csi30 why not csi3

jpm
jpm Posts: 2
edited March 2004 in Speakers
I have r50s for the mains and r20s for surround speakers.
Why is the csi30 suggested as the center and not the csi3? Can the csi3 be used or should I stick to the csi30?

JP
My Gear:
r50
r20
psw250
Quest center speaker
Yamaha rx-v540
Post edited by jpm on

Comments

  • faster100
    faster100 Posts: 6,124
    edited March 2004
    because the R series is another line, The csi3 is polks newest speaker line... The Csi20 or 30 would be reccomended for your speakers, however i would stay with the 30 or the csi40 for optimal sound,
    MY HT RIG:
    Sherwood p-965
    Sherwood sd871 dvd
    Rotel 1075 amp x5
    LSI15 mains
    LsiC center
    LSIfx surround backs
    Lsi7 side surrounds
    SVS pb12/plus2


    2 Channel Rig:

    nad 1020 Pre-amp
    Rotel 1080 stereo amp
    Polk sda 2B
    kenwood grunt Tuner
    realistic lab 450 TT
    Signal cable IC
  • Tour2ma
    Tour2ma Posts: 10,177
    edited March 2004
    jpm,

    Welcome to the Club...

    Polk seems to always recommends speakers from their current line up that best match the tone of those you already own. They may or may not be the newest.

    IMO this does not mean that there are not older speakers out there on the used market that will better match your R50's.
    More later,
    Tour...
    Vox Copuli
    Better to remain silent and be thought a fool, than to open your mouth and remove all doubt. - Old English Proverb

    "Death doesn't come with a Uhaul." - Dennis Gardner

    "It's easy to get lost in price vs performance vs ego vs illusion." - doro
    "There is a certain entertainment value in ripping the occaisonal (sic) buttmunch..." - TroyD
  • young
    young Posts: 22
    edited March 2004
    i had a very similar question a few days ago.

    i've decided to go w/ the CSi3 (and not the CSi20, 30 or 40) despite the recommendation. mainly b/c the CSi30 is very difficult to find... if anyone can point me to a place where i can get that, i'm certainly amenable to that.

    i've been convinced that the timbre matching is close enough for the CSi3 to work out fine.

    http://clubpolk.polkaudio.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=16988
  • AsSiMiLaTeD
    AsSiMiLaTeD Posts: 11,728
    edited March 2004
    I just bought my CSi30 off Ebay. don't see any on there now, but more will surface.

    I bought the CSi3 at first, and just didn't like it with my setup as much, I prefer the 30 over the 3...
  • pbc74
    pbc74 Posts: 63
    edited March 2004
    jpm, I'm using the csi3 with my R50s and it sounds fine.
    Main system:

    Fronts: Infinity Alpha 50
    Center: Infinity Alpha 37c
    Surrounds: Infinity Alpha 20
    Receiver: Onkyo TS-XR607
    Subwoofer: Pioneer S-DW1-K
    Cable- Monster Cable XP

    Bedroom Setup:

    fronts- Polk R50
    surrounds- Polk R30
    center- CS1
    sub- Sony 50 watt
    AVR- Onkyo TSXR502
    Cable- Monster Cable XP
  • dorokusai
    dorokusai Posts: 25,577
    edited March 2004
    You will find that some people will notice a timbre mis-match more than others...the CSi3 may work for you just fine.

    I personally would go with the previous recommendations of CSi30 or CSi40. If you purchase the CSi3 from Crutchfield, and do not like it, you can return it, and it doesn't cost you a thing.
    CTC BBQ Amplifier, Sonic Frontiers Line3 Pre-Amplifier and Wadia 581 SACD player. Speakers? Always changing but for now, Mission Argonauts I picked up for $50 bucks, mint.
  • jpm
    jpm Posts: 2
    edited March 2004
    Thanks for the advice guys. I know have an opportunity to test both the csi30 and the csi 40.
    The guy tells me that the csi40 is not very effecient and suggests that I stick with the csi30. Any opinions? I won't be testing them until April fools day.
    My Gear:
    r50
    r20
    psw250
    Quest center speaker
    Yamaha rx-v540
  • PhantomOG
    PhantomOG Posts: 2,409
    edited March 2004
    Originally posted by jpm
    Thanks for the advice guys. I know have an opportunity to test both the csi30 and the csi 40.
    The guy tells me that the csi40 is not very effecient and suggests that I stick with the csi30. Any opinions? I won't be testing them until April fools day.

    I don't know what that "guy" is talking about but the 40 is a huge improvement over the 30 in my opinion. I upgraded from a 30 to a 40 and was very happy with it. The 30 now fills the rear center duties.
  • dorokusai
    dorokusai Posts: 25,577
    edited March 2004
    Both are great center channels. The statement about "efficiency" is just plain stupid, atypical salesperson.
    CTC BBQ Amplifier, Sonic Frontiers Line3 Pre-Amplifier and Wadia 581 SACD player. Speakers? Always changing but for now, Mission Argonauts I picked up for $50 bucks, mint.