First time HT and speaker purchase

yobear · November 2004

Please help if you can? I'm fairly new to the home theater seen and recently decided to build one in my basement. I've elected to go with a Front DLP projector and now I have a decision to make for the audio. I've choose to go with Polk Audio for speakers and Harman Kardon for receiver.

Will this make for a nice set-up? Is it over kill for a room size of 13wide X 19long? or are these not suitable for HT setups? Any help?

Front's - Polk Audio RTi10
Center - Polk Audio CSi5
Surround - Polk Audio RTi4
Rear - Polk Audio RTi4
Sub - Pold Audio PSW505

Receiver - Harman Kardon AVR630

I'm looking at making this t a 7.1 system, should I consider the FXi5? if so how many pairs?

Thank again
vr
Scott

AsSiMiLaTeD · November 2004

personally, I'd change two things in your package...

I'd go with Fxi5 for the side surrounds

and I'd look at other subs. Polk makes a great product, but you can do better on a sub IMO. Take a look at SVS or HSU, both very good subs for the money (personally I like SVS better, but others may prefer HSU).

Oh, and Welcome to the family.

-Danny

gregit · November 2004

As you know, speaker selection is quite subjective. Try to listen to the various speaks and get what sounds good to you. That being said, I own RTi10s and a CSi5 and I love them. In hindsight, I probably could have gone with RTi8s since I have incorporated a sub. You could save a few bucks that way.

Good luck on the new system!!

edit...forgot to mention that I initially had a PSW505 and returned it. got the SVS and glad I did!!

Sami · November 2004

I third the subwoofer. Can't go wrong with HSU or SVS. I also would do what gregit said, get the 8's instead. I personally liked them more than the 10's, highs were slightly better to my ear.

You might want to search some used gear, LSi series speakers would be much more musical and better sounding than RTi's. If you don't listen much music then I would stay with the RTi's.

Danny, I take it you're liking the SVS. I'm thinking of getting rid of the RTi150's and the 70, I just don't have that much use for them as I originally thought.

yobear · November 2004

Thanks for all the advise. I decided to go with the FXi5 for my side surrounds and someone had mentioned to me at tweeter to go with the RTi6 for rear surrounds. I've never listen to the subs you've all suggested but I can get the PSW505 for $206.00 for that price would you still go with the SVS? I'm about ready to complete my order and the total is $1144 do you think thats a good price?

2ea Rti10 -

1ea CSi5 -

1pair of FXi5

2ea RTi6

1ea PSW505

Also no one has commented on my choice for receiver. Is the Harman Kardon AVR630 a good choice for this system?

Sami · November 2004

That's a great price for the system and the H/K is more than enough to drive them.

amulford · November 2004

That is an excellent price for a set of speakers. You won't be disappointed;)

It's not over kill. You won't have to overdrive the system to get the effect your looking for. Proper set up is the key. After all is set, calibration is a MUST. Do your self a favor and get a calibration disk and a RS SPL meter.

How big is the screen?

danger boy · November 2004

go with what you have listed... you can always change your mind later on a sub. but if this is your first HT system.. it's a great place to start.

People prefer SVS or HSU subs.. but that 505 will be plenty of sound for you. Later like I said.. if you need more bass.. upgrade the sub.

I started with a small Polk sub too. later upgraded to an SVS.

Toxis · November 2004

wow... those are insane prices. If you can get THOSE kind of prices, I'd go ahead and step up to the 12's. They sound a lot better IMO. As for a sub, I'd go with the SVS as well but the 505 is a damn good sub for the money. Receiver wise, I'd personally take a Denon 3805 over the HK 630 any day. But if you get the 630, you won't be disappointed. It's a great receiver with tons of power.

yobear · November 2004

I'll be using a BenQ PE8700+ Front DLP Projector and a 106" screen. I'm still in the early stages but I'm so anxious that I already began purchasing all the fun stuff in fact I'm still in the framing and wiring phase. I'll begin the sound stage and seat risers this week. I'll try and post pictures as I go along the way..

Tour2ma · November 2004

Hey... the important work is done... the seating is in place...

Agree with those above saying you have a nice rig in the offing there...

On the 10's vs. 8's, I think if you plan to do much 2 ch listening sans sub, you would enjoy the 10's more.

Sub? For that price the 505 would be a tough pass. I think db is steering you true here...

Will look forward to progress reports and more pics...

Welcome to the Club...

PolkThug · November 2004

yobear, do you work at Circuit City? I noticed that you're getting accomodation prices. If I were you, I'd wait on the receiver until the Onkyo accomodations come out in December.

