Center for RT2000i in HT

dkmuch

I'm trying to piece together a system from used equipment to get the best bang for my buck.

I realize RT2000i is probably overkill, (I've never even heard a pair), but if I did go that route, would the CS400 or the CS400i be timbre matched?

I've been unable to locate a CS400i used, but I've found a CS400. Or there any others?

How far off timbre would the RTi series be from the RT2000i? It's so confusing, the placement of the 'i' determines a whole different line.

I haven't bought anything yet, I'm just trying to get the most for my money (and more than I really need!).

I'm trying to stick to around $1000K (not including sub), which I will get later. Because I haven't done enough sub research yet.

There are a couple of crazy complete Polk systems for sale for twice that. I almost think I should do it. One is a LSi, the other is RT2000p based.

Thanks!! I've been reading these forums for a long time, every time I consider buying Polk, but never pull the trigger. I finally registered as I am very close to be a Polk owner.

Ron Temple

I think the 400 and 400i are pretty close. I'm pretty sure they used the same tweeter, but different driver/crossover. If you want to have matching driver color, wait for an i. They are fairly common and usually go for $175-$200. If you don't want to wait, the 400 will likely work very well.

Kex

^^^^ I second that! ^^^^

Both will work, but if you wait, you will find a CS400i. Besides, as a new member, you should know that Ron is always right!

Welcome to CP, dkmuch!

dkmuch

Thanks. How easy would it be to sell the CS400 if I bought it now, and sold when I find a CS400i (although if it crops up a lot, I can just wait).

Here's a thought I can't get out of my head. There's a complete LSi 5.1 (sans the .1) HT system for $2k, That's twice my budget, but about 70% off new. That just seems like a perfect, long term system I could keep and amortize over a decade. That's only $100 a year extra over my budget! I'll have to explain that part to the wife.

But I know the RT2000i based-system would probably suit me just as well. And probably do me for a decade as well.

Kex

dkmuch wrote: »

Thanks. How easy would it be to sell the CS400 if I bought it now, and sold when I find a CS400i (although if it crops up a lot, I can just wait).

Here's a thought I can't get out of my head. There's a complete LSi 5.1 (sans the .1) HT system for $2k, That's twice my budget, but about 70% off new. That just seems like a perfect, long term system I could keep and amortize over a decade. That's only $100 a year extra over my budget! I'll have to explain that part to the wife.

But I know the RT2000i based-system would probably suit me just as well. And probably do me for a decade as well.

The CS400 and CS400i are quite popular and seem to be perceived generally as an outstanding HT center speaker. Consequently, they also seem to sell fairly easily used. $150 is probably rock bottom for a speaker in good condition, and $200 closer to normal, but shipping is not cheap, since they are heavy and big.

The LSi are frequently considered more for musical priorities than HT, but this will also depend a lot on personal tastes. Despite the price difference, it is quite possible you would prefer an RT based theater system to an LSi based theater system. Also, there are very few receivers capable of adequately driving a 4 ohm rated LSi system correctly without an external amplifier, so this will limit your choices to NAD and a few others, unless you have budgeted for the amplifier already.

dane_peterson

Ron Temple wrote: »

I think the 400 and 400i are pretty close. I'm pretty sure they used the same tweeter, but different driver/crossover. If you want to have matching driver color, wait for an i. They are fairly common and usually go for $175-$200. If you don't want to wait, the 400 will likely work very well.

Just FYI, the tweeter is a different model in the 400i vs 400. It would still be a pretty decent match. The 400 is just known to be a little on the brighter side.

Kex

dane_peterson wrote: »

Just FYI, the tweeter is a different model in the 400i vs 400. It would still be a pretty decent match. The 400 is just known to be a little on the brighter side.

Is that true? It's difficult to get really detailed information about the difference between the two, but I do know that the printed specifications for both are identical, down to the last digit and decimal point. The 400 has a "Dynamic Balance Tri-laminate dome tweeter", and a crossover topology as follows:

- 2nd Order Low Pass Filter cascaded @ 1.5kHz and 800Hz
- 2hd Order High Pass Filter @ 1.5kHz.

