Center channel

Teejai
Teejai Posts: 43
edited January 2005 in Speakers
What would be the best option for a center channel speaker, the CSi3 or CSi5? My fronts are RTi6 and I'm using the FXi3 for surrounds. Would the CSi5 offer a better overall sound or should I save money and get the CSi3?
Yamaha RX-V661
RTi6
CSi5
FXi3
PSW303
Post edited by Teejai on
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  • Willow
    Willow Posts: 11,056
    edited December 2004
    The 5 has the same mids as the 6's, but wither or is not a bad choice....I would opt for a 5 if I had to do it again I too have the 3 and no complaints
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  • jdhdiggs
    jdhdiggs Posts: 4,305
    edited December 2004
    Since it will be the center of the HT and most of the movie goes through it, go for the best one you can afford (CSi5)
    There is no genuine justice in any scheme of feeding and coddling the loafer whose only ponderable energies are devoted wholly to reproduction. Nine-tenths of the rights he bellows for are really privileges and he does nothing to deserve them. We not only acquired a vast population of morons, we have inculcated all morons, old or young, with the doctrine that the decent and industrious people of the country are bound to support them for all time.-Menkin
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  • VR3
    VR3 Posts: 28,775
    edited December 2004
    Why not use a RTi6? DUAL RTi6 maybe!
    - Not Tom ::::::: Any system can play Diana Krall. Only the best can play Limp Bizkit.
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  • Willow
    Willow Posts: 11,056
    edited December 2004
    Why not buy 5 csi5 for your set up and stand them on end
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  • VR3
    VR3 Posts: 28,775
    edited December 2004
    Hey! Liquid sound does that! He likes it!

    Except he has the CSi40
    - Not Tom ::::::: Any system can play Diana Krall. Only the best can play Limp Bizkit.
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  • okiepolkie
    okiepolkie Posts: 2,258
    edited December 2004
    I agree with Sid here,
    Why not use a RTi6?

    Or a pair of RTi6's. It will cost about the same as the CSi5, or probably cheaper if you get the open box ones from Crutchfield. That way you have a completely seemless soundstage accross the front.

    Edit: I think I was typing while Sid edited his-teaching class at the same time.
    Tschüss
    Zach
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  • VR3
    VR3 Posts: 28,775
    edited December 2004
    Yeah, but note - unless you receivers can handle the load, you will need a seperate amp to run a pair of dual RTi6...

    Ya, I always edit my post...its a habit, lol
    - Not Tom ::::::: Any system can play Diana Krall. Only the best can play Limp Bizkit.
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  • faster100
    faster100 Posts: 6,124
    edited December 2004
    I say get a center speaker, the bigger the better... the csi5 will match your mains, woofers and tweets.. the csi3 will have smaller drivers... they look better then bookshelfs turned sideways IMO
    MY HT RIG:
    Sherwood p-965
    Sherwood sd871 dvd
    Rotel 1075 amp x5
    LSI15 mains
    LsiC center
    LSIfx surround backs
    Lsi7 side surrounds
    SVS pb12/plus2

    2 Channel Rig:

    nad 1020 Pre-amp
    Rotel 1080 stereo amp
    Polk sda 2B
    kenwood grunt Tuner
    realistic lab 450 TT
    Signal cable IC
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  • landry_p2000
    landry_p2000 Posts: 1,313
    edited December 2004
    I asked the same question several months ago, and I was told to get the CSi5 to replace my CSi3. I don't have any complaints about it, but with my fronts being RTi10s, I will get the CSi5 next month after the bombardment Christmas of spending. :( In your case, I would go with the CSi3. It would match better (imo) with the RTi6 speakers. Actually it does me fine with my current set-up and it is set to "small" but it does the job for now. I had the RTi8s at first, but I didn't like the way that they performed without my sub playing, so I upgraded to the RTi10s. No complaints about the CSi3, just the upgrade bug I guess. The CSi3 is still $199.99 @ Crutchfield.com. After all the hot air, my answer would be to go with the CSi3.:D
    Main Set-up: 55" 120 hz Samsung LN55B650, Onkyo TX-SR806, Emotiva XPA-5, Emotiva XPA-2, PS3 Slim, Sony BDP-S560, Apple TV (160g), Panamax M5300-PM, Polk Audio CSi5, RTi10's, FXi3's, RTi4's, and SVS PB12 Plus

