Is a speaker upgrade necessary here? Your opinons please

IMKOG

I have read many great posts here, and you guys have already saved me from myself several times from just reading your comments. I am debating a speaker upgrade, but don’t know enough about what I have, to make an honest call. I would like to think that what I have is just fine, but I know the system could sound better, so I’m looking to draw from your experience, to keep me from doing something stupid; and hopefully get the most “bang for my buck”, (while keeping as much of my gear as you all think is reasonable). The system is used primarily for surround sound, but also for music. It is located in a room that is 10 feet wide and 15 feet long with the viewing along the longer axis.
Any and all comments are appreciated and would be welcome.

What we are working with:

Amp – Denon 3805 (I’m running 5.1 surround since I have no place for more speakers)

Center – Polk CS175

Fronts (2)– Polk RT400

Rear (2) – Polk Fxi3 (Running in Bi-Pole since must be on back wall with couch on wall)

Sub - Polk PSW120 – Sitting on carpet – (I did just read the post about putting it on a ceramic tile, and may look into this depending on what you all think about the Sub to begin with).

So what do you think? Will changing any of this make a huge change in the sound or am I probably just going to waste money. If I do need a change where should I focus, since I cannot afford to do it all at one time? Please don't be afraid to hurt my feelings; if some of my stuff is junk, feel free to say so, my knowledge of this stuff is small, but my skin is thick. Thanks greatly in advance for your help.

cfrizz

Hi Imkog, welcome to Club Polk!

If you are happy with your speakers & they still sound good to you, keep them.

Now, if you feel you just HAVE to upgrade something, look into getting a new sub.

While Polk is good a SVS, HSU, Outlaw Audio sub would be better.

Also you can never have too much power to run your speakers! You can also look into getting 3 of these for your three frontspeakers.

http://www.outlawaudio.com/products/2200.html

They would plug into your receivers pre-outs in the back & you will notice an immediate difference in the sound.

You can keep your eyes open on Audiogon, Ebay, ect. for the older model M200.

How much money would you be willing to spend?

SKsolutions

If it twere me, I would start in the center. The weakest speaker is your center. Your surrounds have more capability than your center, and this is upside down or backward depending on your perspective. Without electronic upgrade, I would start by upgrading the speaker that delivers more if not most of HT sound. Center CS350/400 & LSiC's are averaging running quite frequently on the bay and retail.
I agree with Cfrizz above about the sub, but I would start with the center and evolve my system from there. Fill the middle/high spectrum and then find the sub to complement your front stage.

aaharvel

upgrade the center to the cs400i or cs245i.
Welcome to Club Polk.

Early B.

Ditto. Get the Cs400i and the biggest, baddest sub you can afford. Add those two components to what you already have and it'll make a killer system.

IMKOG

Thanks to all for the quick reply!!! Regarding the Cs400i and the Cs245i for that matter, are they no longer in production, didn't see em on the current polk page? So if this is the case I should look for "vintage" to match what I have...yes???

FYI - The Denon 3805 spec for the center is 120W at 8 ohms 20 Hz- 20 kKz with 0.05% T.H.D.

Also Cfizz gave me a good lead on several Sub manufactures, but I would be taking a shot in the dark as to which manufacture and model. With a 10 x 15 foot room what direction would you all take manufacturer and model wise.

I'll spend what I have to, but I do want to stay married, fortunately she is understanding .... You guys lead.... I'll follow your advice.... very novice here.... thanks again.

cfrizz

Call SVS, give them the room size & they will suggest which subs will fill your room with bass!

aaharvel

IMKOG wrote:

Regarding the Cs400i and the Cs245i for that matter, are they no longer in production, didn't see em on the current polk page? So if this is the case I should look for "vintage" to match what I have...yes???

the cs400i and cs245i are available on ebay. many cs245i's are available on ebay for great prices and is a fantastic speaker with a great tweeter. i would start there.

Early B.

To elaborate on what Cathy suggested, get a Hsu STF-2 or Hsu STF-3 or the Outlaw sub or an SVS of your choice (the PB10 will work well, but get more than you need). Any one of these will sound spectacular in your room. Buy one to match your decor, if necessary, for the WAF.