As far as I can tell, this is identical to what is printed in the 400i manual, here:

http://www.polkaudio.com/downloads/manuals/home/CS175i_245i_400iManual.pdf

In any case, the CS400 is anything but a bright speaker IMO.

dane_peterson

All my Polk product knowledge comes from this forum. I am basing it off this thread I had read several months ago:
http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?t=4580

Ron Temple

dane_peterson wrote: »

All my Polk product knowledge comes from this forum. I am basing it off this thread I had read several months ago:
http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?t=4580

Nice dig Dane...even so, I doubt the sonic difference between the 400 and i is any bigger than the dingleberries hanging from a gnat's ****.

dkmuch

Argh!, I just found out my Onkyo 607 doesn't have pre-amps out. That means I can't use the RT2000i, right? Isn't the bass self-powered? I may have to get a smaller speaker set-up. I was thinking I could add amps if needed (in the future).

I just assumed there would be pre-amps. I could take a hit on the restocking fee.

dkmuch

Well, I guess according to page 19 of my Onkyo 607 manual, I can bi-amp the the FR/FL, If I'm happy with 5.1, which I am probably am (esp with RT2000i's in front). But I'd have to bypass the RT's amp. Perhaps I should look elsewhere. I guess I'm a lower-end polk guy after all. Serves me right for picking the 607.

Kex

dane_peterson wrote: »

All my Polk product knowledge comes from this forum. I am basing it off this thread I had read several months ago:
http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?t=4580

Yup, I found that thread too when I was searching the topic, many moons ago, but the part number difference may not be refering to technical performance per se, and it certainly does not show in the printed numbers, which is why I specified "really detailed information". I'm sure somebody at Polk knows the answer, but I've never thought it important enough to ask about it.

On that point, I have to disagree with Ron, since if I were to be subjected to the view of a gnat's ****, I'd much rather it did not have dingleberries staring me in the face, although I'm guessing they'd be fairly tiny!

Kex

dkmuch wrote: »

Argh!, I just found out my Onkyo 607 doesn't have pre-amps out. That means I can't use the RT2000i, right? Isn't the bass self-powered? I may have to get a smaller speaker set-up. I was thinking I could add amps if needed (in the future).

I just assumed there would be pre-amps. I could take a hit on the restocking fee.

You won't have a problem. You can do more research with these links:

Product page: http://www.polkaudio.com/homeaudio/products/recent/rt2000i/
Manual: http://www.polkaudio.com/downloads/manuals/home/RT1000i_2000iManual.pdf

If you have a subwoofer, you will be connecting the RT2000i with a standard speaker connection, and AC power. If you do not have a subwoofer, you will be connecting the RT2000i with the LFE pre-out, which the Onkyo will have (and of course, AC power).

You will not, however, be able to add an external amplifier, if you wish to do so later, without pre-outs.

dpowell

You can still use the RT2000's without pre-outs on your amp since the 2000's can be configured both ways. The bass isn't quite as clean when using speaker-level inputs vs line level. They are nice sounding speakers. That's the set I started with.

+1 on the CS400. Great center channel.

For the LSi's, if you don't have pre-outs to add a separate 4Ohm amp, you'll not be able to take full advantage of them. They are power hungry.

dkmuch

Kex wrote: »

You won't have a problem. You can do more research with these links:

Product page: http://www.polkaudio.com/homeaudio/products/recent/rt2000i/
Manual: http://www.polkaudio.com/downloads/manuals/home/RT1000i_2000iManual.pdf

If you have a subwoofer, you will be connecting the RT2000i with a standard speaker connection, and AC power. If you do not have a subwoofer, you will be connecting the RT2000i with the LFE pre-out, which the Onkyo will have (and of course, AC power).

You will not, however, be able to add an external amplifier, if you wish to do so later, without pre-outs.

That's what I thought at first, when i did a google search, it turned up quite a few post at other forums saying you couldn't w/o pre-amp outs.

I guess that's why you should only ask polk questions in a polk forum.

Thanks!