    Bedroom: Panasonic 50" S2 Plasma and Panasonic BD65 blu-ray player, Onkyo TX-SR707, Emotiva XPA-3, Emotiva UPA-2, KEF IQ7's, IQc, IQ8Ds, and SVS PB10-ISD
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  • VR3
    VR3 Posts: 28,775
    edited December 2004
    The RTi6, duals - match his mains perfectly...almost to perfectly...

    Like...CLONE perfect! :p

    The CSi5...cost to much for what it offers, IMO - RTi6 is less, offers the same if not more with two tweeters - offers more options...
    - Not Tom ::::::: Any system can play Diana Krall. Only the best can play Limp Bizkit.
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  • chenj16
    chenj16 Posts: 148
    edited December 2004
    i know some people use 5 identical bookshelves and a sub to achieve 5.1 and they have a cult... another RTi6 is probably good choice for movie!
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  • Teejai
    Teejai Posts: 43
    edited December 2004
    First, thank you for all the responses.

    For my setup I would have to go with just a center channel for placement reasons. Two pairs of RTi6s would be great but I don't see that working well in my situation. I have limited space around the TV and the current stand would not allow for a 2nd pair of speakers.

    I measured my TV and either the CSi3 or CSi5 would fit ok on top of it but I may just go with the CSi3. The TV is a 36" Sony VVega and hopefully in the future will be replaced with a DLP or some other big screen, but the RTi6s will not be replaced any time soon.
    Yamaha RX-V661
    RTi6
    CSi5
    FXi3
    PSW303
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  • VR3
    VR3 Posts: 28,775
    edited December 2004
    When we say a dual RTi6 -

    We mean them set on their side, tweeter to tweeter. It is not much larger than the CSi5...

    If you must got with a center, the CSi5 is the best option in this case...
    - Not Tom ::::::: Any system can play Diana Krall. Only the best can play Limp Bizkit.
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  • Teejai
    Teejai Posts: 43
    edited December 2004
    Well I would hope either a CSi3 or CSi5 would be much better than the Blose center I currently have. (don't ask, I didn't buy it) The 2nd pair of RTi6s on the TV...don't know if that would work so well. I'll have to go home tonight and measure the RTi6s. Soundwise I'm sure it is good but it has to pass the WAF.

    Later on when I upgrade the TV I may have a problem with center channel placement. Anyone have a DLP right now? Where do you have your center channel sitting?
    Yamaha RX-V661
    RTi6
    CSi5
    FXi3
    PSW303
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  • jdhdiggs
    jdhdiggs Posts: 4,305
    edited December 2004
    2 bookshelfs as a center can cause comb filtering issues as the speakers will create uncontrolled crosstalk. Basically a messed up, uncontrolled SDA affect. Better to just use one bookshelf if you go that way. Centers avoid these issues in the X-over setup on the woofers (cascading array) and only having 1 tweeter.
    There is no genuine justice in any scheme of feeding and coddling the loafer whose only ponderable energies are devoted wholly to reproduction. Nine-tenths of the rights he bellows for are really privileges and he does nothing to deserve them. We not only acquired a vast population of morons, we have inculcated all morons, old or young, with the doctrine that the decent and industrious people of the country are bound to support them for all time.-Menkin
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  • nebborjk
    nebborjk Posts: 425
    edited December 2004
    Teejai,

    Get the CSi5. I use one with my RTi6 mains and have no issues. I started out with the CSi3 and couldn't shake upgradeitis. The CSi5 is a lot bigger than the CSi3. The 5 comes with a kick stand that you can use to prop up the rear end of the speaker if it doesn't quite fit on top of your TV.

