Smaller center channel speaker for RC65i fronts

[B.Meek]

Hello - I'm new to the forums here, and while I searched existing threads for this same advice, my need is a bit specific...

I'm looking for a "smaller" center channel speaker that I can attach under the HDTV (soundbar style) that will complement a pair of RC65i fronts.

The TV is going to be corner-mounted on a pretty solid articulating wall mount, usually aimed at a 45-degree angle into the room but manueverable, and I plan to rig up a speaker mount for the center channel speaker right under the TV so it will aim straight forward relative to the screen when I move the TV from side-to-side. The CSi A4 seems a bit too bulky - are any/all of the smaller Polk centers timbre-matched to the RC65i's?

Any opinions / recommendations?

FYI, I put a more detailed post on the AVS forums with broader questions about speaker placement and a diagram of the room and if any are interested :-).

Thanks!
-- brian

[Kex]

The RC65i are in wall speakers. You could just use another RC65i for your center, if this is an option. You can use the swivel tweeter to aim it correctly at the listeners' position if necessary.

http://www.polkaudio.com/customaudio...x.php#overview

Otherwise, you should really be looking at the TSi line for a matching center, AFIK.

http://www.polkaudio.com/homeaudio/center.php#tsi

Welcome to C.P., BTW! Don't worry: there are lot's of members here ready, willing and able to help you ... spend all your money!

[B.Meek]

Thanks, Kex.

Yeah, for wife-pleasing cosmetic reasons I'm going with the RC65i in-wall fronts (and ceiling-mounted RC80i rears, fwiw). Putting another RC65i as the center in the wall at the corner of the room would be complex from a space & wiring perspective, and since the TV mount allows me to swivel the TV a full 90 degrees to face the kitchen or the adjacent wall, I would prefer that the center channel be directionally-aligned with the screen.

In the TSi line, the CS10 (at 6-1/2" H x 20" W x 9-3/4" D) is still a bit larger than I want to try to mount under the screen, even though I believe the wall-mount can handle the weight...

Size-wise, the RM8 looks about right. The product page says this is designed to be paired with the RM8 satellites, but I'm wondering what sort of audio issues I would notice if paired with the RC65i fronts and RC80i rears that I've ordered :-).

Thanks again,
-- brian

[rallyshark]

Smaller size = smaller sound in most cases. The RM8 probably wouldn't be able to keep up. The next closest thing that may fit your size requirements would be a RM202 or RM302 if you could find one of those somewhere, which I'm sure you can with a little searching. I even saw some of those on Polks ebay store a few months ago. It wouldn't sound as good as the "full size" centers from the TSi line etc., but it would sure be a lot better than an RM8 center. If push comes to shove though, an RM8 is better than nothing. You can cross the RM8 over at a higher frequency(120-140hz), and it would work, but don't expect "booming" voices to come out of that little guy. I hope that helps:)

[B.Meek]

Thanks folks.

I'm currently just collecting the equipment as the remodel continues, so I'm planning to fire things up without the center to hear how it all comes together...

I'm reading the opinions of some who feel that a "phantom" center is really the best option, and I'll be using a new Onkyo TX-SR608, so I gather that its audio processing may do a fair job of this?

Depending on directional issues I encounter with a phantom center, I'm thinking that I can indeed rig up an acceptable mount for a CS10 under (or over) the TV, so that when I point the screen at one room location or another, the physical center speaker will be aimed in the same direction.

Are there built-in mount points on the CS10 cabinet?

[B.Meek]

Hello again, folks. Looking to bump this thread and restate my remaining questions:

1.) Is the CS10 cabinet housing thick enough to receive a few stubby wood screws on the back / bottom (for mounting) without damage to the operation of the speaker? I'm assuming no there would be no difference in this regard with the black vs. cherry wood option (different veneers over the same plywood)?

I'm looking to rig up something like this center mount.

2.) Is the CS1 a recommended match for the RC65i fronts I've already bought? I trust Kex's AFIK-qualified pointer in this direction, but if there's something from Polk that describes how their various speakers match-up, I would love the pointer to it.

Thanks again,
-- brian

[Kex]

I think you may be pushing your luck with that center mount device:

- It is rated for just 15lbs, and the images show it with fairly small speakers.
- The CS10 and CS20 are a bit over that, and reasonably large, so I would be very careful.

Otherwise, a phantom center should work fine.

Is there any possibility of using a ceiling speaker instead for the center?

[B.Meek]

Thanks again, Kex - I wasn't planning to buy that particular center mount unit, but rather aim to rig up something similar...

I actually found that Peerless, the manufacturer of my TV mount, has an accessory for this purpose that's rated for 25 pounds (and even specifies a design for Polk Audio center channels). Once I get the TV mounted up again, I'll either fabricate something of my own, or spring for the ready-made option (which actually costs more than the CS10 itself :-).