I need need a center channel old or new thats timbre matched to the following speaker

mysneakypersona

I have a pair of RT55i's in the front and a pair of fxi3's in the rear and a SVS PB10 sub. what center is appropriate for this set up so that all the speakers blend?

mldennison

looks like polk recommends the CSi5.

http://www.polkaudio.com/education/faq.php?article=centermatch

shack

CS400i is the match for your RT55is. One can still be found on Ebay or in the Club Polk Flea Market from time to time. Depending on condition expect to pay anywhere from $125 to $200 ±.

*Seby*-Polk-

I recommend the CSi5. Is the best central for your system .... "perfectly compatible"

cmy330go

shack wrote:

CS400i is the match for your RT55is. One can still be found on Ebay or in the Club Polk Flea Market from time to time. Depending on condition expect to pay anywhere from $125 to $200 ±.

I agree. The CS400i is a better match for your RTs. I assume Polk is recommending the CSi5 only because it is the closest match that is currently available off the shelf.

Dave

shack

*Seby*-Polk- wrote:

I recommend the CSi5. Is the best central for your system .... "perfectly compatible"

Wrong! It may be compatable...but the CS400i is the optimal match.

mysneakypersona

right now i have a jbl ec35 as my center channel. is it that far off from matching my speakers even though its a different brand? im just curious how long i can wait on getting a new one

These are the specs for the EC 35

SPECIFICATIONS
General
Maximum Recommended Amplifier Power 150 Watts
Power Handling (Continuous/Peak) 75 Watts/300 Watts
Impedance 8 Ohms nominal
Sensitivity (2.83V/1m) 91dB
Frequency Response (–3dB) 75Hz – 20kHz
Crossover Frequencies 800Hz, 3200Hz
High-Frequency Transducer 3/4" (19mm) Titanium-laminate dome, shielded
Midrange Transducer 3" (75mm) PolyPlas™, shielded
Low-Frequency Transducers Dual 5-1/4" (133mm) PolyPlas™, shielded
Dimensions
(H x W x D) 7-1/4" x 22" x 10-7/16"
(185mm x 558mm x 264mm)
Weight per Speaker 22 lb (10kg)


i dont know how to read all the numbers yet to compare and see if they are compatible with my current speakers

RuSsMaN

The numbers mean dick, no one cares about the JBL - throw it in the trash.

CS400i as mentioned, or a single RT25i/35i would work also.

peteran

CS400i is the perfect match for your fronts, try looking in the internet or post here in the wanted ads.

cfrizz

The question you should be asking yourself is does it sound so far off for YOU? If you don't have a problem with the sound, than that answers the question of whether or not to get a new one.

Welcome to Club Polk.

mysneakypersona wrote:

right now i have a jbl ec35 as my center channel. is it that far off from matching my speakers even though its a different brand? im just curious how long i can wait on getting a new one



These are the specs for the EC 35

SPECIFICATIONS
General
Maximum Recommended Amplifier Power 150 Watts
Power Handling (Continuous/Peak) 75 Watts/300 Watts
Impedance 8 Ohms nominal
Sensitivity (2.83V/1m) 91dB
Frequency Response (–3dB) 75Hz – 20kHz
Crossover Frequencies 800Hz, 3200Hz
High-Frequency Transducer 3/4" (19mm) Titanium-laminate dome, shielded
Midrange Transducer 3" (75mm) PolyPlas™, shielded
Low-Frequency Transducers Dual 5-1/4" (133mm) PolyPlas™, shielded
Dimensions
(H x W x D) 7-1/4" x 22" x 10-7/16"
(185mm x 558mm x 264mm)
Weight per Speaker 22 lb (10kg)


i dont know how to read all the numbers yet to compare and see if they are compatible with my current speakers

reeltrouble1

cs400i

amulford

cs400i

*Seby*-Polk-

Mmmm...It's true. I'll check in different forums and sites and the Cs400i is better than CSi5. I can't test these speaker, but most of users wrote excellent reviews of this central. Consider !!!!

mysneakypersona

how is the CSi40 in comparison to the cs400i? which one would be better with my set up?