    Kevin
    Proud SOPA Member since 2005!
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  • landry_p2000
    landry_p2000 Posts: 1,313
    edited December 2004
    Two RTi6s would be bigger than a CSi5. Also IMO that would not look all that great. If you have almost $400 to spend on a pair of book shelf speakers, why not just get the CSi5. If you want to save, get the CSi3. Like I said, IMO either would do good with your current set-up. I am speaking from experience. I hear my CSi3 every day, and my friends CSi5 on the weekend sometimes, and I like them both. For the bookshelf set-up, either will do fine. The only major difference is that the CSi5 produces more bass when set to "large", and it has 6 1/2" drivers and the CSi3 has 5 1/4" drivers. ( the power rating is slightly higher on the CSi5) I am getting the CSi5 as soon as the funds get clear, and moving the CSi3 to the rear channel.
    Main Set-up: 55" 120 hz Samsung LN55B650, Onkyo TX-SR806, Emotiva XPA-5, Emotiva XPA-2, PS3 Slim, Sony BDP-S560, Apple TV (160g), Panamax M5300-PM, Polk Audio CSi5, RTi10's, FXi3's, RTi4's, and SVS PB12 Plus

    Bedroom: Panasonic 50" S2 Plasma and Panasonic BD65 blu-ray player, Onkyo TX-SR707, Emotiva XPA-3, Emotiva UPA-2, KEF IQ7's, IQc, IQ8Ds, and SVS PB10-ISD
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  • jmierzur
    jmierzur Posts: 489
    edited December 2004
    I would recommend the single center speaker.

    I used to have the center on a shelf above the TV. After upgrading my entertainment center and TV, my center now reside on a shelf below the TV. I preferred the speaker above, but get good results below as well.
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  • Teejai
    Teejai Posts: 43
    edited December 2004
    If I put the center below the TV it will be very low, maybe a foot off the floor. The entertainment center sits really low but either the CSi3 or CSi5 would fit on the shelf directly below the TV. Would this still be ok?
    Yamaha RX-V661
    RTi6
    CSi5
    FXi3
    PSW303
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  • jmierzur
    jmierzur Posts: 489
    edited December 2004
    Originally posted by Teejai
    If I put the center below the TV it will be very low, maybe a foot off the floor. The entertainment center sits really low but either the CSi3 or CSi5 would fit on the shelf directly below the TV. Would this still be ok?

    Mine is on the shelf below the TV; the upper of a two shelf Sanus TV stand. Trying the location is the only way to find out.
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  • VR3
    VR3 Posts: 28,775
    edited December 2004
    Yes, use the 'slanted' back and turn it upside down (flip the grills) and angle the center upwards
    - Not Tom ::::::: Any system can play Diana Krall. Only the best can play Limp Bizkit.
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  • Teejai
    Teejai Posts: 43
    edited January 2005
    I have a CSi5 on the way! Thanks for the help guys I'll let you know what I think of it once I get to test it out with my system.
    Yamaha RX-V661
    RTi6
    CSi5
    FXi3
    PSW303
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  • Mjr7531
    Mjr7531 Posts: 856
    edited January 2005
    Originally posted by Teejai
    I have a CSi5 on the way! Thanks for the help guys I'll let you know what I think of it once I get to test it out with my system.

    Good to hear :) I have the CSi5, and I wasn't sure which of the two to get, went with the CSi5, and I don't regret it one bit, I love setting my speakers to Large, oh, you'll love the kickstand :)
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  • Teejai
    Teejai Posts: 43
    edited January 2005
    Got my CSi5 last night! All I can say is wow. First of all if I were to try and buy this in a store it would not have passed the WAF...she says it's too big. Luckily for me she was the one that ordered it as a surprise so she will deal with it. This thing is huge! I knew how wide it was and how tall it was but I didn't know it was going to be that deep. It sounds fantastic and I don't think it over powers my RTi6s at all. Right now this is sitting on top of my 36" Sony WEGA so hopefully the kickstand really does hold up well. Very nice upgrade from the old Blose center I used to have. BTW is there a market for used Bose or should I take to a pawn shop or something?
    Yamaha RX-V661
    RTi6
    CSi5
    FXi3
    PSW303
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