Surround Speaker Opinions

dorokusai · April 2003

I currently run the setup below. The near future is adding a CSi40 for the front center, and moving the CSi30 to the back surround.

My question is about what speakers should I get for my surrounds, L & R. I was set on FXi30's or 50's but now I am wondering whether they will be too much for the size room that the HT is installed.

Room is 18' length, 13' width, 8' height. I don't want the surrounds to confuse or overpower anything from my front stage. I know that its a limited bandwidth and volume thru the surrounds, but this is a concern nonetheless.

Should I move forward with the FXi's or drop to a the smaller RTi28. These are basically the two choices I have decided upon. I do like the dipole/bipole feature, and I can't say for sure if this is the last home I will occupy.

Any thoughts and opinions on these two picks would be appreciated.

Frank Z · April 2003

Actually either would be fine would be fine. I used FX30's before I made the jump to the Lsi series and my room is about the same size as yours.

Soccerplyr · April 2003

Just bought the Csi40 yesterday(TUES.) and moved my 30 to the rear. WOW, I love 6.1. Haven't had much time to play yet, but what I have, has been great. Now I just need to fiqure out how to mount (hang) the 30. For surrounds I have Fx300i's and they blend well with the set-up. Mine are positioned on the side walls; my room is also a bit smaller then yours.

kberg · April 2003

Can't say enough about how much I like my current speaker setup. The CSi40 in front kicks out the sound and is seamless with the RTi70's. The CSi30 is a perfect rear center for the FXi30 surrounds, IMO, but of course it would be, I have them.

dorokusai · April 2003

Thanks for the comments.

I think I will go with the FXi30's, just seems to be a better choice and if I move into a larger room, they can support the room.

Soccer/ KBerg - I am also excited about the swap from 30 to 40, I am pleased to hear that the 30 works well as the rear surround. Well it should eh?

What kind of delays, if any have you guys set up? I know that Ive seen ppl mention them....is that just for really big rooms?

MichaelJ · April 2003

I just added FXi50's for surrounds and a CSi40 for the front center to my existing full range RTA15T fronts and they sound excellent in my 13.5 by 16 foot room. I think the FXi50's are a better match for the CSi40 than the smaller FXi30's.

kberg · April 2003

If you are comparing driver type/size only, I'd agree that the FXi50 surrounds match the CSi40 front center, but I wanted to have my rear soundstage speakers match in driver size, so I went with the CSi30 for the rear center to match the FXi30's. Personally, I don't think you can go wrong with the 30's or 50's and still use the CSi30 as a rear center. Also, I may consider wall-mounting the 30's in the future, and they may be a bit easier to mount due to size/weight issues than the 50's, although I know many Polkheads out there have wall-mounted 50's.

kberg · April 2003

Oh, and about delays - I just set my receiver up for how far my speakers are located from my listening position - then the receiver automatically compensates for the time delay for each speaker setting. I don't do anything more than that.

Soccerplyr · April 2003

The 40 really opened up the front. I spent a few hours last night running the S&V set-up and noticed a difference in sound from the 70"s that I've had now for 5 months and the 40. This is either a need to be broken in or I needed to bi-wire it. I haven't had time to make a bi-wire cable for it yet, so I made a temporary one and sure enough the sound quality changed. At least in my head it did. Still a little different, but I'm sure over time it will get broken in a sound the same. As far as delays, I just set the distance from my listening position the set the SPL up and go to work. This weekend I plan on making a shelf for the 30 that I can raise or lower from my ceiling. Should be fun.

dorokusai · April 2003

Kberg - Thats what I am thinking, is driver size matching and weight. I will be mounting them on the wall, and the FXi50 is a big speaker to hang. I made a little template of each, and the 50 will just look way too out of place. The 30 is a nice size and won't look so, "What is that thing?", to my guests. I don't think that I am losing much with the smaller choice.

Also, as I said before I don't want to overpower my fronts, beings I have bookshelves and not floor standers.

I plan to set the delay as I have for the front stage, just wondered what the general consensus was in here. Tweaking gives me time away from reality.

MichaelJ · April 2003

Originally posted by kberg
Can't say enough about how much I like my current speaker setup. The CSi40 in front kicks out the sound and is seamless with the RTi70's. The CSi30 is a perfect rear center for the FXi30 surrounds, IMO, but of course it would be, I have them.

kberg
I have an Onkyo TX-SR600 that allows adjustment for the distance from the listening position to the speakers. My FXi-50 surrounds are on the wall to either side of a coach. I don't always sit in the exact center of the couch, so was wondering, should the distance be set to the middle of the couch or to the sitting position on the couch furtherest from the opposit speaker. Also, how far above the floor is the bottom of your speaker.
Thanks ........... MichaelJ

Soccerplyr · April 2003

My FX300 are also at the end of my couch. I set the distance on my Oink to the distance of the spot I sit in most. They are 64" from the floor.

