Best center speaker for vintage Polks.

I picked up a pair of Polk Audio model 4's with the square tweeters (Dynamic I guess) for $30:00 which pair will with my Polk Audio model 7's. I was hoping someone could recommend a good match for a center speaker. Thanks.

Comments

  • teekay0007
    teekay0007 Posts: 2,289
    I would highly recommend a CS400/400i. They have the same size/vintage drivers as your Monitor 7s - always a plus to have your front three timbre matched. I’m currently using the 400 with both my SDA-1C fronts and Monitor 7 (or 10) fronts, an awesome pairing.
  • teekay0007
    teekay0007 Posts: 2,289
    Where are you located? Anywhere near the Minneapolis/St. Paul area? I have a CS400 in excellent condition that’s available.
  • kachilda
    kachilda Posts: 44
    I'm afraid I'm in SLC but I'll keep an eye out for one thanks.
  • kachilda
    kachilda Posts: 44
    I just checked on Ebay for a Polk audio CS400, I was able to find the grill. Hahahaha
  • teekay0007
    teekay0007 Posts: 2,289
    Good luck, they do pop up from time to time. It is a great center. Very capable.

    Welcome to Club Polk!

    Where’s SLC?
  • kachilda
    kachilda Posts: 44
    teekay0007 wrote: »
    Good luck, they do pop up from time to time. It is a great center. Very capable.

    Welcome to Club Polk!

    Where’s SLC?

    Salt Lake City Utah
  • JayMX
    JayMX Posts: 446
    If you’re in the SLC hood, here are a couple of local listings that might fit the bill for you:

    This dude is right off the freeway south of Orem, I’ve bought from him before.
    CSi3 for $80
    https://classifieds.ksl.com/listing/59422013
    CS245 for $50
    https://classifieds.ksl.com/listing/59439603

    And this dude is selling three Monitor 4’s and a pair of RT8TL's in Provo:
    https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/214891613275141/
    He’s been all over the place with the price. Probably could get the lot of them for $120.

    I’m in Farmington, happy to help a fellow polkaholic!
    Current Collection: Monitor 4a (Peerless), Monitor 5B (Peerless), Modified Monitor 7b (Peerless), RTA15TL (SL3000), SDA CRS+ (194’s), SDA SRS 2.3TL, R100's, R200’s, R300 🤩
    Pairs that have passed through: Monitor 4b (Peerless), Monitor 5a (Peerless), Monitor 5b (SL1000), Monitor 5b (SL2000) (4x pair), Monitor 7b (Peerless), Modified Monitor 7c’s (194’s), Monitor 10a (Peerless), Monitor 10b (5x pair), RTA8, RTA8TL, RTA 11T, RTA12c (194's), SDA CRS, SDA 2 (2x pair), SDA 2a, SDA 2b, SDA 1b, SDA 1c, SDA SRS 2 (2x pair), SDA SRS 3.1TL (198’s) (2x pair)...and more to come, it’s a sickness.
  • kachilda
    kachilda Posts: 44
    My monitor 7's have one peerless and one silver tweeter (It's the way they were when I bought them) and I'd like to replace the silver with a peerless so I'll keep an eye on them thanks for the good info.
  • JayMX
    JayMX Posts: 446
    JayMX wrote: »
    happy to help enable a fellow polkaholic!

    Fixed it. 👍🏻🤘🏻
    Current Collection: Monitor 4a (Peerless), Monitor 5B (Peerless), Modified Monitor 7b (Peerless), RTA15TL (SL3000), SDA CRS+ (194’s), SDA SRS 2.3TL, R100's, R200’s, R300 🤩
    Pairs that have passed through: Monitor 4b (Peerless), Monitor 5a (Peerless), Monitor 5b (SL1000), Monitor 5b (SL2000) (4x pair), Monitor 7b (Peerless), Modified Monitor 7c’s (194’s), Monitor 10a (Peerless), Monitor 10b (5x pair), RTA8, RTA8TL, RTA 11T, RTA12c (194's), SDA CRS, SDA 2 (2x pair), SDA 2a, SDA 2b, SDA 1b, SDA 1c, SDA SRS 2 (2x pair), SDA SRS 3.1TL (198’s) (2x pair)...and more to come, it’s a sickness.
  • mhardy6647
    mhardy6647 Posts: 33,900
    kachilda wrote: »
    My monitor 7's have one peerless and one silver tweeter (It's the way they were when I bought them) and I'd like to replace the silver with a peerless so I'll keep an eye on them thanks for the good info.

