Thinking about joining POLK for my home theatre

tibasnatch
tibasnatch Posts: 30
edited February 2008 in Speakers
I want your opinions....here is my current set up and please be honest...

onkyo receiver newer 07
velodyne 10" sub powered

Bose 701 series 2 floor speakers built in amp.
bose vcs-10 center
bose 161 rears


I will be keeping my onkyo and the sub for sure...may replace all the bose.

I think my setup sounds great BUT I havent tested or heard anything else but the lower brands like sony and yamaha...

my budget is pretty low....less then $800, but just for the 5 speakers

I was thinking of starting with the POLK RTi8 Speakers cause they look great , have great reviews and are a great price right now $150 each.

I also read that a good center would be the csi5....but right now that is too expensive for me but I can easily afford the csi3....would that be a mistake?

and also I have no idea what speakers I would get for my rears....



I live in a mobile home so my room size is about 15x15 (livingroom) but it also opens into the dining room and kitchen..


Please let me know your honest opinions on all this and if i shold go ahead with my upgrade OR keep what I got since the polks may not sound better....

Thanks alot!!
Post edited by tibasnatch on
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Comments

  • cfrizz
    cfrizz Posts: 13,415
    edited February 2008
    Welcome to Club Polk.

    By all means start upgrading to much better speakers. Once you hear the difference you will be amazed at what you have been missing. We tend to recommend the csi 5 over the 3 for a more enveloping sound but the 3 will do just fine as well. Then keep you eye out for a pair of fxi 3's & get a decent sub & you will be all set. Look for one of the new DSW subs by Polk as they get better praise over the older PSW series.

    You don't have to do it all at once, buy them a bit at a time, so that you get what you really want.

    Have fun.
    Marantz AV-7705 PrePro, Classé 5 channel 200wpc Amp, Oppo 103 BluRay, Rotel RCD-1072 CDP, Sony XBR-49X800E TV, Polk S60 Main Speakers, Polk ES30 Center Channel, Polk S15 Surround Speakers SVS SB12-NSD x2
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  • tibasnatch
    tibasnatch Posts: 30
    edited February 2008
    Thanks....so u think the rti8 and csi3...maybe the 5 would blow away what i got now the bose??....has anyone heard the infinity beta 40's and c360 center...im pretty torn between those and the polks.
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  • lancer
    lancer Posts: 26
    edited February 2008
    Bought my first set of Polk speakers in the 80's and have tried Klipsch, JBL, Infinity, etc. I always come back to Polk. A great speaker company over the years. Give polk a try.
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  • tibasnatch
    tibasnatch Posts: 30
    edited February 2008
    I think I will....great prices and the reviews are outstanding....but I gotta wait for my credit card it better come in the mail today cause im afraid the $149 rti8's will sell out today!

    also I really do want a good center but the csi5 is just out of mu budget for now.....will i be fine with the csi3...its about 150 less....
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  • cfrizz
    cfrizz Posts: 13,415
    edited February 2008
    Yes, the csi3 will be just fine.
    Marantz AV-7705 PrePro, Classé 5 channel 200wpc Amp, Oppo 103 BluRay, Rotel RCD-1072 CDP, Sony XBR-49X800E TV, Polk S60 Main Speakers, Polk ES30 Center Channel, Polk S15 Surround Speakers SVS SB12-NSD x2
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  • Roland P
    Roland P Posts: 33
    edited February 2008
    I think for that price you can't go wrong.

    I started with the R-10's about 7 years ago and ended with the LSi9's!
    My HT - JVC DLA-HD2K - Rotel rsx-1065 - Polkaudio LSi9, LSiFx, LSiC - REL Storm III
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  • tibasnatch
    tibasnatch Posts: 30
    edited February 2008
    Im ready to buy right now! but i cant, i need money on my card which wont be on til later today, knowing my luck they will sell out right before I can order....
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  • engtaz
    engtaz Posts: 7,664
    edited February 2008
    Welcome tibasnatch. Don't be surprised that you will hear a fuller sound then before.

    engtaz
    engtaz

    I love how music can brighten up a bad day.
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  • janmike
    janmike Posts: 6,146
    edited February 2008
    tibasnatch wrote: »
    Im ready to buy right now! but i cant, i need money on my card which wont be on til later today, knowing my luck they will sell out right before I can order....

    Welcome. Pay cash - just my opinion. Good luck.
    Michael ;)
    In the beginning, all knowledge was new!
    NORTH of 60°
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  • tibasnatch
    tibasnatch Posts: 30
    edited February 2008
    anyone know of great deals on the rears fxi3???
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  • Sherardp
    Sherardp Posts: 8,038
    edited February 2008
    Bose blows, you maybe able to sell the current setup and put that towards your center or surrounds. Congrats on the upcoming upgrade, you will definitely hear fuller sound. I was using Bose as surrounds and noticed a huge difference when I upgraded to Rti4s and Fxi3s. Welcome to the club bro.
    Shoot the jumper.....................BALLIN.............!!!!!

    Home Theater Pics in the Showcase :cool:

    http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showcase/view.php?userid=73580
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  • vonnie123
    vonnie123 Posts: 326
    edited February 2008
    I swapped out two old sets of 20 year old Bose speakers for Polks. no regrets. Good luck.
    [
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  • tibasnatch
    tibasnatch Posts: 30
    edited February 2008
    Thanks, I can sll the bose for over $600 so i should be able to get some good stuff from polk! Im gonna be mad if i miss out on the rti8's and they are great looking too!!
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  • jakelm
    jakelm Posts: 4,081
    edited February 2008
    tibasnatch wrote: »
    Thanks, I can sll the bose for over $600 so i should be able to get some good stuff from polk! Im gonna be mad if i miss out on the rti8's and they are great looking too!!

