What would you recommend?

MrNightly

Ok, so I picked up a Pioneer Elite Receiver and am trying to build my dad a sweet HT for his B-Day in June.

I have several months to spare, which is good, so I can actually wait for the good buys!

I was first considering RTi's all around (5.1 is what I'm looking for) but the more I think about it, that may be too much for me to drop even used at this time. Would anybody recommend another older line (3000's or something? I don't have much experience with anything else besides my own speaks) or possibly the Monitor series?

Open to all opinions. After all, they are free right?

Thanks

Refefer

How much are you looking to spend?

polktiger

I have an old pair of S4s that I used to use for rear surround and for 2 channel stereo. I liked how the sounded, and when I got them about 10 years ago I was so impressed with their sound, that I have wondered how some of the bigger s10s or s8s would have sounded and how an HT would sound based on that line. I have no idea what the proper center would be. My S4 manual does not even refence HT set up from what I can remember.

I just mention them becuase they come up regularly in ebay usually very cheap.

dkg999

Budget and how appreciative of sound quality is he? What's the room factor, such as what can he fit into the HT room/area?

A good compromise might be RTi6's for fronts (around $300 on eBay), a CSi3 center (around $150 on eBay) and R15's for rears (around $50 on eBay). If you want a sub, the PSW303 really isn't too bad for an entry level sub (around $150 on eBay). With the sub you could even go with RTi4's in front. The RTi6's will be much better if you aren't using a sub.

Schwingding

Who is going to be the primary listener - you or your Dad? How old is your Dad? Does he have access to good hi-fi now (will he know the diff?)

Good advice above from dkg on used rti stuff. I would pass on his sub recommendation though in favor of a smaller SVS or similar.

Looks like you have a collection of nice speakers - why not set him up with a set of yours and get yourself some new stuff?

SLOCOOKN

I had an older set up of m10 series 2 with cs250s center and m3 for rears...M10's were the star, very worth while!

danger boy

if it's home theater he listens to and not music.. why not consider the surroundBar + a small sub? no wires to string around the room.. and it will be an easy system to use that way. just an idea. but a damn good one. LOL

beardog03

may have something here shortly...stay tuned

MrNightly

Schwingding wrote:

Who is going to be the primary listener - you or your Dad? How old is your Dad? Does he have access to good hi-fi now (will he know the diff?)

Good advice above from dkg on used rti stuff. I would pass on his sub recommendation though in favor of a smaller SVS or similar.

Looks like you have a collection of nice speakers - why not set him up with a set of yours and get yourself some new stuff?

No, it's for his house. He's in his early 50's, and this will be his real first HT setup. I picked up a Pioneer Elite AVR for him and am now just trying to get his speakers up and running. I can't afford up-grades right now for myself, and besides, I really like what I'm running! I just need a new sub!

But back to him. I didn't want to spend a fortune. That's why I'm looking at used. I don't need top of the line by any stretch, so I'll see what I can find. Just looking for some recommendations... thanks dkg and SLO for the recs. I don't know enough about some of the older speaks to know what is worthwhile for HT. He's not really into music, so I'd say it'd be about 90% HT use.

Thanks

Sherardp

i would say ebay the purchase . rti6,csi3,fxi3, svs sub. go to www.etronics.com you wont believe the cheap prices on polk audio.

DollarDave

Consider this - the price is right:

http://cgi.ebay.com/Polk-Audio-RM6750-5-1-Speaker-System-Titanium-AS-NEW_W0QQitemZ270078738622QQihZ017QQcategoryZ32861QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

shack

DaveMuell wrote:

Consider this - the price is right:

http://cgi.ebay.com/Polk-Audio-RM6750-5-1-Speaker-System-Titanium-AS-NEW_W0QQitemZ270078738622QQihZ017QQcategoryZ32861QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

This looks like a really good deal. While it might not work for a lot of us who spend time here...It would probably work great for for someone new to the HT scene.

Poee7R

Ill +1 the monitor line. They may not be everyone's cup of tea, but i enjoyed the hell outa mine. Not knowing your budget makes it a bit tough to recommend anything specific, but if your looking for a floorstander the 70's treated me well, if a bookshelf then try to get your ears on a pair of the 40's and see if you likem. I dont have much experience with the 40's so i cant say much. But the rti 4/6's are great speakers also.