    Make sure the two models are the same before you go swappin' tweeters willy-nilly. I am NOT the expert -- someone else here will know for sure -- but I reckon that the XO was different for the "Silver Coil" tweeter relative to the Peerless.

    Now, if someone just dropped a Silver Coil dome tweeter in to replace a borked Peerless... well... that's a different matter.
  • pitdogg2
    pitdogg2 Posts: 25,562
    I believe he is referring to SL1000 tweeter. They would fit the peerless cut out. I believe the xo was still a bit different than the peerless.
  • kachilda
    kachilda Posts: 44
    So I plugged in a Polk audio RM6000BD center I had lying around. It's not a match made in polk heaven but it will do until I find the CS400/400i center you all recommend. Thanks for all the good help I'll keep you posted.
  • FestYboy
    FestYboy Posts: 3,861
    I'd get that RTA8TL if I were you, that way the 7s can be used for what they're made for (music). And then you could add the 4s in for 7.1 or more.
  • kachilda
    kachilda Posts: 44
    I am using them for music. The model 4's are sitting behind my model 7's and on top of my Kef Q70's (which I have hooked up to a separate system for watching movies) and they (along with my model 7's) are used only for music. and Youtube. Thanks for the advice though.
  • FestYboy
    FestYboy Posts: 3,861
    Sorry, I assumed that since you were looking for a timber match for your 7s, that you were building a vintage surround setup.
  • kachilda
    kachilda Posts: 44
    FestYboy wrote: »
    Sorry, I assumed that since you were looking for a timber match for your 7s, that you were building a vintage surround setup.

    Ya I can see that and I hadn't really considered it until you said something and your kind of right but the direction I'm trying to go is the best sound for music I can get on a budget.
  • kachilda
    kachilda Posts: 44
    Would any CS center match timber are do I need the 400/400i's I'm asking because locally there's currently a cs1 and a cs10 available. Thanks
  • kachilda
    kachilda Posts: 44
    edited April 2020
    I was poking around in the closet and you'll never guess what I found; A pair of Polk audio model 4's I picked up at the DI thrift store for $10 a year or two back. One of them needs a tweeter lead repaired which I started on a long while back and never finished which I guess is why they were in the closet. But the one that is working is a perfect timber match to use for my center so I will use that until I'm able to get a hold of the ever allusive cs400/400i. Thanks for the advice.
  • kachilda
    kachilda Posts: 44
    Hi. I have a Polk audio CS245i center speaker that Iv'e had for years and I would like to know if it would be a good timber match for my current speaker set up are if I should continue to use the Polk audio 4 moniter speaker Iv'e been using and keep an eye out for a cs400/400i Thanks.

    Front - Polk Audio 7 monitor
    rear Polk Audio 4 monitor
  • kachilda
    kachilda Posts: 44
    kachilda wrote: »
    Hi. I have a Polk audio CS245i center speaker that Iv'e had for years and I would like to know if it would be a good timber match for my current speaker set up are if I should continue to use the Polk audio 4 moniter speaker Iv'e been using and keep an eye out for a cs400/400i Thanks.

