From 2 speakers to 5.1

johy

Hi all,

Hello from India. This is my first post on this forum. I am new to audio hi-fi as well. Last month, I purchased a pair of RTi4s along with the Denon 1707 AVR (75w x 7 channels) - this if for movies and music 60%-40%.

I chose the RTi4s over the Monitor 50s - I found they sounded much smoother.

My current room (it is a rented place) is 12' x 12' feet and it is upgrade time now. Also, I will be moving to a new house soon where the room is going to be 12' x 16'. I am looking at the following upgrade.

1. Polk Monitor 30s for surround.
2. Polk PSW12 for the sub. Or maybe the PSW10 - will this suffice?
3. Polk CS1 for the Center.

Now the vendor is asking me to go for:

1. Monitor 50s for front.
2. Moving the RTi4s to the back.
3. PSW12 sub.
4. CS1 center.

They say that I need floorstanders for the front - I am not really convinced; especially when I like the sound of the RTi4s so much. Do you think my config is okay for a 12' x 16' room, or do I need something more powerful?

Shannon W.

I would stick with the RTi series. Like run some RTi8's upfront CSi3 for your center and put the RTi4 in the rear. as for sub that is up to you. but if your dead set on running a Polk sub "There is no replacement for displacement" I'd go with the PSW12.

Good luck on your home theater quest!

Shannon

danger boy

get another pair of RTi4 ... then run them in front and rear surrounds.. no one says you must go with towers or with something like mixing monitors and RTi series of speakers. keep them all the same.. it'll sound incredible.

oh yeah.. get a CSi 3 center to match the rest.

johy

Thanks Shannon and danger boy,

Am I seeing the light? I think so!! I guess I better go slow and buy the stuff slowly rather than compromising with the Monitor 30s and 50s.

When I asked the Polk dealer over the phone regarding the CSi3, they told me that it was a 180 W speaker and would "overwhelm" the front speakers (RTi4s @125 W if I used them) - and so the idea about the CS1. The same for the CS2 (175 watts).

I was considering the Monitor series as they are more affordable, but I like the sound of the RTis any day.

Shannon, I am not fixed on the Polk sub; I could buy Wharfdales, Paradigm, Mordaunt shorts, and other brands as well - all in different stores. Which sub would you recommend? At not too high a budget. Audio hi-fi is pretty expensive in India. To give you an idea, the RTi4s cost me an equivalent of USD 353.

Also, in case I buy just 2 pieces now, should I but 2 RTis (4/8) now and the sub + center later? Or buy the sub and center now and 2 RTis later?

I hope I can get a more or less clear idea of things before making the overnight train trip to the big city where the Polk store is located.

Thanks once again.

schwarcw

I'd buy the RTi 4/8 now, and the CSi and the sub later. Doing this would allow you to expierience the "surround" sound.

Refefer

johy wrote: »

Audio hi-fi is pretty expensive in India. To give you an idea, the RTi4s cost me an equivalent of USD 353.

Huh, so you're paying about retail. Do you have any qualms with buying used? Honestly you could probably do a lot better buying on the used mart and having them ship it around the world to you. Even if it costs you $100 USD, it'll cost you half what you pay in the stores.

Dennis Gardner

The CSi3 is a perfect match for your 4s. The CS1 and 2 are matched to the monitor series, not the RTi series. He is wrong......................A speakers wattage rating doesn't indicate how it will compare to other speakers. Driver size and efficiency ratings tell more.

Shannon W.

As for sub check out the SvS PB12-NSD. That would be a wonderful sub to match with your RTi system.

Shannon

johy

Thanks schwarcw, Refefer, Dennis, and Shannon

I get the idea. Two RTi (4 or 8) for now. The rest comes later. CSi3 looks like it and a sub - SVS perhaps, once I am able to locate and audition one. In case I don't find the SVS, Shannon, would you recommend any other subs? A Wharfedale perhaps? Or Jamos, klipschs, Paradigm?

@ Refefer I would love to get some used ones for less $, but really I think the problem is not shipping but customs in India; they will hold it (no matter what the declared value is) and make me cough up extra dough in import duties. Just in case, can you please give me the URLs to some trustworthy sites which sell used speakers? I can check them out and figure out if the exercise is going to be worth it.

