Center Channel In Entertainment Center

vintagelistener

This is sort of a follow up to my last post. I'm trying to convince myself now to go with a CSi5 instead of a CSi3 and I wanted some input on whether or not I need to take into account where it will live. I have a custom built wood entertainment center which holds my TV and my HT equipment. Over the TV are 3 compartments (side by side). The center compartment, which is the largest one, is where the CSix would go. My question is, the compartment is about 25 x 10 x 16. The CSi5 will come close to filling it. Will this affect the sound quality and would having the smaller CSi3 with more air flow around the speaker make any difference?

EricT43

Yes to both questions. Unfortunately I don't think there's any way to predict which will sound better without trying it

I have my center channel in a cabinet as well, but I haven't decided if it will stay there or not. I'm thinking not. In my case, it is a plasma console, with the plasma sitting on top. I'll probably end up wall-mounting the plasma above the console, and rest the center channel on top of the console.

Early B.

Just get the Csi5 and don't worry about it.

crazy

Center channel is the most important component for watching movies etc. since you need a good center channel to get clear voice etc. GIven that, it is more advisable to buy a good center channel, in this case the CSi5

Frank Z

Can you place it on top of the unit? Angle it downward using a coupe of $1.29 rubber door stops.

therealjeepguy

Since the CSi centers don't utilize a rear port design, the overall sound shouldn't be as greatly affected as a rear ported speaker. It would be advisable to place the baffle as close to opening of the cabinet as possible though. I have a CSi 3 and it sits in a custom made unit as well and the speaker baffle is placed flush with the front of the cabinet opening and it sounds fine.

vintagelistener

The pictures without the grill on look like it's ported in the front, and I was hoping that would help with the sound quality in an enclosed compartment. I would think a lot of people put their centers in an entertainment center. Regarding the rubber feet, doesn't the CSi5 have a beveled edge so I can point it downwards on the bevel? If not, I'll find door stops or something at the hardware store to lift up the rear. Thanks for the tips.

MattN03

vintagelistener wrote:

Regarding the rubber feet, doesn't the CSi5 have a beveled edge so I can point it downwards on the bevel? If not, I'll find door stops or something at the hardware store to lift up the rear. Thanks for the tips.

It will only sit flat or when flipped upside down, it will be pointed upward.

Willow

therealjeepguy wrote:

Since the CSi centers don't utilize a rear port design,

I thought the Csi5 has power ports? which would make me question putting it in an enclosure.

MADGSF

FWIW the CSi5 does have two rear ports with a baffle similar to that of the RTi floor standers. Not sure how that would effect sound in a cabinet though.

Tour2ma

It would not help it...

The CSi3 is not power ported. The 5 is.
http://www.polkaudio.com/homeaudio/products/csi5/

therealjeepguy

I'm sorry...I thought the both the CSi 3 and CSi 5 were of the same design. I didn't know the CSi 5 had the rear Power Port. I just looked up the specs on the website and sure 'nuff it does. I have the CSi 3 and it only has the ARC flared port in the front. I didn't mean to mis inform anyone...sorry!

Tour2ma

We were deeply offended, but will let it go this ONE time....

vintagelistener

If I put the CSi5 flush with the front opening of the cabinet there will be only 2 1/2" of space behind it. You guys are leading me to think the CSi3 might work better under the circumstances. If that's the case I might be able to spring for a little more for the sub.

therealjeepguy

Thanx!

Tour2ma

No problemo...

vl,
Before you make a blind buy...

If you've gotten most of your Polks at the same B&M store, see if they'll "loan" you both their demo's for an in-home trial. Sometimes for a CC imprint they'll let you pick up Sunday close to closing and return early Monday.

Failing that, see if you can buy both and return the loser. A good friend of mine did this with a pair of Polks and a pair of DCM's. FYI, the Polk's were not returned.

Just a couple thoughts.

vintagelistener

Tour, that's a great suggestion. Unfortunately, this will be my first Polk purchase, and the store that has been on the receiving end of most of my AV investments does not sell Polks. There is a Tweeters near my office where I demoed the 2 speakers. I will ask them if I can buy both of them and then return one after I hear them at home. Thanks to Visa it shouldn't cost anything to do that!

Tour2ma

Just took a first peek at your other thread...

vintagelistener wrote:

I want to upgrade my center channel speaker and I'm trying to decide beween the CS2 and CSi3.

I don't have Polk mains. I currently have a pair of Large Advents as my mains and some inexpensive Onkyo speakers for the center and rears.

I was also planning to add a PSW404 subwoofer to the system.

To help insure their cooperation, it looks to me like if you tell Tweeter about your plans and your probable return for more Polk purchases in the future, it's in the bag.

And now I understand your screen name. A number members including me own, or have owned, the big Advents. Classic Kloss to be sure, but for HT you're just making due with them.

I can assure you that the tonal imbalance between the Advents and any modern center will be noticeable. It may even be part of the reason you are disatisfied the Onkyo center. Surrounds... pfft... tone match is just not as important for HT. Here again that could be why replacing the Onk's in that duty isn't a priority to you. But front stage, another matter altogether...
Bottom line, now I'm thinking that the cabinet issue may be the least of your concerns.

Can you/ Have you considered retiring the Advents to a 2 ch duty in another room and upgrading your mains? Or does nothing current, Polk or otherwise, sound as good as them to you? I suggest that you give the Rti 10's a good listen when you make your Tweeter run. Take a few of your favorite CD's with you (you do own CD's, right? ) and see what they can do.

And as much as I and many others here admire Polk, most will agree that subs are not their strong suit.

My apology if I am taking this somewhere you don't want to go, but we actually do try to help... Help you make the right decisions. Help you spend more than you planned on... etc. Now about that ESS...

Good luck...

vintagelistener

No apologies needed. I appreciate your candor. In fact it is in my 'master plan' to upgrade the Advents to Polks down the road. It's just that I wanted to address the bigger problems/deficiencies first. I hear what you are saying about the tonal imbalance between my Advents and the Polk center, but my thinking on this (and please correct me if I am mistaken) is that there must be a tonal imbalance with my existing speakers too, and I would rather have an imbalance with a center that produces a rich full sound than with a center that produces a muddy and tinny sound.

Regarding a sub, since my first post I've had a chance to read some more of the posts on this forum relating to subs and I think you guys have convinced me to to with the SVS instead of the Polk sub. I'm hoping that I can get away with the PB10, but I'll contact SVS before I purchase anything and give them my room dimensions. I don't need to shake the house like a 747 is landing on the roof, but my basement is fairly large.

Tour2ma

Basement makes me think "fairly" doesn't fit... Maybe twin PB-10's...

SVS will steer you true to what you need, but won't push you beyond what you want. However, when considering the 10, do note that it lacks some controls that you may wish you had later.

And, yes, I'd be willing to bet that you are hearing a tonal imbalance across your front stage at present. Buried in my previous discertation was:
"I can assure you that the tonal imbalance between the Advents and any modern center will be noticeable. It may even be part of the reason you are disatisfied the Onkyo center."

Nice as those orange tweeters are, modern ones are much more articulate at the upper end. Advent needed a tweet that reached deeper in their two-way design, so some upper register compromise was inevitable.

vintagelistener

Until the Advents get upgraded maybe the mismatch with the Polk center won't be such a bad thing if the center can fill in part of the missing high end. Of course, when I bought those Advents to put in my dorm room way back when I was listening more to their 'woof' than their 'tweet'!:)

Tour2ma

And they were probably the envy of the dorm...

Every journey begins with a single step and it reads like you have your path well thought out.

Good Luck and keep us informed of your progress.