Polk Audio CSM Center Channel

[Kludge]

I have been looking at the Polk Audio CSM for $90. Newegg reports a part# of AM1545-B. However, I can't find that model listed on Polkaudio's website. Can anyone tell me anything about this center channel? I plan on using it with my Onkyo HT-S590S set (the receiver is HT-R340).

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

I was unable to find much from Polk either
http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?t=34158

As described in that thread, it might be a little tough to drive with its impedence load.

It's a very good idea to keep your front three speakers matched. If you do upgrade your center, you'd want to eventually upgrade the front left / front right speakers to match the same lineup. I'm not sure which speakers match the CSM without more info.

I would recommend finding a center speaker with more information available (specifications, positive reviews) and a line-up that allows for matching your front speakers.

It's also best to pick out speakers after listening to them, but I realize that it's not always going to happen (especially on a low budget). Is there a reason the CSM stood out to you?

 

[Kludge]

Honestly, it was the $90 price tag. I have read how important the center channel can be when watching movies. My current center is horrible when it comes to voices in movies. I have to turn up the volume to hear people speak. Then I get "blown away" during the action scenes.

I am open to any suggestions you might have on a center and 2 fronts. I would like to keep the total under $300. If you don't think that is enough, I will just have to wait. No point in buying crap. Even if you could recommend a brand or a series that you like, that would be a huge help to me. Thanks for your insight.

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

I have some options in the sticky thread for affordable speakers... although I notice some of those links are broken again.

Polk R-series has been pretty popular as a budget option since Outpost has good deals on them from time to time. You could potentially get a couple floorstanding R-series (R300 / R50) and a matching center (CSR was the recommended one to match when I asked them, although other users have made alternative matches).

Infinity Primus would also fit in the budget.

There's the potential to go out and listen to these retail brands as well to see if you like them.

This might not really alleviate your problem though. It's likely that you'll still have some degree of this issue just due to the high dynamic range in DVDs. Have you tried turning on dynamic range compression or "night mode" or whatever your receiver calls it?

 

[s44]

Slightly out of your price range: KEF iQ1 pair and iQ2C center in walnut ($250 R+L/$100FS center) or black ($230 R+L/$140FS center). These are discontinued models being cleared out cheap, so buy the whole front three now if you're interested.

Inside your price range: former Sapphire Audio models from the Speaker Company -- center and bookshelves (or larger bookshelves). Also available as a 5.1 set with a real sub for $500.

Of course, there's also used...

Edit: another option -
Infinity Primus P162 -- $100 each, and I might just buy 3 if you have the vertical space. Excellent price.

You might be interested in the budget bookshelf shootout at Audioholics last month. Yamahas did surprisingly well.

 

[blckgrffn]

Hey "Kludge"

I would think that three of those Infinity Primus speakers would be pretty much ideal. From what I can tell, you don't really want your center channel speaker to have symmetric drivers because they can cancel each other out and put a dead space in the middle - right where you are sitting. It seems to be everyone just expects center channels to be like that.

Anyway, three of those bookshelves would probably be a really nice upgrade - now if I can only convince you to get a big freaking sub too

Nat