Home Theater System

[ColemontHD]

I have a few questions regarding my home theater setup. I am wondering if my speaker setup now is working properly or if I need to get a certain center channel speaker to match the front speakers I have now.

I currently have the following hardware:

Polk Audio R15 front speakers - http://www.polkaudio.com/homeaudio/products/r15/

I have a Sony Home Theater System - http://www.circuitcity.com/ssm/Sony-Hom...atOid/-13325/rpem/ccd/productDetail.do

I am using the two Pok Audio speakers as the front speakers, the Sony Center channel speaker that came with the package. No surround as of yet, but it will be another set of R15's when I get around to it. So for now, two Polk Audio speakers and a sony center.

My question is this, with that speaker setup, will sound be off since they are different specs on the speakers. What center speaker should I get to match this up. Fry's has the following center speaker for $70 plus shipping on sale from $179. This is that speaker - http://shop1.outpost.com/product/4463996 .

Thanks for the help in advance!

 

[jpeyton]

Just buy three (or four if you have to purchase in pairs) more R15s and make a 5.1/6.1 system out of them. An R15 sitting horizontally works fine as a center channel. You can get a dedicated Polk center channel if you want, but I would try my solution first...it's cheaper and will probably serve your purposes well.

 

[ColemontHD]

Any other suggestions for a matching type center speaker?

 

[MrChad]

Originally posted by: ColemontHD
Any other suggestions for a matching type center speaker?

jpeyton's solution is the best. Your other option is a Polk CS1 center channel speaker, which should be timbre-matched to your R15s.

 

[ColemontHD]

Originally posted by: MrChad

Originally posted by: ColemontHD
Any other suggestions for a matching type center speaker?

jpeyton's solution is the best. Your other option is a Polk CS1 center channel speaker, which should be timbre-matched to your R15s.

Timbre-matched?

 

[ColemontHD]

Any experts out there today?

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Originally posted by: ColemontHD

Originally posted by: MrChad

Originally posted by: ColemontHD
Any other suggestions for a matching type center speaker?

jpeyton's solution is the best. Your other option is a Polk CS1 center channel speaker, which should be timbre-matched to your R15s.

Timbre-matched?

Timbre-matched is exactly what you're asking with them matching sonically. I think the tweeter matching tends to be the biggest factor for sound matching. It's a good idea to get your front three speakers timbre-matched, but the surrounds/rears don't matter as much to get matched up (but it's still good if you can, especially if you listen to multi-channel music).

The Polk center you linked to from outpost isn't from the same product line as your R15s, so even though they're made by the same company, they will not sound matched.

Having all your speakers be identical is the ideal situation for sound matching. As has been mentioned, getting a couple more pairs of R15s and making a matched 6.0 from them would give you the matched sound you're looking for.

Looking at the CS1 specs page, it actually doesn't even really match your R15s. I guess that's the closest center Polk offers to match the R-series.

 

[jpeyton]

Originally posted by: ColemontHD
Any experts out there today?

Well you're obviously not one, so how about taking advice wherever you can get it?

 

[ColemontHD]

Originally posted by: jpeyton

Originally posted by: ColemontHD
Any experts out there today?

Well you're obviously not one, so how about taking advice wherever you can get it?

Wow, rudeness detected!

 

[Hyperlite]

Originally posted by: jpeyton

Originally posted by: ColemontHD
Any experts out there today?

Well you're obviously not one, so how about taking advice wherever you can get it?

wtf?

but yes, take yoyo's advice. thats what i was going to say...

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Originally posted by: Hyperlite

Originally posted by: jpeyton

Originally posted by: ColemontHD
Any experts out there today?

Well you're obviously not one, so how about taking advice wherever you can get it?

wtf?

but yes, take yoyo's advice. thats what i was going to say...

Which is pretty much the same thing jpeyton said originally

 

[giantpinkbunnyhead]

Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello

Originally posted by: Hyperlite

Originally posted by: jpeyton

Originally posted by: ColemontHD
Any experts out there today?

Well you're obviously not one, so how about taking advice wherever you can get it?

wtf?

but yes, take yoyo's advice. thats what i was going to say...

Which is pretty much the same thing jpeyton said originally

Yeah but after that post up there ... YoYo's nicer!

 

[ColemontHD]

Can anyone suggest a model I should purchas to match the R15's I have?

 

[MrChad]

NM

 

[ColemontHD]

Originally posted by: MrChad
NM

Why did you change your post?

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Originally posted by: ColemontHD
Can anyone suggest a model I should purchas to match the R15's I have?

Model of what? Speakers? Center channel?

If you want more opinions, you might want to check out Polk's forum.
http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/

I'm not sure if they really pay attention to the budget lines over there or not. All I do is check the FS/FT area about once a day

 

[ColemontHD]

Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello

Originally posted by: ColemontHD
Can anyone suggest a model I should purchas to match the R15's I have?

Model of what? Speakers? Center channel?

If you want more opinions, you might want to check out Polk's forum.
http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/

I'm not sure if they really pay attention to the budget lines over there or not. All I do is check the FS/FT area about once a day

I am wanting a suggestion on a center speaker.

 

[BornStar]

jpeyton's suggestion is just fine with one small modification. I would place the center R15 vertically as that's the way they are designed to operate. Placing it horizontally could muddy the sound.

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Originally posted by: BornStar18
jpeyton's suggestion is just fine with one small modification. I would place the center R15 vertically as that's the way they are designed to operate. Placing it horizontally could muddy the sound.

I would agree that it would be best to try it out vertically first, although I understand that it might not get any awards for aesthetics that way, but that's the way it was meant to be used.