advice on speakers

clkings

I am new to surround sound. My home was prewired for surround sound. I have been looking at some in wall speakers for the rear and tower speakers for the front. What is the difference between the TC, LC, and RC style in wall speakers? Do you even reccomend the in wall's? I have heard mixed comments. One store recommended them for the rear only. My home is also wired for 6.1 and so far I have only found them sold in pairs. I only need 3. Any suggestions?

Thanks.

Mjr7531

Welcome to Club Polk!
I beleive that that the RC series are an older version of the TC series, which are designed to be timber matched with the current RTi line. The LC series is timbre matched with the LSi line.
I regard in-walls as last resort, actual loud speakers are much more flexible in placement and many other things, if you can, go bookshelves and/or floorstanders.
For your thrid speaker, I would buy another center channel, or buy 2 pairs of bookshelves (or w/e) and sell a single one, or buy three used, etc. As to what type you should get, what do you have right now as your current setup?
Matt

clkings

Currently don't have anything. Starting from scratch. Again the salesman told me since the walls are hard wired to consider in walls for the rear. I guess that was just his suggestion. I noticed a large price difference between the series and was just curious what the true difference was. Any suggestions would be great. I heard Polk was a pretty good entry level speaker. Priced fairly, etc...

Mjr7531

Polk is a wonderful place to start, what kind of budget did you have in mind, with Polk there are basically 4 places where you can enter, The R series, the Monitor series, The RTi Series, and then the LSi series,

Basically, The R series is the entry level, sounds great, and will get you in the door, but...
The Monitor series is the better entry level, it will serve you well for movies and music.
The RTi series was designed for HT (RT=Reference Theater) and I beleive they do a very good job with it. They also will do well with music (Better than the aforementioed series.)
And the LSis, they are the creme of the crop. They will amaze you with music, and aren't to shabby with HT either, they are very accurate and sound incredibly clear.
If you're a bass freak, I'd go with the RTi series, and if you like the Audiophile sound, go with LSi, and if you really just wanna keep a tight budget, go with Monitor, and a tighter budget, R series.
Good luck, keep asking, and we'll keep answering
Matt

clkings

What about the in walls for the rear speakers? How high do you place them on the wall. They are hard wired at 6 ft. but could be lowered or I could do away with them entirely if you don't reccomend in wall. Also the RC65i (found for $160 a pair on Ebay) in walls timber to the RTI series. I guess that is good?


Thanks for the help.

clkings

Still looking for some advice on in wall speakers.

Thanks!

AsSiMiLaTeD

You'll want those rear speakers a couple feet or higher above your head...six feet sound about right...

If you're already wired for in-walls, then I say go with them. I wouldn't use them for the front or anything, but they'll work find for rear speakers.

As for which ones to choose, again that depends on your budget and what you use for front speakers. The best place to start is with a budget, how much do you have to spend, and what all do you have to buy. Start there and we'll be able to help you better...

clkings

I would like to stay around $1500 for speakers. I saw a pair of of RC65i in walls on ebay for $160.

My sofa is about 4 feet from the rear wall. I thought that I should mount them at 4 ft. but the wires are at 6 ft. 4 in. I have extra wire in the walls to go higher or lower. I was just worried about the sound going over my head but I have heard on the rear wall you want the speakers higher. Is this true? You think 6 ft.?

Thanks.

okiepolkie

6 feet is fine.

AsSiMiLaTeD

Originally posted by clkings
I would like to stay around $1500 for speakers. I saw a pair of of RC65i in walls on ebay for $160.

My sofa is about 4 feet from the rear wall. I thought that I should mount them at 4 ft. but the wires are at 6 ft. 4 in. I have extra wire in the walls to go higher or lower. I was just worried about the sound going over my head but I have heard on the rear wall you want the speakers higher. Is this true? You think 6 ft.?

Thanks.

Yeah, six feet works, you don't want your rear speakers at ear level becuase they're really just recreating the ambient noises and such...

Those RC series should be fine. With a budget of 1500, I'd go with the RTi series if you can find decent prices on speakers. I'd look at maybe a set of RTi8 or RTi70, something along those lines for the front (you could always go with bookshelves if you wanted, like the RTi38 or RTi6, then the center to match (CSi30, 40, 3, or 5), and finally as much sub as you can afford.

Your budget would look something like:

Fronts - ~$400
Center - $100 - $300 depending on which on you get
Rears - $200 max

This leaves you about $600 for a sub, so you could pick up an SVS PCi 21-39 for about that much.