EDIT: Shannon, I just checked out the SVS PB-12 NSD, retailing for $599 - I think I could not afford it, unless like Refefer said I could get a used one some place. I am looking for something which will not exceed the $390-$400 range.

MKZ

+1 ^
I have RTi4, CSi3 and PSW10 with Denon 1906. Don't go with PSW10 which is under power compare to bright RTi4. Finally decided to get SVS as Shannon's suggestion. Stick within the series for timbre-matched and get any RTi's. I think Center and Sub is important when you watched the movies. For music, I use stereo mode so center speaker is not needed. Without surrounds, you will missing some bullets and helicopters sounds. All the speakers are important more or less in 5.1 I guess. just my 2cents.

MKZ

Velodyne CHT-12 , SVS, HSU, Outlaw,Elemental Design. Those have very good reviews. Google it and you would see tons of good reviews.
http://www.audioreview.com/cat/speakers/subwoofers/velodyne-acoustics/PRD_140174_2741crx.aspx
http://svsound.com/products-sub-box-10nsd.cfm
http://www.hsuresearch.com/subwoofers.html
http://www.outlawaudio.com/products/lfmcompact.html
http://www.edesignaudio.com/edv2/product_info.php?cPath=2_41&products_id=407

johy

MKZ wrote: »

+1 ^
Don't go with PSW10 which is under power compare to bright RTi4. Finally decided to get SVS as Shannon's suggestion. Stick within the series for timbre-matched and get any RTi's. I think Center and Sub is important when you watched the movies. For music, I use stereo mode so center speaker is not needed. Without surrounds, you will missing some bullets and helicopters sounds. All the speakers are important more or less in 5.1 I guess. just my 2cents.

Thanks MKZ,

If the surrounds is mainly for those whizzing bullets and helicopters blade noises, why the RTi4s for the surrounds? Why not the much cheaper Monitor 30s? Just to match timbre?

Monitor 30s will cost me $256
RTi4 $353
RTi8 $926

I can buy the RTi4s or even the RTi8s now, but the rest will have to wait.

Thanks a ton for those links!

johy

No one recommended CSi5? Is that way way better than the CSi3? The CSi3 costs USD 304 here, while the CSi5 is USD 536.

VXR8

johy wrote: »

Thanks MKZ,

If the surrounds is mainly for those whizzing bullets and helicopters blade noises, why the RTi4s for the surrounds? Why not the much cheaper Monitor 30s? Just to match timbre?

Hi Johy and welcome,

Just to clarify, when the term "timbre" is used, it means that all speakers sound the same, not look the same, as would be the term and different spelling "timber".

All the different series, like the RTi series, which includes CSi for centres and FXi for surrounds are matched. The Monitor series sounds different to the RTi and then again, so does the next step up the ladder, LSi.

Good luck and keep us posted.

Dennis Gardner

johy wrote: »

No one recommended CSi5? Is that way way better than the CSi3? The CSi3 costs USD 304 here, while the CSi5 is USD 536.

I wouldn't think that the CSi5 is worth the premium that you are facing. It is without a doubt a better, more substantial center speaker, but not at nearly twice the price.

MKZ

VXR8 wrote: »

Hi Johy and welcome,

Just to clarify, when the term "timbre" is used, it means that all speakers sound the same, not look the same, as would be the term and different spelling "timber".

All the different series, like the RTi series, which includes CSi for centres and FXi for surrounds are matched. The Monitor series sounds different to the RTi and then again, so does the next step up the ladder, LSi.

Good luck and keep us posted.

+1^.
Thank you VXR8.
Johy, if I were you, I would go for 2.1 then upgrade to 5.1 tradition way. The RTi4s are bookshelf speaker and missing bottom below 60Hz. I think RTi8 are too expensive there. I saw those for $200 per piece at Fry’s last month. You could wait for next sale and let them ship it to your country. I don’t think it would cost you $500 for shipping. The bigger front is good for music. RTi4 front and surround would be fine for HT. CSi3 is quite good enough for your room. It is already seems large for some. I even reduce the center channel to -5db while my fronts are +5db.

cfrizz

Welcome Johy.

