to be an improvement over the TSi series.

I would love to audition them. Unfortunately where I live, I would have to drive almost 100miles lol to a store
That would have them or anything of that sort :-(
My whole setup I have never heard prior to purchasing. I just ALWAYS wanted a Polk setup
and the TSI series fit my budget.
However, I am going to SEMA next week. So I might find a place and hear them.
The TSX line does look attractive, vintage but modern to me.

quicksilvergts

Lietuvis91 wrote: »

I like it, well done! That's a very clean install, and I'm sure it sounds good. Looks like there is a window on the left. Move the sub towards the window, and place it in a corner about 1.5 ft from each wall, if you can. See how that sounds, it worked for me.

Thanks, I finally found a long enough audio cable locally.
I did put sub over there approx.1.5 ft from wall.
Needless to say... Good call lietuvis91, it sounds amazing. :-D
I did move it around room but best spot was only in that corner lol
Thanks,

quicksilvergts

Well club Polk.
I just wanted to update on the comparison between my old "Samsung AIO HT" and my first ever "real" HT.
Might not be much but it sounds AMAZING!
I just need a Polk 505 to finishvit(if anybody can help, let me know please).
Will buy another AVR w/ pre-outs and a amp to feed these M70 SII (they hungry, I almost need another job lol).

Down the road, I will build a 7.1.
But 5.1 for now, house is tad small for a 7.1(+the wife would be WTF again lol)

Since I have a little daughter(our first, she is 20 mo old).
It is much more convenient to stay home and watch a film instead of a theatre.

You all have been VERY helpful in every way.
Anytime I want to know something. It is explained or discussed
Here.
Thanks!!
Richard

Pics will follow.

quicksilvergts

DSkip wrote: »

Eventually you might get to the point where its not about convenience, but experience. I still prefer my own HT over a theater. The only thing to miss is the popcorn, and that's only if said popcorn is fresh.

Dang phone , gonna.have to upload in about an hour from my pc.

DSkip- I should have rephrased that part. It is the experience as well.
I prefer it 98% instead of theatre. My wife on the other hand, she loves it to but likes theatres too lol.
If it were me, I would watch ONLY from my house.

I notice now, how muddy my local theatres are now lol.
Reminds me of muddy Beats headphones and sometimes worse.
Not very clear most of the time also.
That is how I think I fall short, is the bass. My PSW10 seems to become overdriven very easy
And would figure the 505 would be suffice.

quicksilvergts

My old setup was super tiny.
And those are my Sennheisers HD555(HD595 mod)for when family goes to bed.

quicksilvergts

DSkip wrote: »

Yep, movie theaters are a disappointment once you hear what a movie CAN sound like. Once I added a 120" screen in my room, my wife has all but swore off the theaters. She thought I was crazy for wanting a projector, but once she saw it set up, it was love at first sight. We still go see a movie about once a year, but its just to get out of the house.

Exactly DSkip, theatres now are a place to go to get of the house. I hear ya.
That 120" has got to be a whole new level of experience. Like the first time again lol.
In time I will get one.

I did make a random offer on a Polk 505 with all original packaging about half hour ago for $115shipped and he accepted(so excited).
just 2 "very " small dents on back bottom corners. And have 30day return policy.

Now I will/should be set for at least a year lol.
That video on bottom I posted on Polk's Facebook "Fan Friday"
Polk/Sennheiser ONLY in my house.
Sincerely