Upgrade Speakers or More Speakers?

dakinesnow

Hi All Polkies,

I currently have the following system:

Receiver: Onkyo TX-SR503
Center: Polk CSI25
Fronts: Polk M20's
Rears: Polk M10's
Sub: Velodyne VRP-10

So I feel like I might be missing something. I'm not quite sure what it is completely or if it's a combonation of things. Running my current 5.1 setup, I'm not sure if I want a more powerful fronts/center combo or just want two additional speakers to complete my 7.1 setup.

The fronts/center combo is fine, but during video games or when i really want to hear crisp words from talking/vocals, I hardly hear anything coming from my fronts at all. I think most talking/vocals are supposed to come from the center channel anyways, so maybe that's what needs upgraded? Or do I need more powerful fronts as well?

My rears sound fine because they are pretty close to wear I normally sit, so maybe this explains my lack of hearing much from the front. I suppose I could always upgrade the fronts/center and move the current fronts back to surrounds now also?

I'm just looking for a little push in the right direction for jumping from entry level equipment to the next level I suppose. I have room measurements drawn out on paper I could scan to .pdf even; if that ever helps.

Thanks in advance,

dakinesnow

Dennis Gardner

I think proper calibration would provide the most bang for $$$. Get a setup disc like Avia or Video Essentials to help with setup. If this still leaves you wanting, upgrade your center.

IMO 7.1 is over rated since only a couple hundred movies of the 90,000 or so currently available actually have 7 channel sound.

dakinesnow

I have a digital sound level meter, but I'm also not 100% sure if I used it right the first time. Where is the best place to find the CD's you mention? Online or local retailer like CC, Fry's or Best Buy etc.?

That's good to know about the movies for 7.1 since that would be one of my main reasons for upgrading to 7.1. Don't some receivers make the other 90,000 or so "act" like 7.1 though?

Does 7.1 help at all when using all-channel music mode for music or would that be more about calilbration and the fronts/center as well?

Thanks again.

Kchill

Well what you have is no better than r30's and r15's which I have, loved them too at first, bought a set for my brother and he loves them too. But just as you have found out you want more. So now comes the choice, You could spend a little or alot.

For little would be the Monitors that have went on sale now as low as 99 bucks at outpost with some 30's for about 129 for the pair, this will allow you to keep the sub and maybe the center.

Then you can do what most of us have over the past 4 months and Bust the Bank on some rti gear....yeah I know its a lot but a full set could run you 6-700 if you look in the right places.

You will see the difference, you will hear the difference and you will never look back.

dakinesnow

"Then you can do what most of us have over the past 4 months and Bust the Bank on some rti gear....yeah I know its a lot but a full set could run you 6-700 if you look in the right places."

So basically if I got some RTi's as my fronts and moved my current fronts to my surround, I could keep the same center, sub, receiver and be happy about the upgrade to talking/vocals/overall sound/loudness?

Kchill

Where abouts do you live...if there is a tweeter near you then I would check them out for some rti8's. I say this because of the reciever you have. It is a cheapy deepy, but solid for what it does. I have the 520..so its about the same...anyways they got you covered if you act now...last I saw these going for 118.00 each. While your at it get the csi3 or 5 because they are both under 150...problem solved and you'll thank us later. Use what you have as a secondary set up for your bedroom or gameroom.

dakinesnow

I live in Oregon. I checked out the Tweeter website and their closest store to me is in Arizona. I see why the RTi8's are cheaper though...cherry. You were right about the $118 price tag. Polk speakers tend to offer the cherry ones super cheap because no one wants that color. I suppose they could be painted for the price though.

When you say use what I have as secondary set up for a bedroom or gameroom, are you talking about both the M20's and M10's? Couldn't I use them together with the RTi8's? I can't imagine them not serving well as surrounds, but I might be wrong.

The deals available to me from Fry’s (a couple mile away from where I live) are: Polk R50 Cherry’s for $59.99 each, Polk R300’s for $49.99 each, and Polk monitor 50 Maple’s for $99.99 each. It appears their website has mainly the new line of RTi’s for sale so I’m not sure what the RTi8 equivalent would be, but their store may have other inventory available.