As far as the sub goes, Polk is updating a whole slew of subs later this year, so you might want to wait until they come out if that would be more convenient for you.

johy

Thanks VXR8, Dennis , MKZ, and cfrizz!

@ VXR8 - Yes, I want the setup to "sound the same." What irked me most was the vendor in India "ProFx" - they were the ones to suggest Monitor 50s for the front and move the RTi4s to the back and I thought ..are they out of their mind or something? Just a month back I had visited their store, auditioned both Monitor 50 and RTi4 and picked up the RTi4 and here they are asking me to move this better sounding speaker to the back! :eek:

Dennis - I think my wallet urges me to go for the CSi3 and that is the one I am going to pick.

MKZ - You make me think and if I do this, I will have to start a whole new hunt......but you do give me good thought for my brain. I was first thinking of a Polk sub, but the impression I have got is that there are better subs - than the Polks. The problem is I cannot possibly buy a Velodyne - they are just too hard to find where I live, even in the big city, Calcutta, where I must travel to buy stuff. I can buy Polk, Klipsh, Paradigm, Wharfedales, Mordaunt Short, and there is a nice Indian company called Sonodyne.

Also, I am looking at a modest budget of USD 400 or so for the sub. With this budget and the fact that subs are pretty expensive this part of the world, I fear I might not have too many choices in the end.

The Polk PSW404 would cost me USD 535 (I could pinch myself to buy one)
PSW303 at USD 402 (more like it).

@criff - I could wait. Yes, I could do that. Thanks for the info.

My situation at present:

1. I had written to Polk support (International - US I presume) and they got back to me (that was nice ) suggesting RTi8 or RTi6 for front and moving the RTi4s to the back.

I am leaning to the RTi6s for now. They would cost me USD 536 or so for the pair - I could afford them and I like their sound. RTi8s feel a little too expensive for me at USD 926 - again I could save up money and go for them ..say in a few months' time. For the center, they suggested CSi3 or CSi5 - probably the CSi3 for me. Subwoofer, they said PSW12/PSW303/404/505 - not sure what to do here. If not Polk, then which affordable sub?

2. The color black. My RTi4s are black and I want to match everything to match the color. The Polk store in Calcutta does not always have ready stock for all colors and models. Right now they have a CSi3 in black that they can hold on to that for me. I can order RTi6s in black and it will take them 3 weeks to get it.

3. I don't live in Calcutta. I live 500 odd kms north near Darjeeling and I need to plan everything more or less before going to audition and buying stuff - I know I am almost getting jittery - I just hope I am not becoming a pain to all. I probably need to buy whatever is available, for example, the CSi3 is available in black, so I will probably need to go ahead and buy that, buy the sub and ?RTis6 after that? I hope I am doing the right thing? Or should I get a sub first?

Thanks once again folks!

Edit: In case, I stick to Polk, how will the PSW404 match with the CSi3 and RTi6 for front . RTi4s for surround? The PSW404 is available in Black and will match my RTis. Please help fast!

surfntomm

if you are on such a tight budget for a sub you might as well build your own if that is an option. i wouldnt go below psw404, i have the psw650 and it works fine but i wouldnt mind upgrading.

if you get floorstanders your music sans sub will sound much more full so to speak. id rather listen to the rti8's with no sub than with one unless it was pretty seemlessly integrated while most are not given the set x-over freq of the AVR.

if i were you id get 2 rti8's now and not skimp on the front end. this will be the best upgrade for your music listening department. next get a decent center since over 80% of a movie is played through the center. the surrounds i find will need the least of your budget. is it an option to trade/return your rti4's and get the 8's and get like monitor 40's for the rear or something?

if you can get just 5.0 and wait a while for a sub that is worth getting i think that would be your best bet. no point in ht if you are missing one of the 5 channels, while you can work with no sub for a bit although the slam in some action movies will no be there. the synergy between all the speakers will be though and i think that is what makes surround sound so damn cool.

cheers and good luck.