advice on upgrade to 7.1

flyingrhino

I have an RM7300 system for HT. Just upgraded to Onkyo 801 amp and want to add speakers to get 7.1. At this point I don't want to replace the whole speaker system. What I want to do is add a front pair and move the existing fronts to the middle. At the same time I would like to move forward some so that eventually I can upgrade the whole system.

Existing system:

RM2000II front and rear, 150 - 22k freq. response.
RM2500C center, 125 - 22k
PSW300 sub, 19 - 150.

I am thinking of adding R50's for the fronts. They have a range of 40 - 24k. Would I also have to replace the center? If so, I am torn between the Csi30 and the Csi3.

My biggest unknown is how my little RM2000II's would do as the surrounds in this system. Eventually I would add the proper surrounds.

Any ideas or suggestions?

Thanks

David

gatemplin

If you want to upgrade try to stay with one line. The R50s and CSI3 or CSi30 wont match. I would suggest that you go with the new RTi line if you are upgrading gradually. This would mean a CSi3 center with RTi mains. The little surrounds will do until you upgrade to FXis or RTis.

Loud & Clear

I agree with gate, jump up into some reference theater line speakers if you can; that would really open up your future upgrade path nicely.

flyingrhino

I knew this was going to happen! I can't do anything cheap. Went to CC at lunch and listened to some setups. RTi8's, RTi6's and R50's. Centers were CSi5 and CSi3. R50 had a warmer sound. RT series was much crisper. RTi8's were much fuller. I like the sound and the size of the CSi3 center but the Polk system designer recommends the CSi5 with the RTi8's. My center has to sit on top of the TV and the 5 is huge.

I have about come to the conclusion that I will end up with the RTi8's and either the 3 or 5 for a center. Then a paycheck or two down the road add the middles and rears. I know I'll end up with a much nicer system this way and should have known that I wouldn't have settled for less anyway.

Now that I've decided on the RT series, it looks like I'll have to use the in wall speakers for the middle and rear. System designer recommends the RC65i. I listened to them at CC and they sound like they would be good for the surrounds.

Thanks for the input from all. I'm learning a lot as I go here. I've had my Polk system for almost 5 years now but there sure is a lot more to this than meets the ear!

Thanks.

David

Loud & Clear

RTi8's ... from everything that I've gathered, including what I've heard from my older but similar model, you've made an excellent choice.