Upgrades

[troy_b.]

I have a few questions about some speaker upgrades. My current system is as follows.
Yamaha RX-V765
Sony SS-F7000 fronts
Polk CS2 center
Harman Kardon HKS9 surrounds
Polk PSW505 Sub

The CS2 is drowning out my fronts and surrounds. I think the Polk Monitor 70's would be the best replacement for fronts. The problem with that is newegg charges a arm and leg for shipping because I am in the military stationed in Germany. Best Buy has better shipping rates but no Monitor series online. With the surrounds would the OWM5 be a decent upgrade from the HKS9. I would like to keep it all Polk. Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks!

[troy_b.]

I hope I am not being shunned because I own Sony towers. Ha!
To be more specific I am leaning towards the following TSI500, RTIA5 or even the
RTIA3's if they could hang with the CS2.
Still for surrounds I lean towards the Polk OWM5's.
Any suggestions?

[mole']

welcome to CP!

IMO if you want a matching set to go with your CS2, the Monitor 70 (awesome bang for the buck) and a set of Monitor 50/40 would be nice.

i had a set of Monitor 70 with a CS2, Monitor 50 and 40s. sounded great.

TSi500 are nice aswell

http://www.jr.com/polk-audio/pe/POK_MONITOR70BK/

[decal]

Things must have changed drasticly since I was stationed in Germany in the 70's.The PX's in several cities had tons of audio equipment at fantastic prices.

[troy_b.]

mole', I agree the monitor 70 would be the best choice. But no one will ship here in Germany. Best Buy will ship but do not carry the 70's. That is the problem. Maybe I should deal with the Sony's until 2012 when I return to the states. Thanks for the welcome.

[troy_b.]

decal, yes I think things may have changed a little. Granted the PX does carry some HT equipment but there is not many options here. The only avr's they had was a couple of 2009 model yamahas at full MSRP and a choice from Sony. As far as speakers well, some sony products and a few from yamaha. I did not like the yamaha's at all. The German economy sells some decent speakers. But, I have not seen any Polk and the EURO rate is not U.S. friendly. Hey, on the plus side the beer is good!!

[mole']

mole', I agree the monitor 70 would be the best choice. But no one will ship here in Germany. Best Buy will ship but do not carry the 70's. That is the problem. Maybe I should deal with the Sony's until 2012 when I return to the states. Thanks for the welcome.

oh, sorry man. did not see that part. best of luck over there man

[troy_b.]

Well, I ended up ordering the TSI400's through BB. They made it to Germany in good shape. I always knew Sony had crap for speakers but WOW what a difference. Happy with my purchase and will wait until I get back to the US of A before upgrading the fronts again. Learned a lesson do not settle for something because it is available (the Sony towers at the PX).. That was 2 hundred wasted! Thank you everyone for your advice and help..

[maximillian]

Found this thread late. I started with Sony tower crap speakers too, didn't know any better. Fortunately I was able to return them to Circuitcity within the 30 days. Even the R50's sound and look better.

Keep the packing material so you can safely ship the TSI's back the US when you come home.

Congrats and welcome to CP.

[troy_b.]

Thanks maximillian, yes I have the boxes and packing material for shipment back. The movers contracted through the military are at times not the best.

[cfrizz]

Welcome to Club Polk, & enjoy your system.

[troy_b.]

Thanks cfrizz I will. My neighbors will more than likely not. I am sure to get a visit by the MP's. Oh well!!

[rooftop59]

Though I have not heard your surrounds, I am guessing that the OWM5 would be a bit of an upgrade, but that the TSI100s would be a great upgrade and a perfect to your fronts.

BTW, welcome to CP and thank you for your service to our country!
Peace,
Paul

[cstmar01]

agreed with Mole the M70's are great speakers and would match very well with your center.

[fishbones]

Good to hear your outcome was a happy one!

Welcome to Club Polk!

...from another Troy B.

[apphd]

Welcome to CP troy, and thanks for your service!

[troy_b.]

Thank you all for the warm welcome to CP. I was about to drop 6 hundred smacks on 4 OWM5's but I am going to take the advice listed above. I will keep HKS9's until I get back to the states then upgrade to TSI100's or 200's. I just do not have the space right now. Fishbones did your friends also call you tuberculosis or was that just my so called friends. HAHA
Once agaign thanks to all!

[troy_b.]

You know I have been here thinking about it and I believe I will get the monitor 30's for the back and rears. J&R has them for like 99 bucks for the pair. They will match my center and SUB. They are close enough in appearance to the tsi's. 200 for 2 pairs is better than 149 each x 6 for the OWM5. Any input anyone?

[troy_b.]

correction OWM5 x 4.

[rooftop59]

I think that if you don't mind the slightly different appearance that the M30s would be very good for surrounds, and you will only notice a slight tonal difference if you play a lot of games or listen to a lot of multi channel music. One most movies ti will be very hard to hear a difference I would think...
Peace,
Paul

[troy_b.]

Well, my setup is already mixed. The CS2 and PSW505 will match the M30's. The TSI's will look different. Not a problem to me. Thanks for your input rooftop.

[fishbones]

Fishbones did your friends also call you tuberculosis or was that just my so called friends. HAHA

Nope...luckily. They called me fish, cause that's what I was always doing.

[troy_b.]

Man, I miss fishing. Mostly bass fishing. I am a TN native. No bass swimming around the rhine river.

[thsmith]

What part of TN ? I grew up in Winchester.

[troy_b.]

Nashville.

[Lietuvis91]

I heard m50s, m60's, and m70s and in my humble opinion, if you're going with towers, the m70 is the only speaker to consider in this line. There is too big of a difference in sound when you go from m50 or m60 to m70, and really not that big a a price difference if you find deals.