New to Polk & 2 Questions

I just purchased a Sony STR-DE597 a Sony TC-WE305 and put a pair of Polk R15's with it. This is all connected currently to the DVD player.

My plan is to slowly build out the system to take advantage of the full 6.1 surround capabilities.

The room this is going into is rather small, thus the R15's... The family CFO also didn't want me spending mega bucks to get this system started. She only wants to be able to play CD's and listen to the radio... I obviously have different plans and luckily the 2 Sony items will end up being free thanks to a Sony Visa card.

My plan is as follows:

• 2 additional R15's for the surrounds
• 1 CSi20 for the front center
• PSW202 for the sub

Here are the two questions

• What should be the next purchase for the system?
• What is the best way to get the 6th speaker into the system?

Thanks in advance for your sugestions!

Chris

OK, I know you're on a budget like all of us, and I know you mentioned that your room is fairly small...but I'll still make other reccomendations...

I'd look at something other than R15s for your front speakers, maybe look at the monitor line, maybe the Monitor 40s. I think the Monitors will give you a better sound for not much more money. If you go this route, I'd look at the center that matches the monitor line, the smaller one should worki for you, think its the CS1, but I'm having issue with the Polk site right now and can't bring up that info.

I'd also look at another sub. You don't need anything too expensive that is going to shake your walls, but IMO the 202 isn't really much of a performer and I think you can do alot better at around that same price...

If you're set on using the R15s as front, then using them as rears and using a CSi20 should work fine. just wanted to mention the Monitor line as an option.

As for your next purchase, that really depends on what you use the system mostly for. If it's for music, then go ahead and get the sub becuase you'll use that for music and movies, adding surround or a center will only make a difference with movies.

Hmmmm....

So it will be a 50/50 split for me between Music and Movies. For the CFO, it will be 80% music and 20% movies.

This leads me to believe that the sub would be my next purchase followed by the center channel and then the surrounds... Am I reading that right?

You mentioned a different sub... Any suggestions? I have a set of Klipsch Pro-Media's connected to my computer (thus the CFO's aversion to big sound systems... and yes it can shake the entire house if I wanted it to) so I would consider their sub's... What about Sony's subs? Any recommendations for a great sounding low cost sub that doesn't have to rock the house?

The Monitor series looks nice, but I think that is more $$$ than the CFO will allow... I would love to have a nice set of them, but just not gonna happen at this juncture...


Chris

I think a sub should be the next purchase too. Do you have a budget in mind?

The R15s will be OK for a small room.

The best way to get the most speaker "Bang for your buck" is to buy recent closeout or used models. Many here have built the great systems they have by letting some else take the hit on the retail buy and finding barely used items for drastically less than retail. This is a safer bet with speakers than with any other products in your system since electronic components are kept to a minimum and most parts are user replacements.

Since you already have the Klipsch, get adaptors to use them as surrounds and center to see if you like the Polks sound better. You should find that the Sony drives them better than the built-in amp in the sub module.

As for a sub, only you can determine how much you need and in a small room, you will get alot of boom out of almost any small sub. If your room was larger and your CFO could see the value in great sound at the expense of some room real estate, I would send you in an entirely different direction. (Towers, a huge sub and 8 foot projection screen!)

Enjoy your journey,

DG

Check out this sub, I picked one up and I love it. If you check around, you will be hard pressed to find a better sub for anything close to the price.

http://www.partsexpress.com/pe/pshow...=300-632&DID=7

That Dayton is one of the best buys I've seen. Dayton makes a great product and would blow away the Polk subs costing 2-3 times as much.

It looks good too!

I have the Sony sa-wm40 with a couple of mods for my sub. See them all the time for less than $100. I like it. Is there a Fry's near you? They always have r30 and r50's on sale. Pair of r30 for less than $100 right now.

The nearest Fry's is about 90 minutes away in Phoenix. That is a "No Fly Zone" as far as the CFO is concerned...

She is interested in going to the new Ikea there so I am sure we can wing a deal...

I'll consider the R30's or 50's and move the 15's to the surrounds...

Definately will be hunting for a sub though as my first purchase.

Thanks All!!!!


Chris

I'll second masanz1's suggestion for getting the R30 or R50 as your mains and move the R15's to the back. Note that these are floorstanders and I'm not sure how "small" your room is. I bought a pair of R50's from Fry's (outpost.com) for $225.25 shipped! No need to fly!

You did mention that your CFO would be 80/20 for music/movies. In that case, you may be better off investing in the Monitor line as the R series is better for home theater than music. I see the Monitor line as only a slight step up from the R series but commanding a premium price for being new. If you're watching your wallet like me, stick with the R series and check out Fry's and Circuit City. If music quality and having cherry as a color option appeals more to you, go with the Monitor line and pay the price.

Answering your second question, I would put the rear center channel (preferably another R15) on a stand behind your listening position or against the wall as Polk normally recommends. Just make sure your other rear surrounds are about the same height.