Polk audio Csi A6 or Csi A4 with Rti A7's and A3's

ddebunda

Hi there,
I am new to this forum so please tell me where to post to find the answers I'm looking for.
My current system:
Rti A7's for my fronts
Rti A3's for my rears
Klipsch Ksw10 sub
YAMAHA TSR-6750 (which is SAME as RX-V675 according to AVS forum)

Use a 2013 MacBook Pro via HTMI to play downloaded 720p Tv shows and 1080p blu-Ray movies

My set up is in a room, 11ft wide (speakers placed across here) by 20 ft length (listening area) room is actually 30 ft in length with large open area to rest of house.

I am trying to decide whether the Csi A6 is necessary to insure proper timbre matching with my set or if the Csi A4 would do the job as well. My wooden entertainment center has a shelf about 14 inches high (from floor) that I could fit the A4 in or I could put A6 on lower shelf that has a door that lowers out, about 4 inches off floor. If I used lower shelf I could invert the A6 to angle slightly upwards. Any suggestions on where to find good prices on polk (I check eBay and some other online stores)


The majority of my experience with home theater has been the original klipsch synergy speakers from 15 years ago so I have been reading a lot but need some advise.
I am currently using the Klipsch 10" sub from that system until I find some recommendations.

In addition to center speaker, I am in the market for a receiver that will give my A7's enough power.
I see my 2 options as either a 7.1 or 7.2 receiver which I could bi-amp the fronts or just a nice 5.1 receiver. I don't know if having the additional rear surrounds 7 channels, would really make a difference in my room area.

I'm looking to spend $300-$400 on a receiver either new or used although new might be better choice (possibly onkyo) and return my present receiver to costco.
Here's the specs on my yamaha that I paid $460 for new. I've thought about denon because watts per channel seem higher in my price range.


Also which model Polk or another brand sub would complement my speakers in the less than $200 range?

I don't have a whole ton of money to buy other stuff I have seen on here like amps, etc(not sure why I would need amps). I paid $700 for the A7's & A3's used with bello stands 2days ago.. I just saw a local pickup only ad for Rti12's and a Csi5 for $750 on eBay, oh well, I think I got a good deal anyway.


Please lend me your thoughts on my center question, receiver and sub as I would appreciate it greatly.

Thank you

Dave D

rpf65

Although the A6 would be a better choice, the A4 will work fine for with the A7's. I would personally trade bad placement of the A6 over better placement of the A4. Placing a center channel 25 inches or so below the tweeter level of your mains isn't a very good idea.

Your AVR is a little light to properly power speakers like the A7's. If your careful with the volume knob, you won't hurt anything, but a new AVR should seriously be considered. Used or refurb would be a less expensive option, but you will probably have to save a little more.

Your going to have to look at fairly high end units. Yamaha Aventage, Pioneer SC, Onkyo 8xx and above for some examples.

As for the sub, I would again suggest you continue saving. I would personally take the current sub and AVR budget, and upgrade the AVR. Then I would start saving for the sub. There are better subs that you are currently using, but until you actually hear one, you really won't know how important that speaker is. That's both a good and bad thing. Good in you really don't know what you're missing, and bad in that you really don't know what you're missing.

Upgrade the AVR, get the A$, and research subs is my advise.

ddebunda

Thank you rpf65, for your advise.
I'm returning my current Avr so I will have that money, close to $500 to use. Any suggestions? Do you defiantly think having an A6 on 4 inches from floor would be bad even if it's pointed up to reach my ears? I am about 8 ft from speaker. The A4 have to point straingt from the 13" shelf so I would be a bit below exact ear height. The shelf in entertainment center is just barley higher then height of A4.

rpf65

Yes, I still think the A4 is the better choice. Thing to remember is that as your listening position gets smaller, speaker placement becomes more critical. Second reason being that placing a center channel close to the floor is an accident waiting to happen. Be it spilling something on it, or kicking a speaker in, dumb things happen all the time.

If you live in the U.S., and are comfortable with factory refurb units, accessories4less has an Onkyo TX NR818 for $600. Another good reason for the A4 is that it's about $100 cheaper than the A6. Take that savings, add it to your money from the returned AVR, and your pretty close. I think the 818 will work fine for you, but again bigger is better. Amazon has a Pioneer SC 1223k for $699, but that would probably be a little more than you want to spend.

Geoff4rfc

IMO, the largest center of a series is the way to go. This is your dialogue channel, come out with the big guns.

The 4 and the 6 will both offer proper timbre matching for your A7's

ddebunda

I've tried to attach photo but not accepting bc it says it's too big. I can email it to u to see

ddebunda

Thanks Geoff. I was looking at you system, a wee bit jealous. A9's for fronts and rears!!! Wish I had a bigger bank roll.. Lol

Do think the A series would match the RTIs just the same? Such as if I got a CSI5 instead?

Geoff4rfc

Thanks for the compliment. The second set of A9's were originally wides and will go back to that as soon as I get the space

Absolutely, the RTi's and the RTiA series are all timbre matched. You can snag that CSi5 with confidence!!

msg

yeah, +1 on the A6 vs the A4. I was researching this a couple of months ago, myself. I came across some posts saying that the A6 can sound a little bassy for voices, but I read more saying that the output was better with it, since it employs larger drivers and the Power Port cabinet design. my understanding now is that the larger center is always better if you can fit it. once I got a real center channel speaker, I was really surprised at just how much more I was hearing. I really had no idea before just how active the center speaker is in surround environments.

regarding placement - is the reason you have to put it down low because your tv sits right on top of your cabinet?
if so, do you have any options for getting the tv up higher off the top of the cabinet?
do you have access to any sort of tools for possibly building a small stand to elevate your tv? saw, drill, etc? I'm thinking you could stand or wall mount your tv, or build a small stand out of ply + lumber for now to sit on top of your current stand, and to place the A6 inside, and then put your tv on top of this? I've even seen people putting these larger center speakers above the tv and aiming them downward. I've never really heard how this sounds, but I think I'd rather have my center as close to the bottom of my tv as possible, presuming proper placement of tv height as well. it seems more natural, but again, I've not had the opportunity to hear it different ways. maybe some others can comment.