Ideal center speaker for STA-11t?

absolutbryan

I know that Polk recommends the CSi5 center speaker for the RTA-11t's but they are not in my budget. I can not find any really good deals on them right now. I have found a reasonable price for a CSi3. I have read that it is very important to voice match the L-R speakers with the center and I can understand why but I just wanted to know if anyone out there had any experience with the combination I am thinking about. I have owned the RTA's since they come out 1989 and have been so happy with the speaker that I am going to setup my first surrond sound system with them.


Thanks in advance!
Bryan

zingo

To ideally match your RTA-11t's, you would want to use the same tweeter, the SL2000. The best way would be to find an older pair of classic Polks with the SL2000 and us one of them or both as your center.

If you can't ideally match the speakers, the CSi3 will probably do you fine. I had a mis-matched Polk HT for a while and it still sounded good.

cfrizz

I have the RTA 8T's & use a Boston Accustics CC. It sounds fine to me. I'm sure the CSI 3 will do just fine.

MillerLiteScott

I have a pair of RTA 11T's and have owned both the CSi3 and CSi5. The CSi5 is a much better center channel IMO. I still own a CSi5 and it gets the job done with out breaking a sweat.

Scott

absolutbryan

MillerLite....using the CSi5 made a noticeable difference (or should I say less noticeable)? I am not pushing the speakers with anything grossly overpowering. 125 RMS 5.1 Pioneer AV reciever 918. I bought the RTA's though AAFES when I was stationed in Germany and people are still amazed at how good they sound almost 20 years later. Browsing though the posts a see a bunch of people updating the tweeters and "recapping the crossover". How do I know when this needs to be done? I would guess that the tweeters would be obvious.

Thanks,
Bryan

Bryan

ben62670

absolutbryan wrote: »

MillerLite....using the CSi5 made a noticeable difference (or should I say less noticeable)? I am not pushing the speakers with anything grossly overpowering. 125 RMS 5.1 Pioneer AV reciever 918. I bought the RTA's though AAFES when I was stationed in Germany and people are still amazed at how good they sound almost 20 years later. Browsing though the posts a see a bunch of people updating the tweeters and "recapping the crossover". How do I know when this needs to be done? I would guess that the tweeters would be obvious.

Thanks,
Bryan

Bryan

The caps were standard caps even when new. Upgrade caps are better than new. Change the resistors too. The tweeters don't age to well.
BTW welcome to Club Polk.
Ben

MillerLiteScott

I have the RTA 11t's with the RDO 194's in my bedroom and I use the CSi5 with a pair of modded SDA 2B's and what I really should have said is the CSi5 has a much fuller sound than the CSi3. The CSi3 left me wanting more and the CSi5 still surprises me a year later how full and powerful it is.

I would recommend getting the new tweeters and enjoy your RTA 11t's for a while and then if you feel the need get the new caps and resisters. I am going to order some Sonicaps for mine and Mills resisters while Sonicraft is running their 15% discount till the end of the month.

Scott

absolutbryan

Do you know the parts numbers for the resisters and the capacitors from Sonicraft? They could not be to exspensive. To order the tweeters do I just call Polk?

Thanks,
Bryan

absolutbryan

Where can I get a systematic for the RTA-11t speaker? I have not had much success searching the forum. I have enough experience with a soldering iron to figure this one out.

Thanks,
Bryan

absolutbryan

OK called Polk and of course they have the tweeters. I found the systemics in another post (Club Polk rocks!) and I looked up the caps distributor online. Wow caps are normally cheap but those Sonicaps are pricey!!! Resistors are cheap. Now I just have to wait until I see a CSi5 on Polk eBay store!

Thanks All!!!
Bryan

zingo

A great place to get quality, budget caps and resistors is Parts Express. Sonicaps are some of the best, but also cost a pretty penny as you are aware.

absolutbryan

per the systemic here is the parts list per speaker

2 - 12uF caps
1- 34uF cap
1 - 0.4 ohm resistor
1 - 2.0 ohm resistor w/polyswitch

Now my ignorance is going to really show! How do you get the 34uf value in the higher end caps? Also the systemic show two types of caps, film(mylar?) and electrolytic. I am assuming that film are fine for all of them?

Thanks for the education!,
Bryan

ben62670

absolutbryan wrote: »

per the systemic here is the parts list per speaker

2 - 12uF caps
1- 34uF cap
1 - 0.4 ohm resistor
1 - 2.0 ohm resistor w/polyswitch

Now my ignorance is going to really show! How do you get the 34uf value in the higher end caps? Also the systemic show two types of caps, film(mylar?) and electrolytic. I am assuming that film are fine for all of them?

Thanks for the education!,
Bryan

You can use two caps stacked to get your 34 uf. Say a 16uf+18uf will give you 34uf. I just use Dayton's for the big caps. Also use a quality resistor like the Mill's 12 watt.
Ben

absolutbryan

Thanks Ben! Stacked meaning in parallel?

Thanks
Bryan

ben62670

absolutbryan wrote: »

Thanks Ben! Stacked meaning in parallel?

Thanks
Bryan

yes:)

MillerLiteScott

absolutbryan wrote: »

per the systemic here is the parts list per speaker

2 - 12uF caps
1- 34uF cap
1 - 0.4 ohm resistor
1 - 2.0 ohm resistor w/polyswitch

Now my ignorance is going to really show! How do you get the 34uf value in the higher end caps? Also the systemic show two types of caps, film(mylar?) and electrolytic. I am assuming that film are fine for all of them?

Thanks for the education!,
Bryan

Absolutbryan,

It looks like you have listed a 0.4 ohm resistor which is actually the value for the inductor. The proper value for that resister is 2.7 ohm I believe.

Scott

absolutbryan

Oh.....Yes thank you Scott! LOL I think I was looking at the inductor!

Bryan