Newbie question on speaker selection?

[hank1105]

Hey there. I will be purchasing the following setup shortly:

Front = Polk RTi70
Center = Polk CSi40
Surround = Polk FXi50
Sub = Polk PSW303

The system will be driven with the Sony STR-DA7ES. Basic question, does this setup sound right? For the price it works for me. I am getting an excellent deal on the receiver and the speakers are from crutchfield. The receiver is 7.1 compatible, what Polks would be good sides? Last question, where can I find wall brackets for the FXi50's? Thanks for any info.

Hank

[Frank Z]

Hank1105,
You'll be very happy with the speakers you've selected! The Fxi50 have a keyhole slot in the bass port on the back of the speaker, so you don't need to spend any more money on mounts. As for surrounds, I would suggest that you use the Fx's for the sides and use a direct firing speaker for the rear channels in your future 7.1 system. The Rt28i or 38i will give you great results.

[dorokusai]

I agree with Frank Z. Setup the FXi50's on the side. Great choices in speakers also. The CSi40 is a better center performer than the CSi30. I am upgrading the 30 to the 40, and moving the 30 into rear surround duty. Let us know when you get set up!

I am a Sony ES fan is that is a sweet receiver.

[VR3]

Id use the RTi38 in the back. Yall find the i28 a tad weak compared to the brothers surrounding it.

[hank1105]

Thanks for the replies. Not sure if I will do the 7.1 setup at first, interesting that you put the "less" powerful speakers in the back with 7.1. I guess that makes sense since the back 2 speakers act as a center channel, not sure if that is the thinking. The only issue I have with the FXi30's, if I should put in the back (5.1 setup) is that I need to mount them over a window. I have room to put them over the window with a bracket that would extend them. I hope this makes sense. Again thanks for the replies. Oh and that receiver is unreal, the remote is cool too.

Hank

[Dr. Spec]

Don't forget the diminutive CSi30 for rear surrounds. A lot of speaker for the money and it's only 6-1/2" deep, making it perfect for a bookshelf application.

Also, ditch the 303 as a sub choice and buy something better up front - you won't regret it.

Doc

[mantis]

Agreed,
the sub is your weakest link.

Didn't read about what kind of wire your going to be using...

[hank1105]

Wiring will be monster cable. Which I know is overpriced and everything else. I might go up on the Polk Sub, just not sure. The Monster cable is the XP2S HT. I would love to get a SVS sub, I here they are very good, just that is out of my price range right now.

Hank

[dorokusai]

Get your system for now, worry about wire later. Can't play CD's on a bunch of wire, unless you are highly medicated.

[Dr. Spec]

Hank:

Strongly recommend the Monster 14-4 bi-wire cable for the front end. Mantis might have enough to cover you and the price is right.

12 gauge or 14 gauge Monster bulk would be fine for the sides and rears if you ever add them. Sound King wire at Parts Express is supposedly made by Monster and is popular.

Instead of spending the money up front on the sub, you can always run the 70's on "large" and the sub on "off/no" and save for a few months. Just don't crank it too high on DVDs or you will hurt the 70's in this config. Once you get a good sub, run all your speaks on "small".

A good sub will be worth it and the SVS you need is only $550 - $600. 25-31PCi, "22-31PCi", PB1-ISD, or 20-39PCi will all work perfectly.

The "22-31PCi" is not listed in the website, but it is a 25-31PCi with a slightly longer vent for a 22 Hz tune point. This option is free and popular.

The PB1-ISD has a 22 Hz tune and is the sonic equal to the 22-31PCi.

The 20-39PCi has a 20 Hz tune and will dig a bit deeper than any of the above, but it might only be noticeable on a few DVDs for a few seconds of source material.

Hope I'm not wasting my fingers on this advice. Many members who are more heavily into HT than music end up replacing the Polk sub after a year and taking a big loss on it. The 303 and 404 don't have the power or the extension to do HT real justice.

The beauty of a really good sub is that it will do both HT and music justice. It costs a bit more but it's worth it.

Doc

[hank1105]

Doc,

You are definitely not wasting your keystrokes. The information you have supplied will be put to good use. Most of my listening will be for HT, I would say 70% HT - 30% music. The more and more I read about SVS vs. Polk, the more I want the SVS sub. Your suggestion of saving a little while for the SVS sub is noted, and that is what I will most likely do. Thanks again.

BTW: the wiring I will be using is as follows:

Fronts = Monster Z1 MT-10/10
Surround = Monster XP2S HT
Center = Monster XP1C HT
Sub = not sure yet

[Dr. Spec]

Good deal Hank. These are the ears of experience speaking, just trying to save you some coin and frustration, especially if you are 70% HT.

Any one here who has gone from a so-so sub to a great sub will tell you the difference was night/day and why didn't they do it sooner, yada yada. It's the same story over and over.

Doc

[kelley]

Hank, save up for an SVS. The time you do without a sub now will be worth it down the road.

[Grimster74]

Hank1105, I have almost the same setup but I am running the DA4ES receiver (Could not justify the price difference for 10 watts more per channel w/ a touchscreen remote) and I am running the FXi30's on the sides and the RTi28's in the rear. Once I purchased a SPL meter from Radio Shack and the Avia setup disk, I was floored by the sound coming out of these speakers. Know I am hearing things in movies I never knew existed. I think you will be really pleased with your setup.

