Timbre matching

PrimeBane

Speaker newbie question.

I recently purchased a Polk Audio CSi A4 center channel speaker from my home theater. I'd like to add a couple older Polk Audio Monitor series speakers as fronts (sale prices that come up on these at a local store are VERY good).

Question is, would a pair of m50s or m60s be a bad timbre match to the A4? Or would they be close enough that I can get away with it... I'm no audiophile if that makes a difference.

The HT is mainly used for Blu-ray/HD DVD viewing and video games.

Thanks

comfortablycurt

Those are considered the newer Monitor series. The old Monitor series is the Monitor 5, Monitor 7, Monitor 10...etc etc.

No...they wouldn't be a very good match for the CSi A4. You might be able to get away with it if you're not a real critical listener...but they aren't going to blend very well overall. You'd be better off saving up for a pair of RTi A5's. They get them on Polk Directs ebay store pretty frequently for around 400 bucks.

Of course you've gotta work within your budget, but if you're looking for the best sound you can get...you're best off staying within the same series of speakers.

curved

I would get the A5's as comfortablycurt said. Or you could find a used pair of RTi8's around. You'll be very happy this route.

PrimeBane

Thanks for the input guys

I wish I could get them from Polk's ebay store, but it looks like they won't ship to Canada just yet.

The best price I've been able to find from an authorized dealer is about $600 CDN for two A5s ($250 per speaker plus $30 shipping plus tax)... I was hoping to get away with less than $300 CDN (M50's go on sale for $248 per pair).

Oh well, I've waited this long with my old Energy speakers so a few more months shouldn't hurt.

comfortablycurt

PrimeBane wrote: »

Thanks for the input guys

I wish I could get them from Polk's ebay store, but it looks like they won't ship to Canada just yet.

The best price I've been able to find from an authorized dealer is about $600 CDN for two A5s ($250 per speaker plus $30 shipping plus tax)... I was hoping to get away with less than $300 CDN (M50's go on sale for $248 per pair).

Oh well, I've waited this long with my old Energy speakers so a few more months shouldn't hurt.

I'm in the same boat right now. I could afford to go out and buy a pair of Monitor 50's or 60's right now if I wanted to...but I'm forcing myself to wait until I can afford the A5's. I'm just gonna have to deal with what I've got for the time being...it'll be worth the wait though.:D

PrimeBane

Are the A5's considered to be that much better than the M50s or M60s?

comfortablycurt

PrimeBane wrote: »

Are the A5's considered to be that much better than the M50s or M60s?

It's like night and day. The Monitor series is Polks budget line...where as the RTi's are Polk's reference line. The RTi's are much better...real wood, better cabinet design, better drivers. The sound of the two can hardly be compared.

Pepi28

LSi's are Polks reference speakers.

comfortablycurt

Pepi28 wrote: »

LSi's are Polks reference speakers.

RTi=Reference Theater...something...I forget exactly what it is.

dfranks

comfortablycurt wrote: »

I'm in the same boat right now. I could afford to go out and buy a pair of Monitor 50's or 60's right now if I wanted to...but I'm forcing myself to wait until I can afford the A5's. I'm just gonna have to deal with what I've got for the time being...it'll be worth the wait though.:D

I am in Calgary as well, I bought my A5's from Futureshop for $600 Can, last winter, and I have never regretted the purchase.

It was the first time I had heard Polk speakers as I was actually there to timbre match my Athena centre with some towers. 2 days later my athena gear was on E-bay.

See if you can't buy some demo's from Futureshop, for a discount. It's worth a try you never know.

Otherwise if you have to wait to get them I wouldn't except any substitutes

PrimeBane

Are those the black or the cherry you bought dfranks?

Any idea of how often FS puts them on sale?

dfranks

I bought them in black, When I bought them it was within the "Boxing day madness" probably mid January.

Futueshop has the Cherry A5 on sale right now through the web for $249 each. Buy them and then go pick them up (save on shipping). I see the black finish A5's are for sale for $549 each. If you want the black maybe ask and see if they will price match them. Crutchfield Canada has the blacks on sale for $399. each with free shipping.

In these economic times it dosn't hurt to bug these stores a bit I bet you get them for $249 each which is a smokin deal.

(I am not afil with either of the stores above, Just trying to help a brother out)

sdcfan18

dfranks wrote: »

I bought them in black, When I bought them it was within the "Boxing day madness" probably mid January.

Futueshop has the Cherry A5 on sale right now through the web for $249 each. Buy them and then go pick them up (save on shipping). I see the black finish A5's are for sale for $549 each. If you want the black maybe ask and see if they will price match them. Crutchfield Canada has the blacks on sale for $399. each with free shipping.

In these economic times it dosn't hurt to bug these stores a bit I bet you get them for $249 each which is a smokin deal.

(I am not afil with either of the stores above, Just trying to help a brother out)

I too am in Canada and have bought most of my Polks from FS. I have the RTi10s ans CSiA6 both of which are in the lines you are looking at. I also have the M20's as rears (low end of the monitor line you are looking at I believe). I bought the M20's first (FS Boxing Day sale years ago), then upgraded to the CSiA6 last year. They don't match at all, timbre is all over the place. I then bought the RTi10's and found that the transition from left - center - right is seamless. Very nice IMO. I now use the M20's as rears where hearing a difference in timber is a little more difficult.

FutureShop has always been great in matching places like Crutchfield and others as long as the shipping is free. Often times it's who you deal with in those stores. I've had people that are willing to help out and others who don't want to budge. Most of the time their helpful because they work on commission. YMMV.

PrimeBane

Thanks guys

I have been eying the cherry ones online, but I'm not a fan of the $60 extra for shipping... and of course no store in Calgary stocks them so in store pickup is out of the question.

I stopped by the Beacon Hill FS and they had the black ones for $399 each. Perhaps I'll see if they can price match the cherrys online this weekend.

If only there was a Friends and Family event going on...

Willow

It's tough almost hit and miss with FS. I snagged a pair of rti6 on boxing day for 199$ I paid way back in the day 399$ for my rti4s. When I bought my rti8s I talked to the manager and got my rti8s for 700$ back when they were 999$ so just ask it won't hurt if they say No you can wait to see if you can get them cheaper or buy them.

PrimeBane

Just an update for those interested.

I tried to deal with FS in store... no luck. So I bit on the cherry A5's online. I'm so glad I did as they sold out a few days after I made the purchase.

I love them so far... I don't notice a huge difference from my old speaker, but then I've never claimed to be any kind of audiophile to begin with (they may just need more breaking in).

Of course now I'm finding my base a little lacking with my old subwoofer... it's a never ending cycle isn't it.?

Would a Velodyne DSP12B be a nice way to go for the cost? ($299 CDN from Futureshop.ca)

nooshinjohn

Why can they buy current series polks cheaper than we can here in the states?