Upgrade from 2.0 to 7.1 Surround

RETXAB

Hello all,

I currently upgraded my receiver to an Onkyo 806, it is suhweet! My fronts are old Bose 10.2's I bought from someone in the neighborhood. I am looking for five more speakers to create a 7.1 HT system and was looking for Polk suggestions.

I have sampled the RM8's and 9's and like them okay for satellites...

I have four (4) runs of forty (40) feet 14 gauge UL listed CL3 wire ready for termination, including 24K Au plated speaker pins, and the gumption to start cutting holes in the walls but need to decide on the speakers first...:eek:

Kex

Welcome to the Club!

If you do not plan to add external amplifiers, I would suggest you get the best speakers you can afford that will match with your Onkyo, so do not go too big, and stay away from the 4 ohm models.

- Avoid the LSi range, since they are 4 ohms, and will not play nice with the Onkyo.
- Avoid the larger RTi A speakers, since the Onkyo will not drive them hard enough.
- For floorstanding models, I highly recommend the RTi A5 for your front two.
- For your center, I would prefer the CSi A6, but the CSi A4 will do fine.
- For your surrounds, either RTi A5 again, or RTi A3 bookshelf speakers. Check the FXi models, depending on placement issues (they will work better in some situations).

If that is more than you planned on spending, then the RTi A3 will still make a good system, front and rear, but it's nice to have the extra range of the A5 if you can get it (lower -3dB limit frequency response).

If budget is even more of a problem, then look for the older RTi and RT lines on craigslist.com and the official Polk store on eBay and plan on spending from $150-250 per pair, plus about $75-200 for a good center channel. All of the older RT range are great bargains for a HT system IMO, and can really deliver heaps of great sound.

Your choice of subwoofer will greatly influence your HT experience. There are plenty of threads and choices there. The cheapest useful models start at about $200. The next threshold is $500. After that, you're up to $1,000 and beyond! You should get the best you can afford. Sealed models are very much in fashion these days, especially if music is a big priority.