    Sell the Bose. Also, keep an eyes on our flee market (for sale) threads... Excellent deals....

    Get the Rti8's... The Rti series is excellent. Although I'm more vintage.
    Monitor 7b's front
    Monitor 4's surround
    Frankinpolk Center (2 mw6503's with peerless tweeter)
    M10's back surround
    Hafler-200 driving patio Daytons
    Tempest-X 15" DIY sub w/ Rythmik 350A plate amp
    Dayton 12" DVC w/ Rythmik 350a plate amp
    Harman/Kardon AVR-635
    Oppo 981hd
    Denon upconvert DVD player
    Jennings Research (vintage and rare)
    Mit RPTV WS-55513
    Tosh HD-XA1
    B&K AV5000


    Dont BAN me Bro!!!!:eek:
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  • PSOVLSK
    PSOVLSK Posts: 5,234
    edited February 2008
    tibasnatch wrote: »
    anyone know of great deals on the rears fxi3???


    http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?t=63023

    These are the newer version of the Fxi3.
    Things work out best for those who make the best of the way things work out.-John Wooden
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  • Bill Ayotte
    Bill Ayotte Posts: 1,860
    edited February 2008
    If I had a place to put them, I would already own a set of RTi8s at that price. If nothing else, pick up those and the center, then sell of the Bose they replace to finance a set of Polk rears....Just a thought....
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  • ohskigod
    ohskigod Posts: 6,502
    edited February 2008
    that Bose center is a HUGE achilles heal in your system. I gave my inlaws a pair of 501's (series V I believe), and they picked up a Bose vcs 10 to timbre match the system (they already had a small pair of Bose bookshelves for surrounds.

    the rest of the speakers arent that bad (but the RTi series will beat on them), but that center is abysmal. Not busting balls here, but the RTi8's will give you some improvement over the bose, but the CSi3 will trounce that Bose center hard.

    the cool thing is, Bose still cacthes dough on Ebay, so sell them off and go RTi's. usually I say dont scrimp on the center and get the CSi5 but really, that CSi3 is going to blow your mind compared to that Bose center.

    the shame is, those 701's you got arent that bad, but you'll never timbre match it (Bose has a VERY unique sound that will clash with virtually any center you try to buy) Hence the reason for neading a whole soundstage swap to head in the right direction.

    good timing too, since RTi8's are silly cheap with the new line coming out. get rm while you can. keep us posted.

    an Onkyo reciever should drive the RTi's fine
    Living Room 2 Channel -
    Schiit SYS Passive Pre. Jolida CD player. Songbird streamer. California Audio Labs Sigma II DAC, DIY 300as1/a1 Ice modules Class D amp. LSi15 with MM842 woofer upgrade, Nordost Blue Heaven and Unity interconnects.

    Upstairs 2 Channel Rig -
    Prometheus Ref. TVC passive pre, SAE A-205 Amp, Wiim pro streamer and Topping E50 DAC, California Audio Labs DX1 CD player, Von Schweikert VR3.5 speakers.

    Studio Rig - Scarlett 18i20(Gen3) DAW, Mac Mini, Aiyma A07 Max (BridgedX2), Totem Mites
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  • Face
    Face Posts: 14,340
    edited February 2008
    Whatever you do, please timbre match everything. Mixing and matching between brands will throw things off, especially between your mains and center.
    "He who fights with monsters should look to it that he himself does not become a monster. And when you gaze long into an abyss the abyss also gazes into you." Friedrich Nietzsche
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  • tibasnatch
    tibasnatch Posts: 30
    edited February 2008
    Ok...cool....just ordered the rti8 cherry (2) and cherry csi3.....cant wait to get them, i hope they sound as good as u all say!!! Got the rti8 for 149 each and the csi3 for 149 shipped -30 cause i used a amazon visa.
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  • GZ
    GZ Posts: 343
    edited February 2008
    tibasnatch wrote: »
    Ok...cool....just ordered the rti8 cherry (2) and cherry csi3.....cant wait to get them, i hope they sound as good as u all say!!! Got the rti8 for 149 each and the csi3 for 149 shipped -30 cause i used a amazon visa.


    You will NOT be disappointed!
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  • jazzisnumberone
    jazzisnumberone Posts: 53
    edited February 2008
    rta 12c's for 20 years. a lotta love. you wont be disappointed.
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  • john22614
    john22614 Posts: 214
    edited February 2008
    From my experience, it's best to get the best center you can.....it really makes a difference in clarity and richness of dialogue, etc. So.......I strongly suggest you get the CSi5 over the 3. Trust me.....you won't regret it. Enjoy!
    B&W 804s mains
    B&W HTM4 center
    Polk PSW 1000 sub
    Outlaw 990 Pre Amp
    Anthem MCA 30 Amp
    Monitor Radius 180 surrounds
    Audiosource Stereo Amp for surrounds
    Denon 2910 Universal DVD/SACD Player
    Comcast DVR
    Pioneer Elite 42" Plasma 940 HD
    Harmony Universal Remote
    Blue Jeans interconnects and biwires
    Itunes Air Express
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