[kberg]

Originally posted by Dr. Spec


The PB1-ISD has a 22 Hz tune and is the sonic equal to the 22-31PCi.

The 20-39PCi has a 20 Hz tune and will dig a bit deeper than any of the above, but it might only be noticeable on a few DVDs for a few seconds of source material.

Doc

Hey Doc, if the PB1-ISD is the sonic equal to the 22-31PCi, is this then just a matter of style over substance (box vs. cylinder) in terms of which one to choose?

Also, since the 16-46 PCi is only $50 more than the 22-31PCi, do you think it would be a much better bang for the buck to get a tuning point of 16 Hz?

Finally, how great a difference in terms of "audible noticeability" (relatively speaking) is there between the 16-46 PCi and say, the
25-31 PC-Plus? What's more critical in terms of audible noticeability - tuning point or the amperage behind it?

Kev

[hank1105]

Grimster,

Thanks for the vote of confidence. I just ordered the Sony receiver today. No way would I pay list for the receiver. I am getting it through a friend at Sony for 1/3 the cost off of list. Once I get the receiver I will order up the speakers on Crutchfield, since Polk honors the warrenty thought them. I will also be getting the SVS sub, might wait a month or two for that, from a cost perspective.

Hank

[Grimster74]

Hank, I've been researching the SVS subs myself. I'm seriously thinking about getting rid of the Dual PSW450's for one PB2-Plus subwoofer. I'll let ya know how it goes.

[Dr. Spec]

Originally posted by kberg
Hey Doc, if the PB1-ISD is the sonic equal to the 22-31PCi, is this then just a matter of style over substance (box vs. cylinder) in terms of which one to choose?

Also, since the 16-46 PCi is only $50 more than the 22-31PCi, do you think it would be a much better bang for the buck to get a tuning point of 16 Hz?

Finally, how great a difference in terms of "audible noticeability" (relatively speaking) is there between the 16-46 PCi and say, the
25-31 PC-Plus? What's more critical in terms of audible noticeability - tuning point or the amperage behind it?

Kev

Kev:

Yes, the PB1-ISD and the "22-31PCi" (again, a 25-31PCi with a no-cost longer 22 Hz port tube) are sonic equals. Same driver, same approximate internal volume, same amp, same tune point. The woofer doesn't care what the enclosure looks like, providing neither of them flex and are the same approximate volume.

The 16-46PCi is $100 more than the "22-31PCi".

Can you hear a difference? Yes, 20 Hz is 1/3 octave lower than 25 Hz, and on some passages for a brief few seconds, the quicker drop off of the 25-31PCi is noticeable as compared to the 20-39PCi.

However, keep in perspective that very few subs are truly flat to 25 Hz, and even the 25-31PCi will do justice to 98% of the DVD's out there.

Regarding the 16-46PCi, if you really want to know you are hearing and feeling ALL of what the music and DVD has to offer, the 16-46 enclosure really digs way down. It won't play as loud overall as the 25-31 enclosure, and this is a trade-off for the much deeper extension.

That's why the 20-39 enclosure is so popular. I run my 20-39PC+ with the SS filter set to 20 Hz, and I honestly hear/feel very little difference between that setting and the 16 Hz setting with a port plugged. Maybe on a few DVD passages that I know have content at 15-20 Hz can you feel it a bit more, but it's pretty minor in the overall scheme of how the sub sounds.

The dB12 Plus driver has a 5-6 dB advantage in output over the ISD used is the CS and PCi lines. It also exhibits somewhat lower THD and IMD and somewhat greater thermal resistance. It also costs over 2X the ISD woof. A clear case of ya get what ya pay for. In terms of atual sound quality, within there respective limits, they will sound very similar, with the Plus having a slight edge in sound quality. But push them hard and the Plus really starts to shine, providing truly room shaking clean SPL and almost Reference Level playback ability.

Doc

[Dr. Spec]

Originally posted by Grimster74
Hank, I've been researching the SVS subs myself. I'm seriously thinking about getting rid of the Dual PSW450's for one PB2-Plus subwoofer. I'll let ya know how it goes.

Phew! A PB2+ will have 2-3 times the clean output capability of dual stacked PSW450's above 35-40 Hz.

Below 35 Hz, it will be a downright slaughter - you would need 7-8 PSW450's to even approach the clean and usable output of a PB2+ in the 20-25 Hz region.

In a moderate sized room, the PB2+ in stock tune will be capable of true Reference Level playback, providing clean peaks in the 120+ dB region at 25 Hz and above. In the 20 Hz tune, expect 117-118 dB peaks.

I'll be posting my PB2+ review in about 2 weeks over at HTF. I'll hotlink it on Club Polk after it is posted.

Doc

[hank1105]

Damn, my head hurts :)

Spoke to SVS today, very informative and helpful.

[kberg]

Originally posted by Dr. Spec

The 16-46PCi is $100 more than the "22-31PCi".
I stand corrected.

However, keep in perspective that very few subs are truly flat to 25 Hz, and even the 25-31PCi will do justice to 98% of the DVD's out there.
This helps a lot.

Regarding the 16-46PCi.... It won't play as loud overall as the 25-31 enclosure, and this is a trade-off for the much deeper extension.
How loud is too loud before "distortion" (or whatever) kicks in for the 16-46PCi as opposed to the 25-31 or 20-39?

What sub would you recommend with my current setup in a carpeted room measuring 20' x 15'?