Good Center Speaker For T50?

Everyone,

I am brand new to this whole surround sound and speaker selection process.

I have a 7.2 system with 4 side/rear TSi100 speakers and two front T50 speakers. My question is basically this - what center speaker would work well with these? The natural choice would be the T30; however, I wouldn't mind paying more for a higher quality speaker. Do you think the timbre of a CS10, CS20, S30, S35, or TSx 250c speaker would be a good fit? Any recommendations?

Thanks!

Comments

  • rooftop59
    rooftop59 Posts: 7,952
    If you have an avr with a decent calibration system, any polk center save the LSiM should work fine. I would definitely go bigger CSi5, CSia6 would both be great choices. Also the older cs400i is great as well, and it’s a lot narrower so it might fit in certain spaces easily.
    Living Room 2.2: Usher BE-718 "tiny dancers"; Dual DIY Dayton audio RSS210HF-4 Subs with Dayton SPA-250 amps; Arcam SA30; Musical Fidelity A308; Sony UBP-x1000es; Squeezebox Touch with Bolder Power Supply
    Game Room 5.1.4:
    Denon AVR-X4200w; Sony UBP-x700; Definitive Technology Power Monitor 900 mains, CLR-3000 center, StudioMonitor 350 surrounds, ProMonitor 800 atmos x4; Sub - Monoprice Monolith 15in THX Ultra

    Bedroom 2.1
    Cambridge Azur 551r; Polk RT25i; ACI Titan Subwoofer
  • mrloren
    mrloren Posts: 2,454
    Hello and welcome,

    A T30 or S30 would be your best bet. It also depends on your AVR and how well it calibrates.
    When I was a kid my parents told me to turn it down. Now I'm an adult and my kids tell me to turn it down.
    Family Room:LG QNED80 75", Onkyo RZ50 Emotiva XPA3 GEN3 Oppo BDP-93,Sony UBP-X800BM. Main: Polk LsiM 705Center: Polk LSiM 704CFront High/Rear High In-Ceiling Polk 80F/X RT Surrounds: Polk S15 Sub: HSU VTF3-MK5
    Bed Room; Marantz SR5010, BDP-S270Main: Polk Signature S20Center: Polk Signature S35Rear: Polk R15 Sub: SVS SB2000
    Working Warehouse; Yamaha A-S301, Sony DVP-NS3100ES for disc Plok TSX550T SVS PB2000 Mini tower PC with 400GB of music
  • rpf65
    rpf65 Posts: 2,127
    Use the manufacturers same series of speakers for the front three. They work together to project the sound, and using a center from a different manufacturer or series of the same manufacturer could cause you to localize the center speaker.

    Meaning that dialogue, for instance, could be over emphasized, even though the sound levels are perfectly matched. Many people find this annoying at the very least, and could cause you to miss some information.
  • mrloren
    mrloren Posts: 2,454
    rpf65 wrote: »
    Use the manufacturers same series of speakers for the front three. They work together to project the sound, and using a center from a different manufacturer or series of the same manufacturer could cause you to localize the center speaker.

    Meaning that dialogue, for instance, could be over emphasized, even though the sound levels are perfectly matched. Many people find this annoying at the very least, and could cause you to miss some information.

    I agree with the logic here, but I use a CSIA6 for my center and it works very well. That said I've heard systems that use an different brand center and it sounds like crud.

    Stay with Polk, I think an S30 would be a nice fit.
    When I was a kid my parents told me to turn it down. Now I'm an adult and my kids tell me to turn it down.
    Family Room:LG QNED80 75", Onkyo RZ50 Emotiva XPA3 GEN3 Oppo BDP-93,Sony UBP-X800BM. Main: Polk LsiM 705Center: Polk LSiM 704CFront High/Rear High In-Ceiling Polk 80F/X RT Surrounds: Polk S15 Sub: HSU VTF3-MK5
    Bed Room; Marantz SR5010, BDP-S270Main: Polk Signature S20Center: Polk Signature S35Rear: Polk R15 Sub: SVS SB2000
    Working Warehouse; Yamaha A-S301, Sony DVP-NS3100ES for disc Plok TSX550T SVS PB2000 Mini tower PC with 400GB of music
  • vonkster
    vonkster Posts: 2
    Thanks for everyone's input - I am leaning twords an S30 because it is a little less expensive - we will see what happens though as the CSiA6 seems like a really great speaker!

    I would say right now the system is coming together nicely - The TSi 100 speakers are good rear and side speakers; but, they really need a subwoofer (which I have). They don't have a lot of low end presence. High notes are very nice and crisp with these speakers. The T50 is a nice speaker as well for the money. I will start with this setup and perhaps upgrade as I get more money.

    As a sidenote, my subwoofer is a Klipsch R‑115SW. It's size is enormous and l highly, highly recommend it! :smile::smile::smile:
  • firsttimer
    firsttimer Posts: 87
    I am running an S30 Center and really like it. I think it is a good choice for you