Need Help Choosing The Right Speakers...

Vgamer4550

Hey there guys, I am new to this forum so please take it easy on my . I am trying to finalize the upgrades for my system and I am down to the Speaker aspects of thing and I need some help.

My Current setup consists of thus:

Reciever: Denon AVR 3805
DVD: Denon DVD-1600
TV: Mitsubishi WS-55515
Surrounds: KHL Cheapies
Rear Surrounds: Polk FXi3's
Center: Cerwin Vega (a pretty good center for the Price)
Fronts: A Set of Sony Floor Standers I got 5 yrs ago before I new
anything about HT.
Sub Woofer: A Sony 10" Sub that matches the Fronts

Room Size is approximately 12'X14'

I am pretty much set on the reciever and other Electronic Equipment, My budget wont allow for much more and for the money I dont think I can beat what I currently have. The Speakers however are a different Story. For the Center Channel I was looking at the Polk CSi5 (from what everyone says, that seems to be a great choice). For a Sub Woofer I was thinking of picking up the HSU VTF-3 MKII. I was also planning to pick up another set of the Polk FXi3's to replace the crappy KLH's I currently have and match up the surround sound. Where I get lost is the Front Speakers. I would like to stick with Floor Standing Speakers and in that vain I am torn between 3 choices. The Polk RTi8's, RTi10's, or the RTi12's . From what I hear the 8's are great with a nice subwoofer; but the 10's are supposed to have a fuller range of sound. The 12's are supposed to be prestine but I would have to purchase an amp to make full use out of them cause I dont think my little old 3805 would do the job fully. Now I dont know much about amps so recommendations would be nice on that as well and I do plan on moving the system to a larger room within the next yr or two so I would spend to extra money to not have to upgrade in the next place I move to.

So that's that. Sorry about the long post but as we all want, I want to put my money to the best use and make the right decision. I appreciate any input you guys can offer......in the grand scheme of things I am still a relative amature when it comes to all this stuff........Thanks

Jstas

What about the left speakers? Why does everyone always forsake the left speakers? They ALWAYS want the right speakers!

The hell with the right speakers!

VIVA LA LEFT SPEAKERS!!!!!!!!!!

steveinaz

Well. FWIW the Rti8, Rti10 and Rti12 are ALL rated at 90dB efficiency; which means they're equally easy to drive. Rti12 shouldn't require any more power than the other 2.

danger boy

vgamer,

you're on track with putting together a great sounding system. I've seen and heard the Denon 3805 and i was quite impressed. Building your HT rig around that is a good idea in my book.

You have several ways to go of course. and it appears you know that already.

Two ways to look at it if you want to add external amps to your system.

1. add a two channel amp to power only the fronts. and let the 3805 power the rest of the speakers.. ie. surrounds, rears. You don't need to worry about the subwoofer.. they come with their own amp built in.

2. add a 5 channel amp to power all of your speakers.. to take the complete load off the Denon 3805. Only drawback to this one is that a 5 channel amp costs much more than 2 channel of.. makes common sense.

If i were... i'd go with the RTi10's.. if you like there full sound. If you find that in your room size it's "too much".. you can always return them and get the RTi8's. You'll find that many people in here (me included) have an older version of the RTi8's and match them with a good sub.. HSU and SVS both have huge followings.

I run 5 external amps.. since my old Marantz receiver didnt' have enough "umph" to run all my speakers. I"m happy with this set up. Keep in mind that with running external amp(s) you do need additional RCA interconnects from the pre outs of your Denon to the amp.. adding to the overall cost of a home theater.

You have many options here to go with. I'm sure lots of others on here will chime in.

good luck. and come back and ask more questions.

Finally. Your room doesn't appear to be very large.. so i'm thinking your 3805 should do fine with powering all your speakers. but if you like more power and maybe better sound from your system.. add some amps.

Al

Vgamer4550

Well, in terms of the 12's I was just going off of what most people seem to be saying about them. I know my 3805 will run them but I have heard they are a little power hungry to get the full....bang.....out of them. I have also listened to the 10's in shop and I like them but I just wanted to get a general feeling as to how all these speakers compare and if they might go well with my current setup......thanks for the input......

Vgamer4550

Thanks Danger Boy......that might be the way to go.....in the room I currently have I think the Reciever alone might be able to handle things quite nicely so the amp solution might be one I would partake when I upgrade the room size. That being said.....I guess I would want to pick a speaker that would be adapuate for my room now but would benefit from the added amp when I do increase the room that its in. The Choices The Choices........ enough to drive a person crazy huh.....But thats why we love this stuff......Thanks for the input.

Vgamer4550

So, what else do you guys think......are the 10's the way to go with this current setup or with the subwoofer I am getting, would the 8's sound just as good.......I will ultimately listen to them before I purchase but I kinda want to get an idea of what other people thought before I went there blind......Thanks guys

Drewsmith

I would go with the 8's, I like them better than the 10's. The 12's are pricey and probably would benefit from more power.

The HSU will handle the low end no problem.

I would go with the 8's save you some money, better sounding than the 10's in my view. Easy to drive and the VTF-3 will handle all the lows you need.

Vgamer4550

Thanks Drew, I will definitely take that into consideration.......Saving some money is always a good thing to do in my book, and since I am getting the monster HSU Sub; the 8's might just do the job.....That is unless I can get a really good deal on the 10 or 12's........Thanks again for your input