    Front - Polk Audio 7 monitor
    rear Polk Audio 4 monitor

    So I finally got around to hooking up the Polk audio CS245i center speaker I had lying around from a previous setup and I'll have to give it a week or two to see if it's a match made in Polk heaven but one thing is clear there's a noticeable difference between a center speaker and a book shelf speaker when used in the center position.
  • drumminman
    drumminman Posts: 3,396
    Using an LSiM 704 with modded RTA 12c’s as front L-R’s with Excellent results.
    "Science is suppose to explain observations not dismiss them as impossible" - Norm on AA; 2.3TL's w/sonicaps/mills/jantzen inductors, Gimpod's boards, Lg Solen SDA inductors, RD-0198's, MW's dynamatted, Armaflex speaker gaskets, H-nuts, brass spikes, Cardas CCGR BP's, upgraded IC Cable, Black Hole Damping Sheet strips, interior of cabinets sealed with Loctite Power Grab, AI-1 interface with 1000VA A-L transformer
  • kachilda
    kachilda Posts: 44
    drumminman wrote: »
    Using an LSiM 704 with modded RTA 12c’s as front L-R’s with Excellent results.
    The price of those things they aught to be able to wash your dishes. :)
  • skrol
    skrol Posts: 3,387
    A while back Polk released a list of centers to go with vintage Polk speakers.
    Stan

    Main 2ch:
    Polk LSi15 (DB840 upgrade), Parasound: P/LD-1100, HCA-1000A; Denon: DVD-2910, DRM-800A; Benchmark DAC1, Monster HTS3600-MKII, Grado SR-225i; Technics SL-J2, Parasound PPH-100.

    HT:
    Marantz SR7010, Polk: RTA11TL (RDO198-1, XO and Damping Upgrades), S4, CS250, PSW110 , Marantz UD5005, Pioneer PL-530, Panasonic TC-P42S60

    Other stuff:
    Denon: DRA-835R, AVR-888, DCD-660, DRM-700A, DRR-780; Polk: S8, Monitor 5A, 5B, TSi100, RM7, PSW10 (DXi104 upgrade); Pioneer: CT-6R; Onkyo CP-1046F; Ortofon OM5E, Marantz: PM5004, CD5004, CDR-615; Parasound C/PT-600, HCA-800ii, Sony CDP-650ESD, Technics SA 5070, B&W DM601
  • kachilda
    kachilda Posts: 44
    edited May 2020
    Awesome thanks I'll check em out. It's to bad you can't delete these things.
  • kachilda
    kachilda Posts: 44
    skrol wrote: »
    A while back Polk released a list of centers to go with vintage Polk speakers.
    Awesome thanks I'll check em out.
  • skrol
    skrol Posts: 3,387
    I'm using a CS250s with my RTA-11TL's with RD0-198 tweeters. They blend fairly well. My S8 blend even better since they have nearly the same tweeters.
    Stan

    Main 2ch:
    Polk LSi15 (DB840 upgrade), Parasound: P/LD-1100, HCA-1000A; Denon: DVD-2910, DRM-800A; Benchmark DAC1, Monster HTS3600-MKII, Grado SR-225i; Technics SL-J2, Parasound PPH-100.

    HT:
    Marantz SR7010, Polk: RTA11TL (RDO198-1, XO and Damping Upgrades), S4, CS250, PSW110 , Marantz UD5005, Pioneer PL-530, Panasonic TC-P42S60

    Other stuff:
    Denon: DRA-835R, AVR-888, DCD-660, DRM-700A, DRR-780; Polk: S8, Monitor 5A, 5B, TSi100, RM7, PSW10 (DXi104 upgrade); Pioneer: CT-6R; Onkyo CP-1046F; Ortofon OM5E, Marantz: PM5004, CD5004, CDR-615; Parasound C/PT-600, HCA-800ii, Sony CDP-650ESD, Technics SA 5070, B&W DM601
  • kachilda
    kachilda Posts: 44
    skrol wrote: »
    I'm using a CS250s with my RTA-11TL's with RD0-198 tweeters. They blend fairly well. My S8 blend even better since they have nearly the same tweeters.

    For movies it's better for music it's a toss up. There not bad just different from the Polk 4 I was using for center.