Need a new center

Schlotkins

Good morning-

I need to do a major speaker upgrade down the road, but I'm moving for sure in less than 15 months and my current room doesn't really have the right setup for a 5.1 system. Thus, I'm running a 3.1 system and want to wait to get a complete package after I move.

In any case, I current have some 7 year old Polk RT55i's for the L/R channels and a CS245i for the center. To be honest, the CS245i is just not doing it for me - it's got a muddy unclear sound and it's hard to get clear dialog out of it. At the moment, I have it under my plasma on a shelf which isn't the optimal placement. However, even before that, the speaker was just not that great. So, I have two questions:

1) How bad would the mismatch be if I replaced the CS245i w/ the CSi5?

2) Does the CSi5 have the same muddy/unclear sound of the CS245i? From my understand, the new center is much improved.

I could also go with the LSiC if that would be a better option. I know the CS400i would be a better match, but (1) it's too high for my shelf and (2) I've read it has many of the properties I don't enjoy on my current setup.

Thanks for any advice!
Chris

VSchneider

Welcome, Chris! I am glad you followed my advice and found your way here. I won't repeat myself (since you already have my opinion) but let's see which way the more senior members will steer you.
- Val

danger boy

true the CS400i would be the correct match for the RT55i's... but it's to big for your set up. I've found that as long as you stay with the same brand of speakers.. you should notice little if any sound quality difference in your center channel speaker of your fronts.

I'd say, go with the largest Polk Audio speaker that would work for your set up.. so if that's the CSi5, then go with that one. also you need to calibrate your speakers with a Radio Shack SPL meter. that will also make a huge difference in how well you hear the center channel dialog.

What receiver are you running?

Schlotkins

Thanks for the replies. My receiver is a Denon 2807. I'm running a Toshiba HD-DVD player via HDMI to the receiver. According to the specs, I should be able to fit any of the current Polk centers in my setup as they are all shorter than the CS400i. The CSi5 looks like quite the monster.

My major compliants with the CS245i is the lack of clarity in dialog and the limited sound stage. If I am off center very much, it's very difficult to hear anything.

Thanks for your help,
Chris

tonyb

If space is an issue,try no center and run the dialog thru the 55's,sure they will sound great and put the money towards upgradeing a cdp or surround
speakers.Just a thought...try it.

engtaz

Polk CS2 (2 - 6.5 & 1 - tweeter) is not huge but should complement your speaker. *bay sell them for 179.00 everyday.

Good Luck,
engtaz

AndyGwis

If price isn't an issue, the CSi5 would seem to be the best option for you as I found my CSi3 to be crystal clear, especially when given good power.

That's what I would go with if I were you. I have the CS2 now, and actually think the CSi3 was as good if not better (even though it's smaller, cheaper, and not a timber match). The CSi5 would be even better.

fbwinners

CSI-5, I own one and I wouldn't trade it, dialogue is awesome from this center channel.



FB

MSALLA

The Csi5 is a good speaker. It will also leave options to upgrade if you want when you move.

Schlotkins

Thank you for all of the replies. I'm going to evaluate the CSi5 and also consider if I want to do my big upgrade on the front 3 now or not.

Thanks again,
Chris