Best center channel to pair with monitor 70 series is?

jesseroscoe

Hi,

I know this comes up from time to time on here, but the "matched" center channels don't seem to be available anymore. Pretty much can't find the CS2 anywhere, and the CS20 is only out there new in cherry. So, what would be the next best option to pair with 70s? Or does anyone know a source for for either of the above-mentioned speakers in black?

Also, I accidentally cross posted this question in the classified section, so... oops.

tophatjohnny

Saw a reply from another member over in the for sale section stating, "matched" as far as center speakers go, sometimes not mattering much?? I know this is true because I just added a polk s35 center to mains as well as subs that aren't polk and the Polk35 does its thing really well. Try some that allow easy returns if needed and shouldn't be too tough to find one you like. Keep the community posted as to which way you go. Always cool seeing what others are doing here.

cfrizz

Welcome to Club Polk. None of my speakers match, I simply added more speakers to my system as I needed to. The Signature series is great, I would look at getting the S30 or S35 and I think you will be very happy.

afterburnt

@jesseroscoe I found myself in the exact same situation. I had a CS20 and it's smaller sibling what ever it was called and the CS20 was absoultely insufferable, the smaller whatnot was way better. I ended up getting and CSiA6 and that was a marvelous fit, for me anyway. I would highly recomend that you go the same route, if not I can tell you where to get some black paint.

jesseroscoe

Thanks everyone. Sounds like the CS2 would have been ideal. Too bad I wasn't in the market a decade or so ago. My brother has the CS10 paired with his monitor 75Ts and seems to like it okay, but from what I've been reading, that center is better suited to the smaller monitors.

pyrocyborg

This is matter to debate I guess, but some people (like me) will try to match both the speaker line and the drivers size (e.g. if your front speakers have 6.5 in woofers, I try to get the center speaker with 6.5 in woofers in it). However, in all honesty, I'm not even sure it matters that much... and maybe having the biggest possible center in a given line is your best bet, even if your left and right speakers have smaller drivers in comparison.

Anyway, with a room correction software, timbre matching, while still important, is less of an issue now.

I know Ken recommended the S30, S35, CSiA4, CSiA6 and TL2 as all good center channel choices for the Monitor 70 as they all have the same silk dome tweeters (or a very similar one).

afterburnt

It appears that the CS2 and CS20 are the same outsided of cosmetics, correct me if I am wrong. Let me know when you want the black paint.

jesseroscoe

Tried to get my hands on a used CS20 earlier, but the guy sold it a couple days ago. And the eBay cherry one I had seen appears to only offer local pickup 2000 miles away. So I don't need the spray paint just yet

Besides timbre matching, I was also trying to match woofer size as pyrocyborg mentioned, but it doesn't look like that's even possible with a center from the signature line.

I'm using my system mostly for music, but I was just trying to get a matching center since I needed to upgrade from my current center anyways.

afterburnt

@jesseroscoe I would sell you mine but I am actually a nice guy in real life. I am pretty sure I still got it around here somewhere because I don't have a fireplace.

jesseroscoe

afterburnt wrote: »

@jesseroscoe I would sell you mine but I am actually a nice guy in real life. I am pretty sure I still got it around here somewhere because I don't have a fireplace.

I have found the occasional person who didn't like the CS centers, but most of the reviews were pretty positive, especially with people upgrading from CS1 to CS2. I may look into the S30, S35 or CSiA6 now. I probably won't have the 70s for another month, so I've got a little bit of time left. Thanks again.

mrloren

I run a CSI-A6 with Signatures, Audyssey blended it well to match. Look at CL for a deal. I picked mine up for $70.

BlueFox

pyrocyborg wrote: »

This is matter to debate I guess, but some people (like me) will try to match both the speaker line and the drivers size (e.g. if your front speakers have 6.5 in woofers, I try to get the center speaker with 6.5 in woofers in it).

The center is for vocals. A woofer is irrelevant.