RT55 fronts and fxi3 rears and svs pb10 sub

shack

Different tweeter, drivers and crossovers. Other than that they are pretty close. While the drivers and crossover are similar, there is a silk dome tweeter in the CSi40 vs a tri-lam in the Cs400i. As has been stated numerous times in this thread, a CS400i is THE BEST match for the RT55i...IF you can find one in good shape.

ohskigod

rt55i's are great speakers, especially for theater, they really warrant a matching center. yes, CSi5 will work, but the CS400i is the best route. another 200 bucks and you have a front soundstage that would require into the 4 figures to match its performance in the retail market.

While I can not hear it, I wouold wager a guess that the JBL is not even close. I assure you that the cs400i will be a worthy investment is tightening up that front soundstage. many neglect the center, not realizing just how important it is in a properly functioning home theater.

AndyGwis

I have a very similar question. I am running a simple Monitor set-up right now (60's fronts, 30's rears, csi3, omni s12 sub) and possibly looking to do some upgrading in the near future. I was thinking easiest thing to do would be get a better center (csi5) and either trade in my csi3 or use it as my center back in a 6.1 setup.

Does the csi5 match up well with the monitor 60s, or is it total overkill? I don't want it to overpower my system or not fit the "timber."

Try before I buy is probably best, but just looking for some insight.

cmy330go

AndyGwis wrote:

I have a very similar question. I am running a simple Monitor set-up right now (60's fronts, 30's rears, csi3, omni s12 sub) and possibly looking to do some upgrading in the near future. I was thinking easiest thing to do would be get a better center (csi5) and either trade in my csi3 or use it as my center back in a 6.1 setup.

Does the csi5 match up well with the monitor 60s, or is it total overkill? I don't want it to overpower my system or not fit the "timber."

Try before I buy is probably best, but just looking for some insight.

Actually you should be using a CS1 or CS2 with your monitor series. The CSi3 and 5 are timbre matched to the RTi series and therefore not meant to go with your monitors.

Just FYI.

Dave

amulford

He's right.

danger boy

this is not a reflection on anyone posting here.. but just a general observation..

I'm taken aback some times how many times I read or visit a persons home that people are using different makes, brands, models of center channels.. that DON"T match their main fronts.

In most instances it's going to sound terrible if you don't have the three fronts that are not timbre matched.

AndyGwis

I was told by someone that the Csi3 was a step up from cs1 and cs2, and, further, that it would match best with my Monitor 60s. Maybe just a over-zealous salesperson.

Is this link just mentioning "matches" for older Monitor series?:
CSi3 matches RTA-8T, RT8, RT7, RT5, RT15, RT15i, RT25, RT25i, Mini Monitor, "Monitor", Monitor 6 satellite, Monitor 4

http://www.polkaudio.com/education/f...le=centermatch

cmy330go

The CSi3 is a step up from the CS1 and CS2 in the sense of performance. But it is not intended to match the Monitor series. So yes, either the salesman took you for a ride, or he was just that stupid. Let's hope for the latter.

Also that match is referring to the older monitor series. Not the new ones that you have.

EDIT: is it possible that you could still exchange for the proper model?

SKsolutions

In my opinion, the center is the least important speaker to have match timbrally. Your surround pan is more critical. You might even choose to incorporate an entirely different technology. . . say. . electrostatic.

Point being, your center speaker is supposed to be localized and directional, and therefore doesn't as much need to "blend".

But, as has been said ad nauseum, the CS400i is the best match. It also is the most capable without looking at the LSiC, which would be less sibilant.

shack

SKsolutions wrote:

In my opinion, the center is the least important speaker to have match timbrally. Your surround pan is more critical. You might even choose to incorporate an entirely different technology. . . say. . electrostatic.

Point being, your center speaker is supposed to be localized and directional, and therefore doesn't as much need to "blend".

I disagree completely. The front three speakers are the most important to blend seamlessly IMO. As sound/dialog moves across the front soundstage it is very apparent to me when the speakers are significantly different.

cmy330go

I 100% agree with Shack. In the past I did a bunch of experimenting with mixing and matching speakers at the HT store I used to work at. Just so I could make better recommendations to my customers. It was my findings that if you have to mis-match speakers it is best that it be the rears that don't match. When mis-matching it was most obvious when the center did not match. It is much more common during a soundtrack for a sound to span the front 3 than it is for it to span from front to back. Plus rear speaker placement is usually so acoustically different from front placement, that even if you do have matching rears they will often sound quite different from your fronts just due to location.