IMKOG

Ok so not only am I thick skinned, but perhaps thick headed as well. Thanks all for the recommendations, I am very intrigued by the CS400i, looks like a nice beefy center (at least in weight comparison to what I have now). However I made the mistake of looking at the Polk speaker match recommendations and they list the CS2 to go with my RT400's. Is this simply because the CS2 is a lower end match up for the RT400, and I should ignore this, or is there some sort of sound matching issue here? And if I am reading you all correctly the CS400 is higher quality and I am going to have a better "ballance" with the FXi3's in the rear?

Sorry Cfrizz, like I said I'm a little thick, What is a Hsu? I figured it is an abreviation for a manufacturer, but you all are still speaking a different language......sorry! I'm trying to be a good student... and I must admit its pretty darn interesting!

okiepolkie

The CS245 will be the closest match. If I remember correctly, it has the same tweeter as the RT400's. The CS400 will have the trilaminate dome tweeter, where the 245 has a polymer dome tweeter. I'm surprised the match was for the CS2. Most of the time, the CSi3 is would be the modern match up.

www.svsubwoofers.com
www.hsuresearch.com
www.outlawaudio.com

IMKOG

I'm listening to you, got me an Outlaw LFM-1 on the way! Still trying to decide on that center channel. Okipolkie has me thinking about the CS245 as the closest match to my RT400's. All I can say is that my current center (CS175) is just not "filling" filling the room (only one 5.25" woofer and one 1 3/4" dynamic ballance dome tweeter) I would have to agree with SKsolutions, its the weakest part of my system.

I'm hearing great input from everyone, and again many thanks! But if I could trouble you all a little further, and ask you to kick me in a final direction I'd again be most appreciative. On one hand I have Polk recommending the CS2, and member reviews saying that the tweeter on this is a little fragile. On the other hand, for varried good reasons, other members recomending the following CS245, CS245i, CS350, CS350i, CS400, CS400i, and an LSiC. Any final thoughts??? I truly value and weigh each of you opinions, and hope nobody is offended by me asking that this be kicked around a little more. Just like to know if anybody has a strong argument for one center over another. Thanks again!

StopherJJ1980

That is always a dangerous question to ask around here LOL

Unless you have LSi25's, LSiC and LSi surrounds with a variety of pre/pro's and carver/rotel/adcom, etc. dedicated amps running 500W per channel with SVS Ultra subs for each channel as well as premium cables and wire integrated in your walls with a 60"+ flat panel 1080p TV or projector, not to mention a variety of other Polk lines (with classic SDA's of course) and various Revel, Martin and Logan, Mark Levinson, Outlaw, and other products for comparison and switching... for every room in your house... including the bathroom and outdoor patio... and car... and iPod...

Then yes, you should upgrade. ;-)

Early B.

If you definitely want to fill your room, go with the CS400 or CS400i. There are a few of them on ebay right now. Prepare to pay about $200 for the CS400 and a little more for the CS400i.

IMKOG

Just received an email from Eric Wong at Polk, where I inquired why they chose the CS2 as the best center match for my RT400. He replied:

"Hi, yes the CS2 is the best match up for the RT400's. Another choice would be the CSi5. The thing is the RT400's were a fairly unique sounding speaker on their own, so the best choice really falls between the CS2 and the CSi5.

I just checked the site and you're correct that the RT400 page is empty.
I will inform the web department about this and hopefully it will be resolved soon.

Eric"

Kind of makes you wonder what he means by "unique sounding speaker", but I'm happy with them so why not.

Back to looking at the CS400 and CS400i, and now the CSi5 and CS2! Arrrrrrggghhh.

SKsolutions

Fortunately, center speakers tend to hold their value well, so you can auction it off on the 'bay if You don't like it.

I found that the center speaker is not as critical to timbre match. You want to know where the center is in a theater system, and if you don't have all speakers matching, you should get the most capable speaker in it's price/size point.

Not to buck the powers that be, but you can see by the repeated votes for the CS245, CS400, and LSiC, that they are the speakers deemed most capable by those that have used quite a few.

I have a personal preference for the LSiC, because it's high end ring radiating tweeter is less forward, and WAY less sibilant than anything else polk. I love it for all vocals. Arias to Anthrax. But, if you can, listen to as mant as you can before you pull the trigger. LSiC or CS400 You won't regret either
Buying it cheap is half the fun.
Good luck,
Sean

IMKOG

Thanks to all who replied, I truly appreciate all the good insite and steering. Hope I get to a point where I can return the good deed at some time. Happy listening!