Two questions about getting Polks for the folks.

[amb7247]

I'm looking hard into the Polks. Never have anywhere to demo them but this what I'm considering getting for my parents. Right now they have a JVC HTIB speakers. Not a very good fit for a 18x12 room. So I was considering replacing the center with a better center and putting up bookshelves on the front and rear.

1st question and it'll be in two parts.

Does this appear to be good for a starter 5.0 surround?

Polk Audio RTi3 (Cherry) - Fronts
Polk Audio Monitor 40 (cherry) - Rear
Pold Audio CS2 (Cherry) - Center

How does this look? They can't put down any floor speakers since they won't fit. But they can put these on top of two bookshelves that came with the entertainment stand.

2) Is the RTi 3 cherry the same cherry color as the Monitor 40's? I can't really tell in the sample pictures.

Also is there a center speaker stand that allows me to raise the speaker above the tv from behind?


Oh and do these speakers use banana plugs? If so I'll get some to make hookups easier.

[F1nut]

You are much better off going with speakers from the same series. You want them to be voice matched for the best sound.

For example, Polk suggests the following,
Front: Monitor 40
Center: CS1
Rear: Monitor 30
Sub: PSW110

They all come with 5 way binding posts, so no problem using banana plugs.

[cfrizz]

Welcome.

Get either all one series or the other. Don't mix & match if at all possible.

[amb7247]

Welcome.

Get either all one series or the other. Don't mix & match if at all possible.

If i do the RtiA 3 for fronts what do you think for the rear? I know they dont have to be as good as the fronts since their just for rear sound.

[amb7247]

This is what I've found to be a good match


Polk Audio RTi6 (cherry) - Front
Polk Audio RTi4 (cherry) - Rear
Polk Audio CSi3 - Center Channel

All 3 seem to be the same color. Is the CSi3 being phased out? I looked at the next in line the CSIA4 but it seems to be a darker color which would stand out.

[F1nut]

That will work or look at the new RTiA series such as this,
RTi A3
RTi A1
CSi A4

With either system you should consider adding a sub as those monitors aren't capable of producing the lower frequencies.

[amb7247]

I gave them my older Yamaha YST-SW315 sub so it's set to go.