Sprucing up HT - Replace or Use RTA 8T?
The RTA 8T's were my first Polk speakers. Tweeters have been changed out to the RD0-194 and the speakers have served me well for 30 years. I'm in the process of upgrading my HT and am wondering what to do about the front speakers? It's a fairly large room (18x20) with a high ceiling. Couch sits on the back wall and I just purchased a set of LSi M 702 f/x surrounds from Crutchfield. They are mounted on the side walls and positioned just a little forward of the couch. Also just upgraded to the SVS PB2000 sub, and my receiver is the Denon AVR-X4500H. Center channel is a Polk CSi40 which I really like. So the question is what to do about the front speakers? I definitely want to stay with a tower speaker. Is there a good upgrade that would work well with CSi40 center channel or should I just keep the RTA 8T's up front?
Comments
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Hmm...that center has a weird tweeter so it’s hard to say. Matching towers would be either the RT70i or the RT100i, both hard to find at this point. If you insist on sticking with the center and think it sounds a good with the mains, then I would leave it. If you upgrade mains you will likely want to upgrade the center.
Of course, a pair of LSiM705 or 707s with the matching center would be rocking! But not a cheap upgrade...
On the other hand, upgrading the crossovers in those old boys and getting better cables might just inject new life into them!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 -
If you could get the LSiM-704 and LSiM-705's for what the sale price was or close to it that would be a sweet front. The 704 was going for give away price and its a very nice center. I wonder if the LSiM-703's would be ok in that room with the sub if you could get those with the 704 at a good price? I was running the 703s with the 704 and really liked it a lot, but it was a smaller room. The 706 center is also really nice just more ying, but the 704 is most of the way there.
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I look daily for the deal on the LSiM705 and 707s. If it ever happens again I will grab a set. I am open to a new center but would probably need to change TV stands. The CSi40 fits exactly on the shelf of my TV stand. The LSiM-704 is a quarter inch taller and I just don't have the space. I did audition the Polk Audio Signature Series S35 Center Channel Speaker since it was a low profile slim design. Not for me, very tinny sounding compared to what I now have (obviously).
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On the other hand, upgrading the crossovers in those old boys and getting better cables might just inject new life into them!
Any help sourcing parts for this? I found the schematic in the vintage speakers forum and found a couple of threads, but they are very old. Would this be a complete parts list, or are there better components I should be using?
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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 -
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 -
Thanks guys! Sent him a message. -
If you opt to keep the RTA-8T as your mains, the CS250 actually pairs fairly well with the RD0-194. At least it does with my RTA-11TL's with RD0-198s.
Polk Audio used to have a list of centers to go with vintage speakers. In 2010 they recommended the CSiA6. In 2005 they recommended the CS400i for the center and FX500i or FX300i or RT35i for surrounds.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 -
When I had surround I also had the CS 250 S and, IMO, did pair well with my 8t's, FWIW.Remember, when you're running from something, you're running to something...-me
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Slightly off topic but the CS250-s really pairs well with my S8. There are separated by several years but the tweeters, though different models, are physically identical and timber match nicely.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 -
If you opt to keep the RTA-8T as your mains, the CS250 actually pairs fairly well with the RD0-194. At least it does with my RTA-11TL's with RD0-198s.
Polk Audio used to have a list of centers to go with vintage speakers. In 2010 they recommended the CSiA6. In 2005 they recommended the CS400i for the center and FX500i or FX300i or RT35i for surrounds.When I had surround I also had the CS 250 S and, IMO, did pair well with my 8t's, FWIW.
If the CS250s pairs with the RTA-8T maybe I'll keep an eye open for a used one. The RTA-8T's were my first Polk's so they have some sentimental value. Plus they still do sound nice to my ears.
So, is the cs350ls the larger version of the CS250s and a decent match for my current towers, or a totally different center altogether??Post edited by joebass3 on -
I believe the CS350 ls uses a tri-laminate tweeter vs CS250s silk dome. The RD0-194 and RD0-198 are also silk dome so they may timber match better with the CS250s.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 -
I believe the CS350 ls uses a tri-laminate tweeter vs CS250s silk dome. The RD0-194 and RD0-198 are also silk dome so they may timber match better with the CS250s.
That’s right, but many people here testify to the cs350ls and rt400i meshing well with vintage polks in general...I personally have not tried it.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 -
So several years ago I "upgraded" my center to the CSi40 thinking bigger would be better. I just looked, and guess what? I still have my old center and it is in fact a CS250s. Guess I'll put it back and rerun Audyssey and see how it sounds. It just seems tiny compared to the CSi40.
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I believe the CS350 ls uses a tri-laminate tweeter vs CS250s silk dome. The RD0-194 and RD0-198 are also silk dome so they may timber match better with the CS250s.
That’s right, but many people here testify to the cs350ls and rt400i meshing well with vintage polks in general...I personally have not tried it.
Very well, I have no experience with the CS350 LS. If it works better then go for it.
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 -
I know you said you want to stick with towers, but a pair of Left/Right Lsi9 and LsiC center would be a great match, since you have a fairly decent sub to begin with.
They are not all that expensive to find now that they are older models.
