Got CSi3 with R15's. Is this really bad?

[kitsch21]

Hi. I organized my first home theatre/av pieces together.

I got Onkyo TX-SR603X receiver, with two R15's, one CSi3, one Dayton SW, as well as two cheap pioneer speakers for the rear. Thanks to black friday sales, I could get all of them under $500.

After browsing this site, I found out that the correct match for R15's was CS1 rather than CSi3. So, how bad is my setup? Is it really bad to the extent that I have to sell my CSi3 and get another CS1? (It's too late to return CSi3). Can I be just satisfied with this? Right now, I don't have enough budget to do major upgrade. (poor student...)

Thanks in advance.

Truly,
Sam, CT

[aaharvel]

hello.
welcome to Club Polk.

Save your $, keep your csi3, get some rti4's, then move your r15's to the surrounds.

[Mjr7531]

It's fine, Polk Audio speakers tend to go well with each other, so if you're using them for casual listening, you'll be fine, I'd say try to match series in the front (ala: RTi4s) But don't kill yourself over it, if you like how it sounds, it's fine. Although, I'd like to point out, the better matched the series, the more you'll like your system ;)

Happy Listening!

Matt

[kitsch21]

Thank you for kind and quick responses.

RTi4 seems the way to go, but right now for me, I have no budget...

Hope 2006 is financially better...

[Ron Temple]

The CSi3 is more speaker the the 15s. You'll hear every whisper.

[pale rider]

I have the CSi3 matched with R50's on my front soundstage, and I am not motivated to spend another dime. Like you, I opted for some cheap surrounds (in my case, legacy 3-way Sony bookshelf speakers that came with a bookshelf stereo).

I agree with an earlier post that the R15's should ultimately be your surround speakers, but if you're on a budget, keep an eye on outpost.com or a local Fry's Electronics to see if the Monitor 50's or maybe the R-50's or even R-30's go on sale. For instance, the other day, I noticed that outpost.com was clearing out their R-30's at roughly $40.00 per speaker. I picked my R-50's up for $70.00 per speaker, with no complaints through outpost.com. Since outpost and Fry's are notorious for unannounced deep discounts, it's on you to keep an eye on their website.

With my rig, the CSi3 is not overmatched, and there is no real difference in tone when sound moves across the "fronts" to the "center." Besides, if you're totally out of "jack" I would adjust the relative volume level for the CSi3 (in your receiver settings) until, at a given volume you don't really notice a difference in tone when objects pass across your soundstage.

Bottom line . . . see if you can return the cheap Pioneers and throw down for a discounted set of R-30's or R-50's, then move the R-15's where they belong. Do not, I repeat, do not return the CSi3. Good luck.