Home Theater Speaker Recommendation

[tgillitzr]

I am considering upgrading my home theater speakers.

Right now, I have an Onkyo TX-SR500 reciever. I have a Polk CSi20 Center Channel. I don't plan on replacing this.

I have a pair of really old 5-way speakers for fronts currently. I don't have exact specs on them right now (I'm at work). They aren't to bad, but just aren't all that crisp.

Then I have a pair of Jensen (bleh) bookshelf speakers for "rears". They suck. They were free with the reciever, so I took them.

I am considering the following:

Polk R50 for fronts
Polk R20 for rears
Polk PSW202 for a sub

This would run me about $720.

What do you guys think? Any other recommendations?

 

[Spac3d]

I don't really know how much about home theater, but I do know that crutchfield is very expensive - do you plan on buying from there??

Spac3d

 

[tgillitzr]

depends.... when/if I decide to buy, I'll be shopping around for the best deal

 

[Stealth1024]

you might want to check out Paradigm instead of Polk.

This system is probably a little out of your price range at nearly $5,000: http://www.paradigm.com/Website/SiteReferenceProduct/RModels/SystemChoice/Studio100System.html

but check out these reccomended systems: http://www.paradigm.com/Website/SiteParadigmProduct/ParadigmModels/SystemChoice/systems.html

 

[DaveJ]

In that price range, I would look at JBL for the 5 speakers, like 4 of these:

link

plus a JBL center channel, like one here:

link

For the sub, this one is a much better deal than that Polk, for the same price...

Dave

 

[Doodoo]

Wharfedale Emerald 99's....i plan on getting these after i recover from all the xmas spending....

 

[tgillitzr]

Originally posted by: Stealth1024
you might want to check out Paradigm instead of Polk.

This system is probably a little out of your price range at nearly $5,000: <a href="http://www.paradigm.com/Website/SiteReferenceProduct/RModels/SystemChoice/Studio100System.html">http://www.paradigm.com/Website/SiteReferenceProduct/RModels/SystemChoice/Studio100System.html</a>

but check out these reccomended systems: <a href="http://www.paradigm.com/Website/SiteParadigmProduct/ParadigmModels/SystemChoice/systems.html">http://www.paradigm.com/Website/SiteParadigmProduct/ParadigmModels/SystemChoice/systems.html</a>

Am I wrong in thinking I get much more "bang for the buck" going with Polk over Paradigm?

 

[CaesarX]

Canadian speakers are the way to go. Paradigm and PSB are both awesome. I own the former, they're incredible (Monitor 7). I strongly suggest that you talk this over with the folks at AVS before spending a dollar.

 

[NuclearFusi0n]

DIY

 

[DaveSimmons]

I have Polk RT55 as fronts, CS-??? as center, and RT10 as rears. Excellent sound for both movies and music.

When price-shopping be sure to compare shipping as Crutchfield's is very low. They also have excellent service, including no-hassle returns if you decide you need something different after buying. Also, you can save $20 off on your first purchase of $200 or more if you get a referral (affiliate) code from a friend who is already a Crutchfield customer.

 

[silverpig]

5 way speakers? Are you sure about that???

 

[tgillitzr]

Originally posted by: silverpig
5 way speakers? Are you sure about that???

95% sure... I'd have to check when I get home.

If I can remember correctly, each speaker has a 10" sub, 2 midrange, a tweeter, and a super tweeter.

I'm no speaker expert, but the tag on it says its a 5 way speaker. Could be a marketing ploy I suppose....

 

[whiteboyatcal]

Polk LSI series for the front
Polk RT25i for the rear
Velodyne or NHT sub


BTW, if haven't listened to the RT25i's you really should, IMHO they are the most impressive of Polk's <$1000 speaker pairs and most audiophile magazine's agree.

 

[silverpig]

Originally posted by: tgillitzr

Originally posted by: silverpig
5 way speakers? Are you sure about that???

95% sure... I'd have to check when I get home.

If I can remember correctly, each speaker has a 10" sub, 2 midrange, a tweeter, and a super tweeter.

I'm no speaker expert, but the tag on it says its a 5 way speaker. Could be a marketing ploy I suppose....

It'd be a 10" woofer.

And that system you described would be a 4 way system at most... Probably a 3 way though.

It doesn't matter how many drivers you have, but rather how many different frequency bands your speakers break the signal into. The woofer handles the low range, the midrange handles the mids (duh), and the tweeters handle the highs. That'd be a 3 way system. Bookshelf speakers and many towers are generally 2 way; a midrange band and a high band.