How is the Monitor series versus the RTi series? Would an upgrade from the M series to the Monitor be good too, or just straight to the RTi series?

Kchill

Don't go to Video Only...those guys are smokin with an asking price of 299 for the 8's....the 50's are just a step up but may not be your final solution in the end. I hate to agree with folks but bigger is better and there is a reason why they make all these types.

But if your budget is cheap then get the 50's for now. Wait and in 4-5 years the new line of rti's may come down. I'd do a side by side with the monitors just for listening sake, heck try out the new RTI's....And by all means ask the guy if some 8's are still floating around somewhere in thier system or 10's for that matter. You just never know.

dakinesnow

You mentioned i should get the 8's but also mention the 10's. Will my "cheapy deepy;)" Onkyo push 8's and/or 10's adequately until I replace that receiver? I could opt for the best speakers right off the bat, but wouldn't want to harm them with low end power/distortion.

I have never purchased anything from Video Only because I have a Fry's so close by that has pretty much all the Polks one might want. It's just a matter of what will be best to upgrade first in my current system.

Kchill

1st- center
2nd- fronts
3rd- sub
4th surrounds.

Check into the fronts first in your case because your pretty happy with the center, but get that center before they are gone. As you said you can get away with the rest of the gear as surrounds.

dakinesnow

I suppose the my current center could be used as a rear surround or something if I got a new center. I think if I got the RTi8's for fronts and moved my M20's to surround, I could deal with the center later like you say. Or just do the center at the same time. Is the CSi 3 or 5 better? Is there another center that can really put out superior center sound?

Kchill

Csi 5 is better from what they say...i have only heard a few problems with my csi3 but that was critical listening, plus I belive in crap in crap out when it comes to music. For movies I hear voices clear as day. Paired with the 8's would be great. I think you would be happy with the 10's and hold off on a sub until you get a better reciever. The low end onks we have does deliver some good power no doubt, not the power people will say you need but my wife makes me turn it down. The csi3 is good at 129.00 if you can get ahold of it. The problem may be finding the 8's or 10's.

With that said the monitors are comming down in price now as well. But the rti's are simply better if you can find them at the low prices. I would call the tweeter and offer them to ship them to you. may be worth it if they can get a full set to you. Ebay have been crappin folks as of late from what I read. You can also check memebers on this board if your trusting enough in the f/s forum, remeber polk can always sell you replacement parts if you find something wrong... but most members take care of thier polks to begin with.

dakinesnow

Ya I don't Ebay and I don't know how much I'd buy off a forum, but I have places around me that carry Polk. Finding something reasonable won't be a problem, just waiting for sales can suck.

So would you track down the center (CSi 5 or equivalent) or the RTi 8's or 10's? Basically if you could only upgrade one thing per month or so, what would you do first in my situation? Still the fronts first like you mentioned before, then the center next month? Or Center then Fronts next month?

Or should I screw speakers altogether this month and upgrade the receiver first to a higher end Onkyo?

Thanks again.

Kchill

Look at the line you like the most and go from there....I'd do the 10's...5....and then the reciever...but you might be surprised by your reciever.

dakinesnow

I haven't had much in the way of power issues from the receiver I think, but I'm not sure. With the same receiver alone, do you think I'll notice a huge difference between just putting Rti10's as fronts and moving my M20's back as surrounds or will I still be seeking more power from the front end?

Kchill

I was shocked as I moved up the food ladder of speakers. I started off with some r30's which is the same as your 20's. Then bought some 50's and thought it could not get any better. And for some the 50's are good enough. Then the sale at fry's on the rti10 was just too good to ignore. I thought that I was not going to be able to power them but my reciever (bless its little heart) has done well in putting out power. Yes it runs hot, yes it has clipped on me a few times but that was when I pushed it hard for 2-4 hours at high volumes.

Sometimes I wonder if I need a new reciever because the 10's sound great, but I know I will replace the reciever when my basement is done (already in the budget).

Go rti and don't look back...stop by fry's today and listen, take your MP3 player and cord , they will let you hook it up to the next onkyo you would like to have.