I took a look at the link a few posts up, and the price they want on the rti 6's is a good deal imo.

Also not to derail your Polk loyalties, but i prefer the Paradigm Mini Monitors over both the monitor and rti line bookshelves. A bit fuller sound, nothing bright or harsh as you would expect out of an aluminum tweet. And its not to hard to find em used on either ebay or audiogon for less than $200 or so. So that may be an option also.

Dave

Refefer

Poee7R wrote:

Also not to derail your Polk loyalties, but i prefer the Paradigm Mini Monitors over both the monitor and rti line bookshelves.

We have no "Polk Loyalties". The second they start releasing crappy speakers is the second this forum becomes a Vintage only one... but somehow I don't see that happening any time soon

As for other recommendations, we're all ears. Not all of us run Polk gear and God knows there are other quality speaker makers out there.

Have you tried the Mini Monitors in HT? As your mains or the rears?

MrNightly

shack wrote:

This looks like a really good deal. While it might not work for a lot of us who spend time here...It would probably work great for for someone new to the HT scene.

Ya, but I think I want to get him REAL polk speakers. I probably want to drop around $500 and that means staying in the used market.

What will probably happen, is I'll pick up a SVS and just get him my crappy sub after tax day. So really, I just need the front's, center, and rears.

Again, I don't know a whole lot about timber matching these older sets, so that was why I was asking! He doesn't need Top of the Line, but I don't want to give him crap either! He will use it for many years, until he gets the upgrade bug himself, I'm sure!

It was recommended by "The Old Wise One" to wait until some deals hit after tax returns start coming in. This seems like solid advice!

The M line also appears to be a good choice. I just don't know much about them!!! I'll get my read on soon enough though.

Thanks all.

shack

I've heard a couple of the Polk Sub-Sat systems. They are REAL speakers and depending on the size of the room do a decent job for HT. I understand however wanting BIGGER speakers.

Refefer

MrNightly wrote:

Ya, but I think I want to get him REAL polk speakers. I probably want to drop around $500 and that means staying in the used market.

You should grab stuff from the Monitor Line then. You should be able to get a full setup of monitor line used if you check around on the Bay (Agon's selection of Polk's is pretty limited) and it'll do a great job at home theater.

cmy330go

Those RM6750 are nothing to laugh at. I still consider them one of the best sub/sat systems under $1000 that I've ever heard. To top it off, that is a killer price.

If you prefer to piece a system. I would suggest trying a RTxxi setup. I personally have a pair of Rt25i's in my 2ch system that I obtained from Woody (only $100) in the FM, and I couldn't be happier with them. In fact is some ways I prefer them over my LSi9's. Four of them with matching center and a sub would make for a great sounding system.

Just a thought.

MrNightly

Hmmm, How are the Monitor 50's for fronts? I've never heard them before.

And say the Monitor 30's for rears?

Combined with what center? CS1 or CS2?

That would make a pretty sweet package I think... Anybody have experience listening to that set up? Would you take the M70's or the 50's?

MrNightly

cmy330go wrote:

Those RM6750 are nothing to laugh at. I still consider them one of the best sub/sat systems under $1000 that I've ever heard. To top it off, that is a killer price.

That is really interesting. I had no idea they could sound so good.

cmy330go wrote:

If you prefer to piece a system. I would suggest trying a RTxxi setup. I personally have a pair of Rt25i's in my 2ch system that I obtained from Woody (only $100) in the FM, and I couldn't be happier with them. In fact is some ways I prefer them over my LSi9's. Four of them with matching center and a sub would make for a great sounding system.

Just a thought.

Now those RTxxi's are fairly older right? They aren't showing on Polks main page. RT25i's all the way around eh? What center matches those?

I know, I know... I feel like a kid again asking all these questions!!

EDIT: What am I saying? I AM a kid!! Ha ha.

powerlord

Here I am again Dave!LOL. I deal with a guy in Ft. Worth that has a house full of speakers,brands from Advent to RSL,alot of older reference towers and centers and smaller subs.You have to pick up but at his prices it's well worth the drive if you are where we are.I picked my Eosone RSF 400's from him and paid 195.00 for the pair,which is unheard of.He had a set of 4 wharfedale saphires last time I was down there and only wanted 400 for all 4.If you are interested call me or PM me and I'll make a call.

cfrizz

Nightly, unless your father has golden ears don't worry too much about matching.

