Help Needed with New Speaker Purchase

Mark2020
Mark2020 Posts: 8
edited September 2009 in Speakers
Hi All,

I'm looking to become a new owner of a set up Polk Audio speakers but I need some help deciding on the center and subwoofer. The setup I have decided on are the RTiA3s up front with the RTiA1's for the surround. Polk Audio recommends the CSiA4 and DSW400 for the center and sub. My room is 11 feet by 18 feet with one side opening up to another room of equal size through an arch way (and is in the basement). I will be running them with a Denon 889. My questions below:

Center: Will the CSiA4 provide adequate performance or is the CSiA6 recommended in this setup. Also, my stand only has room for 8.75" in height and I will need to flip the center over to have the angle up towards the seating position. Can anyone tell me how high the CSiA6 is in this position? Or the CSiA4?

Subwoofer: Polk recommends the DSW400 but I have heard others recommend the DSW500. Any thoughts here? I would like strong base for movies but I don't really want to share it with the neighbors.

Any other comments would be welcome.

Thanks in advance,
Mark
Post edited by Mark2020 on
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Comments

  • danz1906
    danz1906 Posts: 5,144
    edited September 2009
    Welcome to the Club!
    Go for the A6 center channel.
    Linn AV5140 fronts
    Linn AV5120 Center
    Linn AV5140 Rears
    M&K MX-70 Sub for Music
    Odyssey Mono-Blocs
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  • TouchOfEvil
    TouchOfEvil Posts: 967
    edited September 2009
    I say go A6 as well. The center is a main speaker for any ht and the bigger/better well the better it is.
    Living Room Rig:D
    Rotel RSP-1069/Rotel RMB-1095/Rotel-1072/Polk lsI15's W/modded xoverW/DBsubs/Polk LsiC/lsI7's/Klipsch sub-12"the weak link"/DLP Mitsubishi 65"
    Xbox360/PS3/WII
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    Headphones-Ultrasone-HFI780's w/LittleDot MK Vamp Portables Panasonic HJE-900's
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  • comfortablycurt
    comfortablycurt Posts: 6,745
    edited September 2009
    Go for the CSiA6. The center channel is a very crucial speaker, it carries over 50% of a movies soundtrack, so you don't want to skimp on it. A better center channel is always going to be the better idea.

    Also, get the best subwoofer you can afford. It's not as if the DSW400 will work better with that setup. The Polk speaker recommender thingy is just to give suggestions within a similar budget point.

    As with the center, a bigger sub is almost always the better choice. As far as sharing it with the neighbors, you'll be fine. The sub has a gain control. It's only going to be as loud as you want it to be.
    The nirvana inducer-
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  • Mark2020
    Mark2020 Posts: 8
    edited September 2009
    Thanks everyone for your replies.

    Does anyone have a CSiA4 or CSiA6 that is in the angled-up position that they can measure for me (height)? I need to know what the clearance is for each as I have a limited amount of space.

    Thanks,
    Mark
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  • packetjones
    packetjones Posts: 1,059
    edited September 2009
    I have the CSiA4 and just measured it. It is 7 inches tall when upside down. I have it in my cabinet and the opening is 7 1/4 and it fits perfectly.


    I also have a pair of RTiA3's as my fronts with the CSiA4 center. I am pretty pleased with it. I have noticed that i have to turn up the center just a little bit but the A6 will not fit so i did not really have a choice to get it instead. I currently have the OWM3's as my rears and it sounds good. I am about to upgrade to some RtiA5's and move the A3's to the rear though and am looking forward to this. I would say that you need to get a good sub. No knock on the polk subs but you could probable get a better sub for less that what the polk DSW 400 is going for.
    Front - RTiA5's
    Rear - RTiA3's
    Center - CSiA4
    Sub - PSW110
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  • Retro152
    Retro152 Posts: 985
    edited September 2009
    I have the Csi-a6 angled up, measuring in at about 8.25" in front. Welcome to the Forum.:D





