Monitor 40/CS2 or RTi6/CSi3?

lmacmil
lmacmil Posts: 119
edited January 2010 in Speakers
Looking at these combinations for fronts & center. Monitor 40s and CS2 are cheaper and easier to come by. I guess RTi6/CSi3 would be a step up. Primary use is HT. I'm too cheap to buy the current stuff :D so I will be shopping Newegg, the Polk Ebay store, a couple other Ebay stores that sell new Polk stuff. Given their discontinued status, I won't be able to audition.
Post edited by lmacmil on
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  • LandShark
    LandShark Posts: 130
    edited January 2010
    I completely understand bargain hunting. I have the 70's now but did have the 40's before. I now have the CS2 and it's a beast. That being said, I would go with the RTi line for the fact it was built for home theater. I will step up the the RTiA's when I find them on Ebay Direct for a steal..

    TV: Samsung LN40A550
    Mains: Polk Monitor 70's
    Center: Polk CS2
    Surrounds: Polk OWM3's
    Receiver: Onkyo TX sr705
    BDP: Sony S350
    Subs: Velodyne VRP1200 and VRP1000
    Monster Power Conditioner EP IR 2450
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  • wutadumsn23
    wutadumsn23 Posts: 3,702
    edited January 2010
    I agree, while I love my Monitors, the RTi series is built for HT. You won't be dissapointed in whatever path you choose, and price may be an issue. While the RTi series will cost you a bit more, IMHO the Monitor series is a no brainer for the prices they can be had for these days.

    -Jeff
    HT Rig
    Receiver- Onkyo TX-SR806
    Mains- Polk Audio Monitor 70
    Center- Polk Audio CS2
    Surrounds- Polk Audio TSi 500's :D
    Sub- Polk Audio PSW125
    Retired- Polk Audio Monitor 40's
    T.V.- 60" Sony SXRD KDS-60A2000 LCoS
    Blu-Ray- 80 GB PS3


    2 CH rig (in progress)
    Polk Audio Monitor 10A's :cool:

    It's not that I'm insensitive, I just don't care.. :D
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  • Kingface
    Kingface Posts: 58
    edited January 2010
    Really is a no brainer. If you have the cash go with the better speaker. Rti all the way.
    Onkyo TX-NR809
    Boston Acoustic VS 260 - Mains
    Boston Acoustic Vr920 - Center
    Boston Acoustic Micro 90 - Surrounds
    Boston Acoustic HPS 12HO - Sub
    Samsung LN40b650 - LCD Monitor

    Yamaha Rx-v2200
    Polk Rti 70 - Mains
    Polk Cs245i - Center
    Polk Rt/Fx - Surround
    Boston Acoustics Vr500 - Sub
    Optoma HD20 Projector
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  • jacob.simpson
    jacob.simpson Posts: 481
    edited January 2010
    Even if it costs little extra stick with Rti's, i have M40 and i have listened to Rti6 there is a difference in the quality.
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  • cnh
    cnh Posts: 13,284
    edited January 2010
    Because those Rtis are going to be a tad bright you're advised to audition them with a number of AVRs to see what sounds best....

    I'd recommend a Harman Kardon or a Marantz..they're warmer AVRs. But do listen because you might like something else.

    cnh
    Currently orbiting Bowie's Blackstar.!

    Polk Lsi-7s, Def Tech 8" sub, HK 3490, HK HD 990 (CDP/DAC), AKG Q701s
    [sig. changed on a monthly basis as I rotate in and out of my stash]
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  • lmacmil
    lmacmil Posts: 119
    edited January 2010
    cnh wrote: »
    I'd recommend a Harman Kardon or a Marantz..they're warmer AVRs. But do listen because you might like something else.

    Help me out here. Isn't the frequency response of every quality receiver ruler flat from 20-20khz? If so, how can one sound "warmer" than another? That implies a non-linear frequency response, which I expect from speakers but not from amplifiers.

    Or are you referring to the results of each receiver's automatic room equalization system (Audyssey, et al.)?
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  • lmacmil
    lmacmil Posts: 119
    edited January 2010
    Kingface wrote: »
    Really is a no brainer. If you have the cash go with the better speaker. Rti all the way.

    The votes are in and it's unanimous, RTi it is. Thanks everyone. :)
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  • domflane
    domflane Posts: 653
    edited January 2010
    Nice choice, you won't be dissapointed.
    Home Theater
    RTiA5 - CSiA6 - FXiA6 - PSW650 - Pioneer Elite SC-55 - Carver AV-505 - Sony 46" 120Hz - Monster HP 2400 - Xbox 360 - Playstation 3
    2 Channel
    Polk RTA 15TL - Harman Kardon HK3485 - HK DVD48 - Signal Cable IC's and speaker cables
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  • lmacmil
    lmacmil Posts: 119
    edited January 2010
    domflane wrote: »
    Nice choice, you won't be dissapointed.

    I notice you have a CS-series center with RTi fronts. Is that a good match? People generally recommend the center speaker be from the same series as the fronts but the Polk website descriptions say they are "timbre-matched to fit into any Polk Audio...system." I ask because the CS-series fronts are more readily available and less expensive than the CSi-series.
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  • adabro
    adabro Posts: 212
    edited January 2010
    lmacmil wrote: »
    I notice you have a CS-series center with RTi fronts. Is that a good match? People generally recommend the center speaker be from the same series as the fronts but the Polk website descriptions say they are "timbre-matched to fit into any Polk Audio...system." I ask because the CS-series fronts are more readily available and less expensive than the CSi-series.

    When I was in the middle of upgrading my components I swapped a CS2 out for a CSi A6 and ran it for a few weeks with my Monitor 60's. Maybe I have a tin ear, but I had trouble hearing any difference. I should put the CS2 back in with my new RTi fronts and see how much of a change it is...
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