Request speaker advice

mlastarza

HI, new poster here. I would like advice regarding speakers for a combined HT/music system. I have a Yamaha RX-V661 7.1 90wx7 A/V receiver. I am looking at 5.1 system with possibly bi-amping the front speakers. I have listened to polk rti series and paradigm monitor series (hard to compare as stores are 50 miles apart). Appreciate thoughts on

Appropriate speakers for this level of receiver.

Good idea regarding bi-amping front speakers?

How much of a difference do the surround speakers like the polk fx series make as opposed to using rti4 or rti6 speakers for your surround speakers?

Anybody with experience with paradigm speakers and their opinion.


By the way I have a pair of Polk RTA-11t speakers but I am planning on using them in a sepatate system.

Thank you.

dane_peterson

Biamping the speakers with your receiver is not going to yield you much better results. If you were to use separate amplification with a decent power rating (100w+), you'd notice improvements... even without biamping.

Depending on your room layout, fx's may or may not be the best route. Typically I've found that if my seating area is directly against the back wall, side-firing directional speakers are a better choice. If you have some space between you and the back wall, you will have better results with a bipole/dipole.

swd40

I just puchase a Pioneer A/V receiver Vsx-917V-K and my speaker is config as a 5.1 setup with my fronts being a Polk RTI38's ; center speaker Polk CSI30 and the surround speakers bose 210-4. I looking to reconfig to a 7.1 setup and possibly replacing the bose speakers. I'm not sure what speaker to with. I thinking of the polks M10 and or the Polks RTI4 for all my surround. Could you please advise me which surround speakers would best complment my fronts and center speakers.

marvda1

here's a great deal you have missed out on but you can still contact the guy.
also buying new from av123 you still get a great value. i have not heard them but am friends with the designer and know his work.
http://av123forum.com/showthread.php?t=23288

swd40

Could I get some Advise about the M10 ;RTI4 and the R150's is regards my last question

swd40

I just puchase a Pioneer A/V receiver Vsx-917V-K and my speakers are config as a 5.1 setup with my fronts being a Polk RTI38's ; center speaker Polk CSI30 and the surround speakers bose 210-4. I looking to reconfig to a 7.1 setup and possibly replacing the bose speakers. I'm not sure what speaker to with. I thinking of the polks M10 ; R150’s or the Polks RTI4 for all my surround. Could you please advise me which surround speakers would best complement my fronts and center speakers.

Robd

what kinda budget?
which Paradigms? monitor has many models
Is there any reason you wanna bi-amp? (2x the cost of speaker wire, and for decent wire spend the difference on better speakers),
Even on a discrete reciever (2 seperate amps for mains) usually when you biamp you are just driving the main amp in a high current mode and can add a little bit more noise, with that reciever you may be happy just running it non bi-amped.
I have set up over a dozen paradigm systems (I am Canadian and they are much like Polk is cheaper in the U.S.,Paradigm is cheaper up here because they are Canadian made) either way it is preference.
Paradigm does have cast baskets, and a lot of feature found in alot of upper end speakers, they make fabulous speakers ( I have the original series 9se when they 1st came out, and are still singing today, 20 years later), I cannot say anything bad about there speakers, My last room I did ( my uncles room) was a set of studio monitors with there reference dipoles, l/c/r/center, drivin with a 5 channel Anthem avm/mca combo 200 watts per channel, with a servo15 sub.... expensive but worth every cent.
Personally my room is filled with Polks, approaching 10 years old and will keep up with the best of them. (by comparison stamped baskets not very impressive, but they do work fine) I find because I listen to Metal/rock/country /Rap, everything the Polks handle all the different music, and never let me down, especially on the home theater side, ( not to say the Paradigms wont but I find the harder hitting rap/metal does not do the paradigms justice my Polks on the other hand like it alot) alot needs to be said about what your planning to listen to. Home theater they will both give you quality sound, If you go with more of a ht set up than music, audition the ps1000 sub by Paradigm not very musical (bandpass design), but it will be the only sub you will ever buy and at that you will only run it at 1/2 volume or less and it will Shake your foundation ( I have recommended this to all my family/friends and never has anyone been disapointed, as far as bang for your buck).
hope this helps, I should let you know I am not in the audio industry just been playing with home/theater equipment for 20 years and have helped anyone who knows me purchase/setup there sytems, (it is my thing).
Good luck.

Midnite Mick

marvda1 wrote: »

here's a great deal you have missed out on but you can still contact the guy.
also buying new from av123 you still get a great value. i have not heard them but am friends with the designer and know his work.
http://av123forum.com/showthread.php?t=23288

:eek: That is a phenomenal price for someone that wants to start a HT on a budget.

mlastarza

Thanks for the input.

