Tower Match for CSi30

Mike LoManaco
Mike LoManaco Posts: 974
edited February 2010 in Speakers
Out of Polk's current lineup, what would be a good sonic/timbre match in floorstanding towers to mate with a CSi30 center?
Post edited by Mike LoManaco on
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  • wutadumsn23
    wutadumsn23 Posts: 3,702
    edited February 2010
    Looks like the RTi series would be the timbre match for that center Mike.

    -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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  • Mike LoManaco
    Mike LoManaco Posts: 974
    edited February 2010
    wutadumsn23 wrote: »
    Looks like the RTi series would be the timbre match for that center Mike.

    -Jeff

    Thanks for the quick reply, Jeff. :)

    Are those the only ones that would "sonically work" with the CSi? The thing is, the criteria now is for some slender-width towers to flank a wall unit; will one of Polk's narrower-styled towers work or no?
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  • wutadumsn23
    wutadumsn23 Posts: 3,702
    edited February 2010
    No problem Mike, as for your new question I'm not sure. Timbre matching your front three is very important, but a lot of people have "Frakensystems" and have reported no problems. Which models did you have in mind? The RTi's are the only ones that Polk lists as exact timbre matches for the CSi center, so they would be the "best" option, but maybe not the only one.

    -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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  • Mike LoManaco
    Mike LoManaco Posts: 974
    edited February 2010
    wutadumsn23 wrote: »
    No problem Mike, as for your new question I'm not sure. Timbre matching your front three is very important, but a lot of people have "Frakensystems" and have reported no problems. Which models did you have in mind? The RTi's are the only ones that Polk lists as exact timbre matches for the CSi center, so they would be the "best" option, but maybe not the only one.

    -Jeff

    I was looking at the VMs or TSi's, but the VMs I think are out of the budget; but I was looking for something modern and slim like the VMs...
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  • wutadumsn23
    wutadumsn23 Posts: 3,702
    edited February 2010
    Honestly I don't know Mike. I have never heard the VM series, and until last week had never heard the TSi's either. I just got a set of TSi 500's on demo from Polk last week and am comparing them to my Monitor 70's. I actually prefer the Monitors over the TSi's, but still have much time to spend comparing the two. For the prices the Monitor can be had for these days, they are hard to beat. I don't know how the CSi center would perform with either of the speakers you have in mind, but if you did get either of them and didn't care for the way they sound together, you could always go out and get a new center and still not be out that much, esp if you could sell the CSi30 to fund the replacement.

    -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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  • Mike LoManaco
    Mike LoManaco Posts: 974
    edited February 2010
    wutadumsn23 wrote: »
    Honestly I don't know Mike. I have never heard the VM series, and until last week had never heard the TSi's either. I just got a set of TSi 500's on demo from Polk last week and am comparing them to my Monitor 70's. I actually prefer the Monitors over the TSi's, but still have much time to spend comparing the two. For the prices the Monitor can be had for these days, they are hard to beat. I don't know how the CSi center would perform with either of the speakers you have in mind, but if you did get either of them and didn't care for the way they sound together, you could always go out and get a new center and still not be out that much, esp if you could sell the CSi30 to fund the replacement.

    -Jeff

    Thanks Jeff. Much appreciated.
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  • wutadumsn23
    wutadumsn23 Posts: 3,702
    edited February 2010
    No problem Mike, glad I could help.

    -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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  • Mike LoManaco
    Mike LoManaco Posts: 974
    edited February 2010
    wutadumsn23 wrote: »
    No problem Mike, glad I could help.

    -Jeff

    One other question, Jeff...do you think the Monitors would work with the CSi30?
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  • wutadumsn23
    wutadumsn23 Posts: 3,702
    edited February 2010
    I would imagine it is possible Mike, but in reality I don't know. Worst case scenario if you don't like it, sell the CSi30 and buy a CS2, they can be had for cheap these days. I must admit though, I have the TSi500's on demo right now and I'm not crazy the way they sound with my CS2, and they are very similar on paper. Maybe it's just me.