None of my speakers match & my system sounds great.

cmy330go

MrNightly wrote:

That is really interesting. I had no idea they could sound so good.

Keep in mind that the 6750's used to sell for around $700.

MrNightly wrote:

Now those RTxxi's are fairly older right? They aren't showing on Polks main page. RT25i's all the way around eh? What center matches those?

I know, I know... I feel like a kid again asking all these questions!!

I believe the RTxxi's are from the late 90's early 2000's. The proper center would be the CS245i.

In fact if you wish to explore this route you might check with WoodyJacobs to see if he has the center. If I recall he was trying to sell it around the same time I bought my 25's, and I don't think he was getting any bites on it.

cmy330go

I found the original FM thread. Doesn't look like he ever sold it. Might be worth a shot.

MrNightly

powerlord wrote:

Here I am again Dave!LOL. I deal with a guy in Ft. Worth that has a house full of speakers,brands from Advent to RSL,alot of older reference towers and centers and smaller subs.You have to pick up but at his prices it's well worth the drive if you are where we are.I picked my Eosone RSF 400's from him and paid 195.00 for the pair,which is unheard of.He had a set of 4 wharfedale saphires last time I was down there and only wanted 400 for all 4.If you are interested call me or PM me and I'll make a call.

Ok. Let me show my ignorance in speakers. I googled wharfedale sapphires, and am not really coming up with anything. Anyone? I'm checking AVS now.. never heard of these... What particular model does he have Mark?

Could be a worthy buy eh?

powerlord

I think they were the 87's or 89's, go to audioreview.com and cruise through their reviews,you can find most anything with reviews on them there.I don't know if he still has the set,I haven't been down in two weeks.This guy is a retired psychologist that collected audio gear for 30 yrs.You should see his house,you walk through passage ways of tower speakers,it's great,he's got vintage gear and high end audiophile,it's cool because you can go down and just shoot the breeze with him while you bathe in audio gear!

dkg999

There's a set of RT55i's in cherry on eBay that have a BIN of $225 I think. Might not be a bad starting place!

Bolt

I would also have to give a plug for the RM6750's. I just purchased and set them up. I had done extensive demo-ing to find a set that fit in my budget of about $400-500. I was able to pick these up for $299 at a local stereo shop. I am impressed with how these speakers sound. Yeah, the sub is a little small, but for the beginner, it's perfect. I was looking at other sub/sat set-ups and in that price range nothing came even close. The sound from others were very flat. These have a nice well rounded sound to them.

reeltrouble1

Nice to see you thinking of your Dad. I would think he will appreciate your effort.

RT1

DollarDave

shack wrote:

This looks like a really good deal. While it might not work for a lot of us who spend time here...It would probably work great for for someone new to the HT scene.

The 6750's are gone.

MrNightly

Bolt wrote:

I would also have to give a plug for the RM6750's. I just purchased and set them up. I had done extensive demo-ing to find a set that fit in my budget of about $400-500. I was able to pick these up for $299 at a local stereo shop. I am impressed with how these speakers sound. Yeah, the sub is a little small, but for the beginner, it's perfect. I was looking at other sub/sat set-ups and in that price range nothing came even close. The sound from others were very flat. These have a nice well rounded sound to them.

I guess my aversion to these, are that he currently has a little set of surrounds.. yammies I think, for like $100 that he picked up a long time ago. He hooked them up several years back, and just laughed at the sound. It was really not even worth hooking up. So now, he just has all five of the little cubes sitting on top of his big bookshelves, and he only runs them for movies.. but you can't even tell the difference from those and his TV speaks.

Therefore, after me buying some nice Polks, I think that is more of the sound he is looking for. I'm really leaning toward a Monitor Setup, or possibly those RTi25's or the such. I think I will be able to find them used over the next few months, to pick up a complete set for a reasonable price.

RT1, I sure hope he likes it. Anything will blow what he currently has outta the water. I think he'll be really shocked, but that is why we give isn't it? I may make him buy his own cables... Haha. I know he'll have to re-arrange his family room, but I've been trying to get mom and dad to do that for awhile.