Just another 2 cents worth.
Dave

AndyGwis

cmy330go wrote:

The CSi3 is a step up from the CS1 and CS2 in the sense of performance. But it is not intended to match the Monitor series. So yes, either the salesman took you for a ride, or he was just that stupid. Let's hope for the latter.

Also that match is referring to the older monitor series. Not the new ones that you have.

EDIT: is it possible that you could still exchange for the proper model?

Thanks, cmy330go.

I think he was just that dumb. He didn't make hardly any suggestions when I was buying, and when I inquired about the csi3, he said something like "that's a great center channel, it would be perfect for your system."

Since I purchased it at Tweeter, I can use their upgrade policy and return the csi3 for full price to buy the CS2. Or, I guess I could just buy a CS2 online or through the flea market for discount and sell my hardly used csi3. Shouldn't be a problem to rectify the situation.

cmy330go

How 'bout trading in the Monitor 60s for some RTi's.:eek:

Just a thought.:D

Larry Chanin

cmy330go wrote:

I 100% agree with Shack. In the past I did a bunch of experimenting with mixing and matching speakers at the HT store I used to work at. Just so I could make better recommendations to my customers. It was my findings that if you have to mis-match speakers it is best that it be the rears that don't match. When mis-matching it was most obvious when the center did not match. It is much more common during a soundtrack for a sound to span the front 3 than it is for it to span from front to back. Plus rear speaker placement is usually so acoustically different from front placement, that even if you do have matching rears they will often sound quite different from your fronts just due to location.

Just another 2 cents worth.
Dave

Hi,

Absolutely correct! Our hearing is much more acute in the front and therefore we are much more likely to hear timbre mismatches up front. In contrast our hearing is significantly less acute from the sides and rear, therefore we are less likely to be able to distinguish timbre mismatches. In fact, a professional home theater designer, states that due to differences in our hearing from front to rear, that its actually impossible to get perfect timbre matching with our surrounds even if we used identical speakers all around. (Just to be clear, he's not advocating deliberately mismatching the fronts and rears, just not to expect a "perfect" timbre match front to back.)

Larry

AndyGwis

cmy330go wrote:

How 'bout trading in the Monitor 60s for some RTi's.:eek:

Just a thought.:D

That's easy. . . because my girlfriend would likely leave me for upgrading my system for the fourth time in two months.

But, I guess in that case I would have plenty more time to listen to my new RTis. . . :rolleyes:

SKsolutions

shack wrote:

I disagree completely. The front three speakers are the most important to blend seamlessly IMO. As sound/dialog moves across the front soundstage it is very apparent to me when the speakers are significantly different.

Shack, I can appreciate your preferance, and think I'm in the minority. I have found that having a mismatched center keeps my focus there, and the mains don't draw me off center (if that makes sense to you). Appreciable vocal pans from main to center should sound different when the "dialog" source moves say "left stage". You wouldn't expect a car that whizzes by to keep the same steady pitch that the recording engineers give to vocals that move off screen.

The ESL quip was a stretch.:D

shack

SKsolutions wrote:

Shack, I can appreciate your preferance, and think I'm in the minority. I have found that having a mismatched center keeps my focus there, and the mains don't draw me off center (if that makes sense to you).

Maybe...but I view a home theater as a "surround experience" and expect to hear much off center....because things happen...off center. If the a person is speaking on the left side of the screen, I expect the sound of their voice to come predominately from the left side of the screen and so forth.

SKsolutions wrote:

Appreciable vocal pans from main to center should sound different when the "dialog" source moves say "left stage". You wouldn't expect a car that whizzes by to keep the same steady pitch that the recording engineers give to vocals that move off screen.

I agree the sound should be different as it moves across the front soundstage...as is normal. BUT that difference in sound should come from the recorded material...not from a difference in timber of MY set-up. As far as I'm concerned...I want to be able to describe the front speakers in my HT as one continuous, semi-circle, seamless band extending from the far left of my screen to the far right of the screen. If it does that...it is right.