    -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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  • Ceenit
    Ceenit Posts: 12
    edited February 2010
    I should have my monitor 40's (non-tower version) installed with a CSi30 within the next day or two. I'll post back on how they sound. From the specs of the actual speakers themselves, they looked to me a good match to the tweeter and driver of the CSi30.
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  • Mike LoManaco
    Mike LoManaco Posts: 974
    edited February 2010
    wutadumsn23 wrote: »
    I would imagine it is possible Mike, but in reality I don't know. Worst case scenario if you don't like it, sell the CSi30 and buy a CS2, they can be had for cheap these days. I must admit though, I have the TSi500's on demo right now and I'm not crazy the way they sound with my CS2, and they are very similar on paper. Maybe it's just me.

    -Jeff

    As always, thanks Jeff.
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  • Mike LoManaco
    Mike LoManaco Posts: 974
    edited February 2010
    Ceenit wrote: »
    I should have my monitor 40's (non-tower version) installed with a CSi30 within the next day or two. I'll post back on how they sound. From the specs of the actual speakers themselves, they looked to me a good match to the tweeter and driver of the CSi30.

    Thanks, Cee -- I would definitely appreciate any input you can give me on these!

    You will be installing Monitor 40 bookshelves?
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  • Ceenit
    Ceenit Posts: 12
    edited February 2010
    Hooked up the Monitor 40 Bookshelves last night with my CSi30. WOW! what a difference. The Mon40's sound fantastic, and sounded like a good match with the CSi30 (although I admit, I'm not the super-high end audiophile that others on the forum are). Very warm sound and filled the room (12 x 25) nicely. I'm going to enjoy this setup for a while and then upgrade my rears with something mountable (monitor 30's maybe).

    Big thumbs up for the Monitor 40's.
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  • jacob.simpson
    jacob.simpson Posts: 481
    edited February 2010
    Ceenit wrote: »
    Hooked up the Monitor 40 Bookshelves last night with my CSi30. WOW! what a difference. The Mon40's sound fantastic, and sounded like a good match with the CSi30 (although I admit, I'm not the super-high end audiophile that others on the forum are). Very warm sound and filled the room (12 x 25) nicely. I'm going to enjoy this setup for a while and then upgrade my rears with something mountable (monitor 30's maybe).

    Big thumbs up for the Monitor 40's.
    Glad you are enjoying, your ears are the best judge, and also input from Audiophiles in this forum enlighten us quite often.
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  • Mike LoManaco
    Mike LoManaco Posts: 974
    edited February 2010
    Ceenit wrote: »
    Hooked up the Monitor 40 Bookshelves last night with my CSi30. WOW! what a difference. The Mon40's sound fantastic, and sounded like a good match with the CSi30 (although I admit, I'm not the super-high end audiophile that others on the forum are). Very warm sound and filled the room (12 x 25) nicely. I'm going to enjoy this setup for a while and then upgrade my rears with something mountable (monitor 30's maybe).

    Big thumbs up for the Monitor 40's.

    Glad to hear they worked with the CSi.

    So, the towers should work well with the CSi30 too, no?
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  • Ceenit
    Ceenit Posts: 12
    edited February 2010
    Yes, or better. With the larger enclosure of the towers, you should get a richer sound than the bookshelves.
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  • Mike LoManaco
    Mike LoManaco Posts: 974
    edited February 2010
    Thanks, C.

    Can we conclude the Monitors are a good sonic match for the CSi?
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  • Ceenit
    Ceenit Posts: 12
    edited February 2010
    My opinion, yes.
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  • Mike LoManaco
    Mike LoManaco Posts: 974
    edited February 2010
    Thanks; then I will probably go with a pair of dark cherry Monitor towers or RTis.
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  • comfortablycurt
    comfortablycurt Posts: 6,745
    edited February 2010
    Mike LoManaco wrote: »
    Thanks; then I will probably go with a pair of dark cherry Monitor towers or RTis.


    Go with the RTi's IMO. The CSi30 uses a much different tweeter than the Monitor series...and will sound much different.

    The CSi30 is timbre matched to the RTi series.

    Would it work with the Monitors? Of course...but it might not sound as good as it would paired with some RTi's.
    The nirvana inducer-
    APC H10 Power Conditioner
    Marantz UD5005 universal player
    Parasound Halo P5 preamp
    Parasound HCA-1200II power amp
    PolkAudio LSi9's/PolkAudio SDA 2A's/PolkAudio Monitor 7A's
    Audioquest Speaker Cables and IC's
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  • cnh
    cnh Posts: 13,284
    edited February 2010
    I agree with Curt!

