Vintage Polk 5.1 question.

phandnot

I will start by saying that I recently acquired a pair of RTA-15TL's and a pair of M5Jr+'s, both very gently used, in perfect shape, and in their original boxes. I am currently running a 5.1 setup (but I have an Integra DTR-9.9 on the way). I am using the M5Jr+ set as rears, and the RTA's as fronts. My question is: what, if any, model Polk center channel would best match the performance and era of my setup?

I am currently using the center out of my Sony SS set, but it doesn't fit the scheme and belongs with the rest of the set, upstairs.

Any info on that era center channel speakers would be a great help.

Thank you,
Paul

BTW, what is the best tweeter to run in the RTA-15TL's? They currently have the SL3000 in them.

Thanks again.

Ender

CSi3 or CSi5, I believe. Not 100% sure tho... The best way to find out is to call Polk Audio customer service. They know best and ARE the best.

As for the tweeters, the SL3000 are decent tweeters. You should just stick with them for a while longer until you get more of an upgrade bug. If anything, you should see about upgrading the crossover, if not already done so.

MillerLiteScott

The CSi5 would match pretty well and is much better than the CSi3 IMO.

Nice set up by the way.

Ron Temple

On the vintage side, the CS350(LS), the CS400 and 400i all featured trilam tweets. They won't be a perfect match, but I think they'll sound closer in timbre to the RTAs. They are a bit more laid back than the CSi6 or CSiA6.

phandnot

I was doing a little digging last night and came across the CS350(LS), of course I wasn't sure and now it's gone, but I was thinking that might be a good fit. Size is not really an issue in my setup, so it might be just what I need.

BTW, thanks Miller, I love the RTA's. They are just downright amazing, and the M5Jr's are great too. After I get this center channel thing worked out, I will be looking for something in an "in ceiling" pair to make the 7.1 leap. That is yet to come.

Thank you for helping, now I will search for the CS350(LS), CS400, & 400i....

Paul

Ron Temple

There's a CS350 and a CS350LS, that's why I put them in parenthesis. The LS tweeter matched the LS line, but it's the same design. Either should work well.

alk3997

We have 15tl's as the fronts and hit the same problem - what to use as the center speaker? We tried Polk, Definitives (two models) and demoed many others. We ended up with a B&W HTM1 (no D). Expensive but they sure match the 15tl's well.

BTW, the best method is tell if they match is to pan a sound across the front three speakers (left, center, right) and see if you can tell a difference in sound quality when the sound moves from speaker to speaker. If you can, then its not a good match for music (may be OK for movies).

The 15tl's are tough act to follow with today's speaker prices (the bad news).

phandnot

As far as upgrading the crossovers, what is accomplished there? Is there a known problem with the factory crossovers? Or is it a "smooths things out" kind of upgrade?

Also, what needs to be done, and how much does it cost?
(this is the first I'd heard about upgrading the x-overs, so now I'm curious!)

Paul

phandnot

Well, I let the one CS350(LS) that I found slip away. Now I can't find one.

Thanks again though, for getting me on the right path. I will keep searching.

Paul