MichaelJ · April 2003

Is it important to match the rear center with the surround speakers? I have FXi50's for surrounds and a CSi40 for front-center; I was thinking of getting a CSi30 for rear-center because it provides ambiance rather than direct effects, so I thought it could be a smaller speaker.

dorokusai · April 2003

No i agree, I am going to do the darn near exact same thing Michael. The dynamic range of surround sound is not going to put your rears in a high state distress. The CSi30 and FXi50's will handle your signals very well.

The more important thing with speakers, as it relates to your question, is always matching timbre. And all the CSI/ RTi and FXi share same components, so you are fine.

kberg · April 2003

Originally posted by MichaelJ

kberg
I have an Onkyo TX-SR600 that allows adjustment for the distance from the listening position to the speakers. My FXi-50 surrounds are on the wall to either side of a coach. I don't always sit in the exact center of the couch, so was wondering, should the distance be set to the middle of the couch or to the sitting position on the couch furtherest from the opposit speaker. Also, how far above the floor is the bottom of your speaker.
Thanks ........... MichaelJ

My FXi30's are currently on 24" stands, and my CSi30 (center back) is on a 27" stand. I would adjust speaker distance relative to the listening position from the furthest speaker.

MichaelJ · April 2003

Interesting that your surrounds are on 27 inch stands, I have mine sitting on boxes about shoulder height when sitting ( until I figure out how high to hang them on the wall) ; while listening to Pearl Harbor the other day, the planes were flying around me rather than overhead the way they were depicted in the movie, so I was going to mount the surrounds about 6 feet of the floor on either side of the couch and set them to dipole.

kberg · April 2003

Yeah, one day I'll may get around to wall-mounting the FXi30's. I think it *might* be best to have them a bit higher than they are. On the other hand, I've heard that it's also best to have the tweeters of all speakers at ear level, for what that's worth.

dorokusai · April 2003

You may want to mount them higher than your ear level, ambience is what you really want. Check this local link out and use it as you see fit.

http://www.polkaudio.com/home/faqad/advice.php?article=placement

I am planning on the same set-up as you kberg, so maybe I can use you for tweaking now....

Nice picks for HT btw,

MichaelJ · April 2003

Thanks dorokusai, that article on speaker placement is exactly what I was looking for. Surrounds at 6 to 7 feet above the floor; I'll do it.

dorokusai · April 2003

Cool glad iI could help. Let the forum know about your changes and your opinions, they are important to us. And when you get set up, play Predator in DTS, and tell me it isn't awesome....

Mike Reeter · April 2003

dorokusai,I also have the 30's for surrounds and a CS245i as my rear center.Because of room constraints "headroom" I mounted all the rear speakers at 72" to bottom edge of speakers.I would have liked to have had them a little lower,but this placement works for me.

I tried to keep all the drivers on the rear the same size,plus they were a little less expensive than the 50's.I have RTi70's and the CSi40 plus a 450 sub. in the front.

This setup works very well to "my" ears.I was able to conceal speaker wires through the drop ceiling and down the inside of the walls,I'll try to attach a pic of the shelf I came up with for the rear center.

Good luck with your project,I'm getting ready to bi-wire my mains and center and make some other changes here and there,seems to be no end to what you can spend,at least thats what my wife keeps telling me...

Mike Reeter · April 2003

A look at the rear threesome.

Mike Reeter · April 2003

And finally,a shot of the front front end...

dorokusai · April 2003

That looks great Mike, I hope to use same theory in my HT room. I also have a somewhat low ceiling, looks like my placement of the 30's will be very similar.

What did you use for mounting them? Is the speaker placed with woofer towards TV or away towards rear of room?

I am going to use 5 way binding post faceplates in the ceiling to connect the speakers up. I don't have a dropped ceiling but I have access to the above ceiling area via another room. Same thing with the rear center. I really want to find a adjustable mount instead of a shelf, but have had no luck so far.

MichaelJ · April 2003

Have you tried radio shack for speaker mounts ... I was in one the other day to get an SPL meter and noticed they had some mounts next to the banana plugs.

Mike Reeter · April 2003

The 30's come with mounting plates on the backside of each speaker,I ran in a couple of 3" screws into studs,leaving about a 1/4" of the head sticking out.Then slide the mounting plates over the screw heads.

It's a very simple set-up,and it makes for a "clean" looking installation.

The 30's are marked left/right,you hang them so that the 5 1/2" drivers are facing toward the front of your soundstage.

I'll try to attach a pic to this post,I boogered the last one!!!

dorokusai · April 2003

Ok that's what I figured you had used, cool.

Was the speaker bracket wide enough for the CSi30 tho' ??? Thats what I am looking for ideally. I am glad you mentioned the Shack, I should buy my faceplates from there instead of Crutchfield.

MichaelJ · April 2003

Mike Reeter

what brand is your component rack ... I'm still looking and your's looks like a nice piece of furniture.

Mike Reeter · April 2003

Mike,I had a Cabinet Maker build the rack for me.I stained and finished it,tried to duplicate the same color as the Polk speaks,but I did'nt get a real good match.

The cost was 175.00 which included the shelving...

Mike Reeter · April 2003

A little better pic...

MichaelJ · April 2003

I don't suppose that cabinet maker is anywhere near central Ohio?????

Surround Speaker Opinions

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