    The slimmest non vm series tower that you can get from Polk would be the M50s or the TSI-300s....I have a set of 300s and they are a step up from the towers in your old sytem. But I would recommend you pair them with a CS-20. And add a bigger more powerful sub. The 300s will do a decent job with a GOOD sub filling in the bottom. Certainly much better than your current situation.

    Actually the TSI-400s might be better for you...similar width to the 300s, taller and deeper though...with more BASS.

    But if you have the dough go for the Rtis...the problem--NONE are very slim!

    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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  • renowilliams
    renowilliams Posts: 920
    edited February 2010
    Mike LoManaco wrote: »
    Out of Polk's current lineup, what would be a good sonic/timbre match in floorstanding towers to mate with a CSi30 center?

    I have the rtia5s as my fronts with a csi40 center and it works great.
    "They're always talking about my drinking, but never mention my thirst" Oscar Wilde


    Pre-Amp: Anthem AVM 20
    Amp: Carver TFM-35
    Amp: Rotel RB-870BX
    Fronts : SDA 1B w/ RDO-194s
    T.V.:Plasma TC-P54G25
    Bluray: Oppo BDP-93
    Speaker Cables: MIT Terminater
    Interconnect Cables:DH Labs Silver Sonic BL-1isonic
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  • Mike LoManaco
    Mike LoManaco Posts: 974
    edited February 2010
    Thanks Guys.

    Since I purchased a nice solid wood wall unit for the new house's family/HT room, I suppose the RTi's will be okay -- am I understanding that the RTi's are the better -- or correct -- sonic match for the CSi30 center?
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  • Mike LoManaco
    Mike LoManaco Posts: 974
    edited February 2010
    Thanx Capri.

    I just found a deal from OneCall online for the RTi8's for like $222 each new; should I get them?
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  • Mike LoManaco
    Mike LoManaco Posts: 974
    edited February 2010
    Wait -- my bad. The ones OneCall are selling are the RTi8 NOT the RTiA -- there is a difference, no? Aren't the "A" designated RTis part of their new lineup?

    The RTiA8 doesn't even exist as far as I can tell -- there's just an A5, A7 and A9, correct?

    So, should I look at an A5?
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  • Mike LoManaco
    Mike LoManaco Posts: 974
    edited February 2010
    Okay so now here's the question...

    The new RTi's are labled "RTiA" in three different series...

    The price I got from OneCall was for $222 a piece for RTi8s which are most likely an out-dated RTi series, no?

    Now...do I HAVE to use the brand-new RTiA towers for a mate with the CSi30 center, or can I use the RTi8 that seems to be a bit older? Does it matter?
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  • wutadumsn23
    wutadumsn23 Posts: 3,702
    edited February 2010
    Mike LoManaco wrote: »
    As always, thanks Jeff.

    No problem Mike.

    -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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  • Mike LoManaco
    Mike LoManaco Posts: 974
    edited February 2010
    Jeff,

    Do you know if there are differences between the current RTiA's and the previous RTi's?

    I can get a huge deal on two RTi8's, but they're not from the newer RTiA series...
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  • wutadumsn23
    wutadumsn23 Posts: 3,702
    edited February 2010
    Honestly don't know if there is a huge difference between the two, hopefully someone in the know will be able to give you better advice.

    -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
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • cnh
    cnh Posts: 13,284
    edited February 2010
    Rti-8s would match that center fine! The new speakers, A5s, have a mildly improved....but not much, tweeter and curved cabinets to, supposedly, better deal with internal air disturbances.

    But, to be honest EVERYBODY IS 'CURVING' THEIR CABINETS THESE DAYS. I'm not sure that it's not just more of a styling fad? Those cabinets are NOT that BIG? And I've heard great speakers that are very boxy.

    The A5s are a tad better, but I wouldn't sweat it, you'd be fine with the 8s.

    444 dollars for a pair of Rti-8s..sounds like a good deal to ME!

    However like the TSI series...the As are 'prettier'!

    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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