I was particularly looking at the paradigm monitor 11 which I can get locally for about $1200/pair and then get the recommended center, surround, and sub that goes with that. I listened to the paradigm S100 (about $2200/pair) and they seemed more natural, not as bright as the monitor 11 but don't think I want to spend that much, as will still need to buy remaining HT speakers.

The RTi12 are listed at my local dealer for $1400/pair but the salesman says he will negotiate. Thinking of the CSi5 center, FXi3 or 5 surround and 404 sub to go with that.

Does it make sense to get a separate 2 channel amp for the front speaker pair and run the rest of the HT speakers off the AVR as opposed to getting a 5 or 7 channel amp. Do the center and surround speakers benefit that much from an external amp?

as far as music, it will be mostly rock with some jazz.

thanks

dane_peterson

You can find RTi12s for MUCH cheaper. That's more than most LSi15s go for these days.

Robd

Depending on the volume you are looking for that particular reciever has some good power (bang for your $), I would suggest putting the $ into your speakers, recievers come and go but if you have good solid speakers you will keep them for a long time, enjoy the looking and listening it is half the fun, when it is all over you will enjoy your set up for a long time.
Your Yamaha is a very decent reciever it will power anything you throw at it very well, with some good volume, seperate amps shure are better but only if you find it does not satisfy you already, and are willing to spend some hefty dollars ( good chance you would need to spend more than the reciever cost + good rca's ) again the speakers you choose will have a big impact (efficiency/sensitivity & impedance 4 ohm/6 ohm/8ohm).
May I suggest at the dollars you are spending have a good listen to the studio 20 ( I actually preferr these to the studio 100's) they list at 950.00 U.S. should be able to work them for a bit less, and they are everything you addored without the brightness, have a good listen I think you will find they are stunning.
I do agree at your $ range you should be into the lsi series in the Polk, price them elsewhere, see what you come up with, they would be the comparison to the studio series from Paradigm, and then let your preference take over.
( I do suggest bring the same music c.d. to audition them all so you know what they sound like on the same track, at that I also can suggest a c.d it is Jazz and called "a twist of Marley" Bob marley redone to jazz it is one of my reference cd's you would have a hard time finding a better recorded cd that is not sacd.)
http://www.vervemusicgroup.com/product.aspx?ob=prd&src=rslt&pid=9080
just a few pointers, aswell try to listen to them on a few reciever/amp combos, if they have them hooked up to a Bryston amp, ask to hear them on a Yamaha, to be fair, and close to what you can expect, it is nice to hear then on a 5000.00 amp/pre combo, but if your playing them on a 1000.00 reciever you wanna hear them on a 1000.00 reciever.
Good luck hope I helped,
Robd

cfrizz

Welcome to Club Polk!

The Polk setup you suggested would be outstanding!

I personally prefer all of my channels to be powered by a separate amp of at least 200wpc since all speakers benefit from extra power. Here are a couple of threads regarding the benefits of separate amplification. (and debate)

http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?t=54829
http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?t=55915

You will get more bang for the buck shopping for a used amp on Audiogon or keep your eyes open here on our Flea Market.

Outlaw Audio, Parasound, Rotel, Sunfire, Adcom, Nad are all good brands that will bring your speakers to life!

mlastarza wrote: »

Thanks for the input.

I was particularly looking at the paradigm monitor 11 which I can get locally for about $1200/pair and then get the recommended center, surround, and sub that goes with that. I listened to the paradigm S100 (about $2200/pair) and they seemed more natural, not as bright as the monitor 11 but don't think I want to spend that much, as will still need to buy remaining HT speakers.

The RTi12 are listed at my local dealer for $1400/pair but the salesman says he will negotiate. Thinking of the CSi5 center, FXi3 or 5 surround and 404 sub to go with that.

Does it make sense to get a separate 2 channel amp for the front speaker pair and run the rest of the HT speakers off the AVR as opposed to getting a 5 or 7 channel amp. Do the center and surround speakers benefit that much from an external amp?

as far as music, it will be mostly rock with some jazz.

thanks

mlastarza

thanks for the advice folks.

I pulled the trigger last night and ordered online a pair of RTi12's fronts, pair of FXi5's surrounds, a CSi5 center and a PSW505 sub.

Grand total price including shipping was $1882. Should arrive in about a week.

For now I will drive it with my Yamaha RX-V661 receiver but listening to all the advice on this thread and others I anticipate doing some amplifier shopping a little down the road.

Thanks again.

cfrizz

Congrats! That is one terrific system that you have put together, enjoy!

engtaz

Nice system. enjoy