    Pat.
    Receiver: Pioneer Elite SC-05
    Amp: Emotiva Xpa-3
    Front L/R: POLK Rti-a9s':D
    Center:POLK Csi-a6
    Rear surround's:POLK Rti-a1s'
    Sub: Klipsch Synergy sub-12
    Sony Kdl-46w4100 46" LCD
    PS3
    Audioquest type 4 wiring.
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  • Mark2020
    Mark2020 Posts: 8
    edited September 2009
    Thank you both for providing the measurements for both units. That helps a bunch. It looks like the CSiA6 will fit. :)

    Thanks,
    Mark
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  • Retro152
    Retro152 Posts: 985
    edited September 2009
    Mark2020 wrote: »
    Thank you both for providing the measurements for both units. That helps a bunch. It looks like the CSiA6 will fit. :)

    Thanks,
    Mark

    Mark, allow yourself some "fudge room" for this center, it is a beast. Well worth the cash and rewards. Dont want to see you try and "shoe horn it" into a tight spot. Good luck. You will be impressed.:D




    Pat.
    Receiver: Pioneer Elite SC-05
    Amp: Emotiva Xpa-3
    Front L/R: POLK Rti-a9s':D
    Center:POLK Csi-a6
    Rear surround's:POLK Rti-a1s'
    Sub: Klipsch Synergy sub-12
    Sony Kdl-46w4100 46" LCD
    PS3
    Audioquest type 4 wiring.
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  • mmadden28
    mmadden28 Posts: 4,283
    edited September 2009
    If you want to triplecheck--Give Polk CS a call-they'll let you know the actual clearance required when installed angled. It is odd though that they didn't put that in the specs.

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  • sTiLlLeArNiNg
    sTiLlLeArNiNg Posts: 805
    edited September 2009
    welcome to CP! i run a CSia 6 and it is a beast! :D
    Media Room 7.1
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  • mdk5068
    mdk5068 Posts: 204
    edited September 2009
    I would definitely get the csi a6, I just did and it puts out far more vocals than the a4 I demoed. Go to the polk direct ebay site, buy it now as apposed to doing the auction (the auction has ended over the buy-it-now price for the a6 every time I have watched). I used to have the dsw400, but upgraded to an svs. If you are not apposed to getting a subwoofer that is not polk, I would recommend it highly. Perhaps the pb12? It will run you in the same price range as the dsw500 but will beat the pants off it.
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  • Mark2020
    Mark2020 Posts: 8
    edited September 2009
    Thanks for the info but Polk Audio Direct on eBay does not ship to Canada. I have sourced out some good prices locally and have placed my order.

    I have decided to go with the CSiA6 and the DSW500 in the package, just waiting for the RTiA3's to come in to complete the order.

    Mark
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  • royalty
    royalty Posts: 246
    edited September 2009
    Multiple csi5's on polk audio direct for 179 shipped. I think they are relatively the same speaker as the csia6 just one older version......

    NVMD for Canada reason....Im an idiot....
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  • Krazyz1
    Krazyz1 Posts: 256
    edited September 2009
    If you look at the reviews on Polk's site the 400's get a better review than the 500's. Universal for movie or stereo. Convertable between down or forward firing. If your gonna plan on forward fire get some right angle cords from Tiger Direct. Also will need right angle adapters for RCA. I just bought a PAIR of the 400's and my mains are 2 RTiA9's each side , but I'm just running stereo. I will tell you this for food for thought...I am a VELODYNE certifed sub pro. ALWAYS run 2 subs-4 max. What ever your decision , do basic set-up per book and play the hell out of them. ATLEAST 80 hrs. MIN. before you try making adjustments. Suspension is STIFF!!! Gonna take them that long to loosen up before any changes would be audible. I just find a good banging CD , put it on repeat and go do my shopping. Breaks them in quicker due to play time hours. The reason you need all the right angle stuff is because if you forward fire all the connections close to floor. Small price to pay for convertable subs. Karl
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