That would give you one awesome HT setup...

okiepolkie

Polkmaniac's speaker suggestions look like the makings of an excellent HT.
What receiver are you using to drive these speakers(I only assume it will be a receiver)?

Mjr7531

With 400 for the fronts, go with the RTi6s, great bookshelves, that or if you can find a used pair of RTi8s, that would be evern better, check the flea market.
As for sound going over your head, you want that, it adds a sense of ambience to the surround channels.

clkings

Thanks for all of the input. I like the idea of the in walls on the rear. My budget is really open, just wanting to be practical. I may watch one movie a week if I'm lucky. I have it wired for 6.1.

I will use the towers on the front and a great center channel.

Thanks again and if you have any additional info please advise.

Mjr7531

With all practicalities involved, I would stay with the RTi, go for the RTi10s or 12s, get a separate amp for them, I'd go with the TC line because It's meant for the newest RTi line, and go for the CSi5 as your center. If you want to go all in-wall, the In-walls are sold one unit a box, so you won't have to worry about the odd-man out speaker. If budget isn't much of an issue, I'd go with the TC65i as it looks like the beefiest of the TC in wall surrounds, if that's what you want. Oh, and enjoy it, whatever you choose to do.
Matt

clkings

So TC65i over RC65i? Is there that much difference in speakers for $200 + dollars?

Thanks.

Mjr7531

Up to you, I actually haven't heard, the specs make it look like it digs deeper, however specs aren't everything...
Try to look for a place where you can audition, and buy what you like the best.

clkings

How does Polk compare to JBL, Infinity, Bose, Etc...? Based on what I have seen about Polk I am sold on them. I have also read some good reviews about many other brands. Thanks for the advice.

danger boy

after trying other brands.. most folks come back to Polk speakers. there is a speaker for everybody.
from entry level to high end that sound incredible.

halo

I agree with danger boy & Mjr7531 - there is a speaker out there for everybody & ultimately it's up to you.

I'm on a VERY tight budget. Everything I have is from the R series. I've owned all the brands you mentioned (JBL, Infinity, & Bose) & I still find my Polk's easily coming out on top.

It's actually kind of funny, I paid more per speaker (10 years ago) for my JBL's than I did per speaker in the R Series!

Hope this helps,

Good Luck!

Willow

for your budget I would not go with 10's or 12's......just make sure you have a good receiver...get the 4's or 6's or 8's as mains...either the csi3 or 5 for centre.

clkings

What kind of receiver do you reccomend? Harmon Karmon, Onkyo, Yamaha? I want one that has the mike option that altimatically calibrates the room.

Lance

halo

I like the Yamaha HTR-5760 / RX-V650 or RX-V750 myself. They all have the self calibration you are looking for.

Ultimately its up to you of course.

Have some fun and give 'em all a listen. They all have +'s & -'s

Happy hunting!

halo

You might want to check out the Pioneer VSX-1014 & the VSX-1012-K. Both offer the auto calibration you are looking for and both are THX certified. I've never heard either but I've read some nice reviews.

Also, from what I can tell by reading through some of the forums, a LOT of people like Denon. Again, I don't own one but, they're getting a lot of good reviews.

I apologize if I'm putting too much on your plate - just trying to help.

AsSiMiLaTeD

Two thing:

1 - Be careful when looking at speacs and features on receiver, don't get too caught up in all the watts and whatnot. Try to demo receivers on the speakers that you own (or something close) and buy what sopunds best to you. Don't let the THX stamp have any bearing on your decision. If something is THX certified, great...but don't grab one receiver over another becuase of the sticker.

2 - I personally think that Denon is a good match for Polk speakers. I'm not saying that Denon is the best receiver out there, just that people tend to prefer at as a match with Polk speakers. I bought a Denon 3801 on the reccomendations of people on this board a while back, and have been pleased ever since...

Willow

Don't think you could drive the 10's or 12's on an rxv6-750 without an extra amp......you could but would not get what you paid for in the speaker

Teejai

How big is this room? My main listening room is about 20x14 give or take a few feet. I have a Harman Kardon AVR-325 with the Polk RTi6s and it's enough sound for me. I think HK would be a good option since they try to rate as true power too and the remote does allow for auto calibration. Obviously you want to listen to a couple of receivers to compare and choose what sound YOU like. Denon, HK, Onkyo all seem popular here.