Csi5 vs CS2 for center channel

BjornB17

I have polk monitor 70s for the front left and front right, and currently a CS2. I was wondering if a Csi5 would still be a good match considering it's from a different product line. Thanks!

tearsinraine

I actually have a similar question as BjornB17.

I'm looking into picking up a center for my Monitor 70s and the CS2 is listed as a match. But the CSi5's are getting lots of good reviews here so they seem tempting as an interim upgrade path (although realistically, I won't be upgrading my mains anytime soon)

Anyone have any opinions?

Should I just go with the CS2? Or would the CSi5 still match?

Schwingding

I've had both. When I went to the RTi series towers all around, I matched them with the CSi5.

The CSi5 is a "brighter" speaker overall. It does more closely match the tones of the RTi line compared to the Monitor 70 - which I also had, btw.

Voice reproduction is definitely more lifelike with the CSi25. The first time I used mine I was actually startled by the clarity and realism.

Given my experience with all of the things you are considering, were I to do it over again and stick with the Monitor 70s, I think I would stick with the CS2.

Refefer

I'm not familiar with the driver selection difference for either of them, but if they don't happen to be the same(and I don't think they are), I would stick with the CS2 if you're not planning on upgrading the system in the near future. The big reason for this would be that the timber would be slightly off and cause your system to sound less realistic.

If you happen to know the driver compliment is the same, by all means purchase the upgrade. The sound difference was the only reason I could think of.

Maybe someone more familiar with those two centers will comment soon.

amulford

If you have matching timbre for your front stage, that is your front mains and center channel are from the same line, stay with that. What will happen is when the soundtrack pans across the front, you will hear the difference in the speakers, and that probably is not what you want. If you stay with the same line, the transition will be seemless, which IS what you want.

Is the CSi5 a better center speaker? Yes, it is. But like Refefer said, unless you plan on upgrading you front mains, you should stick with the one you have.

zombie boy 2000

Really good advise thus far...
Welcome to the Forum Tears!

tommyboy

When you look at my sig, you'll notice I have three different lines of polk speakers:eek: . When I went from Onkyo HTIB to the monitor 50s, I already had the r15s but with choosing a center channel, I was thinking of the either the CSi 3 or the CS1. The center channel to me is the most important speaker for HT, and when I heard the CS1 at CC, to tell you the truth, I was disappointed... So I said WTH, I might as well get the csi3. The csi3 IMO can reproduce voices much clearer than the cs1. Well, after having my system for almost a year now, I can tell you that (to my ears and my buddies) there is almost no difference in sound between the center and the monitor 50s. The R15s however are the "odd man out", but I don't want to spend anymore money on my system right now until I make the big upgrade in a year or two...

with your issue though, I think I would still stick with the cs2. IMO The cs2 is a much better center then the cs1 just because its physically bigger and is able to handle the voices and louder volumes... But if the difference between the M50s and CSi3 is the same as the M70s and CSi5s.... well, you know what to do next...

My biggest advise is to just go listen yourself...
Tommyboy

NCNog

I have a CS1 and I am on the fence as well about upgrading. I have 2 Monitor 30's in the front and 2 RM101's in the back. After upgrading my receiver to the Yamaha RX-V2500, I now feel like my center voices have lost a lot of their richness. What I can't determine is if this is a setup issue or a speaker issue.

zombie boy 2000

I believe the CS1 is a better match for the Monitor 30's, so it may very well be a speaker issue.

(If by "speaker issue", you mean you are unhappy with the general performance of all your speakers.)

AndyGwis

I had the CSi3 for a while in my Monitor 60/30 setup. Liked it, especially when I had a separate amp running it, but it might be a little too bright for the monitor series. Bright, in this case, also means more clear/crisp, but it did stand out a little.

I ended up getting the CS2. Not necessarily a better speaker, even given the larger MSRP and size, but it's probably the better fit with your speakers.

I don't think you'd gain much by going from the CS2 to the CSi5, other than you'd want to upgrade the rest of your speakers to go along with the CSi5.

tearsinraine

You guys are awesome! Thanks everyone for all the responses and advice. Looks like I'll be heading out soon for the CS2.

Thanks also for the welcome, Zombie.

Humanoid

tearsinraine wrote:

You guys are awesome! Thanks everyone for all the responses and advice. Looks like I'll be heading out soon for the CS2.

Thanks also for the welcome, Zombie.

Did you ever get your CS2? I just picked up CSi5 to replace my 6 month old CS2. The CSi5 was just a better match for the RTi8's.

tearsinraine

Humanoid wrote:

Did you ever get your CS2? I just picked up CSi5 to replace my 6 month old CS2. The CSi5 was just a better match for the RTi8's.

I did end up getting the CS2... and Monitor 40s for surrounds... and a new receiver (Yamaha RX-V2500)... grrrrr... so much for staying realistic... all I wanted was a center! lol I'm pretty happy with the set so far.

I did LOVE the sound of the CSi5, but I thought the CS2 matched better with my Monitor 70s. I also had no idea how I would place such a beast, even if I would have gotten it. How do you guys do it?

cdn5003

Humanoid if you still have that CS2 let me know cause i'm looking for one.

Kchill

Wow this post was pulled from the dead!

BjornB17

wow I havent been here in like 2+ years and i was surprised to see my post on the first page still!