 

[DaveSimmons]

Originally posted by: whiteboyatcal
Polk LSI series for the front
Polk RT25i for the rear
Velodyne or NHT sub

BTW, if haven't listened to the RT25i's you really should, IMHO they are the most impressive of Polk's <$1000 speaker pairs and most audiophile magazine's agree.

The RT25i are also on sale right now (being replaced by the RT28) for about the same price as the RT20.

 

[tgillitzr]

Originally posted by: silverpig

Originally posted by: tgillitzr

Originally posted by: silverpig
5 way speakers? Are you sure about that???

95% sure... I'd have to check when I get home.

If I can remember correctly, each speaker has a 10" sub, 2 midrange, a tweeter, and a super tweeter.

I'm no speaker expert, but the tag on it says its a 5 way speaker. Could be a marketing ploy I suppose....

It'd be a 10" woofer.

And that system you described would be a 4 way system at most... Probably a 3 way though.

It doesn't matter how many drivers you have, but rather how many different frequency bands your speakers break the signal into. The woofer handles the low range, the midrange handles the mids (duh), and the tweeters handle the highs. That'd be a 3 way system. Bookshelf speakers and many towers are generally 2 way; a midrange band and a high band.

I'm agreeing with you here, but I'm sure they say 5-way. I'll check when I get home.

 

[tgillitzr]

Originally posted by: whiteboyatcal
Polk LSI series for the front
Polk RT25i for the rear
Velodyne or NHT sub


BTW, if haven't listened to the RT25i's you really should, IMHO they are the most impressive of Polk's <$1000 speaker pairs and most audiophile magazine's agree.

Unfortunatly I don't have the kind of money for the LSI series. The lowend RTi series maybe (RTi70B).

For like 10 bucks more, I'll go for the RT25i's instead.

If I were to order now, the sub would be free. Does Polk not make good subs?

 

[whiteboyatcal]

The sub is excellent if you can get it for free, otherwise, there are better subs to be had in the price range.

If you're on a low budget, get 2 pairs of the POLK RT25i and the Polk sub. This is essentially the combination I have and you would be surprised at the sound. IMHO, the Polk floor speakers (other than the LSI series) suck and I wouldn't recommend you waste your money on them. I haven't really heard any decently sounding inexpensive floor speakers, and if you turn your subwoofer to the highest crossover point (like 150HZ or something) you shouldn't have any loss in bass in your system. Just put the RT25i's on stands and they will sound great.


EDIT: BTW, I built a pair of speakers from Stereophile's $500 DIY speaker plans with homemade crossovers and everything and audiophile grade drivers and they sound absolutely fantastic, but the RT25i's are just slightly clearer and have a more dynamic midrange so I kept them and sold the DIY speakers to my friend.

 

[tgillitzr]

So two pairs of the RT25i's would sound better than the R50's(front) and RT25i's(rear) in your opinion?

 

[DaveSimmons]

Originally posted by: whiteboyatcal
The sub is excellent if you can get it for free, otherwise, there are better subs to be had in the price range.

If you're on a low budget, get 2 pairs of the POLK RT25i and the Polk sub. This is essentially the combination I have and you would be surprised at the sound. IMHO, the Polk floor speakers (other than the LSI series) suck and I wouldn't recommend you waste your money on them. I haven't really heard any decently sounding inexpensive floor speakers, and if you turn your subwoofer to the highest crossover point (like 150HZ or something) you shouldn't have any loss in bass in your system. Just put the RT25i's on stands and they will sound great.

That's not a bad idea, either 2 pair of RT25i or maybe RT25i rear and RT38i fronts, since then the total is enough to get the sub free.

 

[DaveSimmons]

Hmm, 2 x RT25i plus PSW404 sub = $ 780, plus you still get the 202 sub to sell or give as an Xmas present.

The above would work better for a home theater setup than putting the money into larger front speakers like the RT50, and would also be better (but cost $200 more) than going with the RT38i / RT25i / PSW202 combo.

 

[ElFenix]

i've got the R50s and they sound pretty darn good. big soundstage out of them. got em on special at fry's.

 

[tgillitzr]

hmm... or do 2 x RT25i and the PSW202. That would put me over the 500 dollar mark, which would get me another PSW202 that I could sell.

Anyone want a PSW202 sub??