Regards,
PolkThug

Toxis · November 2004

Originally posted by PolkThug
yobear, do you work at Circuit City? I noticed that you're getting accomodation prices. If I were you, I'd wait on the receiver until the Onkyo accomodations come out in December.

Regards,
PolkThug

That's what I was thinking. I thought they were accomodation prices but then I thought maybe he found some smoking prices on the 'Net somewhere.

Thug - Seeing you work for CC and get accomodations, will you have access to the Onkyo 1000 when it's released or are you limited on what you can order?

yobear · November 2004

Yep, CC employee I am! As luck would have it, after I bought the speakers I logged on to Harman Kardon accommodations site and the HK AVR 630 was backed order so, I held off on the purchase. Thanks for the heads up on the Onkyo. I checked with them today and it turn out I can get the TXNR901 for 866.00 + no tax and $10 shipping. I just completed faxing in my order. Can't wait.

Toxis · November 2004

That's going to be one bad **** setup!!!

chinchaz · November 2004

check your PM

yobear · November 2004

Quick update. Home theater insulation and wiring complete. Looking to have drywall up by end of week. I received my speakers just waiting on a receiver. Man the RTi10's really look and sound nice I hooked them up to my old Sony ES and was really impressed. Anyone one see some new pictures?

leog · November 2004

Hell ya great price.
best I can find up here is $1149. and that is just for a pair of Rti12s in Ca-na-da-da dont ya know

Mjr7531 · November 2004

You won't regret stepping up to RTi6s, I bought them awhile back, and my only concern with them was that they weren't getting enough playing time as surrounds, I use em' as my fronts now.

yobear · December 2004

Another quick question! The RTi6's are going to be my rear speakers; would you mount them on the wall? Or place them on speaker stands? If, speaker stands are the way to go, does anyone have a good recommendation? Thanks

hellotheworld · December 2004

H/K 630 has the audio drop out problem. You maybe want to check the thread in avsforum
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=344476

even my 325 has this problem.

people was expecting the sofeware update but not out yet. Maybe you can wait for a while for 635.

h/k makes great products, if it is not bothering you, that would be fine...

yobear · December 2004

I changed my mind on the HK 630 and purchased the Onkyo TXNR901

landry_p2000 · December 2004

Damn yobear! That is going to be one kick **** set-up! Good choice of speakers and gear. Be sure to display it when you get done. I am looking foward to seeing the finished product.

What kind of runs are you using and when do you expect to be done?:cool:

landry_p2000 · December 2004

You will like the RTi10s in your set-up. I love mine. I had the RTi8s at first, and they were great with a sub, but they lacked the bass I wanted without one. The RTi10s filled in the void, and sounded great with or without a sub. That is just my opinion. Welcome aboard!

stereo55 · December 2004

2ea Rti10 - 398.97

1ea CSi5 - 167.98

1pair of FXi5 209.97

2ea RTi6 160.97

1ea PSW505 206.48

Holy CC employee price reduction batmam !!! :eek:

May have to go get a temp job at CC just for a set of 10's and a new CSi5

yobear · December 2004

landry_p2000 I'm not sure I know what you mean by runs. If you mean cables I'm using all monster brand cables. I hope to be done for the Super Bowl

landry_p2000 · December 2004

Originally posted by yobear
landry_p2000 I'm not sure I know what you mean by runs. If you mean cables I'm using all monster brand cables. I hope to be done for the Super Bowl

That is what I was asking. That is going to be cool. I just got the gold plug in connectors for my monster cable and it is a lot easier to tinker on my system. Your ht seems to be coming together quite well. Get the nail gun and compressor ready!:D
If I was in your city, I got extra sheetrock to spare that is just laying in my garage against the wall. Don't take too many breaks so you can make that deadline. Good Luck!:cool:

VR3 · December 2004

I dont know how far along you are...

But if you take a 1x4 and tack is up on the studs at and angle... then pencil where it is at (needs to be at an angle though) - and then take a saw and set the depth so the 1x4 will slide right in....

This will add ALOT of strength to the wall...

yobear · December 2004

Its a slow process but its starting to take shape.. Pictures of theater and lobby/bar

yobear · December 2004

and the lobby

reeltrouble1 · December 2004

Yobear your room is looking like a real labor of love good job!!

If you can get another one and dont want to get a SVS because of your discount, stacking a second 505 sub on top of the first will let you dig deeper bass for not much more dough, I had to use this little trick myself after my first psw450 sub just did not cut it. It made a very large difference for me.

RT1

First time HT and speaker purchase

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