Starting to upgrade speaker question.

oca95
oca95 Posts: 3
edited December 2005 in Speakers
So I have one of these Onkyo htib's. 5.1, 100w per channel. Sounds ok, but the infamous dialogue during movies. Especially in War of the Worlds where I would have to put volume up for some dialogue then bam, tripod scene. Luckily the speakers took the sudden booms, woofer really performed well. I was pleased, but I can imagine a better system. Anyway, I wanted opinions on the csi3 for replacing my onkyo center. WIll I notice a big improvement? Will dialogue be clearer? I saw a csm model at circuit city which says its a 3way, they also have the cs1 which is a 2 way. Everyone seems to like the csi3, what are all these differences? And how would I benefit from the csi3, especially as i'm trying to start with just the center upgrade?

Prime example is right now as I'm watching this show on hdnet called Nothing but trailers. Alot of movie trailers with 5.1 and at times voices cant be heard unless turning up volume and then surround is too loud. Just hoping getting the csi3 will improving the listening experience.
Post edited by oca95 on
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  • oca95
    oca95 Posts: 3
    edited December 2005
    19 views no replies, its cause I'm a newbie right :D. Hey I'll take insults, just let me know if I would get improved dialogue, thing is prob twice the size of the onkyo center I currently have, dialogue better be better :)
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  • McLoki
    McLoki Posts: 5,231
    edited December 2005
    I am sure it will be at least a little better. I had a small polk HTiB when I started (well ok, re-started) my home theater. It could be that many sattelights drop off fast around 150 or so hz and your sub may not be coming into play until around 80hz. Is it mainly male voices that are hard to hear?

    You may also just try and rebalance your speakers (get a radio shack spl meter - trust me $40 well spent) Just up your center channel a few DB and that may help as well. (then again, it may not be set correctly now)

    Once you start the upgrade path you won't want to stop with the center channel. It will save you alot of money later if you try and come up with a system in your head now that you would purchase if you had the bucks and work towards that. (one piece at a time). You don't want to purchase a center now, upgrade all your other speakers, and then upgrade your center again.

    Build to your new system, not away from your old one.

    Michael
    Mains.............Polk LSi15 (Cherry)
    Center............Polk LSiC (Crossover upgraded)
    Surrounds.......Polk LSi7 (Gloss Black - wood sides removed and crossovers upgraded)
    Subwoofers.....SVS 25-31 CS+ and PC+ (both 20hz tune)
    Pre\Pro...........NAD T163 (Modded with LM4562 opamps)
    Amplifier.........Cinepro 3k6 (6-channel, 500wpc@4ohms)
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  • oca95
    oca95 Posts: 3
    edited December 2005
    Its with all voices really, some dvd's worse then others. Csi3 will only sound little better only? I was hoping since twice or more the size it would be a big improvement. I actually like the measurements of the csi3, and for the space i currently have right now, sufficient and would fit in my entertainment center exactly(I would put it right under the tv). Well I'm thinking of starting with the center and then 2 fronts, and 2 rears. I believe my sub is sufficient, really shakes things up and can handle bass well. I'm not even thinking of 7.1 right now as upgrading receiver wont be but the last thing I think about, probably when I get my new bigger place down line where probably I will upgrade sub. But for the most part if I go with csi3 what are the upgradable mains, and rears I could add to it? Is the selection limited to the rti's?
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