FXi3's x 4 - anyone using this setup?

groover

Hi all,

I've been a happy polk owner for over ten years, but finally I've decided it's time to upgrade.

I was considering the FXi3's as the price of $999NZ per pair for the FXi'5's is too much for surrounds IMO.

Will the FXi3's give me everything I'm looking for in a mid-sized room? I currently have some small Yamaha surrounds that have served their purpose for many years very well, but now it's time for 7.1.

I've read numerous posts on FXi3 VS FXi5, but I need some help from an actual user of the FXi3.

Thx in advance.

Holydoc

I am using FXi3's for my surround and back speakers in a 12x20 room. I love them.

I selected them over the FXi5's because I could not tell a difference in sound or effects than the much cheaper FXi3's in my room. Since they are being used as the surround and back speakers, it would take a fairly large room to justify purchasing the 5's over the 3's. I do have all set to Bipole. This of course is dependent on your room and your ears.

So what type of help besides refirmation do you need to know about the FXi3's?

BTW... welcome to the forum.

StopherJJ1980

Same as above, the 3's do just fine, the little bit extra you would get with the 5's isnt worth the money, especially considering there isnt that much (relatively) in the surround tracks of movies to begin with. Obviously the CSi5 vs the CSi3 would be worth the extra since 50% of the track usually somes from there but surround... nah. If money was no object sure, why not, but otherwise its a huge price jump for minimal performance gain. In Fry's I switched back and forth between the two in their setup and i couldnt really tell the difference, there was one but it was EVER so slight.

Plus the 3's come in white.. if thats your thing and want em to blend in with a white wall.

Nelson57

Groover, although I am currently running the FXi5's all around, having had the FXi3's as a part of my system, I can confidently say that you'll be equally as satisfied with the 3's. They are both great performers.

Based on your RTi10 post, it looks like you are putting together a 7.1 setup that you'll be quite pleased with.

groover

Thanks for all the input. It's nice to have ones sway confirmed by others. The FXi3's will do fit the bill nicely, so I'm off to get some some Thanks again.

groover

HI All,

My first pair of FXi3's arrived today and I went straight home and set them up. I plugged in the Matrix Reloaded DVD and sat back (I love the motorway scene).

I was completely unprepared for the incredible difference in sound compared to my small Yamaha surrounds. I don't have to audio vocabulary to fully explain what I'm hearing, but I can say I'm hearing detail that was never present before - real subtle feeling in a diffuse way all around me - especially when compared to the old Yamaha's that sounded harsh and directional.

I'm really glad I made the switch and I can see I'm going to be very happy with these surrounds - feeling so good in fact that I have ordered a second set for backs and a new CSi5 center.

As for fronts, I'm still waiting for the next shipment of RTi8's to arrive in NZ so I can trial a pair against the RTi10's.

I've decided that buying speakers one at a time like this has been a boon because I can hear the changes in the system as they are added. I struck a salesman at the specialist store who had an acoustic degree and was very knowledgeable on speaker setup (and Polk Audio). He convinced me to wait until I setup the rest of the new speakers before I rush off and spend $2000 on a new set of fronts (really quite surprising considering he's there to sell them). I have to wait a couple of weeks for the extra surrounds and center to arrive - no big deal giving me time to adjust to the addition of my first FXi3's

Holydoc

Glad you are enjoying them groover. The nice thing about purchasing the front speakers last is that you can try them out with your completed set-up to see how they are going to fit in with the rest of your system.

See if this salesman will let you try out both the RTi8 and RTi10's at the same time at your house. That type of comparison will definitely allow you to know your money was well spent.

Remember when you try out your new fronts that you listen to all types of music as well as HT movies. The intricacies in the music will easily tell you which set of speakers is complementing your setup the most. Play music and movies that you are very familar with. It is a lot of fun hearing things that you did not know existed in the music piece or movie.

ENJOY!

groover

Holydoc, thx for the words.

I'm still really buzzing about these FXi3's. They are so enveloping and the clarity is awesome that it truly does seem like you're in the movie scene - like in Blade 2 listening to some rain on the roof of the van - I looked outside to see it raining (busted) and the individual raindrops could be heard almost better than real rain. I had a grin from ear to ear. It's like falling in love with HT all over again.

And with my new RXV2600 I can finally listen to audio in DTS. That stuff really rocks in comparison to DD (Well the few movies I've watched anyway) The volume isn't up anywhere near what it is for DD and the room rumbles - like the wicked Reign of Fire, my wife freaked out with the DTS soundtrack (our first). I had to turn it down at her request with the rattling via the sub but I was just smiling the whole time. Got to keep the wife happy I'm off to OZ soon for a couple of weeks so am really looking forward to picking up the CSi5 on our return. If it's anywhere near the stepup of the rears I'll be a very happy man!