Speaker selection help
New here, and don’t know much about surround sound systems. I bought random speakers, and a receiver about 12 years ago, and wanted some opinions on how/if I should upgrade anything. I’m currently running
Center: Polk CS1
Front: Polk T90e (monitor 60 equivalent I think)
Bookshelf: RTi4
Receiver: Harmon Kardon AVR 130
Sub: Polk Audio- unknown model
I’m not really looking to replace the whole setup if I can avoid it, but do all these speakers pair together well? Looking for the most cost effective way to make my setup sound good for movies/games/sports.
Any suggestions? TIA
Center: Polk CS1
Front: Polk T90e (monitor 60 equivalent I think)
Bookshelf: RTi4
Receiver: Harmon Kardon AVR 130
Sub: Polk Audio- unknown model
I’m not really looking to replace the whole setup if I can avoid it, but do all these speakers pair together well? Looking for the most cost effective way to make my setup sound good for movies/games/sports.
Any suggestions? TIA
Comments
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It's imperative that the front 3 are timbre matched.Political Correctness'.........defined
"A doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a t-u-r-d by the clean end."
President of Club Polk -
I found a guy locally who might have a CS5 for $75 or CS3 for $50. He also has RTi10 floor speakers for $400. Would that make for a good setup if I ditch the CS1 and the T90e floor speakers?
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Or would I better off picking up a CS2 center, and monitor 40’s for rear speakers? Can I run the CSi5 with the T90e front speakers?
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If it were me, I would upgrade my power, and I’d match the T90e’s with the correct center. I had T90e’s at one time and enjoyed them. Your HK receiver is underpowered running five speakers, even running three. Probably even running just two. I don’t know off the top of my head what center would timbre match the T90e’s but somebody here will. Then I’d upgrade the sub.
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I just went and looked and the sub is an MTX Audio SW2
12” sub
100 watts RMS (no idea what that means, but it’s on the box)
Is there a certain receiver I should look at? Still new to all this -
If it were me, I would upgrade my power, and I’d match the T90e’s with the correct center. I had T90e’s at one time and enjoyed them. Your HK receiver is underpowered running five speakers, even running three. Probably even running just two. I don’t know off the top of my head what center would timbre match the T90e’s but somebody here will. Then I’d upgrade the sub.
From what I’ve been reading the CS1 and CS2 match the T90e (I think) since they are part of the Monitor series, but I’ve read some posts about the CSi5 being really good, and the RTi4 being better than the Monitor 40 bookshelf. It seems more cost effective to not have to replace the front floor speakers, since those seem to be the most expensive speaker to purchase.
Hadn’t even considered the receiver being a weak link. Guess I’ll have to start looking into that too. All suggestions welcome, and thank you! -
Personally I wouldn’t worry about your RTi4’s if you’re using them for surrounds. Some of the guys here will tell you what center is timbre matches to your Monitor 60’s (T90e is indeed the Euro version). But you won’t hear the benefits of the T90e’s without better power. Guys here can help you spend your money on that too. 😈
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It's imperative that the front 3 are timbre matched.
But don’t they already? All from the monitor series? Isn’t the European version just different esthetics?
When I upgrade from a CS1 and monitor 40s to a csi3 and rti6s it was my first really clear upgrade. For overall cost effectiveness I always recommend bookies and a sub because that can save you on power. I would grab that CSI5 and look for some rti6 or rti a3 and the save up for a sub. That will make a really nice HY setup...Living Room 2.2: Usher BE-718 "tiny dancers"; Dual DIY Dayton audio RSS210HF-4 Subs with Dayton SPA-250 amps; Arcam SA30; Musical Fidelity A308; Sony UBP-x1000es
Game Room 5.1.4: Denon AVR-X4200w; Sony UBP-x700; Definitive Technology Power Monitor 900 mains, CLR-3000 center, StudioMonitor 350 surrounds, ProMonitor 800 atmos x4; Sub - Monoprice Monolith 15in THX Ultra
Bedroom 2.1 Harmon Kardon HK3490; Bluesounds Node N130; Polk RT25i; ACI Titan Subwoofer -
It's imperative that the front 3 are timbre matched.
But don’t they already? All from the monitor series? Isn’t the European version just different esthetics?
When I upgrade from a CS1 and monitor 40s to a csi3 and rti6s it was my first really clear upgrade. For overall cost effectiveness I always recommend bookies and a sub because that can save you on power. I would grab that CSI5 and look for some rti6 or rti a3 and the save up for a sub. That will make a really nice HY setup...
Are you suggesting replacing my T90e with the RTi6 (or A3), or would those replace my RTi4? Can I run the CSi5 with the T90e and not have it sound off? -
It's imperative that the front 3 are timbre matched.
But don’t they already? All from the monitor series? Isn’t the European version just different esthetics?
When I upgrade from a CS1 and monitor 40s to a csi3 and rti6s it was my first really clear upgrade. For overall cost effectiveness I always recommend bookies and a sub because that can save you on power. I would grab that CSI5 and look for some rti6 or rti a3 and the save up for a sub. That will make a really nice HY setup...
Are you suggesting replacing my T90e with the RTi6 (or A3), or would those replace my RTi4? Can I run the CSi5 with the T90e and not have it sound off?
Yes, I am suggesting replacing the towers with the RTi6 (or A3): they are smaller but they sound much more refined with better detail. Sure, you can try the CSi5 first and see how it you like it. Either way, I am with the others. You really need a more powerful receiver to get the most out of any of those speakers.Living Room 2.2: Usher BE-718 "tiny dancers"; Dual DIY Dayton audio RSS210HF-4 Subs with Dayton SPA-250 amps; Arcam SA30; Musical Fidelity A308; Sony UBP-x1000es
Game Room 5.1.4: Denon AVR-X4200w; Sony UBP-x700; Definitive Technology Power Monitor 900 mains, CLR-3000 center, StudioMonitor 350 surrounds, ProMonitor 800 atmos x4; Sub - Monoprice Monolith 15in THX Ultra
Bedroom 2.1 Harmon Kardon HK3490; Bluesounds Node N130; Polk RT25i; ACI Titan Subwoofer -
Well I never heard back from the guy on the CSi5, so I’ll so assume that won’t happen.It's imperative that the front 3 are timbre matched.
But don’t they already? All from the monitor series? Isn’t the European version just different esthetics?
When I upgrade from a CS1 and monitor 40s to a csi3 and rti6s it was my first really clear upgrade. For overall cost effectiveness I always recommend bookies and a sub because that can save you on power. I would grab that CSI5 and look for some rti6 or rti a3 and the save up for a sub. That will make a really nice HY setup...
Are you suggesting replacing my T90e with the RTi6 (or A3), or would those replace my RTi4? Can I run the CSi5 with the T90e and not have it sound off?
Yes, I am suggesting replacing the towers with the RTi6 (or A3): they are smaller but they sound much more refined with better detail. Sure, you can try the CSi5 first and see how it you like it. Either way, I am with the others. You really need a more powerful receiver to get the most out of any of those speakers.
Any suggestions on receivers I should look at, or what I should look for? Do I need like a certain number of watts per channel? I’m pretty much clueless as far as receivers go.
